What to look for

• Upper – made from natural materials such as leather or a breathable man-made fabric. Some leather has a plastic coating to repel water and allow the shoe to be wiped clean.
• Lining – breathable material keeps the foot fresh; they need to be smooth and seam-free.
• Toe area – should be foot-shaped and deep enough to prevent rubbing and allow the toes to wiggle. This is especially important with protective toecaps. If the shoes are padded and fitted properly, you should not be able to feel the toecaps at all.
• Insole – preferably removable to allow easy insertion of padding or orthoses.
• Heel fit – the heel should fit snugly on the foot, stopping the heel slipping out of the shoe and stabilising the foot upon ground contact.
• Heel – should have a broad base, no higher than 4cm. If worn for long stretches, should be no more than 2cm in height.
• Sole – Should be strong and flexible with shock absorption to cushion the jolts of walking on hard surfaces. Material should be slip resistant, such as rubber, polyurethane or PVC.
• Fastenings – laces, buckles or Velcro help to secure the foot in the shoe.