Tips to finding comfortable shoes

WHEN your feet ache, all of you aches. Worse, wearing the wrong shoes can damage your feet, give you back ache, and make you just totally miserable. So, if your last few pairs of shoes have made you miserable, check out these tips for buying comfortable shoes.

Shop in the afternoon Although the shops are quiet and you get all the sales assistants to help you find your size if you shop in the morning, the fact is that our feet tend to expand throughout the day. If you shop in the morning, your feet will be at their smallest so a shoe that feels snug then will be blister tight after lunch.

Watch the toe box

The pointy end of the shoe should accommodate all your toes comfortably. In fact, you should have a little room to wriggle your digits.

A cobbler can widen the toe box a little but it’s best to buy something that fits properly. If you have wide feet, look for brands that size shoes according to width as well as length.

Check the sole

A smooth sole looks pretty but it makes the shoe slippery and you’ll find yourself curling your toes, trying to “grip” the ground as you walk. It’s a very simple fix; either get a cobbler to roughen the sole for you, or add on some slipproof extras.

Insoles are king

Or queen if you prefer. Whole insoles help improve all over comfort as they absorb the shock of footfalls.

Arch supports are essential if you’ve low arches. How can you tell?

Look at your footprint after the shower; if you see the whole foot rather than the typical print with the centre bit cut out, chances are you’ve an arch problem. If you don’t know, ask your doctor to take a look.