How To Buy Walking Shoes
Walking shoes are performance footwear products designed to meet very
specific functional requirements of the sport. The mechanics of walking are
distinct from other activities, such as running or aerobics, so it is important
to wear a walking shoe to get the most comfort and efficiency out of the
activity.
How to Buy Walking Shoes
If your primary exercise activity is walking, it is important to buy shoes
designed specifically for walking. Modern walking shoes have been engineered
for the unique stride and stress demands of exercise walking.
Heel Construction
- Walking shoes have a low-profile heel with a
slight bevel on the lateral (outer) side of the heel
to steady the foot and ankle, help prepare you for roll-through, and encourage
an efficient foot strike
- Shock absorption isn't as big a requirement in walking shoes as it is in more high-impact activity
shoes
- The heel on a walking shoe should be specially designed to accommodate the
natural roll-through motion of walking
Cushioning and Heel Height
- Walking shoes have low heel profiles because walkers need less heel
cushioning than runners
- Most walking shoes will have a relatively low midsole profile since a
walker's cushioning needs are only moderate
-
Heel counter--This is a plastic or composite
material used to reinforce the heel area and increase stability. It will keep
your foot snugly in place and centered in your shoe as you walk.
Flexibility
A walker's foot flexes more than a runner's during
toe-off, therefore the make-up and construction of a walking shoe
must allow for this flexibility.
-
Flex Grooves
- Cut horizontally across the forefoot of the outsole or bottom of the
shoe, allowing the foot to bend and flex properly
- In shoes without flex grooves the
and outsole materials should be flexible
-
Upper materials
- Walking shoe uppers are sturdy enough to be supportive but are also
breathable and lightweight
- All-leather shoes are the sturdiest and most stable, but they are
heavier and less breathable
- Shoes that combine leather and lightweight, breathable, synthetic mesh
materials offer both durability and breathability and are typically more lightweight
-
Toe Box
- Walking shoes offer more room in the toe box to allow your toes to flex
up during heel plant and spread out and flex during the toe-off
portion
- A toe box that is too small will restrict the muscles and tendons in
the foot and lead to pain and cramping
- As a general rule, you should have about 1/2-inch (about a thumb's
width) between your longest toe and the front of the shoe and 1/2-inch between
your longest toe and the top of the shoe
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When To Buy New Walking Shoes
- The easiest way to tell if you need new walking shoes is to look at the
soles. If they are worn out or unevenly worn, they should be replaced.
- Walking shoes should be replaced every 500 miles, or every six months,
mainly due to the breakdown in cushioning that occurs
- If you are wearing your walking shoes for activities besides fitness
walking, those miles count, too
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Determining Your Shoe Size
- Determining your shoe size is essential to a comfortable fit
- Don't assume your shoe size is the same as it has always been. The
shape of your feet changes over time.
- For the perfect fitting shoe, see Determine
Your Shoe Size
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Fit Tip
| Toe Area | Width Area | Heel Area |
| Allow (thumbnail's length) of space between top of longest toe on largest foot and the end of
the shoe | Foot should fit comfortably without stretching the upper over the midsole of the shoe | Heel can move but is not supposed to slip |
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