Walking Shoe Shopping Tips

Posted on Dec 2nd 2009 4:18PM by Prevention

In the market for a new pair of walking shoes? Follow these shopping tips to find the perfect match for your feet.

Shop at the end of the day. That's when your feet are largest. If you walk in the morning, you can always make small adjustments in size with socks.

Wear your walking socks. Some styles are really thick, and you may need to go half a size larger with your shoes to accommodate them.

Get your feet measured. As you get older, your feet tend to flatten out. Also, your feet swell when you walk, and they need room as they go through the walking motion. All of these factors may affect your shoe size. So be kind to your feet: Measure them, and be sure to buy big-enough shoes. Footwear that's too small can cause all kinds of problems. A few years ago, a study by the American Podiatric Medical Association revealed that most foot problems among women result from wearing too-small shoes.

When you try on shoes, make sure that there's plenty of room.You need at least a finger's width beyond the end of your longest toe (usually the big toe). And remember to measure when you're standing up rather than sitting down.

Spend some time in the shoes you are trying on.Walk around the store. If you're in a mall, ask if you can take a few laps around the inside corridors. The shoes should feel great.