• Travel
    • Destinations >
      • California
      • Canada
      • London
      • USA
      • Caribbean
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
      • Bermuda
      • Japan
    • Away Luggage
  • Latest Posts
  • Reviews By Brand
    • Clothing >
      • Encircled Reviews
      • Mott & Bow Reviews
      • Quince Clothing Reviews
      • Tradlands
      • Vetta Capsule
    • Shoes >
      • Bali Elf Handmade Leather Shoes & Accessories
      • Birdies
      • Nisolo
      • Rothys
    • Meal Delivery >
      • Aldi
      • Butcherbox
      • Hello Fresh
    • Home >
      • Last Tissue
      • Last Object
      • Brooklinen
    • Sustainable Gifts
  • Lifestyle
    • Capsule Wardrobe
    • Discounts & Promos >
      • Last Tissue & Last Swab Discount Code TRIPDONTFALL
      • Hello Fresh Sign Up Discount!
      • Butcherbox Sign Up Discount
      • Instacart Sign Up Discount Code
      • Current Miles + Points
      • Chase Freedom Flex - 5% Cashback Groceries - $200 Bonus
      • Chase Freedom Unlimited - % Groceries + 1.5% Cashback Everyday - $200 Bonus!
      • Chase Sapphire Preferred - Best Travel Card - $0 Foreign Transaction Fees - $750 Bonus!
    • Food & Drink
    • For The Home
    • Travel
    • Reviews
    • Style
    • Black Friday/ Cyber Monday 2021 >
      • Sustainable Brands Black Friday Cyber Monday Deals
      • Blog Posts - Sustainable Brand Round-up BFCM 2021
      • Encircled - Canadian Shoppers
      • Encircled - US/Global Shoppers
      • Etsy Black Friday & Cyber Monday BFCM 2021
  • Faves
    • Low Waste Swaps
    • Protein Bars To Try
    • Smoothies
    • Safer Laundry Detergents
    • Travel Shoes
    • Cooking Essentials
  • Deals
  TDF LIFE & STYLE
  • Travel
    • Destinations >
      • California
      • Canada
      • London
      • USA
      • Caribbean
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
      • Bermuda
      • Japan
    • Away Luggage
  • Latest Posts
  • Reviews By Brand
    • Clothing >
      • Encircled Reviews
      • Mott & Bow Reviews
      • Quince Clothing Reviews
      • Tradlands
      • Vetta Capsule
    • Shoes >
      • Bali Elf Handmade Leather Shoes & Accessories
      • Birdies
      • Nisolo
      • Rothys
    • Meal Delivery >
      • Aldi
      • Butcherbox
      • Hello Fresh
    • Home >
      • Last Tissue
      • Last Object
      • Brooklinen
    • Sustainable Gifts
  • Lifestyle
    • Capsule Wardrobe
    • Discounts & Promos >
      • Last Tissue & Last Swab Discount Code TRIPDONTFALL
      • Hello Fresh Sign Up Discount!
      • Butcherbox Sign Up Discount
      • Instacart Sign Up Discount Code
      • Current Miles + Points
      • Chase Freedom Flex - 5% Cashback Groceries - $200 Bonus
      • Chase Freedom Unlimited - % Groceries + 1.5% Cashback Everyday - $200 Bonus!
      • Chase Sapphire Preferred - Best Travel Card - $0 Foreign Transaction Fees - $750 Bonus!
    • Food & Drink
    • For The Home
    • Travel
    • Reviews
    • Style
    • Black Friday/ Cyber Monday 2021 >
      • Sustainable Brands Black Friday Cyber Monday Deals
      • Blog Posts - Sustainable Brand Round-up BFCM 2021
      • Encircled - Canadian Shoppers
      • Encircled - US/Global Shoppers
      • Etsy Black Friday & Cyber Monday BFCM 2021
  • Faves
    • Low Waste Swaps
    • Protein Bars To Try
    • Smoothies
    • Safer Laundry Detergents
    • Travel Shoes
    • Cooking Essentials
  • Deals

How to Choose Comfortable Shoes Every Time

7/23/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Note: Principles in this article apply both to the purchase of men and women's shoes.

What is your foundation? 

​Not in a figurative way, but in a literal way.
When you are standing, walking, running... what is your foundation? Your feet. (For the majority of us.)

Do you take your hardworking feet for granted like I do?
I think a lot of us do.
They support us every day in a very real way and we don’t give them much credit.
Most of us don’t give them the support that they deserve.

Why?

For one thing, most of us buy shoes based on liking the overall aesthetic and style of the shoe. We will wear those high heels no matter how uncomfortable they are or those cheap flats that offer no support for our feet. To add to that, many shoe manufacturers really don’t make shoes in a quality way that are actually good for your feet. And we have become so used to buying shoes cheaply, that it can seem daunting toinvest in a quality pair, even though it is truly a worthwhile investment.

