Often we buy shoes based only on their appearance. It is important to us how attractive and fashionable the shoes look. But the choice of shoes must be approached with the utmost seriousness: your health depends on what you wear on your feet.

Choosing shoes

Poor quality or simply unsuitable shoes can darken your life with minor but annoying troubles, such as blisters. In addition, much more serious problems may arise - diseases of the veins, joints, muscles and even the spine. Therefore, the two main rules for choosing shoes are very simple: 1) it is better not to save money and 2) to refuse beautiful but uncomfortable shoes.

You should not buy new shoes in the morning: by evening, your feet usually swell slightly, and shoes purchased in the morning may seem tight. Make sure the shoes fit perfectly - fit snugly, but not constricting. Tight shoes may cause poor circulation, ingrown nails or crooked fingers. Don't buy shoes that are too tight in the hope that they will wear out over time - don't force yourself to walk in uncomfortable shoes for a long time. However, you should not wear very loose shoes that allow your feet to dangle. Such shoes can also cause calluses, and the leg muscles are constantly under tension.

“When trying on, always wear both shoes, experts recommend. - Be sure to walk around the fitting area. While walking, you should lightly feel the toe of the shoe with your fingers, but not rest against it. Run your hand over the surface of the material and make sure that your toes do not stick out with tubercles on it».

Choose shoes with fairly soft, flexible soles. Bend the shoes in your hands. In high-quality shoes, the sole bends easily, and the top of the shoe does not deform too much. With very thin soles it is convenient to walk only on a flat floor; walking in such shoes on asphalt can hardly be called pleasant - your foot will feel every pebble.

For every day, it is best to choose shoes with small wide heels. A passion for high heels can have a negative impact on your health.

“High heels are harmful not only to the forefoot, but also to the middle and rear., says orthopedic surgeon Andrey Kardanov. - The problem is that in the position of the foot almost “on tiptoe” the load is distributed in an absolutely non-physiological way - some parts of the foot are overloaded, others, on the contrary, are too unloaded. In addition, a high heel completely “turns off” the spring function of the foot. Ideally, with each step, the foot should “spring”, softening the load. And when wearing high heels every step feels like a blow to the spine. The result is osteochondrosis, herniated intervertebral discs, which manifest themselves as seemingly causeless back pain.

So, heels higher than 2-4 centimeters are not recommended. Of course, if necessary, you can wear shoes with a 12-centimeter heel, but such shoes should not be casual. It is best that every couple casual shoes had instep supports (built-in or glued), that is, an insole or half-insole. The insole completely conforms to the shape of the sole, and the half-insole is located only under the heel. The purpose of the insole (and half-insole) is to support normal (or already falling) arches of the feet. This will avoid flat feet. If after several days of wear new shoes If you feel that your feet are uncomfortable, either change your shoes or contact an orthopedic salon to select the appropriate arch supports or insoles.”

In hot and cold

The best choice for any season is shoes made of natural material, which will allow the skin of your feet to breathe and will not interfere with natural heat transfer. We recommend shoes made of genuine leather, nubuck, suede, and textiles. Shoes made of leatherette can be hazardous to health, especially for summer shoes: under the influence of temperature, various chemical components of this material begin to interact with the skin of the feet. In addition, shoes made of leatherette do not allow air to pass to the feet. As a result, you can “earn” diaper rash or fungal diseases.

If you do buy shoes from artificial materials, make sure that at least the lining of the boot is made of genuine leather or textile - for health, first of all, the material with which the foot is in direct contact is important. You should also pay attention to the material from which the insole is made. Ideally, it should absorb unpleasant odors, remove moisture, kill bacteria - it’s great if the insole is impregnated with a special antibacterial composition.

Do not forget that natural materials, unlike artificial ones, wear out and take the shape of the foot over time. By the way, in hot weather Feet swell a little, keep this in mind if you buy summer shoes.

In summer, it is not recommended to wear patent leather shoes, which do not allow moisture and air to pass through easily. You can go to any celebration in patent leather shoes, but for every day it is better to have open sandals or shoes made of natural materials.

