5 Tips for Selecting Shoes
Properly fitting shoes can make all the difference when it comes to comfort and foot pain. Here are 5 tips to remember when doing your shoe shopping:
1. Length, use the rule of thumb. A shoe needs to be a thumbs' width (or 1-2 cm) longer than your longest toe while standing. You should be able to freely wiggle your toes when the shoe is on. If one foot is slightly bigger than the other, accommodate the larger foot. You can also check by removing the insole from the shoe and comparing it against your foot. The insole should be longer by about the width of your thumb.
2. Sole flexion point. Bend the front of the shoe upwards. The sole of the shoe should flex where the big toe joint does.
3. Shoe width. Similar to shoe length but often forgotten is shoe width. You should be able to grasp or pinch material of the upper portion of the shoe while standing. The joints of both the big and little toes should not protrude over the borders of the shoe. The toe box shape should match that of your foot.
4. Shop towards the end of the day. The optimum time to try out new shoes is towards the end of the day, since feet swell over the course of the day. Your shoes should fit your feet when they're at their largest.
5. Give the shoes a test drive. Try a different shoe if your heel lifts out or if the fit doesn't feel quite right. Most shoes shouldn't need to be broken in, they should fit comfortably off the get go.