What can you do to ensure that you are buying shoes that your feet will thank you for?
What can you do if you already have some shoes that your feet just don’t love?


Read on for some ideas.


Things to consider before buying shoes: 



When will I wear this shoe?
Where will I wear this shoe?
What outfits can I make with this shoe? 
How likely are these to cause blisters? 
What materials are the shoes made of?
Is the heel height right for my body & lifestyle?
What is the insole like and is there room for an orthotic?
What is the width of the shoe?

Let's examine a few of these in greater detail. 


​How likely are these shoes to cause blisters?
 It’s very important that your shoes fit your feet properly. If they do not, you can end up with blisters, bunions, and exacerbated arch pain or plantar fasciitis. 

New shoes can cause blisters as the materials are more stiff until you wear them for a while. It’s always good practice to wear new footwear at home for several sessions before wearing them out and about in short stints to break them in. (This pandemic is kind of a perfect opportunity to break shoes in at home!) However, despite your earnest efforts, some shoes will always give blisters due poor fit or due to rough, inferior materials and poor craftsmanship leaving unfinished edges which make for a prime chaffing opportunity.
“In many instances, these fluid-filled bubbles result from poorly fitted shoes. Shoes that fit too tightly or too loosely can rub against the skin. This causes friction, and as a result, fluid builds up underneath the upper layer of skin.”
- Healthline
So making sure that your shoes are neither too big, nor too small is really important. 

Is the heel height right for my body & lifestyle?

Consider the height of the shoe.

Is it practical for your lifestyle or the way you would use it? 

If you live in a beautiful cobblestoned town and do a lot of walking every day,
those stilettos may not be the safest and most practical choice, even if they look stunning. 
Suede every-day shoes may not be ideal if it rains and snows a lot where you live in fall/winter and you'll be worried about damaging them. 

This is not to say that you can't own and wear stilettos or suede shoes, in the aforementioned situations.Of course you can! The point is just to think a little more deeply and realistically about things before making a purchase so that you will get the most use and satisfaction from that purchase in the long run! :)


What is the perfect height for YOU for high heel shoes?

This is a difficult question to answer because every person’s body structure is different. Still, there is a general consensus that 1-3” is the most ideal heel height for the average person. Completely flat shoes can cause a surprising amount of foot pain just as very high heels obviously do. 

For a more personalized estimate, try this suggestion from a podiatrist in London named Dr. Emma Supple.
Picture
Photo: dailymail.co.uk article by Emma Supple

Or this adapted method from  Vivian Lou

​
Picturephoto: vivianlou.com


TRY IT!  Measure your favorite heels and see how close it is to your ideal heel height! 



What is the insole like and is there room for an orthotic?

Take a look at the inside of the shoe.

Is the insole removable?
What material is it made of?
Is there any type of cushioning, arch support, etc.?
Does the texture of the insole feel comfortable on your foot when walking around?
(If you will wear shoes without socks this is really important.
If you will wear them with hosiery that is thin, it’s also important.)

If you use custom orthotics, will you have ability to use them with this shoe?
Do they fit comfortably on top of the manufacturers insole?
Or can the insole be removed and replaced with your favorite insoles? 


If you need to use orthotics and you can't use them with the shoes you are looking at... how likely are you to reach for them on a regular basis? It may be best to skip the purchase, while still appreciating their beauty!
​​
Slip into something a little more comfortable, like a Wiivv insole...in leopard print!

What is the width of the shoe?

One of the most important discoveries I have recently made regarding shoe considerations is width. I wear an average size 8 women’s shoe, yet I found a huge variation in shoe widths within my collection. I discovered that my favorite, most reached for shoes like my sanuks and Birkenstock’s, were also the widest at the toebox. Coincidence? I think not!
Picture
Picture
The wide toebox of Birkenstocks and Sanuks make them go-to shoes for travel and everyday wear!

I never considered that my feet would be “wide”, but I now realized that they may be on the border of normal and wide. Meaning a shoe with a narrower fit (think: most pointed toes like the beautiful Rothys point) I would really need to size up in to wear comfortably.

There is a very real chance that this is why I never fell in love with my tieks (review here) They were actually the most narrow of every shoe I own. It’s possible that if I had sized up, I would have had a completely different experience. The materials are premium. The construction is high quality. The customer service is lovely. But the fit was not right for my foot. And my guess is that the same thing may be true for others who tried tieks and didn’t love them. ​
Remember, you can appreciate the design and craftsmanship of a pair of shoes and that doesn’t mean that you have to purchase them. If they aren’t right for your foot and body or your lifestyle or even your closet, you will likely wear them a few times and then they will, sadly, collect dust in your closet. You’ll regret spending the money on them and the artisan's work will be hidden away. 

We’ve all done this before! ​
But what can you do if you already have some shoes that your feet just don’t love? ​
Look out for part two of this article series!

