Shoes types for walking

Walking shoe types and buying tips

You don’t need a lot of fancy gear or equipment to walk. But you do need a good pair of shoes. If your feet hurt, you’ll stop walking. The right shoes will be well worth the time and money you spend picking them – you won’t get far in shoes that hurt or cause injury. Walking might be the one human activity that has literally been done in every type of shoe. If you’re looking for a pair of “walking shoes,” however, you’re really looking for shoes that will be comfortable for long stretches of walking. The good news is that a broad range of outdoor shoes can help you hit your stride. Walking shoes are your most important item of walking gear. Not only do you want to choose the best pair for your health and performance, but you also want to make sure that you are spending your money wisely.

It’s helpful to know what to look for in a good fitness walking shoe and how to understand that the pair you pick is the right set of shoes for your walking style.

Walking shoes are your most important item of walking gear. Not only do you want to choose the best pair for your health and performance, but you also want to make sure that you are spending your money wisely.

It’s helpful to know what to look for in a good fitness walking shoe and how to understand that the pair you pick is the right set of shoes for your walking style.

Foot Basics

Your feet change as you age. Tendons, muscles, and ligaments in your feet stretch, making your feet wider. They also can get longer and, after years of walking on them, the fatty pads that cushion the bottoms of your feet can start to thin out. That’s why you should stand and measure your feet each time you shop for shoes and look for cushioned shoes that will absorb shock better. Measure both of your feet, if one is larger than the other, go with the larger size

Your foot type matters. Different types of feet feel better in different shoes. Determine what type of foot you have. One way to tell is to wet your foot and then step on a piece of cardboard or colored paper. Look at your footprint. If you can see most of your feet, you probably have low arches or flat feet. If you see only the side or very little of your foot, you likely have high arches. You’ll be able to see a curved foot if you have neutral arches.

Also, think about environmental needs before you choose shoes.

If you live in a very rainy climate, for instance, you’ll want to make sure the shoes you buy are waterproof. If you live in a cold climate that gets a lot of snow, having shoes with good traction also is important. And if you’re an experienced walker who treks an hour or two five or seven days a week, you’ll need a more protective shoe than someone who doesn’t walk as much.

How to choose walking shoes

Walking might be the one human activity that has literally been done in every type of shoe. If you’re looking for a pair of “walking shoes,” however, you’re really looking for shoes that will be comfortable for long stretches of walking. The good news is that a broad range of outdoor shoes can help you hit your stride

Then narrow your walking shoe choices into one of the following categories:

Road –running shoes: Made for pavement, these lightweight shoes are good for walking at a brisk pace. They’re also good if you want one pair of shoes for walking and running.

Hiking shoes: These are a good option for paths in urban parks or greenbelts and surfaces like cobblestone streets and gravel paths. They also work if you want one pair of shoes for hiking and walking, or if you want extra durability or stability.
Trail –running shoes: Also a good option for non-paved surfaces, they offer a compromise between the performance of road runners and the stable build of hiking shoes.
Cushioning: A uniform level of cushioning, rather than a huge heel cushion, is more comfortable for many walkers.
Fit: Getting shoes that fit you well is the most important factor of all. Getting fit by a footwear expert is your best way to do that.
Heel counter – the area of the shoe that holds the back of the heel, just underneath the Achilles tendon. This area should be snug but not tight, comfortably cupping the back of the heel. A good heel counter will help prevent the feet from over-pronation or supination.
Midsole – the area between the tread and the cloth upper of the shoe. This is the most important component of any footwear. Midsoles are made of a variety of materials that give the shoe greater or lesser degrees of cushioning, support, and flexibility.

Fitting Guidelines for Walking Shoes

Here are some general guidelines to consider when getting fitted for a new pair of walking shoes:

Have the salesperson take the dimensions of both feet since there may be differences. Take measurements while standing, as feet expand when bearing weight. Base new shoe size on these measurements, not on previous shoe size.
Take foot measurements at the end of the day, since feet tend to swell throughout the course of the day.
Never buy walking shoes that immediately feel too tight. Though they will go through a break-in period, if walking shoes initially feel very tight, they are too small.

Finally, keep in mind that arch supports or orthotics can supplement the original shoe to help attain the best fit.

Should You Buy Walking Shoes or Running Shoes?

Shoe manufacturers put the best design and technology into running shoe styles while walking shoe styles are designed primarily for market appeal rather than performance.

To determine if that walking shoe you are interested in buying meets your needs or if you should go with a running shoe design it’s helpful to keep the following in mind. It’s essential for a walking shoe to:

Buy shoes at the end of the day. The longer you’re on your feet, the more they swell. Most people’s feet are actually largest at the end of the day, after their daily activities. It’s important to fit and buy your shoes then.
Bring innerwear. Try on shoes with socks or any special inserts you normally would wear.
Allow a 3/8-inch to half-inch space from the tip of your longest toe to the tip of your shoes. The longest toe is usually either the great toe or the second toe. If you can push the tip of your index finger between the tip of your longest toe and the end of the shoes, the shoe length is adequate.
Be lightweight: This is one of the reasons that running shoes tend to be a good choice for walkers. Many walking shoes weigh more than running ones. Lighter-weight shoes will make for easier striding when you’re out for long walks or trying to pick up your pace.
Not have a flared heel: You do not want a big flared heel since walkers strike with the heel first. A slightly undercut heel is preferred to facilitate the heel-to-toe rolling action of walking. A flared heel adds extra stability, and you see it on running shoes for runners that need stabilization. You probably only need a flared heel on trail shoes for walking on uneven surfaces.

Shoe Shopping

You’re likely to have better luck getting a good-fitting shoe if you go to an athletic shoe store. Ask friends or people in your walking group or health club to recommend a good store and knowledgeable salesperson.

With all the athletic shoes on the market today, it’s easy to get confused about what to buy. While you can wear a running shoe – which has extra cushioning – for walking, avoid other athletic shoes, like tennis or basketball shoes. Walking shoes are made for back-to-front movement, while court shoes are designed for side-side-movement and quick stops and pivots.