Choosing walking shoes is certainly not an easy task. You have an incredible amount of choice these days. That is why it is difficult not to lose the overview.
In this article, we will explain what type of walking shoes you need in a simple way. You can then choose a nice shoe within this category.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Determine your foot type
- Step 2: Understand what your feet need
- Step 3: Choose the shoe type from below that corresponds to your foot type
- Step 4: Try it out!
Step 1: Determine your foot type
What kind of feet you have is essential for choosing the right shoe type. What matters most is the height of the arch of your foot. In general, a foot falls into 1 of the categories below.
It is therefore important that you determine in which category your feet fall. But how can you easily determine this?
There is a simple test to determine this. You will need water, a sheet of paper or cardboard, and a container. First, fill the container with a small amount of water. Place the container on the floor and place the sheet of paper or cardboard next to it. Then step with 1 foot into the container of water.
Let your foot hang over the container for a moment to leave the excess of water. Then step on the sheet of paper or cardboard. Make sure to press evenly and firmly on the paper or cardstock. Then see which image from above most closely matches your footprint.
Step 2: Understand what your feet need
Now that you know your foot type, it is important to know what kind of information this gives you. Your foot type determines what you need while walking.
For example, if you have a high arch, your foot is less able to absorb shocks. That is why you need a shoe that can help you with this. If you have a flat arch, it will be difficult for your foot to change shape, so you need a shoe that takes this into account.
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Step 3: Choose the shoe type from below that corresponds to your foot type
Now that you understand what your feet need, let’s take a look at what kind of shoe type is right for your foot type. You can find this in the table below.
| Foot type | Type of walking shoe | Other useful features |
| Flat arch | Motion control shoe | – Firm midsoles – Increased stability |
| Neutral arch | Stability shoe | – Cushioning – Firm midsoles |
| High arch | Soft shoe | – Cushioned midsoles – Shock-absorption |
Motion control shoe: A motion control shoe is a shoe that is quite heavy and hard. Motion-control shoes do not allow much movement of the foot and provide extra support in the arch area and at the heel.
Stability shoe: Stability shoes provide extra support in the midsole, specifically in the arch area.
Soft shoe: A soft shoe is, as the name suggests, soft. As a result, the shoe allows a lot of movement and your foot can ‘sink’ into the shoe when you land on the ground.
Step 4: Try it out!
Then the most important step of all; try it! We have now taught you which type of running shoe generally suits a specific foot type. However, you should be aware that everyone is different.
Not everyone will like the corresponding shoe type. And that’s not bad at all! Try to discover which shoe type is most comfortable for you.
Finally, a handy tip: always buy running shoes with the sole that is loose in the shoe. If you don’t like the sole, you can always replace it with another one.
Lifestyle coach [5+ years of fitness experience]