Shopping for women’s athletic shoes can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a bit overwhelming with all the different types and brands to choose from. You might not know, but there’s a big difference between a sneaker that’s made for putting in some serious road miles and a sneaker that’s built for lifting heavy weights. To help you pick the right style for your workout, we’ve put together a list of the most common women’s sneaker types and the activities they’re designed for.

Women’s Running Sneakers

Location. Location. Location. This is the first important thing to consider. If you’re doing most of your running on the road, then a road running sneaker will do. But if you’re taking to the trails, a sneaker with a heavier tread and more ankle support is definitely in order. Another thing to consider is how many miles you typically average per week. A sneaker that’s made for marathon runners will have more stability and support than a sneaker that’s made for sprints and lighter mileage. If you’re having a hard time finding the right sneaker, you might want to take the time to do a quick treadmill test where an expert will have you try on different styles while monitoring your stride and form. They’ll also be able to recommend the right women’s socks you should be wearing for different types of runs.

Women’s Training Sneakers

Training sneakers are designed for a wide variety of activities, but they’re not a great choice for running. So, you’ll want to have both running sneakers and training sneakers on hand so you can go out for a long run and jump in on a HIIT class depending on the day. Trainers are designed for support and stabilization, helping you get through more dynamic movements like shifting and pivoting. You can always rely on brands like Nike and adidas that are constantly testing and redesigning their athletic shoes for women, delivering high-tech, high-performance styles that’ll get you through everything from squats to Zumba class.

Women’s Tennis Shoes

The athleisure trend isn’t going anywhere (and we’re not mad about it!). This means that rocking your activewear for running errands and going to the gym is totally in. And that’s where tennis shoes for women come in. Although originally designed for moving across flat surfaces (i.e., tennis courts), today’s tennis shoes are like boots and booties—they can be worn with everything from jeans and joggers to sundresses and miniskirts.

Shop sneakers for women at Macy’s!