Are Badminton Shoes Good For Running?

You will be surprised how many people ask me if badminton shoes are good for running… This question is more common than you think, especially for beginners that just started playing badminton.

Badminton shoes are absolutely essential when it comes to this sport. You HAVE to get them if you want to reduce your chances of getting injured and to improve your game. Other than badminton, you also like running or jogging every once in a while. So, you think it’s a good idea to do it with your badminton shoes so you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Every seasoned badminton player will immediately tell you this is an absolute no go. Badminton shoes and running shoes should never be interchanged. Each one for its own purpose. Read on, as I will tell you why it’s such a bad idea running with your badminton shoes.

Why are badminton shoes bad for running?

If you are thinking of buying a pair of badminton shoes for both playing badminton and also for running to save money, please don’t. This will actually cost you MORE money in the long haul. Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why badminton shoes are not good for running…

Design of the shoe

Badminton shoes are not designed to run in a straight line. They are made for short explosive moments in various directions. Therefore, the material they use and how they feel on the ground is very different. I will touch more on why it’s not ideal with my personal experience running with badminton shoes. Spoiler alert, it was not a good idea.

On the other hand, running shoes are designed for the purpose of running in a relatively straight path.

Thin sole

You see… badminton shoes have sole that is usually made from gum rubber. Compared to rubber, gum rubber soles are thinner and wear out faster. This is one reason why running with badminton shoes is a bad idea. If you do that, you are going to be buying a new pair of badminton shoes very soon.

Thin insole

Badminton shoes usually have thin insole. This allows you to ‘feel’ more of the ground. In fact, this is AWESOME for explosive movements that are usually involved with playing badminton. On the other hand, this isn’t the best thing when it comes to running, especially long-distance.

This will most likely not get you injured, but you won’t feel comfortable running long distances. This is because you will feel more impact on the ground on every stride.

Cost more in the long term

At first, it might seem like you are saving money by killing 2 birds with 1 stone. In reality, it is actually quite the opposite. You are going to be spending more money because badminton shoes are not exactly cheap. As mentioned above, their sole is usually made of gum rubber which is softer and thinner than rubber. If you use your badminton shoes to run, they will wear out really quickly. After that, you will have to buy a new pair.

If you are buying badminton shoes, you are most likely serious about playing badminton. On the other hand, if you want to go running or jogging once in a while, I recommend you buy a cheap pair of running shoes for it unless you are competing in running.

The environmental difference

Playing badminton and running is usually in 2 very different environments. Badminton being indoor (usually) and running being outdoor (most of the time). This means different surfaces.

Badminton shoes are made to be light, flexible, and have soles made from gum rubber. As mentioned above, when compared to rubber, gum rubber is softer. The outdoor surface could destroy your badminton shoes very fast because the soles are much thinner and softer. To prolong their lifespan, better not to wear them on rough and hard surfaces.

My personal experience running with badminton shoes

I used to run with badminton shoes when I was young and naive. Everyone in my social circle that played badminton told me not to do it but I was stubborn. No one told me the reasons not to. I was thinking I could save money by buying 1 pair of shoes instead of 2. Long story short, I then live to regret my decision. I should have listened to my friends’ advice and buy a running shoe.

Running in badminton shoes actually felt pretty good at first. The problem then becomes apparent when I run for a longer time. At that point, I probably ran about 1 to 2 km.

My feet started to hurt and I had no idea why. After that, I asked around and the reason was the soles of the shoes were thin. I was getting the full impact of every stride I take. I was lucky I just ran with my badminton shoes once. If I were to continue, I would have to buy a new pair very soon.

What if I’m on a budget and can only afford one?

Well… badminton shoes come in a range of prices. You do not have to choose the expensive ones. My recommendation is to go with 2 cheap shoes, one for running and one for badminton if you are really on a shoestring budget. If your budget is a little more, you could opt to get a mid-range badminton shoe and a low end running shoes if you are serious about badminton.

This will save you more money in the long run. When used correctly, these should will last much longer.

Do you have any recommendation for a budget badminton shoe?

Here is the best budget badminton shoe, the value for money you get is awesome. This will not break your bank and you still get to enjoy the game you love without fearing of injuries.

Conclusion

In conclusion, running with badminton shoes is a bad idea for many reasons, especially for long distances. If you want to run and play badminton, I highly recommend you to buy 2 separate shoes.

Badminton shoes aren’t great for running and running shoes aren’t great for badminton. They are made with different purposes in mind. Therefore, use the shoes you buy for its intended purposes to prolong its lifespan.

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