What to look for when buying a new pair of shoes?

“Our incomes are like our shoes; if too small, they gall and pinch us; but if too large, they cause us to stumble and trip”. And we couldn’t agree with that more. In this article, you will learn about what you need to look for when buying a new pair of shoes so that you and your shoes stay happily ever after.

Size & Fit

The most important thing to check is which size is best for you. Wiggle your toes, make sure they are not too tight nor too loose.

As a matter of fact, 6 out of 10 people’s feet swell after a long day of work. So, try them on with thick socks to make sure they don’t get too tight and strangle your feet. 

Walk around and make sure your foot is not rubbing against the inner parts of the shoe which may result in shoe bites or blisters.

If no size fits you perfectly, go for the next available bigger size. You can alaways insert an extra inner sole or wear thick socks if it is too big to manage.

Flexible Sole

We never know what’s coming. A long walk or sometimes even run! When trying on new shoes, make sure to check how flexible the sole is. Some shoes are very flexible, but take away the inner sole’s softness in return. For the best comfort, look for a shoe that has a highly flexible outer sole and a very comfortable inner one. 

Safety

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And when playing if a stone or thorn pricks him right through his shoes, he would never step out of his house again. So, make sure to test your new pair of shoes for safety and durability. That doesn’t mean you stick a needle right through. Rather, test the outer sole for rigidness and quality.

Breathability

Not all shoes have perforations to allow circulation of air. Sweat if trapped inside the shoe, can cause bacterial or fungal infections in addition to the foul smell. So, it is recommended to buy shoes that allows air and water vapour to escape from inside the shoe, while also allowing cooler air from outside to enter.

Overall Quality

Not all shoes are created equal. Cheaper shoes tend to get worn out very sooner than expected. So, make sure to check the quality of the sole, inner linings, stitches & material before making the purchase. 

You can check the quality of a shoe by the number of stitches it has. It measures the strength and quality of the material. Ideally, a shoe must have at least 10-12 stitches per inch. Cheaper quality shoes usually don’t have stitches, but are glued together. 

The other shoe

Nobody is perfect and neither are our feet. Usually unnoticeable, most people have a slight variation in the length or width of each foot. If so, make sure to buy the bigger size of the two. 

Stores usually showcase only one, either the left or right shoe. This may help them against a possible thief. But you don’t get to see the other shoe. Nobody deliberately sells you a pair with different sizes, but there are possibilities of that happening. Sometimes, there are defects or small imperfections. So, be sure to check both the shoes and the actual pieces you are about to buy.  

Life of the shoe

Nothing lasts forever and the same applies to our shoes also. But what matters is how long it goes. Even the finest shoes get worn out very soon if you do not take care of them. Just like humans, shoes need love too. Consider getting them professionally washed/cleaned from time to time and when not in use, place shoe trees in them. These small acts go a long way and keep your shoe looking new for a very long time.