With many cities and towns opening up after months of social distancing, an activity some might partake in is shopping for shoes. Whether it’s for summer trips, a new job, or just to replace an old pair, believe it or not, there are some do’s and dont’s of footwear. Now, we don’t mean in terms of what’s in style that season, we’re talking about what to choose in order to protect your feet.
The “Do’s”
Have you ever gone shoe shopping and noticed certain types of shoes fit differently? Or that you might be different sizes in a variety of brands? When you go shopping for shoes there are a few things you can do to help make sure you go home with footwear that is good for your feet.
Be Prepared
When you go shopping, bring or wear socks that are similar to the socks you’ll wear with the shoes. If you’re shopping for dress shoes, bring dress socks. If you’re shopping for athletic shoes, bring athletic socks.
Measure Your Feet
Your feet will change in size over the years and your arch type can change depending on your activity level and if you ever become injured. Feet even change size throughout the day due to swelling, water retention, water, and many other factors. This is why measuring your feet is important because it gives you a more accurate understanding of your size.
Consider Shoe Inserts
If you’ve been experiencing back, knee, or ankle pain, it’s worth visiting a doctor to see if your feet are the answer. If you have foot pain, you might not be wearing the right types of shoes, or need inserts. Before investing in a new pair of shoes, it’s worth considering shoe inserts and the type of shoes that are best for your arch type and activity level.
The “Dont’s”
Now, when buying shoes, there are a few things you want to avoid doing in order to prevent wasting money on shoes that only hurt your feet.
Buy Tight-Fitting Shoes
Remember how we said your feet can change in size throughout the day? Well, keep this in mind when buying shoes. While it might seem enticing to buy a pair of cute/cool shoes even if they’re a little snug, you want to avoid this at all costs.
Your feet can change over time and a slightly-snug fitting shoe can become extremely uncomfortable on another day. Not only is this uncomfortable, but tight-fitting shoes can be extremely damaging to your feet in general.
Fashion Over Comfort
You’ve probably heard this phrase many times before right? Well, we hate to break it to you but sometimes fashion is not worth giving up comfort. Shoes should be comfortable and supportive above anything else. What’s so great about the internet and the huge market is there are many options for people who want fashion AND comfort.
Buy Shoes to “Break-In”
Have you ever seen a pair of shoes that you just HAVE to have, but they need to be “broken-in”? Well, we hate to burst your bubble but avoid shoes like these at all costs. Breaking in shoes can lead to pain and long-term problems like bunions and poor arch support. So, if your shoes are uncomfortable from the start, avoid them at all costs.
Total FootCare
Like we’ve said before, there are many options for footwear that is fashionable and comfortable for your feet. If you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, please feel free to reach out to us!