Next time you enter a clothing store, see what draws your eye first – the brightly-colored shoes that make a fashion statement, or the functional, hard-wearing, and hard-working shoes? I’ll bet your answer is the former, and it’s no wonder – human nature has a way of going for that which is visually appealing first. But the coolest-looking shoe on earth becomes worthless if wearing it is a challenge. Here is how to skip to the buying part without regretting your decision!

What IS the perfect shoe anyway?

We’ve all bought a brand-name pair of shoes, thinking that the quality must be good, and ended up with a backache or painful feet. Contrary to popular belief, just because a shoe is comfortable and from the Nike sales rack, does not make it multipurpose. If there is anything to take out of this, it is the importance of buying the right shoe for the right purpose – running for running, walking for walking, hiking for hiking… you get the idea. If you wear shoes for a different reason and purpose than what the shoes are designed for, you risk injury to your alignment and posture, which can give rise to a whole new set of bodily aches and pains. Quite simply, the shortcut is not worth it. The perfect shoe is the one that does what it was designed for.

Do your shoes match your lifestyle?

Wearing the wrong shoes for the job not only put you at risk of injury, but can lead to premature fatigue – just ask anyone who has a job that forces them to be on their feet for hours on end!

Similarly, hobbies like walking and hiking will have similar requirements of your feet, which is why it is crucial to invest in activity-specific shoes. The right shoes will provide enough cushioning to protect your feet from intensive repeat activity, while providing support in the heels and ankles. Remove the support, and the feet will get tired long before the activity is over. Because your alignment will also be affected, you can prepare yourself for a significant accompanying backache if your shoes are wrong.

What’s it made of?

Leather has been a popular material for the manufacturing of shoes for centuries, thanks to its durable nature. It is strong and sturdy, water-repelling and long-lasting, making it the ideal material for heavy-duty shoes, like hiking boots, as it can resist an enormous amount of wear and tear.

If you look closely at features of most athletic shoes for sale, you will also see leather featured there. This is because the material is flexible and adaptable, particularly when combined with suede. Suede keeps the costs of the shoe lower, as it is significantly cheaper than leather, but similar in sturdiness, which makes the two materials great to use in combination.

Think about ways in which you can add to the existing comfort of your shoes – the addition of a removable inner sole can go a long way in taking a shoe from good to great, by hugely boosting the comfort level.

 

Published: 2020-11-20 21:30:46