Champion Women’s Gusto Cross Trainer Review

  • SHOE TYPE: CROSS TRAINER
  • SIZES:  5-13 C/D AND B(M)
  • HALF SIZES: YES
  • MAIN MATERIAL:  FABRIC
  • SOLE: MANMADE. NON MARKING SOLE
  • ALSO: MEMORY FOAM INSOLE, SOFT LINING
  • COLORS: GREY JERSEY, WHITE 3D PRINT, BLACK, DARK PINK, WHITE, BLACK GREY PRINT, TURQUOISE LIME NAVY, PINK BLACK, BLACK, PERIWINKLE BLUE, CORAL GREY, BLACK WHITE GREY, FUSCHIA
  • BRAND: CHAMPION
  • MODEL NO: 077205-PARENT
  • FIT AS EXPECTED: 85%
  • OUR RATING: 4.3  STARS OUT OF FIVE
  • PRICE GUIDE: $24.99-$91.40

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

front of white shoe

These are a smart casual looking pair of cross trainer shoes, from sports manufacturer Champion.

They are available in a wide array of colors; grey jersey, white, white 3D print, dark pink, black grey print, turquoise line navy, pink black, black, periwinkle blue, coral grey, black white grey and Fuchsia.

We think that this should be enough to find something to match your gym outfit or jogging pants with!

Made from manmade materials, these are a very lightweight pair of training shoes. If you like to feel as little as possible on your feet, then these might be a good choice for you.

With a traditional lace up design, these are a straightforward pair of training sneakers, which are pleasant to look at, although definitely not flash.

The colors are mainly plain blocks of color that are simple and effective as a design.

Only the white and the black design are one pure color all the way through. The others are duo or trio combinations, which work to create a striking, but uncomplicated look.

The sole is a manmade construction and the inside has a memory foam sole.

The upper has a padded collar and a mesh construction, with fairly large holes in them. This should ensure your feet get the much needed airing that they are crying out for in any kind of gym or training shoe.

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THE TERRAIN

purple front shoe

These are a cross trainer, which means they are meant to be worn for serious athletics and hard wearing workouts.

Given that this is a product with a more than 85% positive satisfaction from its customers and in particular, has scored five star reviews from 60% of buyers, we are encouraged that these might do what it says on the tin.

As, these are cross trainer shoes which are generally expected to deal with a variety of situations, we would be hoping that these will grip and hold us down securely and give us a reasonable amount of support.

But do they?

The first thing that we are bound to ask is, are these water resistant?

Without being able to find out for absolute certain, we would definitely advise caution at wearing these in wet, muddy fields. They certainly are not made for heavy weather or extremely rainy terrain!

Yes, they should be fine on dry tarmac and maybe even weather a light rainstorm, but we think they are more designed for wearing in a gym than out in a snowstorm!

THE PERFORMANCE

grey jersey front shoe

So, what is the performance like from these Champion Women Gusto Cross-Trainers?

Before making any judgments, we should remind would be buyers at the relatively low cost of these sneakers.

Overall, the results are good. Most of the people who buy these shoes go on to absolutely love them!

They find them incredibly comfortable, easy to wear and lightweight.

They make decent running shoes in most situations and if you are looking for a good all round jogger, without breaking the bank or feeling like your feet are set in clay, then these make a good choice.

And as for the down sides?

Well, you have to remember that for – in the most part- under thirty dollars, these do  not have a premium price tag. So therefore, it would be unfair for them to be expected to compare as well as a training shoe that does cost a few dollars more.

It has been suggested that these might scuff or wear a little thin after a while – but then this is probably inevitable for a shoe which will see a lot of action.

Some people – and this is a small number – feel they are better for casual use and lots of walking than dedicated gym use, but most however are satisfied.

Overall, we think for the price, you get a pretty good deal. This is a shoe which is a good general all rounder, but certainly is not immortal.

THE COMFORT

coral grey front shoe

The good news is that even people who have criticized these cross trainers for some other reason, have conceded that these are a highly comfortable pair of shoes.

They are incredibly soft and easy to have on your feet and are incredibly lightweight.

For those amongst you who hate wearing shoes to train full stop and would like to go barefoot, this may be the next best thing.

Perhaps they do not offer the best support for someone suffering from a serious podiatry problem, but to be fair, they are not really advertised as doing so either.

With a good range of sizes and widths, most people are happy with the fitting – an 85% approval rating says that you should probably be okay to go ahead and order your regular size.

SHOULD I BUY THESE CROSS TRAINERS?

periwinkle front shoe

Well then, the Champion Women’s Gusto Cross Trainers – should you purchase a pair or not?

We think it all depends on your needs and your expectations.

If you are going to the gym or working out a couple of times a week, we think these make a versatile pair of training shoes.

They look cute, are incredibly comfortable to wear and can easily be worn for casual use. They may also become your go to pair to wear to work, if you are on your feet all day.

However, if you train like an absolute demon (we mean hours and hours each day, not just a couple of times a week) then it might be in your interests to upgrade to a slightly more hard wearing pair.

For a few customers, these did not have the grips on the soles required – but this was a minority complaint.