Are You in the Wrong Walking Shoe?
Everyone’s feet are different so there is no single “best shoe” for everyone. Did you know that the way you are built, your weight, the surfaces you plan to walk on, and the shape of your feet determine your “best shoe” fit?
In all of the emails I receive the high rating subject is “shoes and socks” for walking. There are specialty shoes stores all over the world and I am convinced that this is the only store walkers should drive to for the purpose of purchasing a properly fitting shoe. I go a runner’s store that have shoes for walkers – and, let me tell you a secret – most of the times running shoes are the best shoes for walkers. Are you surprised? I was. I started out by wearing “walking” shoes and had trouble because they were not flexible enough. I now wear running shoes and I could walk for miles without my feet hurting. How do I know if I’m wearing the right shoe for walking?
In order to fit you well, you will be asked to bring the socks you walk in. The wrong socks (too thick, or too thin) will alter the fit of your shoes, so you need to wear the socks you plan to wear when walking. If you are unsure of the socks you should be wearing, ask the store to help you pick out the correct sock for walking. .
Also bring the shoes you are currently wearing when walk. The store personnel will look at the wear pattern on the shoes to determine how your foot sits in your shoes. They will also watch you walk to determine your gait.
If you do a lot of off-road walking/hiking, you need off-road, or ‘trail’, shoes, which offer increased outsole traction, and uppers with toe bumpers and reinforced stitching for more durability. The foot often sits slightly lower to the ground than usual, for stability and responsiveness; and the shoes often have less cushioning than a road shoe, because they’re designed for softer surfaces.
When I went into a running store with my daughter, the first thing the store personnel said to me is “you can not be concerned about how a shoe looks on you, but how it fits your foot”. They were telling me don’t pick out a shoe for walking, or running, by its color and how cute (pretty) it is, but how does it fit your feet. I thought that was good advice right off so I decided I could put my trust in them.
A specialty shoe store will also lace your shoestrings properly for you. This also makes all the difference in the world in getting your shoes to fit your feet. You have heard my story that one of my walking shoe is laced one way and the other shoe is laced another way because of foot surgery and I have some scar tissue on the bottom of my right foot.
The other advice I can give you is to go to the specialty shoe store in the mid-afternoon, if possible. The reason is that our feet swells as we go through the day and you will want to purchase your shoes that will fit your feet under these conditions.
The last thing is to tell the store personnel any medical conditions you may have. If you have flat feet, high arches, falling arches, arthritis, etc. let them know. This may affect the shoe they fit on your feet. If one of your feet is wider than the other one, go with the wider shoe.
I get exhausted when people say “walking is free”, just lace up your shoes and walk. This is avoiding the fact that the majority of people are walking in the wrong shoes which may cause body pain, not just foot pain, and they get discouraged and stop walking. You must invest your money in driving to a specialty shoe store and paying for a properly fitted shoe selected specifically for you.
