Shoe mistakes and fixes
If you’re a shoe guy and you have the means to indulge on them, there are lots of brands to choose from, including re-issues of models from years past. But with the popularity of online orders, we must be sure that we try them on first as shoe sizes differ from each brand. Don’t rely on the number on the box.
Let me share with you an article from WebMd.com.
You might have seen the Brannock Device, that steel slide that measures our feet. Foot doctors recommend that we have our feet sized with that device at least once a year because as we age, our arches fall. Gravity and weight stretch our ligaments so our feet can widen and lengthen. One foot is often larger than the other so it is best to try on both shoes. Because our full weight expands our feet, we need to stand.
New shoes should be comfortable right out of the box, with the socks you’ll be wearing with it. It was suggested that we never buy a pair that a salesperson has to stretch. We always say “it needs to be broken in” but it really means that it’s tight. It’s better to get another pair than put our feet thru pain and harm because that pair looks “choy”. A roomy square or round toe box let our toes lie flat.
Shoe guys rarely wear worn out shoes, which is good because ragged shoes put too much stress on our heel bone and connected tissues, that can lead to plantar fasciitis which is painful. Heel spurs, bony growths under our heel bone, can also form when our foot muscles and heel bone membranes overstretch and strain because of shabby shoes.
Shoe insoles and arch supports are not only for people with foot problems. It can give our pairs with a more customized feel, like gel inserts if we stand a lot during the day. Heel cups offer extra cushion as our skin thins as we age.
Experts say that we need to take our time and not rush to buy our shoes. Prior to trying on the shoe, it was advised to press the tips to make sure that there’s a half-inch of space from our longest toe to the end of the shoe. Walk around on different surfaces and feel the inside of the shoe for seams or tags that can bother us. Because our feet swell as much as 8% as the day wears on, it is better to buy a new pair in the late afternoon.
Sports have specific kind of shoes, and we need to wear the right shoe for the sport we’re into. Running shoes are built for shock absorption and arch support so we don’t play tennis or basketball with it because it is more on quick lateral movements. Your Kobe Protro 6 Grinch will do you more harm than good when you use it exclusively for running.
We get sucked into the brand hype and I’m one of the many. From where we’re based now, it’s kind of easy to get the pair we want with all the retail stores around and the inviting window displays. The temptation to buy is hard to resist because each store has great selections with varying price ranges. Loyal to a brand is ok but it’s much smarter to try different brands where we can find our perfect fit and style.
If we have several pairs, it is best to alternately wear them every couple of days. Our shoes also need to breathe and if our feet sweat a lot, it’s a chance for our pair to dry out. Heels and soles also last longer and if we take really good care of them, the several pairs that we have will serve us well.
- Latest
