Shoe Stores Offer a Personal and Professional Touch in the Northeast

The walk step involves first contacting the ground with the heel, then rolling the weight of the body through the foot until finally pushing off with the toes. In a walk stride, one foot is always in contact with the earth, unlike running where there is a split second when you are airborne at each step. So, for walking needs these are the qualities one should seek:

Cushion. This is very important at the heel especially, where the most forceful impact occurs and, at the forefoot, where you press off with each step. When you look at the bottom of a typical shoe, there is a dark outsole, which is there to ensure you don't feel the surface quite so much. The outsole also makes your shoe last longer. Between that outsole and the bottom of the inside of the shoe is another layer. The material of this midsole layer is where the cushion is derived. A pair of shoes can look great on the bottom and be completely worn out if the midsole is worn out. Typically this will occur in about 300-500 miles of walking.

Flexibility. The shoe must bend where your foot bends. Since you are earthbound at each step, there is an impact that affects the bones of the foot. If the shoe is too stiff, you will have foot pain. If it's too lose not enough of the impact will be absorbed, thus allowing for potential damage to bones.

Stability. The back of the shoe surrounding the heel should be stiff. Unlike sneakers where you can push in the heel of the shoe easily with your finger, the back of a good should be very hard when you push on it. If you can collapse the back, then you are dealing with an inferior shoe. You would be well advised to take a pass on that particular shoe. If you are walking mostly on uneven trails, look for some ankle support in the design of the shoe.

A proper fit. The shoe must be long enough. There should be a thumb's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. There should be no pressure around your forefoot and there should be wiggle room in the forefoot between the tops of the shoe and your toes. If the shoe is tied properly, there should be no sliding in the shoe.

Try to go to a technical shoe store if one exists. Always walk around for awhile to see if the shoe feels good to you. If it is uncomfortable in the store, it isn't going to get much better over time. Do not be afraid to try on other shoes. If you happen to live in an area where you have the luxury to try out several different shoes and you find one that fits, great, but the shoe has to feel good to your feet!

You will be happiest in socks that keep the moisture away from your foot. Cotton socks will hold moisture and may cause blisters. There are a number of technical fibers available today, such as Coolmax. Look for socks with a high moisture wicking content. These are available at quality shoe stores everywhere. You can always start with one pair. If you like them, buy more. It will take some experimenting to find out what works best for you.