For spring and autumn, it is important that the boots do not allow water to pass through and at the same time allow the foot to “breathe”. If demi-season boots or boots are fastened with a zipper, it should not start too close to the sole, otherwise your feet will get wet if you step into even a shallow puddle. Unlike summer shoes, boots should not fit closely to your feet (you won’t wear them on bare feet) - you need to try them on with a thick sock.

IN winter boots or boots the main thing - sole. It should be thick enough, with a special anti-slip protector. It is safest to wear boots in icy conditions with a varied tread pattern - for example, one part in the form of stripes, the other - rounded protrusions. The heel of the boot should also have a tread and be rubber, not plastic, otherwise the foot will slip.

Best retains heat leather shoes with a lining made of natural fur, such as sheep's or sheep's fur, and a fur insole. Choosing the right one winter shoes, you don't have to worry about severe cold and slippery sidewalks.

Fashion victims

Undoubtedly, every woman wants to look fashionable and elegant. The shoe industry offers many ways to make your legs look slimmer and longer. Stiletto heels, narrow toes of shoes, platforms - it’s hard to argue with the fact that such shoes are more feminine than rough boots with thick soles. But how safe are these fashionable delights?

The dangers of high heels have already been mentioned. But you shouldn’t overuse platform shoes either. Firstly, a high platform (like a stiletto heel) does not exclude injuries: it is easy to twist your foot on it. Secondly, when walking on a platform, the ligaments and muscles of the foot are left without “work” and flat feet may develop. If you do buy such shoes, choose a platform that is wide enough and therefore more stable. Remember that neither the hairpin nor the platform are completely suitable for driving a car. The heel can cling to the mat, making it difficult to move your foot from one pedal to another, and the thick platform does not allow you to feel the pressure of your foot on the pedal.

Another fashion detail beloved by many - the pointed toe - is also not harmless. These shoes squeeze your toes, bringing them closer to each other. In this case, the thumb and little finger are lowered, and the rest are raised. All this threatens with deformation of the fingers, the formation of painful calluses and “bumps”. Since the body weight presses the foot into the wedge-shaped space (especially if, in addition to the pointed toe, the shoe has a heel that is 5–6 centimeters or more high), the entire load is transferred to the bones of the middle toes. Because of this, transverse flat feet occur, and painful corns form on the soles.

Children's shoes

Probably, the only thing more important than your own health is the well-being of the child. Incorrectly chosen shoes are dangerous not only because they cause inconvenience to the child: the baby begins to be capricious, and parents sometimes do not even understand that the whole point is in unsuitable shoes. While a child's foot is in the formative stage, it is very important that shoes do not interfere with this process and do not provoke problems such as flat feet.

What should children's shoes be like? “Under no circumstances should a child wear shoes that are too big for him to grow into, but they shouldn’t be tight either,- says pediatric orthopedist-traumatologist Mikhail Trunev. - A rigid, moderately ribbed sole and a rigid upper part. Demi-season and winter shoes should fit the ankle joint, that is, be high.”.

Experts advise purchasing boots for children made from natural material with a small heel, a fixed heel and a soft heel, orthopedic insole and a wide toe. Children's orthopedic shoes is necessary for the prevention of foot deformities and its proper development, which is why many doctors recommend buying just such shoes for children under 4–5 years old.

On the move

Anyone who plays sports knows how much the right clothes and, of course, shoes for training mean. Sneakers should be very comfortable so that discomfort does not distract you from your activities. It is important that they are suitable for the sport you have chosen and reliably protect your leg from injury - protect against “twisting” of the foot, ensure ankle fixation and leg stability. When buying sneakers, pay attention not only to the design, but more importantly to how comfortable it is for you to move in a particular model. Flexible sole, hard heel, lightness - signs of high-quality sports shoes.

It is best to train in shoes made of leather or Gore-Tex that provide normal air exchange, with an insole that can be pulled out and dried. When choosing shoes for sports, keep in mind that during training the foot may increase slightly in size, and also remember that there should be a small space between the toes and the toe of the sneaker. In addition to universal sneakers suitable for all sports, there are special shoes for specific workouts, which a sports store sales assistant will help you choose.

