Athletic shoes , depending on the location and the actual type of footwear , can also go by the name trainers ( British English ) , sandshoes ( Australian English ) running shoes or runners ( Canadian English , Australian English , Hiberno-English ) , sneakers ( American English , Australian English ) , sport shoes , gym shoes , tennis shoes , tennies , sneaks , kicks ( American English ) , takkies ( South African English ) . They are also known as trainers ( British English ) , sandshoes , gym boots or joggers ( Australian English ) , running shoes , runners or gutties ( Canadian English , Australian English , Hiberno-English ) , sneakers , tennis shoes ( North American English , Australian English ) , gym shoes , tennies , sports shoes , sneaks , tackies ( South African English and Hiberno-English ) , rubber shoes ( Philippine English ) or canvers ( Nigerian English ) .