It is vital for your health, wellbeing and overall experience and performance that you wear boots which fit you properly, be it when it comes to running shoes, work boots or everyday casual shoes. Shoes which fit your foot size, shape and type properly will help you stay comfortable, safe from injury and foot pain, and can enhance your performance at work, while training, or when performing your everyday chores. Uncomfortable shoes are not only a painful nuisance, but can also cause more serious damage to your feet, legs, back and your entire body.
So, how do you know when you have found that perfect fit when it comes to shoes?
- How do you know if your shoes are too big
Even if the shoe size matches your regular size, you may find that the shoes you are considering buying cause your heels to slip when you try walking or running with them. Choose lace up boots and tie them correctly to keep them from untying. Shoes should hold the heels comfortably stable and keep them for slipping, because otherwise you risk slipping, twisting your ankle or other leg joints or falling and injuring yourself. Make sure you get your feet accurately measured at the shoe store and try on the size recommended by the salesperson there. Many manufacturers also have tables and instructions for proper sizing of their different shoe models which you should keep in mind. Work boots, especially those with safety toe caps tend to run a half or whole size larger than your regular boot size, so keep that in mind too. Of course, if you want to wear your own orthotics or other inserts, you should try on the shoes with them in, to make certain that they fit well.
- How do you know if your shoes are too small
When you try on new shoes, always make sure that there is about half an inch or a finger width of space between your longest toe and the shoe’s toe box. Also, if you have wide feet and you are choosing running shoes, make sure that your feet do not feel squashed and your toes pressed together, because running as well as most other athletic shoes will not stretch in time. To make sure that your shoes do not turn out to be too small for you, always try on new shoes at the end of the day after a long day and physical activity, because it is at this time of the day when your feet get swollen and are at their largest. Also, try on new shoes with the same type of socks you are planning to wear with them in the future. This will save you the money and disappointment in buying new shoes which are too small for you. Take into consideration any sizing information and instructions given by the manufacturers or retailer, especially if you are ordering the shoes online without trying them out for size beforehand.
It is important to get well-fitting shoes always, because uncomfortable or ill-fitting ones can cause painful blisters as well as more serious foot conditions, such as: bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, calluses, corns, fractures and others.
In order to ensure that you, your feet and your body are happy, do your best to get the most appropriate shoes for the size, shape and arch type of your feet.
CONSIDERATIONS:
To guarantee that you get the best fit when buying new boots or shoes you should consider doing the following:
- Measure both your feet, because our feet do tend to change over time, especially after weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy, training and with aging. Also, keep in mind that it is common for one of the feet to be larger than the other, so pick a size which matches the larger foot. Measure the feet in the evening, when the feet are at their largest due to the activities, walking and running you have been doing all day.
- Please take note of the sizing information given by the shoe manufacturers for the specific style of shoes you are buying.
- The shoe shape should resemble the shape of your feet if you want to make sure they are a proper fit for you.
- Refrain from buying shoes which you assume will stretch over time. Opt for a pair of shoes which fit you well the first time you try them on. Of course, many leather work boots do need break-in time, but do not risk buying uncomfortable shoes in the first place.
- Buy a shoe designed for the activity you are planning to wear them for. This is essential for safety work boots, duty work boots, athletic shoes and other types of footwear. These shoes are designed and made for this type of activity, so if you want to be comfortable, safe and to perform well – get the specific shoe for the specific activity you will be using them for.
- The widest part (the ball) of your foot should easily fit in the shoes.
- Ensure that there is space as wide as a thumb or half an inch between the toe box and the longest toe of your foot.
- Try on both shoes, walk around them and check if there is slipping of the heels, chaffing or rubbing anywhere.
- Do not be tempted to buy a pair of shoes just because they are in fashion and look great if they are not shaped and designed to fit the shape and size of your feet!
