8 Tips for Buying Shoes that Don’t Hurt Your Feet

While some people love shopping for shoes, others find it exhausting. You not only need to find shoes that you like the look of, but they also need to actually fit well, provide support, and last longer than a season without falling apart. Making a mistake can mean developing painful blisters or chronic foot pain if you continue to wear ill-fitting shoes.

The next time you are shoe shopping, we recommend keeping in mind the following tips. By using this checklist, you’ll walk away in a pair of comfy shoes that look and feel good!

1. Look for Supportive Insoles

A shoe with a completely flat insole won’t provide much support. Particularly if you are going to be walking around or standing a lot, you need insoles that form to the shape of your arches and provide cushioning and shock absorption. Orthotic-level insoles not only feel better, but they protect your joints. Your feet will also feel less fatigued at the end of the day when you have proper support from arch support sneakers.

2. Try On Shoes at the End of the Day

Never head to the shoe store first thing in the morning. Instead, wait until the end of the day to do your shopping. The reason this is important is because after you have been standing and walking around for hours, your feet will be slightly swollen. You need shoes that can accommodate your feet both when they are fresh at the beginning of the day and when they’re slightly larger due to swelling.

3. Ask to Be Professionally Measured

Even if you think you know your size already, it doesn’t hurt to ask to be measured in the store where you are buying shoes. They’ll not only give you an exact measurement for each foot, but also be able to make a size recommendation based on how specific brands of shoes fit.

4. Measure for the Width of Your Feet

Don’t forget that while you are having the length of your feet measured, you should also measure for the width. It’s very common for people to think that they need a bigger shoe size when actually all they need is a wider width.

5. Don’t Trust that a Shoe Will ‘Break In’

While some shoes do get slightly softer after wearing them, if a shoe feels rigid and painful from the beginning, you can’t trust that it will get much better overtime. More than likely, you’ll end up wearing them while in pain for a few times and then give up and move them to the back of your closet. Save your money and find something that fits better and is comfortable from the get-go.

6. Choose Durable Outsoles

Shoes with leather outsoles are going to scuff and look bad very quickly. While leather is a great outer material for the upper part of shoes, rubber is a much better outsole material if you need durability.

7. Consider the Shoe Material

Shoe material is really important when it comes to fit, breathability, and durability. Natural fibers and materials like cotton, hemp, bamboo and leather are generally a great choice because they will be more breathable and flexible than most synthetic fibers.

8. Opt for Shoes with Adjustable Features

The more adjustable features a shoe has, the better your fit will be. With laces, buckles, or velcro, you can make your shoes tighter or more loose as needed. This is very helpful when your feet are swollen and need a bit more room.