Shoes for aerobics and shaping protects against injuries with the help of special inserts in the sole area. These shoes may be taller than shoes for other sports. This allows you to fix the lower leg and prevent damage to the ankle joint. Since aerobics classes are very dynamic, you will need shoes that are flexible and lightweight to allow you to move easily and comfortably. The wide toe box and narrow heel of the shoe provide better traction on the floor.

For running Very light sneakers that fit perfectly on the foot are best. If your foot slips inside, you risk getting calluses and abrasions, and the risk of ankle injury will increase. You need a flexible toe that allows you to better push off the ground, and a reinforced heel. It is important that running shoes have the ability to cushion shock when they hit the ground. Therefore, sneakers with air pockets - air-filled cavities inside the sole - are suitable for running.

Football Shoes should have a wide reinforced toe area, spikes for playing on grass or a raised sole for the gym.

When choosing shoes for tennis you need to take into account what kind of court you are going to play on - different models are suitable for different types of coverage. Tennis sneakers have a fairly thick sole, flexible in the toe area and stiffer in the heel, as well as a special tread that does not allow slipping on the court surface.

Comfortable, “healthy” shoes will provide you with pleasant and effective workouts, allow you to get less tired during work, entertainment and walking, protect you from illnesses - in a word, they will literally help you stand firmly on your feet in any situation.

IN winter holidays Many stores hold sales, trying to lure customers with discounts of 50 or even 70%. Signs with discounts are also placed on the windows of shoe stores. However, there are pitfalls here: all sorts of promotions often include boots that are either outdated or defective.

They may not be made of leather, as stated on the label, but of leatherette, and therefore the store can reduce the price for it. As footwear specialists and shoemakers say, the cost of such boots is no more than 40 UAH, but they are sold at least 10-20 times more expensive. Meanwhile, the price for real high-quality leather shoes will be the same.

Another trick of shoe stores is that promotional goods, which the buyer discovers defects upon wearing, cannot be exchanged, since the receipt indicates that the goods are discounted and therefore cannot be returned.

How to recognize leatherette and press leather

Winter shoes are made from three materials: leather, leatherette and press leather. It is clear that leather shoes will be the best. These boots will be worn for many years, and you are guaranteed not to freeze in them. Leatherette is inferior to natural materials in that in cold weather it wrinkles or cracks. The worst situation is with products made from press leather, which is leather scraps and waste. Boots and boots made of this material look good, but quickly peel and crack.

The buyer's choice is complicated by the fact that boots made from recycled materials look like they are made from genuine leather, and it is quite difficult to recognize the materials. There are subtleties here. For example, shoes made of leather will feel warmer to the touch than those made of leatherette. Do this test as well. Press the toe of your boots: if the dent immediately straightens out, then you have leather shoes. In addition, on natural leather, even after processing, pores and small wrinkles remain, while leatherette has an ordered, repeating structure (pores and wrinkles are repeated as if stamped) without the slightest defects.

If you are a lover of genuine leather shoes, do not take patent leather products. They are definitely made from leatherette.

Feeling the fur and insole

Experts advise paying attention not only to the material from which the boots are made, but also to the quality of the fur. Of course, it is best to take shoes with natural fur, as it absorbs sweat, moisture leaves the feet, therefore, the limbs do not freeze even in cold weather. severe frosts. The fact that the fur is real is indicated by the following: its fibers are located on the skin, and not on the fabric.

Shoe manufacturers have one trick: they sew natural fur on the cuff of the boot, and an artificial, very thin layer in the toe area, which wears out faster and retains less heat. Therefore, feel the thickness of the fur with your hand on the toe, otherwise you will constantly freeze even in shoes with natural fur. In addition, with such an inspection you will be able to check whether the seams on the fur are made neatly and unnoticeably. Otherwise, the rough seams will chafe your feet.

In winter shoes with fur lining, the heel must be leather, otherwise the fur on the heel will quickly fray.

It happens that unscrupulous companies pass off autumn boots as winter ones. In this case, they are insulated with fur and lined with fur insoles. Demi-season boots are distinguished from winter boots by their soles. It will be thin and smooth. Whereas winter boots and boots are equipped with thick soles, with grooves, to be more stable in case of slippery weather.

