Whatever kind of footwear you are buying and using, it’s important to always follow one key requirement: comfort. Men’s shoes come in many different shapes and sizes, as well as different levels of easy comfort. Some shoes slip on and are pretty comfortable from the get go, but not all, and that includes some kinds of casual footwear.
Below are some easy tips on how men can boost general footwear comfort levels.
1. Wear-In Dress Shoes Properly
The process of properly breaking in new dress shoes can be quite time consuming, as long as 3 or 4 weeks in some cases, but some claim you can do it faster. Wearing/breaking shoes in isn’t usually necessary for more casual shoes since they are usually made of fabrics that more easily conform to our feet. Dress shoes and their harder leather, however, is another story entirely.
Before you wear any pair of dress shoes for men for the whole day, be sure to wear them multiple times for short periods to soften the leather and help them fit better.
2. Choose Socks Appropriate for the Footwear
The footwear you choose isn’t enough to guarantee comfort. You have to pair the shoes you wear with the right pair of socks. The key factor when it comes to socks is thickness. You want a pair of socks that is thick enough to bridge gaps between you feet and any part of the shoe that isn’t conforming to your feet. At the same time, however, you don’t want a pair that is so thick that it adds constriction or makes the shoes too tight-fitting.
3. Supportive and Waterproof Outdoors Footwear
Do you spend a lot of time out of doors? Your feet can easily become uncomfortable if you wear footwear that lacks the proper supportive capabilities and/or that hasn’t been properly waterproofed. Sturdy walking shoes will always be better than sneakers when you’re hiking because they’re built to maintain balance and comfort even when the ground underfoot is uneven.
If you waterproof your outdoor activity shoes, then you also safeguard against swelling, pain, and damage to the skin that can occur when you allow moisture to seep in and sit around your feet and socks all day long.
4. Use Inserts When Useful
Whether you choose to use regular insoles or orthotic inserts, they can all serve to make different shoes more comfortable. Regular insoles can help plug gaps that there might be where the shoe isn’t quite conforming to your feet. Orthotic inserts can help to restore proper balance to someone’s stance and gait, helping to relieve pain in the feet, legs and even the lower back.
Insoles are useful for the many people who just can’t quite get a perfect fit, but orthotics are one kind of insert to take more seriously. You can buy off the shelf orthotics if you want, but it’s often best to consult with a medical practitioner and have a custom orthotic made to suit your particular condition.
5. Pay Attention to Width as Well as Overall Size
A lot of men purchase shoes in their correct general size, but fail to take into account other aspects of their dimensions that will perhaps make that pair of shoes very uncomfortable to wear. For instance, canvas sneakers such as those made by Converse and similar brands have for years been a very popular form of casual footwear, but many men fail to appreciate just how narrow some of the styles are.
Broadness in particular is important to consider. It sometimes doesn’t become apparent how much a shoe is pinching at the bridge of your foot until you’ve worn them for 30 minutes or more. Get the exact dimensions of your feet and match them with the best shoes to increase comfort.
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