Your old shoes are worn out and you are ready for a new pair. A frequently heard question in our practice is; “What are good shoes now?. When buying shoes you have to look carefully at what your foot needs. If you have a wider foot, it is useful if you also look at a shoe that is a bit wider.
Moreover, everyone knows the following situation. You see a nice shoe in the store. It fits well in the store, but at home, you find out after wearing it that it is just a bit too big or pinching. Sin!
Below 10 tips to make buying shoes easier
Tip 1: Buy the shoes preferably in the afternoon
Due to the retention of moisture, our feet are a bit swollen as the day progresses, so it is advisable to buy shoes in the afternoon and not in the morning. It may just be that the shoes you bought in the morning still pinch in the afternoon.
Tip 2: Wear socks that you normally wear
When trying on shoes, bring socks that you normally wear. If you fit a shoe with a thin sock and you normally wear thicker socks, it may be that the shoe is too tight or the other way around it is too big.
Tip 3: Don’t just focus on the size of a shoe
Always had a size 37? And now you don’t come in a size 37 anymore? It is a mistake to think that you always need the same shoe size. Any size can have a different size for brand A than for shoe brand B. It is best that you fit several sizes and buy the shoe that fits your foot best.
Tip 4: Buy the right size
There are a number of ways to check if the shoe is the right size. The foot can of course be measured with a size meter, this determines the exact size.
If this is not at hand, you can press the big toe up when you are wearing the shoe. You can then feel how much space is left with the thumb. It is best to have someone else do this because they can access it best. When there is about 7 mm space left, this is sufficient. Space should be about a finger’s width thick.
Another way you can use is to put a thumb in the shoe behind the heel, if this is not possible then the shoe is too small.
Tip 5: Pay attention to the width of the shoe
A shoe is not intended to pinch. So always pay close attention to the width of the shoe, especially if you have a wide foot. Make sure that when you are wearing the shoe that the foot does not push the shoe out of shape. If this is the case, you do not need a larger size, but a larger width size. If you can move the foot from left to right in the shoe, then the shoe is too wide and you should look for a narrower shoe and not smaller shoe size.
Pay attention! Not all brands use the same widths, so there may be a difference.
Incidentally, it is true that shoes run out and become smoother through use. However, if the shoes are already squeezing in the store, walking out will not help. Then look for a suitable model.
Tip 6: Pay attention to stitching and seams
If you have sensitive feet, diabetes, rheumatism, or lumps on the feet, it is important to make sure that there are no stitches and seams on, for example, the lumps. This is because the shoe cannot spread out in this place and a pressure point can be caused. For diabetes and rheumatism patients it is also important that there are no stitching and seams in the interior, which can cause pressure points and in the worst case, wounds.
Tip 7: Pay attention to the bending point of the sole
A shoe should not be too loose. That is why it is important to pay attention to the inflection point when buying the shoe. The flexion point should be at the joint of the big toe. If the inflection point is not in the right place, it may cause forefoot complaints in the future, for example. The outsole must also not bend in the middle, if this is possible, the shoe is too weak.
Tip 8: Pay attention to the thickness of the sole
The thickness of the outsole influences comforts while walking. When you walk on a very thin sole, you feel every stone much easier, because there is less cushioning while walking. A thick sole does this more and is also more suitable for people who have to stand and/or walk a lot during the day.
Tip 9: Provide a well-fitting heel
The heel also called the counter, is located at the back of the shoe near the heel. It should close well around the heel. Then he keeps the foot in place while standing and walking. Therefore, walk up and down a number of times when trying on the shoes. If you slide your foot or slip out of the shoe with the heel, the heel part is not fitting and maybe too wide. Then look for a narrower heel area.
Tip 10: Pay attention to the correct toe height
Toe height is often forgotten when buying shoes, but it is certainly important. If you buy shoes where the nose is too low, the shoe may press against the nail and cause pain and discoloration to the nail. Always try to make sure that the toes are moving in the shoes, this means that there is enough space in the shoe.
