The Philosophy Of How Should A Shoe Fit

While wearing shoes is a norm in today’s society, all of us are not sure of how their shoes should fit. Every shoe vendor comes with his(her) own views on this, and many shoe buyers end up getting confused, not sure of how to tell if the shoe fits well or not.

Besides, years of wear and tear is harsh on the feet, and if your shoes do not fit well, you might end up with bad-looking toenails, poor blood circulation, bunions, blisters, and other foot related problems. An ill-fitting shoe can even cause severe foot problems like diabetes, arthritis, and nerve disorders. That is why you need to make sure that your shoes fit well.

Taking of how should a shoe fit is not just funny, but sad as well. How can a man know how a suit should fit, while suits are not a must wear, and fail to know how a shoe should fit? Everybody wear shoes, and so they are essential accessories. Here is a shoe fit guide to help you understand better!

Make sure you have wiggle room

To know that the shoe fits well, your toes should have a wiggle room when in a closed shoe. In case you wear high heels, make sure your toes lie flat next to each other instead of being squashed together uncomfortably.

In case you wear dress shoes, make sure you have at least half an inch between your bigger toe and the shoe. A simple finger test will help. Place the finger between the shoe and your heel. In case your finger slide leaving behind a huge space, go down half a size. If it does not fit, go a size higher. The finger needs to feel snug, but not very snug that your finger feels pain. Make sure the shoe is not so tight or so big.

The big toe

If you are not comfortable sliding the finger behind your heel, you can choose to use your big toe to feel the shoe. When wearing a closed shoe, your big toe should not touch the front of the shoe while standing on a flat surface. If you feel that the shoe squeezes your toe, then the shoe is too small for you. It is also good to pinch your big toe to feel the space left. If space is huge, go down half a size.

The thickness of the socks affects your shoe fit

The thickness of your socks is crucial. If you are shopping for a dress shoe, avoid wearing athletic socks as you will not get a proper fit the same goes when shopping for dress shoes wearing sneakers socks. When shopping for shoes, wear socks that you intend to wear with the shoes. A good fitting shoe should feel comfortable when wearing the shoe with the right socks.

Shoe’s width

To get the right fit, you need to consider the shoe width. In this case, your football needs to sit at the widest part of your shoe. However, keep in mind that some retailers offering non-standard width are few and you should make sure you go to the ones with various widths for most of their shoes.

Is the bigger foot comfortable?

It has been proven that in everybody parts that come in pairs, one of them is bigger than the other, and this happens to the feet as well. With that in mind, you need to know that one of your feet might be bigger than the other. While this does not mean the feet are different sizes, but that is not to mean that it cannot happen. While wearing shoes, the foot that feels pressed most is the bigger one, and so this is the foot to always try on the shoes with. Once the shoe accommodates the larger shoe, then that is your shoe size.

Squeezing the sides of the feet

Do you feel any pressure on the sides of your feet? If that happens, the shoes are small. With a well-fitting shoe, you should not feel squeezing sensation on either side of the foot. Once it happens, go to a size higher to see if it helps. If the squeezing is still there, then you need to check brands with wider shoes. But you can also ask the brand if they have wider shoes. Keep checking until you find shoes that fit you better.

But, won’t the shoe stretch?

While this is a common argument with many sellers and clients, the answer is a yes and a no, depending on the material of the shoe. While leather shoes may stretch, you should not go for a size that is too tight since the leather may not stretch from uncomfortable to comfortable. But, if you are shopping for sneakers, never expect them to expand with time they should feel comfortable as soon as you slip your feet in. With that in mind, it is always good to buy a shoe that feels comfortable.

Six tips to follow when buying shoes

• Put on the same socks that you wish to wear with the shoe you intend to buy.
• Width is as crucial as length, and so you need to make sure your shoe fits in all directions
• Go shopping for shoes in the evening when the feet have expanded in case you fall in love with shoes, but you feel they are too big, you can try adding insoles.
• Your feet are not of the same size; the larger one represents your shoe size
• If not sure on how a particular brand fits when shopping online, plan on buying two and send one back after fitting. At that point, the shoe company is counting on the shoe and so return fee is usually free.

In Conclusion

Proper fitting shoes do not only keep you comfortable but also makes your shoes last longer. On the other hand, an ill-fitting shoe makes your life miserable. With that in mind, follow the above guide, and you will surely get the best-fitting shoes. All the best!

AUTHOR BIO: JESSICA is a passionate blogger who wrote for theshoesfinder. Don’t forget to read her latest post about best shoes for jazzercise & bowling shoes.