When shopping for shoes, you want to have more
than fashion in mind — you'll also want to consider
function and keeping your feet in good shape.
These 10 tips can help you choose the right shoes:
1. Take a tracing of your foot with you. Place any
shoe you think you might buy on top of the
Tracing. If the shoe is narrower or shorter than
the tracing, don't even try it on.
2. Shop for shoes during the afternoon — your
foot naturally expands with use during the day.
3. Wear the same type of socks to the store that
you intend to wear with the shoes.
4. Have a salesperson measure both of your feet
— and get measured every time you buy new
shoes. Feet change with age, often growing
larger and wider. If one foot is larger than the
other, buy a size that fits the larger foot.
5. Stand in the shoes. Press gently on the top of
the shoe to make sure you have about a half-
inch of space between your longest toe and the
end of the shoe. This provides enough room
for your foot to press forward as you walk.
Wiggle your toes to make sure there's enough
room.
6. Walk around in the shoes to determine how
they feel. Is there enough room at the balls of
the feet? Do the heels fit snugly, or do they
pinch or slip off? Don't rationalize that the
shoes just need to be "broken in." Find shoes
that fit from the start.
7. Trust your own comfort level rather than a
shoe's size or description. Sizes vary between
manufacturers. And no matter how comfortable
an advertisement claims those shoes are,
you're the real judge.
8. Pay attention to width as well as length. If the
ball of your foot feels compressed in a
particular shoe, ask if it comes in a wider size.
Buying shoes that are a half-size bigger — but
not any wider — won't necessarily solve the
problem.
9. Feel the inside of the shoes to see if they have
any tags, seams, or other material that might
irritate your foot.
10. Examine the soles. Are they sturdy enough to
provide protection from sharp objects? Do they
provide any cushioning? Take note of how they
feel as you walk around the shoe store. Try to
walk on hard surfaces as well as carpet to see
how the shoe feels on both.