A lot of consideration goes into choosing comfortable walking shoes. While people will have a wide selection when looking for a good shoe, there are certain things they ought to consider that can help them find the best shoes for them.
The most important consideration for a comfort is fit. It's not advisable to shop online for comfortable walking shoes because it’s hard to get a sense if a shoe will work. Instead, shoppers should find shoe stores where employees are trained to find the best fit for each customer. An employee of this type is not afraid to reject a shoe he or she thinks won’t be a good fit for the customer because business depends on creating lifetime customers.
At minimum, employees ought to measure the foot, and look at features like its arch and width to get a sense of appropriate styles. They should be able to distinguish between the peculiarities of each brand, knowing when one runs small or large. Good employees easily identify the styles with extra features a customer might want, like padding or roll bars on the heel that stabilize walking.
As a person tries on shoes, he or she should embrace the idea that fit encompasses more than length. The shoe’s width is also vital, and comfortable walking shoes shouldn’t be too tight or overly loose. Though some people are very concerned about shoe sizing and what that says about foot size, this should be less of a concern. People should instead focus on getting the right length and width, which for some women may mean choosing a man’s shoe instead.
Another area of concern is the arch, and shoes have different levels of arch support. The most comfortable walking shoes provide exactly the right support. Those with very flat feet might consider removing the interior of the shoe and substituting orthotics instead, but there are shoe types made for most kinds of arches. There are even some styles that defy conventional wisdom on what a walking shoe should be and instead replicate the experience of walking in bare feet. Many people attest to their high level of comfort, and people might want to try on a pair in this style to get a sense of the difference.
While trying on shoes, take time to walk around in them for a while. Shoes should always start comfortable, and any pair that initially pinches or hurts won’t improve over time. Though it may feel silly, it’s not a bad idea to try to walk for about five to ten minutes in a likely pair to see if problems develop. The time investment may be useful to finding the most comfortable walking shoes.
Walking shoes are usually an investment, and it’s conventional wisdom that most people won’t find a pair of exceptionally comfortable walking shoes for less than $100 US Dollars (USD). This may or may not be true. People without foot problems may be able to spend about half that or catch shoes on sale. It’s likely that a more expensive shoe more easily resolves more serious foot issues, and people may want to be prepared to consider good shoes an investment.