When buying winter boots, pay attention to the insole. It should be removed to dry. But if the insole is glued, then the manufacturer hides protruding nails, bumps, and poor-quality seams under it.

The insole should be made of leather or a porous material that absorbs moisture well. Now even well-known companies use leather cardboard and texon as materials for insoles, but the thickness of the cardboard must be at least 2 mm.

At first glance

It is possible to determine the quality of shoes during the initial inspection. Place the shoes on a horizontal surface and press down on the heel. The toes of shoes should not be lifted up more than 1 cm from the surface. Place your chosen pair back to back - the height of the backs and tops (for boots and boots) should be the same. Inspect the shoes - everything should be clean and tidy outside and inside, without any traces of glue.

If you want to buy shoes with laces, you should check for the presence of a sealing insert in the places where hooks and other metal fittings are attached. In these places the skin should be much tougher.

For some buyers, it is important that the sole is stitched. But you should know that sole stitching is only allowed in non-model shoes. However, if this is important to you, then make sure that the sole is actually sewn to the top of the shoe, and not just separately stitched and then glued. To do this, you need to slightly lift the insole and make sure that the stitches are visible from inside the shoe.

The optimal stitch pitch is 0.7 cm. It is better if the stitching is done by machine. As a rule, small handicraft enterprises stitch shoes by hand, and hand stitching can be distinguished by the unevenness of the stitch and the threads sticking out of the stitching holes.

The heel of the shoe should be firm but elastic. At a distance of 2-2.5 cm from the sole it should not bend under pressure thumb hands. Above that, the hardness should gradually decrease and disappear. When palpating, the border of the heel insert should not be felt (otherwise it will rub the foot). If you grab the heel of the shoe with your left hand, and the heel with your right hand, and press towards each other, then the heel part should not float like an accordion onto the heel.

Check and receipt

When purchasing any shoes, ask the store not only for a receipt, but also for a warranty card. It must be valid for at least three months. If the guarantee is less, then it is better to put such a pair aside: it may contain a defect.

Don't miss another moment. On shoes under the zipper there is a strip of leather that prevents the fabric of socks or tights from getting into the fastener. Factory-made shoes have numbers painted on this strip. They must match the lot number indicated in the documents for this product.

In addition, shoes from well-known large companies are characterized by matching branding on the paper and sewn label, as well as on the sole.

Be careful when purchasing and happy shopping!

Prepared by Anna Popenko,
based on materials

Each of us faces almost every year, and sometimes more often, with the choice and purchase of shoes. It is important to choose not only beautiful in appearance, but also quality shoes, which will ensure durability and wearing comfort of the purchased product. Incorrectly selected and low-quality shoes, shoes, boots, sandals can put pressure, lead to foot deformities and calluses, and will not last long. And in order not to make a mistake, you need to know the basic rules of choice. In this article we will answer a very popular question: how to choose quality shoes?

What should you pay attention to?

There are several signs that will help you choose good shoes without much effort:

• Material.
• Sole.
• Smell.
• Price.

Let's look at them in more detail.

• Choose shoes that are made from natural materials. High-quality and good products are made in 90% of cases from the skin of animals such as pigs, calfs and goats.

Important! The most durable is calfskin, and the thinnest is goatskin. Not only the surface should be leather, but also the lining and insole. Such shoes are more expensive, but the foot is comfortable in them and does not sweat.

• Carefully examine the surface of the material on the pair you choose. It can be fleecy, smooth, varnished. The paint on the insole and outer material can reveal a fake or low-quality material. A high-quality product has a rich and uniform color, without streaks or tints.
• Shoes made of patent leather are less breathable than regular leather. A product made of such material will be hot in the summer. It is also impractical in winter, since frost can cause the material to crack.
• Before purchasing a product, conduct a small experiment: walk with a damp cloth ( wet wipe) on the surface, and then with a dry white cloth. If traces of paint remain on it, then you have a very low quality pair in your hands.

Important! The same test can be carried out on the insole, because if it is made of low-quality material, it will spoil tights and light-colored socks. Yes, and problems with unpleasant smell will appear with a 90% probability.

