Putting Comfort First
Here’s something that took me a surprisingly long time to realise: buying wide fit shoes doesn’t automatically mean everything inside them is wide too. The insole — the bit your foot actually sits on — is usually still cut to a standard shape, even inside a wide shoe. I came across this properly while looking … Read more
If you’ve ever picked up a pair of Waldläufer or another German-made shoe and seen a letter like G, H, K or M on the box instead of the E, EE, EEE you’re used to, you’re not imagining things — it’s a genuinely different system, and nobody explains it particularly well.The same width letter system … Read more
My own feet are wide right through — forefoot, heel, the lot — so for years I assumed “wide fit” was a simple, one-size-fits-all fix. It took hearing from readers with a very different problem to realise it isn’t. If you’ve got a genuinely wide forefoot but a narrower, well-defined heel, a “wide fit” shoe … Read more
I get asked this more than almost anything else, usually by someone who’s just been told by a shop assistant that they “need a wide fit” and has absolutely no idea what that actually means. So let’s clear it up properly. “Wide fit” simply means a shoe that’s made roomier across the ball of your … Read more
How annoying is it when you’re trying to buy shoes and the length is right, the width seems fine, yet the shoe still feels painfully tight across the top of your foot. If that sounds familiar, the problem may not be your shoe width at all. You may have a high instep and simply need … Read more
If your shoes have suddenly started slipping at the heel or feeling strangely roomy after losing weight, you may not be imagining it. Significant weight loss can make your feet slimmer and reduce their overall volume, leaving shoes that once fitted perfectly feeling too big. The subject has recently attracted attention under the catchy name … Read more
If you’re hoping for a simple answer like “12 months” or “500 miles”, I’m afraid it’s not quite that straightforward. Some people replace them within six months. Others happily wear them for two years or more.Exactly how long they last depends on several things, including how often you wear them, the quality of the foam, … Read more
By Sue Holland Choosing shoes for orthotics isn’t simply a case of buying a wider fitting or going up a size. The best shoes have enough internal depth, removable insoles, good support and enough room for both your feet and your orthotics to work together comfortably. Get those features right and you’ll usually be far … Read more
By Sue Holland A high volume toe box is the front part of a shoe with extra height above the toes, rather than simply extra width across them. It gives your toes more vertical space and can be particularly helpful if you have swelling, hammer toes, chunky toes or orthotics that raise your foot inside … Read more
Yes—but probably not in the way you expect. They won’t straighten your toes or cure the condition, but they can make a huge difference to comfort by reducing rubbing, pressure and squeezing.The secret isn’t simply buying wider shoes. It’s finding a shoe with the right width, enough depth and a toe box that gives your … Read more