Best Zumba Shoes for Women - Top 4 Choices for Zumba Fitness Exercises

The first question many first-time Zumba participants ask is;

"Do I really need the best Zumba dance shoes? Why can't I use my regular tennis shoes?"

You wonder, looking at those expensive running shoes you usually use for exercise.

The simple answer is that you can use your regular tennis shoes - but you will risk a much higher chance of injury. Twisted ankles, sprains, and even head-over-heels tumbles.

Sounds drastic - but it's true. Zumba fitness dance exercises can be very intensive.

It is a great way to have fun and enjoy your fitness routine while slimming down and toning-up. But because of the nature of the fitness routine steps - lots of sliding and jumping, you do need Zumba shoes for women, (or men), to give the ankle and arch support, and proper floor contact needed to avoid the injuries that can result from wearing the wrong type of exercise shoes.

There are several top-rated Zumba shoes, but there is no undisputed "best #1 Zumba shoe" choice - because different types of people have different needs. The "best" Zumba shoe for you, might be a poor choice for someone else. What is most important is that your shoe choice has the features that are needed in any good Zumba workout footwear.

The shoes listed below have been top-rated and endorsed by top dancers, instructors, and fitness specialists because they each have the features needed, and wanted, in an active dance shoe.

Zumba shoes should provide:

1. Active arch support - even the ability to replace factory arch supports with custom orthopedic inserts.
2. Secure fit - a Zumba shoe doesn't have to be "straight-laced" snug, but it does have to fit securely - no flopping around in an ill-proportioned shoe.
3. Mild-traction sole - The Zumba sole should not have a "gripping" sole - you need to be able to do a lot of sliding steps in a Zumba Fitness routine. But you also don't want a "slick" stage-dancing sole either, you do need enough traction to effortlessly stay on your feet.

Active Zymba dancers want these features in their Zumba shoes:

1. Light-weight - mostly synthetics, but with enough leather in the areas that provide support
2. Ample toe room - many Zumba Fitness exercise steps bring you up on your toes, a Zumba shoe with plenty of toe room, or even a "dancer's box-toe" design
3. Wide Stability soles - Good Zumba shoes will have wide soles, even flared soles, to provide the support needed in those jumps and turns and slides - to avoid foot-roll over
4. Breathability - many of the top choices include a mesh design to provide this, other top choices use vent systems.

All four of the shoe makers listed below have undisputed reputations for quality, and just as importantly - their size ratings are dependably accurate. If you wear a size 8 sneaker or tennis shoe - then you can safely choose a size 8 Zumba shoe.

They all have their own web sites, but they also sell their shoes on Amazon - at discounted prices. So unless you catch a super-sale, you will almost always be able to find the best prices for any of these top-rated Zumba shoes listed on Amazon.

Capezio is a well-known and respected dance shoe maker that all types of dancers have relied on for quality dance shoes, and their line of Capezio Zumba Fitness Dance Shoe Sneakers carries the same quality and attention to dancer's needs.

The DS11 Fierce Dancesneaker, Rockit, and Canvas shoes feature all the traditional Zumba shoe requirements plus the "box-toe" design that makes the those on-toe steps so easy.

Bloch is another well respected and well known dance shoe company, and their Unisex Mesh Zumba Shoe carries on the Bloch Tradition.

Company promo: Bloch®'s mesh dance sneaker with DRT (Dynamic Resistance Technology) features a dancer-specific, high arch last for true fit and comfort. Made of genuine suede and lightweight breathable mesh, with a Dri-Lex® heel and tongue

The Unisex Mesh comes in Pink or Black, and the DRT Boost comes in 7 colors, but most sizes are restricted to black with blue or silver.

As above - various sizes are available on the listings.

Another great dance by Leo that features the stability and support features that Zumba Fitness exercises need.

The Wave Dancer sneaker is lightweight, has an anti-shock combo heel chamber, features an arch hugging speed lacing system, and also has a high density EVA insole with heel stabilization.

The spin circle, grooved outer soles give this Zumba shoe just the right amount of traction, and the breathable mesh and a padded heel collar with Achilles cutout add to the comfort of this design.

As with all previous listings, even though a size is listed, each choice allows multiple size selection.

The Ryka Studio Flex Low is a great Zumba Shoe for all the right reasons.

• ultimate, ultra-light, low-profile shoe
• Synthetic and breathable mesh upper
• Removable molded Nitracel® footbed with EVA strobel board
• Lightweight compression EVA with hidden pressed N-Gage® in heel. Nitracel® injected forefoot delivers high-level shock absorption
• and on and on, you can see more of the company's promo on the lsiting

This is a great choice for a Zumba Fitness Dance exercise shoe.

All four of theses shoe makers have undisputed reputations for quality, and just as importantly - their size ratings are dependably accurate. If you wear a size 8 sneaker or tennis shoe - then you can safely choose a size 8 Zumba shoe.

They all have their own web sites, but they also sell their shoes on Amazon - at discounted prices. So unless you catch a super-sale, you will almost always be able to find the best prices for any of these top-rated Zumba shoes listed on Amazon.

• Zumba Clothes

More than just looking good - it is important to wear the right type of clothing for your Zumba Workou

• Zumba Fitness DVDs

Go beyond the Wii Zumba Fitness with these Zumba Fitness DVD sets, including the Official Zumba set that includes 2 Zumba wands