• Foam rubber or leatherette under the insole does not allow air to pass through, which can lead to fungal foot infections.

Important! It is best to purchase shoes in specialized stores, where you can view certificates and receive a guarantee.

Flexible sole and seams

You need to carefully inspect the sole of the product:

• High-quality shoes have fairly flexible, soft soles. To figure out which sole is in front of you, bend the shoes, bringing the toe closer to the back. If this is done easily enough, then such a product will serve you for many years.
• An important factor is the heels. If you are holding in your hands a product that has heels of dubious quality, then you are looking at a product that will not last long.
• Look at the seams very carefully. They must be well made - perfectly straight, sewn with stitches of 2-3 mm. If the stitching is smaller, the perforation effect may occur during wear, which will lead to the stitch breaking.

No smell

Good shoes do not have an unpleasant chemical smell, glue or solvent. The product emits an unobtrusive odor or is completely absent.

Price

Good quality shoes won't come cheap. Don’t chase a low price; it’s not for nothing that the saying “The miser pays twice” exists.

Possible defects:

• Carefully inspect the heel of the selected product - it may be sewn in one piece, and not decorated with the usual vertical straight seam. It can also be overlaid (when its cut can be seen) and with the edges tucked inward. If the heel part is turned inward, this most often indicates that the product is not made of genuine leather. In this way, the manufacturer is trying to hide the low grade of the material.
• Pay attention to the heel. Place both pairs on a flat surface. High-quality shoes should stand firmly on the entire surface of the heels, otherwise the heels may become loose, which will lead to breakage of the instep supports. Heels are made from rubber, plastic, wood or metal. They can be solid or made of two or more materials. Plastic is very fragile, and wood rots from moisture.

Important! A metal rod is placed inside the thin plastic pins for reinforcement. The softer the material and the worse the quality of the metal, the more likely it is that the heel will break. If the metal rod is not inserted the entire length of the heel, this will also lead to breakage of the heel on the shoes or boots.

Video material

We told you how to choose quality shoes. Using the rules described above, you can easily cope with this task. Don't forget that before you buy shoes, you need to try them on. This is the key to making the right choice.

And sports ones, made from material with high hygienic properties. Shoes made of genuine leather are suitable for any season. If you decide to buy leatherette boots, make sure that the lining is made of natural material and regulates moisture absorption. Leather will not be placed inside such shoes, but the textiles must be of high quality. Inspect the seams: they should be tight and with uniform thread tension. Check the adhesive connection between the sole and the upper - lag is unacceptable.

When choosing shoes for a child, pay attention not only to the attractiveness of the model. Choose boots of such quality that they help correct formation feet. Don't forget that your baby needs shoes that make it easy for him to move around. When purchasing, inspect the boots from the outside and inside, determining the material and the accuracy of manufacture. Check that they contain the necessary element - an instep support, with the help of which the child will learn to place his legs correctly when walking. To prevent your baby from chafing, feel rough seams and folds from the inside. Find shoes with comfortable soles. Opt for a model with a flexible and textured outsole that follows the shape of your foot. To prevent your feet from dangling, choose shoes that are the right size and have a hard heel. Give preference to natural material – leather. The boots made from it are soft and take on quickly. the required form and do not interfere with movement.

Choose quality winter shoes. Natural materials remain the leader: leather and suede. On frosty days, these feet feel warm and cozy, but in slush, matte suede quickly loses its attractive appearance. Therefore, if you have to overcome snowy sidewalks and wet roads, Genuine Leather preferable. To keep your feet warm and comfortable, you need an internal lining made of natural fur. If you have decided on a specific model, look inside the boot. Natural fur has a thick pile, and the hairs are closely spaced to each other. Pull them apart and look at the base - real fur will have leather, while faux fur will have textile material. Insert your hand into the boot all the way to the toe and make sure that the natural fur is placed over the entire insole.

