This is a collaborative guest post.
Although it may seem like them most natural movement you can imagine, walking can very quickly become more technical than you thought it was. Done incorrectly, you open yourself up to a bottomless pit of weird aches and pains largely thanks to poor body alignment form wearing the incorrect walking shoes. We all know that bad footwear is the cause of many problems, but how do you bypass it?
What is correct footwear, anyway?
No matter how much different brands will try to sell you their wares, you are under no obligation to buy an item just because the ad campaign is cool. Remember that the job of marketing companies is to sell you stuff, and they’ll give you a million reasons to buy theirs in particular, but that still doesn’t mean that you should buy it if the shoe isn’t right for you. Start by determining what you want to do while wearing the shoes and take it from there.
Does it really make a difference?
Your body behaves differently when you walk or run. If the shoes you wear are designed for a certain body movement pattern, and you do something else, not only do you risk wearing out the shoes too soon by applying them incorrectly and causing wear and tear for the wrong reasons, you also risk getting hurt, as you will not be protected for the activity you were trying to do.
But my shoes are a good brand!
Although the shoes from certain companies are perceived to be of a higher quality than others, you could still be buying a high-quality shoe for an unsuitable activity. Getting great hiking shoes when your activity of choice is running, will not be to the benefit of your activity. Please be sure to try the shoes out before buying them, as you will only know if it fits right for you by trying them on.
When you buy shoes for a certain purpose, you want to know that they can withstand their purpose-built activity. Although you don’t need to spend top dollar in the pursuit of value for money, don’t waste your money on poorly made shoes that are more likely to require replacement.
Where the heck do I start?
I have just bombed you with a giant stack of information, but don’t let that throw you off. Progress in both design and technology has brought us to a place where you can buy a pair of shoes that is not only functional, but looks cool, too. Plus, thanks to the range of shoes available on the market, you can find something for your needs, no matter what your budget is!
The best advice I can give you, is to test, test, and test some more, until you are happy with the fit, sturdiness and overall manufacturing quality of your shoes. Get the best you can afford and enjoy the feeling of knowing that you saved money in the long term.
