Right Shoes for Proper Foot

That stability is also important when you roll forward and push off with your toes, as you do when you walk. And you’ll be less likely to trip because the soles of walking shoes are smoother than those of running shoes.

There are three basic foot types—neutral, rigid and flexible—that describes what your foot does every time you take a step. Shoes that best support your foot type will be safer, more comfortable and last longer. Carry out the following Wet Test to determine what type of footwear is best for you. Dip your bare feet into a pan of water. Applying your full weight, step onto a piece of brown paper. Repeat until you get a crisp pattern of each foot. Match them to those shown against each type. If yours are somewhere between neutral and flexible, use neutral as your guide. If you fall between neutral and rigid, choose rigid. If your footprints show different patterns, aim to fit the more flexible one.



You’ll see about an inch strip of wetness in the arch area.
How you tread your feet are well balanced and pronate (the anatomical term for rotation movement). Your feet lengthen and spread out about a half-shoe size when you stand; they absorb shock well and have good stability.

How to fit you are the lucky one because yours is the easiest foot to fit, therefore many styles are designed for your type. Make sure you buy a pair that feels comfortable when you try it on—there should be no rubbing or pinching.

Rigid Foot
Your arch is so high that you’ll see little, if any, imprint in the arch area.
How you tread your feet tend to roll inward only slightly, so you under-pronate, which means you walk more on the outsides of your feet. Rigid feet are stable, but they don’t absorb shock well because they’re very stiff.


How to fit you need shoes that are well cushioned to absorb shock and flexible enough to allow your feet to roll more. Go for a roomy upper to accommodate your high arch. Choose shoes with the highest heels if you have tight calves, which is common in this foot type. Your feet are also likely to curve inward at the ball (you can check this out by tracing your feet), so look for a pair that does likewise, by matching the tracings of your feet to the soles of shoes you’re considering.

Flexible Foot
Your foot is flat and has a low arch. It will leave the fullest imprint with the archest area in contact with the paper.

Flexible Foot
How you tread your feet roll inward too much (over-pronate) when you walk. They’re unstable but they absorb shock well because they spread out: They change an entire size when you stand. How to fit because your feet tend to flatten, you need a pair of shoes that has less space between the laces and the sole. You don’t need a lot of cushioning, but you do need good arch support so your feet don’t completely flatten when you step. Also, lower-heeled shoes will help keep your feet more stable.

While you are shopping for walking shoes, also bear the following in mind:
* Buy the shoes in the afternoon as the feet tend to swell later in the day.
* Try the shoes with socks on—preferably with sports socks if you are buying sports shoes.
* Walk around with the shoes on for five minutes in the store.
* The toes should not touch the front of the shoe and rub against the surface of the shoe on any spot as it will cause irritation and long term use of faulty footwear can cause other foot problems like bursitis, bunions and corns.
* Don’t lace the shoes too tight.

Life of a pair
Your pair’s wear and tear is largely dependant on usage. A pair of walking shoes usually last 500 kilometers. Have two pairs of workout shoes at any time and rotate the shoes so you are not stuck with a worn out pair.