Tips for Choosing Great Shoes
All sneakers are designed to support your feet, protect them from injury and provide traction so that you won't slip in addition to making you look great. But despite these common features, different sports have different requirements for footwear. For example, a running shoe has more cushioning for shock absorption than a basketball shoe, but the basketball shoe has more ankle support for sudden stops and starts on the court. New technology is constantly replacing the old, so that the retro Air Jordans that were on the cutting edge of technology in 1985 have been replaced by newer models like the Nike Shox.
Here are a few tips and general guidelines for getting the right size:
Have both your feet measured
Your feet may be different sizes, and you'll want the shoe to fit your largest foot. Your feet expand while bearing weight, so make sure you're standing when they're measured. Have them measured regularly because your feet grow as you get older.
Wear the appropriate sock
For example, if you're trying on a pair of Air Jordan basketball shoes that you would normally wear a heavy athletic sock with, make sure you're wearing those when you try on the shoes, but if you're looking to buy a pair of Puma shoes to throw on while walking the dog at 6am and you wouldn't normally bother with socks because you can't find a matching pair in the dark, then you might try the shoe on with a thin nylon or barefoot.
Pick the right time of day
The best time of day to try on shoes is usually at the end of the day when your feet are the most swollen. This way you can ensure your shoes will feet even in a worst case scenario.
Try on both shoes and check the fit
Make sure your heel fits snugly in each shoe and doesn't slip as you walk. Can you wiggle your toes? If you don't have a half-inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, approximately the width of your thumb, try a larger size. Remember the grownups pushing on your toes as a kid and asking if you could feel it? Don't buy your shoes too tight. If it is the last pair in stock and you're praying that it will stretch to be comfortable, forget it. While natural materials like soft leather and suede have some give, most shoes will not dramatically increase in width or length.
Take the shoes for a test drive.
Test for comfort by walking or jogging a few stepsRemember, humans walk several miles a day, almost every day of their lives. Take a stroll around the carpet. Parade your new shoes around the store. How do they look, how do they feel, and how do you feel while wearing them? If the shoes don't feel comfortable right away, try another size or another pair or customize the fit with a heel pad or arch support. A good fitting, stylish pair of shoes should make you feel like royalty or at least give you a little bit of a warm, happy feeling.
Whether your purchased a pair of Nike Air Force One shoes for fashion reasons or a pair of Nike basketball shoes like the Air Huarache 2k4, you should feel comfortable in your shoes.
Blisters, sore arches, and cramped toes after a day in your new Reeboks or Pumas aren't going to make you feel like a million dollars. If your shoes don't fit or you just aren't satisfied with how they make you feel and they are unworn, get another pair. Feet are the foundation for the body and without a good, strong foundation, eventually the house collapses.
Here are a few tips and general guidelines for getting the right size:
Have both your feet measured
Your feet may be different sizes, and you'll want the shoe to fit your largest foot. Your feet expand while bearing weight, so make sure you're standing when they're measured. Have them measured regularly because your feet grow as you get older.
Wear the appropriate sock
For example, if you're trying on a pair of Air Jordan basketball shoes that you would normally wear a heavy athletic sock with, make sure you're wearing those when you try on the shoes, but if you're looking to buy a pair of Puma shoes to throw on while walking the dog at 6am and you wouldn't normally bother with socks because you can't find a matching pair in the dark, then you might try the shoe on with a thin nylon or barefoot.
Pick the right time of day
The best time of day to try on shoes is usually at the end of the day when your feet are the most swollen. This way you can ensure your shoes will feet even in a worst case scenario.
Try on both shoes and check the fit
Make sure your heel fits snugly in each shoe and doesn't slip as you walk. Can you wiggle your toes? If you don't have a half-inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, approximately the width of your thumb, try a larger size. Remember the grownups pushing on your toes as a kid and asking if you could feel it? Don't buy your shoes too tight. If it is the last pair in stock and you're praying that it will stretch to be comfortable, forget it. While natural materials like soft leather and suede have some give, most shoes will not dramatically increase in width or length.
Take the shoes for a test drive.
Test for comfort by walking or jogging a few stepsRemember, humans walk several miles a day, almost every day of their lives. Take a stroll around the carpet. Parade your new shoes around the store. How do they look, how do they feel, and how do you feel while wearing them? If the shoes don't feel comfortable right away, try another size or another pair or customize the fit with a heel pad or arch support. A good fitting, stylish pair of shoes should make you feel like royalty or at least give you a little bit of a warm, happy feeling.
Whether your purchased a pair of Nike Air Force One shoes for fashion reasons or a pair of Nike basketball shoes like the Air Huarache 2k4, you should feel comfortable in your shoes.
Blisters, sore arches, and cramped toes after a day in your new Reeboks or Pumas aren't going to make you feel like a million dollars. If your shoes don't fit or you just aren't satisfied with how they make you feel and they are unworn, get another pair. Feet are the foundation for the body and without a good, strong foundation, eventually the house collapses.