You'll Also Like... 

Picture
Picture
Picture

​Love It, Share It, Pin It!

Picture
Picture

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Quick Links:

    Tap a logo to check out these great brands!
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
      
     

    Popular
    Articles

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Try The World

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture


    Picture

    Picture
    Aldi Reviews

    Picture
    Last Swab - The World's First Reusable Cotton Swab
    Exclusive 10% off Last Swab / Last Tissue
    Picture
    Last Tissue - If a Kleenex pack and a handkerchief had a baby



    Shop Pact Today.

    Amazon Store:

    Check Out My Favorite Amazon Items!



    Some (not all) posts contain affiliate links. When you click them, I may receive credit of some sort. I hope they are convenient and helpful for you and if so, clicking them will be helpful to me! Thanks for your support! :o) 
    Picture
    " "

    Categories

    All
    2020
    Aldi
    Amazon
    Apple
    Bathroom
    Black Friday / Cyber Monday
    Brooklinen
    Butcherbox
    Canada
    Capsule Wardrobe
    Cardigan
    Caribbean
    Cashmere
    Cashmere Sweater
    Closet Audit Capsule Wardobe
    Comfy Button Up
    Cotton
    Credit Cards
    Cruise
    Customer Service
    Dari Boot
    Declutter
    Dressy Sweatshirt
    Emma Sweater
    Encircled
    Etsy
    Everlane
    Fall Style
    Food
    For The Home
    Guys Edition
    Health & Beauty
    Hello Fresh
    High Rise
    High Waisted
    How To Style
    Imperfect Foods
    India
    In Search Of
    Instacart
    Japan
    Jeans
    Jude Sweater
    Lifestyle
    Lily Silk
    Linen
    London
    Low Waste
    Merino Wool
    Modal
    Monthly Recap
    Mott & Bow
    My Closet
    New Designs
    Nico Dress
    Nisolo
    Norwex
    Not Perfect Linen
    Numi
    OOTD
    Packing Tips
    Pact
    Petite Pear
    Petite Style
    Pink
    Poppy Barley
    Portugal
    Priority-pass
    Quince
    Recipes
    Restaurants
    Review
    Rothys
    Saving Money
    Shelter Cardigan
    Shoes
    Silk
    Simplify
    Skinny Jeans
    Spring Style
    Sri-lanka
    Style
    Summer Style
    Sustainable
    Sweaters
    Tech
    Tencel
    Thailand
    Tiny-house-love
    Tiny-house-love
    Tradlands
    Travel
    Travel-accommodation
    Travel-accommodation3bd3932fb8
    Travel Transportation
    Travel-transportationabf41f1645
    Try Ons
    Tutorial
    Usa
    Vetta
    Willow Sweater
    Winter Style

Trip Don't Fall Travel & Lifestyle Blog (TDF)
www.tripdontfall.xyz
Copyright 2021
  • Travel
    • Destinations >
      • California
      • Canada
      • London
      • USA
      • Caribbean
      • Thailand
      • Sri Lanka
      • Bermuda
      • Japan
    • Away Luggage
  • Latest Posts
  • Reviews By Brand
    • Clothing >
      • Encircled Reviews
      • Mott & Bow Reviews
      • Quince Clothing Reviews
      • Tradlands
      • Vetta Capsule
    • Shoes >
      • Bali Elf Handmade Leather Shoes & Accessories
      • Birdies
      • Nisolo
      • Rothys
    • Meal Delivery >
      • Aldi
      • Butcherbox
      • Hello Fresh
    • Home >
      • Last Tissue
      • Last Object
      • Brooklinen
    • Sustainable Gifts
  • Lifestyle
    • Capsule Wardrobe
    • Discounts & Promos >
      • Last Tissue & Last Swab Discount Code TRIPDONTFALL
      • Hello Fresh Sign Up Discount!
      • Butcherbox Sign Up Discount
      • Instacart Sign Up Discount Code
      • Current Miles + Points
      • Chase Freedom Flex - 5% Cashback Groceries - $200 Bonus
      • Chase Freedom Unlimited - % Groceries + 1.5% Cashback Everyday - $200 Bonus!
      • Chase Sapphire Preferred - Best Travel Card - $0 Foreign Transaction Fees - $750 Bonus!
    • Food & Drink
    • For The Home
    • Travel
    • Reviews
    • Style
    • Black Friday/ Cyber Monday 2021 >
      • Sustainable Brands Black Friday Cyber Monday Deals
      • Blog Posts - Sustainable Brand Round-up BFCM 2021
      • Encircled - Canadian Shoppers
      • Encircled - US/Global Shoppers
      • Etsy Black Friday & Cyber Monday BFCM 2021
  • Faves
    • Low Waste Swaps
    • Protein Bars To Try
    • Smoothies
    • Safer Laundry Detergents
    • Travel Shoes
    • Cooking Essentials
  • Deals