Sneakers

Sneakers (called trainers or training shoes in the UK) are a style of casual shoe that can be made from fabric, leather or a combination of the two.

Sneakers have a number of characteristics that make them instantly recognisable from any other style of shoe and they have remained a fashion icon and huge seller from the time of their inception to the present day.

Typical sneaker

The variety of the sneaker is such that there is no longer a generic design, however certain characteristics have remained consistent over the years.

Sneakers have a flexible rubber (or rubber like) outer sole that to a degree resembles a running shoe. The original American sneakers were perhaps more like a British pump, plimsoll, or gym shoe, however their numerous designs are now more extensive.

Most of the early sneakers had a coloured or multi-coloured canvas upper (sometimes leather) and this colourful “stand-out” style has never waned or gone out of fashion. Patterns, panels and fastenings are constantly changing.

Modern sneakers

Today sneakers often have very thick highly contoured outer soles where the style of the sole is every bit as important as the grip that it provides.

The upper of the sneaker may be material or leather, but it still retains the multi panel and multi colour appearance – although which colours are popular changes constantly.

Fashion trends like extra large tongues, fasten over fittings, coloured laces and reflective panels are just some of the many variants in design that are on offer. Roller blades and even MP3 players with speakers are available in some shoes.

The style of the sneaker is such that, some other styles of shoe now seek to mimic certain aspects of its design. The result is that you can now buy a ladies’ high heeled shoe with what appears to be a sneaker above the heal.

On a more practical note, many walking and hiking shoes now come in designs that make many of them almost indistinguishable from a chunky sneaker. To what degree this is the walking boot trying to mimic the sneaker, or the sneaker trying to mimic the walking boot, we will never know.

Orthopedically most sneakers offer a pretty good design and level of support, normally with a very cushioned sole and plenty of padding. This means that they are ideal orthopedic shoes for walking and everyday wear. (Very cheap sneakers may of course not offer these properties.)

Cost

You can buy a sneaker for a few pounds or dollars, or you can spend a considerable amount of money on a pair. It depends on the degree to which you want the latest designs and, much more significantly, the big fashion brand names. You really pay for a brand.

Branding has become as important with sneakers as it is with top fashion houses and even school children pay great attention to the logos and labels on their new sneakers. Even so, good quality sneakers can be found at very competitive prices.