Choosing good walking shoes is first and foremost a matter of comfort. If the shoes do not fit comfortably, both at rest and when walking, you will never want to wear them. But shoes aren't just ornamental, they are also functional. If the tread on the bottom of your old shoes indicates any sort of gait abnormalities, like over- or under-pronation, you can locate walking shoes with features meant to combat these problems.
Step 1
Examine your old walking shoe soles before leaving the house. If there is visible wear centered on the ball of the foot and the heel, your stride is natural. If you see wear on the inside edges of the soles, you over-pronate when you walk. If there is wear on the outside edges, you under-pronate. If either of these is the case, confine your shopping to shoes with medial posts and torsion bars or other, similar features to help prevent over- or under-pronation.
If you have high arches, shop for shoes with extra cushioning since your high arches may not absorb shock very well. If you have low arches, shop for shoes with medial posts, torsion bars or other motion-control features.
Step 2
Have a sales clerk measure the length and width of your foot with a Brannock Device, the typical "shoe sizer" you may be used to seeing in most shoe stores.
Step 3
Put on the same socks you expect to wear while walking when you try on prospective shoes. Because your feet may differ slightly in size and shape, make sure to try both shoes on at once so that you can be sure both feet have a comfortable fit.
Step 4
Lace both shoes up as you normally would and walk around the store. Go up and down stairs as well, if you can, and if there is a ramp or other sloping surface (some stores have sloping platforms or rocks specifically for this purpose) available, walk both up and down the slope several times. Be on the lookout for any pressure points, hot spots or other sources of discomfort in the shoes as you do this, all signs that they are either the wrong size or simply the wrong shape for your feet.
Step 5
Stand in one place and raise up on your toes several times. Does the shoe flex with your foot or does your foot move loosely inside the shoe before the shoe bends? If the shoe flexes with your foot, it fits well; if your heel lifts up inside the shoe, the shoe is either too big or simply the wrong shape for your foot.
Step 6
Slide your foot as far forward inside the shoe as possible without bending your toes. Try to slide one finger in between your heel and the inside of the shoe. If there's not enough room to get your finger in there, there may not be enough room for your toes in the front of the shoe when walking downhill. This tends to slide your entire foot forward and, if there is not enough room for your toes, you may develop blisters.
Tips and Warnings
- Your feet swell throughout the course of the day. That's why you should shop for shoes in the late afternoon or early evening to ensure you will have the best fit.
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