| 1. |
Buy the right size. Never assume the size on the shoe box or on the shoe itself is your exact size. Different brands and styles offer different sizes although labeled the same size. I know for a fact that I wear a size 10 shoe, but my Nike athletic shoes are a size 11 – and sometimes I fit into a size 10. So make sure you invest the time to try on your new shoes to ensure the right size. |
| 2. |
Shop at the end of the day. Throughout the course of the day your feet tend to swell and enlarge as much as half a size. Don’t expect your shoes to stretch. Your best bet to ensure a comfortable fit throughout the day is to visit the shoe store later in the day. |
| 3. |
Wear the same walking socks. Always try on your new shoes while wearing the same type of athletic socks you plan to wear when performing your walking program. A frequent problem arises when people try on a pair of athletic shoes over thin nylon socks and then complain their shoes are too snug at home when they are donning thicker athletic socks of different material. |
| 4. |
Big toe test. While wearing the new shoes, push down on the toebox of the shoe to ensure there is about a finger tip’s worth of space between your biggest toe (big toe or second toe).and the end of the shoe. Anything less may be too tight; anything more maybe too loose. Also make sure you perform the “big toe” test on both shoes since most people have one foot slightly larger than the other. |
| 5. |
Slip and slide. Your heels should fit snugly in your shoes. They should not slip and slide up and down as you push off while taking a step forward. |
| 6. |
Take a trial walk. Now that the new shoes appear to be the right size – regardless of what the labeling indicates – take a trial walk to make sure they fit correctly and feel comfortable throughout your entire gait pattern. Do as I do and walk right out the store’s front door (warn the attendant) and monitor the shoes’ comfort level as you walk on different surfaces and at different paces. -- PC |
