Last Updated on July 5, 2023
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One of the most important pieces of equipment in any exercise regimen is what comes in contact with the ground. Just like tires are a crucial part of your car’s traction and mileage, so your shoes are an important part of your grip and joint health. As someone who has done things requiring good footwear — including work involving a lot of walking as well as competitive running — I’ve learned the hard way that when I get the shoes wrong, my body suffers.
You need the right shoe for the right activity. You don’t wear wrestling shoes when running, or running shoes while playing soccer, or soccer shoes while lifting. That all said, there are instances where you are doing more than one activity and you either can’t or don’t want to be swapping out shoes.
There’s even a name for doing multiple kinds of activities: cross-training. Cross-training is an approach that emphasizes different kinds of exercises, specifically aerobic exercises (i.e. running, dancing), strength training (i.e. lifting), and flexibility exercises (i.e. yoga).
Most people who do cross-training will use either running shoes or dedicated cross-trainer shoes. They’re engineered differently. Running shoes are made to handle the straight-line movement of running while also breathing. Cross-trainer shoes, by contrast, are made to handle lateral movement while offering forefoot support for toes. Cross-training that involves distance running tends to favor running shoes while more lift-heavy training favors cross-trainer shoes.
You can get either of them in a shoe store. Like many people, I’ve discovered that I often get what I pay for. If I’m going to train for a competitive race, I’m not going to scrimp on shoes. It’s understandable, then, if a shopper sees shoes at, say, a grocery store and wonders if they’re any good.
I’ve owned several pairs of Aldi shoes over the years, including athletic shoes and hiking shoes. I can’t say they’re up to par with my best brand name shoes, but most (although not all) held up better than I’ve anticipated. So when I saw that Aldi was also selling cross-trainer shoes, I decided to try them out.
The Crane Memory Foam Crosstrainer is an Aldi Find, which means it’s only in stores for a short time. Each store gets a single shipment, and once it’s sold out, you won’t be able to find them at the store anymore. If you don’t see them on shelves, you’re out of luck, as Aldi does not ship its products online.
These shoes come in both men’s and women’s varieties. Here’s more information, according to Aldi:
- Men’s Sizes 8-11
- Ladies’ Sizes 7-10
- Features a mesh breathable upper
- Includes memory foam insole for comfort
- Features a flexible outsole
- Available in Black or Gray
According to the tags, these are made in China. The shoes give no other indication of who makes them.
At post time, these shoes cost $16.99. Anyone who has done shoe-shopping knows that cross-trainers and other athletic shoes are usually a lot more expensive than that, even generic brands. So from a price perspective, these are cheap.
The first thing I noticed about these shoes is that they are far more flexible than a traditional running shoe. They don’t have a traditional tongue like a running shoe, and they slip on quite easily, even when tied.
As expected, these are not good for running or walking. They don’t have great support for that kind of activity and they don’t have the same protection on the bottom from the ground. I took them out on a walk just to try them that way and my feet started to feel it after a while.
On the other hand, they do seem to be decent for what they’re made to do. The flexibility makes them feel as much like a foot glove as a shoe. My feet feel less constrained than with a tennis shoe, especially for activities that require agility.
The Verdict:
Most people who are cross-training will gravitate toward expensive shoes, and for good reason: you often get what you pay for. A good shoe can help prevent injury, which is an enormous factor in any exercise routine.
But these are certainly interesting cross-training shoes. They’re built like a cross-trainer should be built, with flexibility for things like lifting and lateral movement. If you’re looking for an extra pair of cross-trainers, these might be worth a look.