Look at the thickness of the sole, because the warmth of your feet also depends on it. If women's boots are made from natural materials outside and inside, but the soles are thin (less than 1 cm), you will be cold. To navigate safely on slippery streets, choose boots with treaded soles. Clasp winter boot can be made in the form of a zipper or lacing. Pay attention to the smooth movement of the zipper - it should easily slide along the entire length of the boot. Make sure of this by unfastening and fastening the model several times. For lace-up shoes, check that the hooks and rivets are securely attached.

Shoes rub, crush and fall apart before your eyes due to a physical “conflict” with the foot. Usually, first the shoes win and the person walks with calluses, and then the foot starts to win - and the shoes fall apart. Good news: there is a way to deal with this.

What you need to know about the foot?

Everyone's feet have different sizes and shapes. But two key characteristics are important to us now, length and width. The size of the foot is determined by its length. The width is usually not indicated separately anywhere, although the feet, with the same length, can differ in width by 1.5 times. Here, for example, is a photo from Wikipedia of just such a case.

To buy the right shoes, you need to advance and in the right way measure its length and width and forever remember these numbers in centimeters. You need to measure in a flattened state. Neither by weight, nor by some kind of insole old shoes, not a trace of paint.

Take 2 sheets of paper (so that your foot fits completely, you can glue several sheets together or staple them together), place them on the floor and stand on the sheet with each foot in turn. Your goal is to circle the foot while the weight of your entire body is on it. This is exactly the shape the foot takes when it receives load while walking. And it is in this position that she and the shoes cause the greatest mutual damage to each other. You can measure your feet with your socks on if you always wear socks.

Step on the sheet and trace the perimeter of each leg individually with a pen so that the full projection of the foot is on the sheet. Don't duck your handle under your foot, but don't lean outward either. Be sure to trace both legs to find out at the same time whether they are symmetrical or not.

After tracing the drawing correctly, you need to measure it correctly. Imagine that you want to place your foot in a rectangular box, the walls of which are adjacent to all sides of the foot. Draw a rectangle around your outlined foot and measure its long side. This will be your foot size in centimeters, which can be converted into shoe size using the manufacturers' sizing charts.

What you need to know about dimensional grids shoe manufacturers?

They are all different and the grid spacing is also different. The same foot length may have different sizes from different manufacturers. If you want to buy a specific brand of shoes, such as Convers or Vans, you can specifically look at their meshes.

Comparing these grids, you can see that 26 cm for Converse will fall between size 8 and 8.5, and for Vans it will be clearly size 8.

Remember what Russian, Italian, English or Chinese size- meaningless. It’s easier to immediately remember in centimeters and then either correlate it yourself or torment consultants. If you have legs different sizes- shoes are chosen according to the larger foot.

After 30 years, legs need to be re-measured approximately once every 5 years. May increase by 0.5 - 1 size. Especially if there is proscostopia.

Now let's move on to the width of the foot.

The width is usually not indicated in any way. Some manufacturers have shoes of different thicknesses, they are also labeled differently, there are no global standards. But the fullness of the foot is not always the width, it can simply be an increased volume of the shoe, but not in width, but upward. Therefore, here you need to analyze visually. (Although, if you buy shoes from one manufacturer, you can remember its markings.)

Here's this one, eh. There are 218 pairs for narrow feet, and only 15 for the widest ones. Well, if you look at the photographs, you can see that in some places wide shoes are offered for full feet, and in others simply with a large volume, apparently for high insteps.

Measure the width of the narrow edge of your rectangle. Write down, compare the feet and remember this width. If you remember that your flattened foot is 10 cm wide, it will be easier for you to understand whether the boot will fit, even just by holding it in your hand. If you have feet of different widths, choose shoes based on the larger foot. (Orthopedists, by the way, measure all this differently, but they have completely different tasks there)

The third point is the shape of your fingers.

The toes are usually the most distressed parts of the foot. As you can see, their shapes are very different, but there is no clear measurement. Well, except perhaps for this picture, which, it seems to me, has nothing to do with reality).

Here you need to remember the shape of your fingers and love it with all your heart. When you love something, you begin to “find” it in space automatically. On the shelves and in photographs you will instantly be drawn to shoes with the same toe shape. Look at the different toes on the shoes, maybe one of them follows the curve of your foot?

So, you are now familiar with the most important characteristics of your foot (but not all, by the way). And now we can move on to shoes.

