Are indoor trainers the same as indoor football shoes?

[MoltenMountain]

Trying to get organised for the next term as DC are going to stay with GP's before school goes back! DS needs indoor gym shoes for PE. The cheapest pair are described as "indoor football shoes". Is there any meaningful difference between standard indoor trainers compared to indoor football shoes?

Probably not. You just need to be sure the soles are non-marking (which I think they invariably are, these days) and aside from that, it should be fine

No, indoor trainers should be non marking soles

Our school had indoor and outdoor trainers in the kit list. As i had never heard of indoor trainers, or ever had trainers that marked, I only ever gave my kids one set of trainers. In 8 years neither of my kids have been asked about their trainers.

Some indoor football boots are non marking soles but they are designed to have traction for playing indoor football.

Does the school list say indoor gym shoes (in which case I'd assume plimsolls) or indoor trainers (where I would assume a general sports/workout trainer with a non marking sole)

not the same.
look for trainers with non-marking soles for indoor sports

They're not the same BUT I specifically bought non marking indoor trainers for my DS when he started secondary school last September, he only wore them a handful of times and most of his friends wore Astro turf trainers or running shoes.

These are the ones I bought.

I know I need non-marking trainers.

My question is are non-marking football shoes (i.e. the cheapest pair) any different to non-marking trainers (double the price)?

For younger children probably not, for older children getting serious about playing football Astro boots are very different to trainers.

What I mean is if they’re playing football indoors they need non marking Astro shoes. If they’re doing just general PE then non marking trainers or Astro shoes are fine

My son says the only difference is football shoes are generally harder on top, usually leather or plastic type material, trainers are softer, mesh material. As long as the soles are non marking they will be fine. Astro boots are entirely different.

DS is 9 and absolutely not interested in football! (or any sport for that matter...)

That's good to know, probably he wouldn't like a hard shoe.

Astro football boots are very differnet to indoor football boots. Astros have knobbly bits on them so you don't slip on the astro which is very smooth. (At one point ds had 3g studs, astros and indoor boots!)

www.thefootballnation.co.uk/fn-news/a-foolproof-guide-to-boot-ground-types-and-which-soles-to-go-for/

Indoor gym/training shoes on the other hand are usually more built up, whereas football boots allow for more lateral movement of the foot and toe protections, trainers are more cushioned and have more bounce for repetitive jumping etc.