Choosing footwear is an important decision from both a health and an aesthetic point of view; only shoes that, besides looking good, also allow free movement are truly healthy for our feet and our whole body.
For everyday wear, shoes should be lightweight, breathable, and flexible, and made from high-quality materials that create a comfortable climate for our feet. For more demanding, uneven terrain, shoes should be sturdier and more stable, with soles firm enough that rough ground doesn’t tire or injure us.
Today, a built-in waterproof membrane is considered the standard for quality footwear; however, because it reduces breathability, it’s worth thinking about whether the pair you’re buying will be used mostly in wet weather or not. If you plan to wear them mainly in dry conditions, it’s better to prioritize breathability over waterproofing and ask, when buying, how much moisture they still keep out. Of course, shoes need to be cared for with a cream or spray, and never dried near heaters. The following questions are meant to help you think about the shoes you wear:
How flexible are the soles of the shoes you wear? Inflexible soles make our feet passive while we walk, which leads to weaker muscles and stiff joints. Shoes with flexible soles allow our feet to move and adapt to the surface. The soles should be soft enough that you can bend them without effort.
Do your toes lie flat on the ground in your shoes, or do they curl? Anatomically, our toes are wider than the rest of the foot—are the shoes you wear shaped so that your toes have enough room to spread and straighten while you stand?
How well does the shape of the shoe fit your foot? If your shoes don’t fit your foot well when you put them on, the muscles in the sole have to work hard while walking to grip the shoes. But that’s not the kind of effort that properly strengthens the muscles in your feet.
How high are the heels you wear? Heels always change your posture and can cause problems. Shoes without heels maintain the most natural body posture.