What you need to know about shoes.

Shoes are not made just like that, but according to certain lasts. And if you have a lot of money, it’s best to order shoes made to fit your feet. But if this is not possible, we will study the materiel.

To choose shoes that will least “conflict” with your foot, you need to understand two points:

1. How hard/soft are the shoes to change according to the foot?


2. How close is the shape of the manufacturer's last to your foot?

The softer the shoe, the more it can deform and mold to the shape of the foot. But here you need to understand that the possibilities of shoes are not limitless, and if your foot stretches something too much, it will die as quickly as possible. Here are the boot options. The first one is made of soft, non-glued leather. The second one is made of rigid, glued material. The more molded the shoe, the more carefully you will need to select the shape. And the softer it is, the more minor discrepancies can be tolerated. But you need to understand that the more of these discrepancies, the faster the shoes will wear out and become damaged. beautiful creases. (The pictures show shoes for narrow feet)

And the most difficult moment is correlating your foot shape with the shape of the manufacturer’s last..

Here you will need to use your imagination, your eye, and sometimes even a ruler. We look at the shoe from above (or from the side of the sole) and try to imagine how our foot will fit there. With these examples I show how thought should move. Here, using the example of my feet, it is clear that no matter what soft sneakers are (which, by the way, have increased fullness!), the foot will not be comfortable there, because under load they will strongly rest against the side parts. You don’t even have to try on such shoes.

But in this example everything is ok. Almost nothing will stretch or press.

With boots you need to think in a similar way, but choose even more carefully. Here, for example, is a boot for narrow feet and for wide ones. Does everyone understand that if you try to fit a wide foot into this narrow shoe, the nose will be completely empty, the shoe will stretch in width and this will cause the nose to start to rise up?

Wide-footed people usually suffer from calluses on their little toes; they have to take shoes a larger size, break them in, and stretch them. The foot seems to hang over the sole on the sides.

If your foot is narrow, you will have a different problem. The length of the shoe is already tight, the finger hurts, but it continues to slurp. Narrow-footed people usually have trouble choosing a smaller size, and then their heel or toes rub. Tighten the laces as much as possible; unsightly voids and creases form on molded shoes, which can put pressure when walking.

But if you choose shoes according to these principles, most of the problems can be avoided.

Countries and pad widths, is there a relationship?

It is generally accepted that southern shoes (for example, Italian) are usually made for narrow feet, and northern ones (for example, German and Finnish) for wide ones (and Chinese ones run at least 2 sizes small :)). There really is such a dependence, but not in 100% of cases. If a company is making a collection for a specific market (for example, Russian), then it can specifically select certain lasts. Or maybe you won’t choose. Each individual case needs to be looked at with your own eyes.

In Russia, we have approximately half of the men with ordinary, normal feet, and half with wide and very wide feet (in women, by the way, this is also the case). There are fewer narrow-footed people. The figures are very approximate; I am guided by my experience and the commentary of a Japanese shoemaker who studied Russian feet in order to enter our market. In Italy, it is rumored that normal and narrow feet predominate. Perhaps this will answer the silent question of our consumers “why are such narrow shoes sold everywhere?” Yes, they just bought a bunch of it at the base, brought it and sold it.

In Russia itself, they produce different types of shoes, but usually for increased fullness. So those with wide feet can also look at local factories.

And a few words about men's shopping.

Men love to wear their shoes to holes, then come to the store wearing them, immediately change their shoes and throw out the old ones. But it's better not to do that.

1. If you have a complex, long-suffering foot, give yourself more time to choose. Look for photos on websites (Wildberry has almost all popular brands and they are photographed from above), walk around the store a little longer.

2. After purchasing shoes, you have 2 weeks to return them without explanation if you have not worn them. That is, this means that you can try everything on at home, walk around the apartment for a couple of hours and see how your legs feel. And if you find any inconveniences, you return it to the store in the box and with a receipt (don’t forget to take your passport with you).

Now you know how to improve your shoe selection skills. Will you use it? Are you going to walk around your feet and look at shoes? What kind of foot do you have? What tricks did you find for yourself when choosing?