For comfort and foot health, it’s essential that your shoes fit your feet correctly. Comfortable shoes will allow your feet to work normally, and will not restrict their movement in any way. Whilst the size of the shoe you buy is important, it’s also a good idea to check the following shoe fitting points to make sure that the shoe will be comfortable when you go walking:

• Make sure there’s 1/2 inch (1cm) of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe – this can easily be checked by pressing the upper to locate the position of your toes.
• Check there’s enough room for your toes to wiggle in the shoe.
• There should be enough width in the shoe to accommodate your whole foot – there should be no pressure on the joints on the sides of your foot.
• For comfort, shoes shouldn’t slip at the back. If the shoe slips when you walk, push your heel to the back of the shoe, then try altering the laces or straps to improve the fit against your foot.

What Size do I Need?

Many people believe that their feet stay the same size throughout their lives. However, feet tend to increase in both length and width, so it’s important to use the points above to check whether the fit is correct. Also, shoe sizing can vary tremendously between brands, so it’s important to ensure shoes fit correctly, rather than relying on the size alone.