Quality Shoes-what Traits to Look for

By: Megan Hazel




Ben Franklin probably didn't say "show me a grumpy man and I'll show you a man with bad shoes", but he should have. They say that shoes make the man, and they're right on that one in more ways than one. Good, quality shoes do more than make you look good - they make you feel good. A pair of high quality shoes makes your feet happy, and when your feet are happy, the rest of you is in a much better frame of mind to deal with your day. Poorly made and ill-fitting shoes are at the root of many a miserable day, and here's why.

Poorly made shoes hurt more than your feet.
Your feet are your skeleton's foundation. When there's a problem with the foundation of a building, the symptoms can show up in cracks in the walls or ceilings, floors that tilt in the wrong direction - even in electrical and plumbing problems. The same is true with your body. When your shoes don't support your feet properly, your legs and hips and spine and shoulders and neck try to compensate. Taking any of those out of alignment can cause discomfort, pain and other problems.

You're far more likely to notice the discomfort of things like bunions and blisters caused by rough seams, heel pain from poor support and generally aching feet from shoes that constrict them. Between the obvious pain caused by shoes that aren't made well and the more subtle effects of poorly fit and low quality shoes, you can end up in constant low-level pain. Who can think clearly and be cheerful when their feet and their body are in pain?

How high quality shoes can help
Well-made, quality shoes like those made by Naot support your feet in a number of different ways. Naot shoes are designed to keep your feet happy. The heel cup is designed to keep your heels steady, preventing your ankles from tilting when you walk. The shank that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot gently encourages your feet to distribute your weight evenly. A roomy toe box gives your toes the room they need to move and grip the ground while you walk - even if they're not actually in contact with the ground.

The materials that go into making up your shoes also make a big difference. Real leather breathes, wicking moisture away from your feet and letting air circulate around them. That means cooler feet, less chance of infection and a lot less stinky feet.

What to look for in quality shoes
Now that you know why quality shoes are important, let's talk about how to choose a good pair of shoes that will support your feet - and your body - properly.

-First, look at the shoe.
Style may be important to your eye, but there are other things to look for. Are the seams straight and evenly stitched? Is the leather smooth and well-finished? Does the shoe LOOK well-made?

-Feel the shoe.
Take the shoe in both hands and try to twist it. It should have a little give, but not bend out of shape easily.

Try to bend the shoe in half so that the heel and toe meet. Again, it should have a little give, but you shouldn't be able to fold it. The shank of the shoe should prevent the shoe from bending beyond the ball of the foot.

Push up against the bottom of the toe of the shoe. The front of the shoe should bend easily so that your toes and the balls of your feet can do their work.

-Poke around inside the shoe.
Go on, push your hand inside the shoe and feel around. You should feel no protruding seams or rough areas. The inner surface should be comfortably padded and smooth. The tongue of the shoe should have enough padding to let you lace shoes without cutting into the top of your foot.

-Check the materials.
The uppers and lining of the shoes should be leather. Leather breathes and molds to fit your feet comfortably. You may not be able to look under the shoe's hood, so to speak, but you can ask about other materials. A steel shank is the most supportive, and leather soles will wear far better than most manmade materials.

-A few last things:
Excellent quality shoes like Naot clogs and sandals can be pricey, but it's money well-spent. Still, like anything else, shoes do show wear. You'd hate to find a pair of shoes that fit perfectly and make you feel so good - only to have to replace them in just a few years. A good quality pair of shoes will last you up to ten years - if you care for them properly. Look for shoes that can be resoled and reheeled easily. Naot shoes are among the most versatile in this respect - you can replace the entire shoe bed when needed to keep them feeling fresh, new and comfortable for years.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Get your Shoes Online!

