How to find the right shoe when everything seems confusing. Shopping for new shoes can be a fun experience, and while many people can and do get deeply excited about the prospect of shopping for new shoes, many find this unavoidable task confusing and overwhelming.
Just think about the huge selection of shoes on the market. It’s easy to see how people struggle to know where to even start looking.
Each pair of shoes for sale that you will encounter in your journey will have been created with a specific task in mind. Many people wear athletic shoes recreationally, which is of course not a problem. But when it comes to very specific activities, like hiking, running or dancing, the original intent with which the shoe was created, starts to matter. Let’s figure out how to navigate this decision.
How to find the right shoe
Everyone likes to talk a stroll through the discount area of Nike sales area. Is there any bigger thrill than finding a great looking pair of shoes at a price you would never have thought would be possible?
Believe it or not, this is where the red flags start to go up. A great deal on a pair of shoes is a wonderful find for anyone, except if that means that you cheaply buy the wrong pair of shoes for the activity your enjoy, for the sake of saving money.
Ironically, the money you thought you saved, ends up being wasted when you buy in this way. The wrong shoe for the job will result in aches and pains, fatigue, unnecessary strain and even backache. The best price on earth is too high if you are not supported or protected for your chosen activity.
Which kind of shoe should I choose?
Bunions, ingrown toenails, corns and chafing are no fun, but if you insist on pushing through with the wrong pair of shoes, this could be what you’re in for. (Still considering just winging that hike in running shoes?).
If you do suffer from any form of existing foot health problems or injuries, a visit to a podiatrist or our doctor could go a long way in helping you find the right shoes to help mitigate your condition.
If it hurts to move in them, don’t buy them
Different footwear manufacturers design and manufacture their shoes in many different ways. Back to the earlier example of the Nike shoes sales: if it doesn’t fit right, or if it does, but is not compatible with what you intend to wear them for, you are wasting your money.
The money you save at a sale will be spent on pain killers, doctors or other health specialists and ultimately, on new shoes when you realise that you cannot continue in this way. To get past this problem, have a good look at your lifestyle, and see what activities you really enjoy, and spend time and money on. It is in this area that you should be investing in proper shoes.
