I swapped my New Balance shoes for the Lululemon Beyondfeel to train for a week – here’s what happened
Some shoes are clearly designed for running. Raised heels, large foam midsoles and arches help propel your feet forward. But where is the line between a running shoe and a general training shoe?
The best cross training shoes are versatile and allow you to do pretty much anything. However, there is no official definition of what is and isn’t a cross training shoe, as it really depends on what you plan to do in them.
This brings us to the Lululemon Beyondfeel running shoes. I’m not a real runner. I go jogging occasionally, but I prefer to go for a walk every morning and then do strength training at home.
When I had the opportunity to try out Beyondfeel’s running shoes, I thought it would be a good test to see if these sneakers designed for runners are also suitable for high-intensity workouts at home.
I wore them for a week during every strength training and HIIT workout and was surprised at how well they performed. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, but after the seven-day test, I started to prefer them over my trusty New Balance.
They were incredibly comfortable
I didn’t notice it until I put the Beyondfeel on, but my New Balance shoes are pretty worn out. I’ve had them for several years and have been wearing them for some time while doing gardening and other chores – they’ve definitely seen better days.
But it’s not just the aesthetic that’s changed. The sole is worn down so it offers little grip, and the foam just isn’t as soft anymore. When I put the Lululemon shoes on, it was like I was standing on a cloud.
They are soft but not spongy so you sink into them. The tongue is comfortable and not too wide so you can tighten the laces without compressing the top of your foot. Also, I tend to put a lot of weight on my heels because of my joint hypermobility, but the back of the shoe provides enough support without being uncomfortable.
While you might associate brands like Hoka, Saucony, and Brooks with running, Lululemon’s shoes have the same 10mm drop as our current best running shoe for men (the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41) and weigh just 10g more, so they won’t be a burden on your feet.
The outsole can be annoying
While they were quite comfortable while working out, there was one downside to using these running shoes for cross-training: the outsole. Lululemon makes it pretty clear that these shoes are designed for running, pointing out that the “strategically placed groove in the outsole mirrors a man’s natural foot strike for a smooth ride.”
So it’s no surprise that the sole gets in the way a bit during high-intensity workouts. When training upright with adjustable dumbbells, they offered me enough support to maintain my posture, but that wasn’t always the case, especially during fast movements like burpees and mountain climbers.
During these exercises, your feet move quickly and you frequently shift your weight onto the foot. If the sole of the shoes extends slightly beyond the foot area, it will occasionally drag on the ground and cause some resistance.
This wasn’t the worst issue, but since I was training outside on a hard surface, it left visible scratches on the side of the shoe. Of course, this could be mitigated by rolling out a yoga mat, but I (lazily) don’t usually bother, which is really my fault.
However, it does show that the side of the Beyondfeel shoes is not as durable as the bottom of the sole. This is understandable because Lululemon designed these shoes, like the best running shoes, based on the impact of your feet on the ground rather than the multi-directional motion you perform in activities other than running.
They are ideal for strength training with medium intensity
If you are looking for a shoe for intense strength training sessions with heavy loads, you will need a shoe with a little more depth to distribute the weight evenly and avoid ankle instability, such as the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III.
However, since I primarily do high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) with weights well below my single repetition maximum (the most weight you can lift in a single repetition with proper form), this wasn’t as much of a problem for me.
Because you don’t sink into the shoe (as can happen with some running shoes with a lot of foam in the midsole), my weight stayed balanced and I didn’t feel any instability in my lower body, allowing me to lift dumbbells and kettlebells with good form.
If you’re looking for a versatile running shoe that you can use for easy runs and cross-training workouts, they’re ideal for me and easily replace my worn-out New Balance trainers. Of course, it’s hard to say for sure until you actually have them on your feet.
Interestingly, Lululemon offers a 30-day trial of the Beyondfeel when you buy them through their store, so you have a month to try them out and return them for a full refund if they don’t suit your workout—and you can return them in any condition, so you can properly put them through their paces before you decide.
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