What is the best shoe to buy?
Shoes are never easy to buy and unfortunately, there is no easy option but to pound the pavement in the shopping centres to look for what suits.� However, there are some tips to follow that will help you to find a good shoe. �As there are many footwear companies that have many different styles of shoes, some appropriate, some not so appropriate We cannot recommend a specific brand of shoe. �So, it is important to look at the shoe�s attributes, rather at the brand.
Fashion Shoes
A good shoe is one that supports and stays on your foot, without you having to claw your toes to keep it on.� Look for fastening mechanisms, like buckles, straps, laces, boots or shoes that come up higher on the top of your foot, so the foot is able to hold on to you, you�re not having to hang onto the shoe by clawing your toes.
Examples of shoes that you should avoid as you have to hang on to are slides, thongs and court shoes that end very low down near your toes.
High heels can cause pain in the forefoot and spine, but if you have to wear them for work, look for these same fastening mechanisms that allow the shoe to hold onto you.
Sport Shoes
Most companies will now split their shoes into 3 foot categories: flat feet, normal feet and high arches. �These shoes are full of technology to support each different foot type, so it is important to get this right to get the best shoe for you.� What to look for is:
- Last (shape of the sole): should fit your foot, i.e. flat feet need straight lasts, normal feet need semi-curved lasts and high arched feet need curved lasts
- Heel counter: strong and not compressible with finger pressure
- Mobility: less stability will be seen in shoes for high arches (as these are very stable foot types) and more for flat feet which are a less stable foot type.� If you hold the shoe at the toe and at the heel, try to fold it in half.� The shoe should bend at the toes joints – like your foot does.� The shoe should not be able to be folded in half because your foot doesn�t do this! �The shoe should be quite stable and hard twist.
- Cushioning: most shoes will have cushioning in them to aid in comfort and shock absorption.� Shoes for people with high arched feet will have the most cushioning and less in people with neutral feel and flat feet.� This is because shock absorption happens when the foot flattens out, high arched feet don�t flatten out as much so need a helping hand.
- Wear the shoe that is suited to the activity.
- Once you and the Shop Assistant have checked that the shoe fits all the above requirements for your foot, have your feet measured and try as many as you can on to see what you feel best in.� From here, there is no right and wrong – look for what feels most comfortable and fits you the best, concentrating on depth, width and length.� There is no need to go for a specific brand, just what is the most comfortable.
Good luck and happy shopping!
