Shoes come in a variety of lengths and widths, but what if your feet aren’t quite average and don’t feel at ease in the conventional sizes?

 

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 47 percent of Americans suffer from a foot problem. While some are caused by major medical issues, a surprising percentage are caused by improperly fitting shoes.

 

While length and width are crucial factors in ensuring a comfortable fit, correct fit extends beyond these fundamentals. A shoe should fit to the contour of your foot and be appropriate for the activities you’ll be doing while wearing it.

 

Suggestions for finding proper-fitting shoes include:

Later in the day, after your feet have settled and enlarged by up to 8%, go shoe shopping.

 

 

At least once a year, have your feet measured while standing with your entire weight on them. Feet change as we get older, and they can even continue to grow. Because feet might differ slightly in size, have both feet measured and purchase the larger size.

 

Don’t rely on the shoe’s size label. Size varies by brand, as it does with other wearable apparel items. Put the shoes on…both of them. Regardless of the size on the shoebox, get the one that feels most comfortable. Walk around in the shoes to see how comfortable they are on various surfaces.

 

The shoe’s tip should stretch 12″ past your longest toe. Your toes will be squeezed if there isn’t enough room; if there isn’t enough room, your feet will slide within the shoe. If you want to gain width, don’t get a longer shoe. Instead, go for a different style. Never expect to solve a width problem by stretching the shoe. It almost never works.

 

Purchase shoes that are tailored to your foot’s shape. Your toes will be able to lay freely and comfortably in a bigger round or square toe box.

 

Shoes that are both comfortable and well-made are an investment. Shop at stores that offer a wide range of styles and costs to increase your chances of discovering shoes you’ll enjoy wearing while avoiding foot and ankle problems.

Above all, don’t rely on over-the-counter additions to make your shoes more comfy. They don’t give you enough support to move your feet into a natural, balanced position. They also degrade quickly.

 

IDEASTEP Orthotics, on the other hand, is the only orthotic insert that is actually suited to your foot. We’ll send you an easy-to-use impression kit that’s also accurate.

 

After you’ve taken your impressions (of both feet), return the impression kit back to us (we’ll pay for the postage), and we’ll send you your medical-grade custom orthotics in 5–7 days.

 

View our whole product selection and search for orthotics by medical condition on our website. We also have orthotics for children. You can also learn the difference between functional and accommodating orthotics by watching videos on our website.

 

If you’ve been thinking about getting orthotics, now is the time to do so. If you purchase any pair of custom orthotics, you will receive a 25% discount.