Purchasing shoes and insoles today can be mystifying, with all of the marketing hoohah touting this and that. Some of it is necessary, of course, because no one’s feet are alike. They may be close, but definitely not identical. If you have flat feet, fat feet, bunions, hammer toes, gorgeously perfect tootsies or anything else, the proper shoes and insoles can help tremendously.
As well, wearing the wrong shoes or insoles can hurt your feet, change your gait and cause problems. That’s why it’s important to do what you can to get the best shoes and insoles, if necessary, for your activity. If you’re a diehard walker, you don’t need the $250whatever elite running shoes. If you’re a top-flight runner, you probably shouldn’t be doodling along in Sketchers or Keds. Finding what’s best for you is important. Your 26 bones, 33 joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other components in your foot and ankle deserve it.
We’re getting closer to the day when a 3D scanner can take an image of your feet and create shoes specifically for you. It’s coming. More than 10 years ago, I visited the Under Armor headquarters in Baltimore and got a peek in their shoe design lab. At the time, their running and everyday shoes sucked. They did. They wore out quickly, had issues and weren’t great. Looked good, but drip doesn’t always matter. They knew it, too, having hired a guy at the time from Nike to come in to help.
Our visit in Baltimore included a look at their 3D printer, which at the time was still novel. It was pretty damned amazing, too, watching it in action. The UA guys talked about creating shoes, soles, uppers, pieces, ideas, all the things. Since then, technology has improved in myriad ways. We’re not completely to the point of, “Step in this machine, let’s scan your gnarly dogs and get a sole imprint, and we’ll have your shoes soon.” But we’re getting closer.
Do You Have Flat Feet
I probably was a kid, wayyyy back in the dark ages, when I first heard the term “flat feet.” Didn’t know what it was but it didn’t sound good. I also didn’t know they’re also called “flatfeet,” which seems weird but apparently it’s a medical term.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Flatfeet is a common condition, also known as flatfoot, in which the arches on the inside of the feet flatten when pressure is put on them. When people with flatfeet stand up, the feet point outward, and the entire soles of the feet fall and touch the floor.” Causes can be obesity, injuries to the foot or ankle, aging, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes.
What to do? Aging can’t be stopped, but the others are something that can be treated with lifestyle changes. If you have flat feet, proper shoes and insoles may help. If you have medium or high arches, or don’t know what you have, here’s an easy way to find out.
Superfeet, which makes a slew of darn good insoles, has an easy Insole Finder on its site. Click on it, then go through the prompts for the shoe and activity you want. It’ll then ask about arches, and you can use the “arch finder” easy test. Because comfort and activity needs are different for everyone, it’s best to get the right shoe and insole.
Take This Easy Test
Check out the Superfeet Insole Finder or do this quick test:
Here’s a simple test to assess the arch height of your feet:
— Use a pencil with an eraser on the end, then plant your foot on a flat surface (it works the same with or without socks).
— Put weight on your foot as you would if you were standing normally.
— With the eraser of the pencil at the arch of your foot, slide the pencil underneath the highest point of your arch.
If the pencil stops at the eraser, you likely have low arches.
If most or all the ferrule (the silver part that holds the eraser) fits underneath your foot, you likely have medium arches.
And if you can slide the pencil farther under your foot so it surpasses the ferrule and more, you likely have high arches.
Notice it says “likely” for each. Everyone’s different. Getting a better opinion at your favorite running store is the best option. Try different shoes and insoles, different cushioning, stability or neutral, or whatever’s needed to find the best fit.
