If the shoe fits…or wait, does it?

Considering we spend at least 8-12 hours a day wearing shoes, it’s astounding how many people put up with poorly constructed, poorly fitted footwear.  Shoes that don’t fit are uncomfortable at best, and can lead to chronic knee, leg, or back pain at worst.  Sheppard’s shoes has spent seventy seven years retailing high quality footwear like, Crockett & Jones from the U.K., and Alden from the U.S.  This has given us some insights that may help you find the fit that is right for you. 

 

Question:

 

Could you tell if a pair of shoes fit, if they didn’t have the size marked inside?  Most people fit by numbers, not by feel or foot position.

 

It’s important to know what a proper fit feels like, especially given that every manufacturer’s shoes fit differently – even different styles from the same manufacture can be very different when it comes to fit!  Numbers (sizes) are a guideline to help you find the right fit; they should never be the deciding factor. 

 

When you first try on a pair of shoes, do you feel for the end of your toe?  Do you feel the position of your arch?  The support structure for ones body weight is the arch of the foot.  It is paramount to fit the arch properly.  Find the ball of the foot and position it at the turn of the sole, or at the widest point on the shoe.  This helps in three ways:

 

1. The widest part of your foot is in the widest part of the shoe. 

2. The shoe should be designed to bend/flex at that very same point.  The ball of the foot

     is where your foot bends. 

3. The arch of the shoe will be lined up properly to cup and support the arch of the foot. 

 

By positioning the arch correctly you won’t be forcing the wide part of your foot into a narrow part of the shoe, or forcing the shoe to bend where it’s not designed to bend.   Ultimately,  you will achieve support which, in turn, leads to all day comfort.  Your toes should have freedom to move, not feel bound or scrunched. 

 

Try this:

 

Find your most comfortable pair of leather soled shoes (rubber is hard to tell).  Turn them over and look at the wear pattern on the sole.  It’s very likely that the wear shows evenly, out to the edges of the sole, from tip to the wide point and side to side.  This indicates that your foot is relaxed and supported.  Now find your least comfortable pair and do the same.  It’s likely to show an uneven wear pattern, mostly in the middle and off the tip without showing much wear on the edges.  This obviously indicates an improper fit, a scrunched foot, and an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

 

Poor quality materials and inexpensive construction techniques have made comfort and fit difficult to obtain in today’s market.  There is so much more to discuss when it comes to proper fitting shoes!  Look for future posts on shoe construction, width options, and variations related to style to help you find that perfect fit!