Putting Comfort First
Good shoes don’t just look right — they feel right. This section focuses on fit, cushioning, and performance, helping you choose footwear that supports your stride and prevents pain. Whether you’re comparing heel-to-toe drop, finding arch support, or stretching tight toe boxes, you’ll learn how to fine-tune your fit for all-day comfort.
Finding the perfect outfit for a special event — whether it’s a wedding, a milestone anniversary or a formal evening — should be exciting. However, if your feet and ankles swell, finding occasion shoes that are both comfortable and actually look good can be an absolute minefield. I have had years of wearing trousers simply … Read more
Finding and buying a lovely pair of wide-fitting trainers should be a relief, but for many of us, the trouble doesn’t stop at the width of the toe box. Another problem can be a tight instep — the area across the top of your foot between your toes and ankle. I consider myself lucky because … Read more
Returning home after a total hip replacement is a massive milestone, but it also brings a unique set of daily hurdles. You will have been put through your paces before you left the hospital, but it can feel a bit scary once you get home. It is well worth asking a family member or friend … Read more
Every piece of shoe advice you’ll find says roughly the same thing: buy a pair that’s slightly firm, wear them gradually, give them a few weeks to soften and mould to your feet. It’s sensible advice for plenty of people. For my arthritic feet, it simply doesn’t work. Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. … Read more
Nobody really prepares you for this bit. You spend weeks, sometimes months, in a medical boot after ankle surgery, and everyone talks about that phase — how heavy it is, how awkward it feels, how strange it is to sleep in it. What nobody really warns you about is the phase that comes after: the … 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
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
Hammer toes can make wearing shoes a real challenge—especially if the top of your toes rub uncomfortably against the inside of the shoe. I have had a similar experience with toe rubbing because my toes are quite chunky (for want of a better term)One of the simplest and most effective solutions is increasing the height … Read more
When shopping for running or walking shoes, you may have come across the term “heel-to-toe drop.” Put simply, it’s the difference in height between the heel and the front of the shoe, usually measured in millimetres. It can affect how a shoe feels and how your foot and lower leg move, particularly when running. In … Read more