By: Groshan Fabiola

How many of you out there buy shoes because you have to replace some worn out pair in your closet, and not because you want to have yet another pair to match that purple purse or your brand new suit? Many people are faced with the situation of having to buy a good pair of shoes that will last them for quite some time. Taking into account the fact that there are so many aspects related to shoes, it’s very hard, if not impossible to say that one particular shoe is indeed the best shoe.

First of all, shoes fall into several categories. These include dress, work, casual, athletic, comfort, boots, and snow. We can speak of kid shoes, women’s shoes and man shoes. As far as their usability and practicality go, shoes can be described in terms of biomechanics, the weight of the person wearing them, the surface they are used on, frequency of the usage, and of course, the person’s foot shape. This goes to prove that what may an ideal shoe for one person can be awful for another person.

Going back to how important the purchase of a new pair of shoes can be for some people, you have to make sure that you buy exactly what you need, because you might not get a chance at a new pair for many months to come. There are a few basics that you should be aware of in order to make a good choice, out of which the most important one is getting thee right shoes for the shape of your feet, be it normal, flat or high-arched.

When you decide that you need a new pair of shoes, be it sports shoes, platform shoes, casual shoes, or even golf shoes, you undoubtedly think of the many hours spent in every shoe store you know, trying on all sorts of models, with all kinds of price tags. For those of you who lack the time and the patience to go from shoe store to shoe store hoping to find something that will be both affordable and nice, some smart people came up with a bright solution: buying shoes online.

If we were to speak about the advantages of purchasing shoes online, we should mention the very obvious pluses such as time and money saving, having many models and types of shoes to choose from, all in one place, and so forth. What you can find in such an online shoes store varies from cheap shoes to quite expensive ones, women’s shoes, men’s shoes, kids’ shoes, running shoes, sports shoes, golf shoes, and so on. And the best part is that you can find some really nice discount shoes, without having to wait for sales in real-world shoes or hunt for the best offers. Many good deals can be found for famous brands. Those who like Nike shoes or Adidas shoes, or any other sports shoes brand, can find some of the best deals shopping for shoes online.

If you want to make an educated choice that will meet your needs and rise to your expectations, you should definitely check out some online shoes stores, where affordability combines with practicality in order to make you a satisfied consumer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Exchanging Mismatched and Single Shoes

By: Kent Basson

On the Internet, people with severely mismatched feet and amputees have the potential to find someone with complementary feet sizes whom to swap unused shoes, In the past, single shoes and mismatched pairs of shoes were often thrown away or languished in closets of those who cannot stand to throw out perfectly good shoes. Searching with phrases such as “odd pair shoes”, “exchange one shoe”, “single shoe websites”, etc. results in several sites that sell single and/or mismatched shoes, providing a more economical way for those with mismatched feet to enhance their shoe wardrobes! You can find here a wide array of styles, sizes and colors according to every outfit and occasion for different sized shoes. In addition, the National Odd Shoe Exchange helps amputees and people with different-sized feet by providing free shoes.

Potential customers of such sites are those who:
- have severely mismatched feet;
- are lower limb amputees;
- have lost one shoe of a new pair;
- have damaged one shoe of a pair;
- are part of a trend of wearing different shoes on different feet.

Buying online has many benefits:
1. Some sites offer free shipping and free returns at a lower price than offered by brick and mortar shoe stores.
2 Quick and reliable service: You will definitely get your one shoe or mismatched pair of shoes within a week.
3. Some sites offer an entire year to return your shoes if not satisfied.
4. There is no need to travel to a shoe store.

The major disadvantage of buying shoes online is that you do not get a chance to try the shoes on before buying. However, those with hard to fit feet often must have their shoes special ordered by the brick and mortar shoes in any event.

Different sized shoes
Most people are unaware of the differences exist in the size of their feet or the differences are small enough for a single shoe size to accommodate both feet. However, some people have feet so different in size that they must buy pairs of different sized shoes, leaving one shoe of each pair unused. OddShoeFinder.com offers those who must wear mismatched shoes a place to buy and sell unused shoes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com