Correctly fitting shoes are essential for foot health, but what features should you look for? Hotter’s Podiatrist, Martin Nunn, gives his tips for buying comfortable shoes.

Uncomfortable shoes can ruin the whole day. For this reason, it’s important to choose shoes that allow the foot to move normally without restriction. This will ensure that you can walk all day in complete comfort, without tired aching feet at the end of the day. Check to make sure that there’s enough room at the toe-box to allow your toes to wriggle, and there’s enough depth so the upper doesn’t rub the tops of the toes. Ideally, the front part of the shoe should follow the natural shape of your toes without being excessively pointed. There should be a space of about a ½ inch between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe – this allows the foot to stretch out during walking and prevents damage to your toes and toenails.

Soft leather uppers will allow your skin to breathe, and will conform to the unique features of your foot. Your foot should be held comfortably within the shoe by the fastening or the elastic inset so it doesn’t slip. A lightweight cushioning sole will absorb the shock as your foot walks on hard surfaces, ensuring you can walk in complete comfort. For ladies, it’s best to keep the high heels for evenings out, and to choose a lower heel of about 1 to 1 1/2 inches for daily use.

When purchasing shoes, try the following tips:

• Try your new shoes in the afternoon as feet tend to swell a little during the day
• Wear the socks or stockings you will be wearing with the shoes
• Shoes should feel comfortable straight away. They shouldn’t need “breaking in”

If you are purchasing Hotter shoes through Mail Order then you can, of course, try your shoes a little longer. Wear them around the house and see how they feel. And if they are not right, post them back to us free of charge for a replacement or refund.

There will be some difference in fit between different shoe brands and even within different shoe styles in the same brand, so use your shoe size as a guide only – make sure the shoe feels right straight away when you try it on. If you have one foot that’s a larger size than the other, it’s best to buy the larger size.

Whilst having the correct length of the foot is important, the width fitting is vital too. To find your width, place a soft tape measure around the widest part of your foot, then check the table below to find which fitting you require.

Ladies

Mens