Purchasing shoes can often be a tricky task. Our Podiatry Team are here to help you!
Usually you walk into a shoe store, you look around and you think to yourself – “Where do I even begin?” To help you answer this question, we have a simple guide of 5 aspects of a runner that should look for/consider when buying a new pair.
- Toe box
- Enough room so that your toes aren’t squished together
- Make sure you have half to a full thumb’s width of space in the front of the shoe
- Eyelets
- Ensure there is a secondary eyelet so that lacing adjustments can be made if necessary
- Heel counter
- Firm around the back so that your heel is supported
- This will stop your heel moving up and down
- Support
- Foam should be harder on the inside of the shoe underneath the arch of your foot
- Width
- Check that your foot is sitting within the base of the shoe
- Make sure that upper is not pressing on any parts of your foot
Podiatrist secret tips:
- Using the sock liner to assess width & length:
- Pull out the sock liner (insole) of the shoe and stand on it
- Are your toes hanging over the front? Is your foot falling off the sides?
- If this is the case, your shoe is either too small and/or too narrow for you!
- Purchasing shoes in the afternoon:
- Your feet tend swell by the end of the day
- Therefore, it’s best to purchase in the afternoon to get the ‘best/most true’ fit for your foot
We hope this guide helps to make your life easier when purchasing a new pair of runners. So, now that you are well-equipped with all the information and secret tips, go out and shop with confidence!
Written by Dion Vallianos, Podiatrist and Footwear Guru at the Diamond Valley Foot & Ankle Clinic
