How Do You Find the Right Shoes?
Shoes serve many functions. They protect our feet. They cushion our body weight. They can make our feet feel comfortable or fashionable — hopefully both! Finding the proper shoes and making sure they fit are important for keeping your feet and your body happy. Poorly fitting shoes can be painful and cause foot problems like bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and more.
Follow these tips from Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgeons to find the right shoes for you:
Have your feet measured. Your foot size and shape can change over time. Don't rely on the fact that you have always worn a certain size.
Fit your shoes to the larger foot. Most people have one foot that is larger than the other, so make sure you have BOTH feet measured.
Get measured at the end of the day when your feet are the largest. When you are up during the day, your feet will swell and settle some. You want to make sure you are comfortable throughout the day and not just when you head out of the house in the morning.
Don’t rely on shoe size alone. Just like clothes, the size marked inside the shoe may be different depending on the brand. So your shoe size is a just a starting point in selecting the correct shoe.
Look at the shape of the shoe. Make sure the shoe shape resembles the shape of your foot and fits your foot comfortably.
Don't plan on shoes stretching over time.They should fit well when you buy them.
Check the width of the shoe. The ball of your foot (the widest part just before your toes begin) should fit comfortably in the widest part of the shoe.
Check the depth of the shoe. The shoe should be deep enough to fit your toes, especially if you have hammertoes or other conditions. If the shoe's toe box is too small, your toes will rub against the top of the shoe and you will get calluses or sores.
Check the space at the end of the shoe. Stand up and make sure there is 3/8" or 1/2" (about the width of your finger) between your longest toe (usually the second toe) and the end of the shoe.
Always stand and walk around in the shoes to see if they are comfortable, fit well, and don’t chafe or rub anywhere. Your heel should not slip or slide while walking.
Additional Tips
Match the shoe to your activity
Your ideal shoes will change based on the activity you want to do while wearing them.
Running shoes are specially designed to provide the proper cushioning at the heel and flexibility at the toes that athletes need.
Walking shoes have a shock absorbing heel and flex at the ball of the foot.
Cross-trainers are often good all-purpose shoes for general exercise. Basketball shoes are meant for basketball and may not be the best choice if you do a lot of walking.
Cycling shoes are stiffer to help you pedal more efficiently but don't work well for most other activities.
Dress shoes can be comfortable as well as look good. Many dress shoes are now made with a sneaker-like sole that provides better cushioning and tread and better arch support. Expensive Italian loafers are not for everybody.
Look for good shoe construction
Some basic principles of a good shoe include a cushioned heel, firm sole that doesn’t easily twist or bend, and flexibility at the proper area depending on the type of shoe.
- If the upper part of the shoe is made from a soft, breathable material, it will be more comfortable to wear for longer period of time and less likely to cause rubbing or skin irritation.
- The upper part of the shoe should have laces or straps to hold the foot in place comfortably with activity.
- There should be some arch support in the shoe or in the insert inside the shoe. Many shoes can be made to fit better simply by removing the factory insert and replacing it with a high-quality off-the-shelf orthotic. Custom orthotics are rarely necessary and should be prescribed by your foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon for specific foot disorders.
Following these steps will help minimize your risk of shoe problems and foot problems. If you experience foot or ankle problems, talk to a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon near you.
Original article by Daniel Farber, MD
Last reviewed by Andrew Rosenbaum, MD, 2018
The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) offers information on this site as an educational service. The content of FootCareMD, including text, images, and graphics, is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnoses or treatments. If you need medical advice, use the "Find a Surgeon" search to locate a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon in your area.
FAQs
Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.
What is the rule for shoe fit? ›
Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.
Should your pinky toe touch the side of your shoe? ›
Also, make sure your toes fit inside the toe box, the area that contains the front of your foot. It's okay if your pinky toes touch the side of the shoe, but they shouldn't feel smushed or push out the mesh. You can try a larger size, but it might be that the style just isn't right for you.
Is it bad to wear shoes a half size too big? ›
But wearing a shoe that is too big will cause us to walk in an unnatural and dysfunctional way. This can lead to serious foot problems. When buying new shoes, one should buy shoes that fit comfortably. Also, do not assume that a size in one brand equates to the same size in another.
How much room should be at the end of a shoe? ›
If the shoe's toe box is too small, your toes will rub against the top of the shoe and you will get calluses or sores. Check the space at the end of the shoe. Stand up and make sure there is 3/8" or 1/2" (about the width of your finger) between your longest toe (usually the second toe) and the end of the shoe.
Is it better for a shoe to be tight or loose? ›
A shoe that's too tight doesn't allow enough room for your feet to move and swell throughout an activity. The front area of the foot, known as the forefoot, experiences pain when the toe box of the shoe is too narrow or when your shoes are too short.
What is the 3 shoe rule? ›
Whittling down your choices to just a few pairs can be tough, so we're sharing a favourite travel tip: the '3 shoe rule. ' Yes, you guessed it – the '3 shoe rule' is only pack THREE pairs of shoes. For a summer vacation, this typically means a pair of sneakers and two pairs of sandals – one dressy and one casual.
What is the two finger rule for shoes? ›
If you can't get your index finger in or have to force it, the sneakers are probably too small. If you can effortlessly fit two or three fingers behind your heel, they're too large.
Is it okay for toes to touch the end of a shoe? ›
➡️ When I walk, my toes are touching the front of the shoe. What does that mean? That means you need a pair of shoes that's one size larger. In a healthy shoe, the foot expands and contracts with each step, and that's why the extra space is important – this room in front of your toes allows for free movement.
Should you buy walking shoes a half size larger? ›
You want the snug fit in the heel through midfoot, then room for your toes to splay out a bit. You also need at least a finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. A common running-shoe fit tactic also applies to fitness walking shoes: Buy one-half size bigger than your casual shoe size.
You'll likely feel your toes touching the ends of your shoes and may get blisters on the backs of your heels. Calluses, corns and ingrown toenails are also telltale signs of shoes that are too small. If your shoes are too narrow, your toes will feel crammed together and they might even be overlapping.
Does 0.5 shoe size make a difference? ›
Is a Half Size in Shoes a Big Difference? A half-size represents a 1/8” difference. It may not seem significant but is enough to distinguish between comfort and discomfort. Because there is no standardisation for shoe sizing, a half size difference will also depend on the brand of shoe.
What is the difference between a size 9 and 9.5 shoe? ›
Length: There is approximately a 1/6" difference between each half-size (e.g., between 9 and 9.5, between a 9.5 and a 10, and so on) For every half size up, the width (across the ball) will increase by 1/8"
How bad is it to wear shoes that are too small? ›
Corns and calluses are foot deformities that are often caused when you wear shoes that are too tight, through friction from your toes constantly rubbing in a pair of shoes with reduced toe box volume. Aside from the pain and aching, the cramped atmosphere can form painful and unsightly corns and bunions.
How do you tell if your shoes are the wrong size? ›
You'll likely feel your toes touching the ends of your shoes and may get blisters on the backs of your heels. Calluses, corns and ingrown toenails are also telltale signs of shoes that are too small. If your shoes are too narrow, your toes will feel crammed together and they might even be overlapping.
How much space should be in the back of your shoe? ›
Ensure about half an inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. There should be around 3mm/eighth of an inch between your heel and the back of the shoe.
Should my toes touch the end of my shoes? ›
As a rule of thumb (or toe), you should have about 3/8″ to 1/2″ of room from the tip of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Your big toe is not automatically your longest toe. Pick the shoes that match your foot shape.
