Why Are Supportive Walking Shoes Important?

Want to know what the best exercise for your feet is? Walking! When going for a walk, it's extremely important to wear supportive shoes that are keeping your feet comfortable. Shoes for walking are often overlooked, but they are the essential tools your feet need to support your body. We have shoes for different purposes/events such as dressy shoes for formal events, sandals for the beach, boots for hiking, and so on; therefore, it's necessary to have a pair of shoes selected for walking.

BENEFITS OF WEARING PROPER WALKING SHOES

Investing in a pair of proper walking shoes is beneficial to your overall health, not just your feet. A pair of supportive walking shoes will help you stay active on your feet which helps strengthen the body.

1. Supportive walking shoes will help you stay comfortable and injury-free with each step.
2. Proper walking shoes can help improve your walking abilities and alignment.
3. With comfortable walking shoes, you'll want to go on more walks which ultimately improves your health.

SIDE EFFECTS OF WEARING THE WRONG WALKING SHOES

You may think it isn't a big deal to wear ill-fitting walking shoes, but you do face risks. First and foremost, you risk the chance of injuring yourself. Wearing ill-fitting shoes may cause foot pain such as arch pain, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes, and calluses. You may even trip, fall, or sprain your ankle in a pair of unsupportive shoes. If you tend to opt for longer walks, you risk the chance of hurting yourself and being far from your starting point.

A pair of flimsy shoes are usually more affordable than a pair of supportive shoes, but proper walking shoes are worth investing in. Think about it, your feet carry your body weight on them each and every day, so it's important to take care of them. If you do buy a pair of lower-cost shoes that aren't supportive, you'll have to replace them much sooner than you would a supportive pair.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT WALKING SHOE

Selecting the perfect walking shoe with the correct features is crucial. When starting your search in person, make sure you have the correct socks on when trying on shoes so you can really get a grasp of the feel and fit. If you are more of an online shopper, then definitely do your research and check out the reviews to see what others have experienced.

1. First and foremost, you want to select a shoe that fits your feet and doesn't require a "breaking-in" period. This is extremely important because you want to make sure the shoes are keeping you comfortable from the second you put them on.
2. Look for shoes that have arch support or a style that has a removable insole so you can insert orthotics with arch support inside. Arch support is the key comfort feature found in all Aetrex shoes and orthotics.
3. Try selecting a shoe that has cushioned features like memory foam padding, a padded collar, a padded tongue, and/or a padded heel.
4. Footwear with adjustability features such as laces, hook and loop closures, and stretchy gore are extremely beneficial. Our feet tend to swell up in the heat or towards the end of the day, so it's necessary to adjust the comfort for your feet.
5. Make sure the shoe you select has an outsole with features to help absorb shock and add traction to keep you supported and injury-free. 

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THE BEST SHOES FOR WALKING

We've lined up our customer-favorite sneakers for walking! Each pair features our Aetrex Signature Arch Support and many other comfort features to make sure your feet are healthy while walking. You can even check out what our customers had to say about each sneaker!

Danika Arch Support Sneakers

The Danika is one of our newest additions to our sneaker collection. These lightweight sneakers feature a thick outsole and thick removable insole for extra cushiony comfort. They are designed with an outsole to help absorb shock, have a padded heel, a padded tongue, pull tabs for easy on/off, and adjustable laces to help you get the perfect fit. A customer with arch support and plantar fasciitis left this 5-star review on the Danika, "This is the first Aetrex shoe that I purchased after purchasing the insoles before. I love this shoe. It is so comfy. It gives me great arch support, but is still cushioning to the foot. I have a narrow foot and am able to tighten the shoe so it's not slipping off at the heel and I don't feel like I am swimming around in the rest of the shoe. I've worn them site-seeing on vacation and worked out in them. I'm not a runner, but these work fine for aerobics and walking. I would purchase again in another color."

Xspress Runner 2

The Xspress Runner 2 is the holy grail of comfort and support. These sneakers have the same comfort features of our Xspress Runner Classics, but with a different design and new colorways. The Xspress Runner 2 features a dual-density insole memory foam insole with a metatarsal pad built-in, a TPU external heel counter for stability, and a heel designed to help unload stress. A customer with bunions left this review, "Only sneaker I have been able to wear on a long walk without first breaking them in." The Xspress Runner 2 are so comfortable, they don't even need a break-in period because they fit!"

Carly Arch Support Sneakers

We all know about Carly. These arch support sneakers have been a must-have style from the moment it was released and still to this day! The Carly has many comfort features built-in such as arch support, Cobra Orthotic Technology, a padded heel, adjustable laces, rubber pods for durability, and more! Another great thing about the Carly is that they come in many different colors, so finding a pair you like is simple! That being said, those in the medical field love this sneaker since they can find a color that matches their job's dress code. A customer with arch pain and plantar fasciitis said this about her pair of Carly, "I love these shoes. I got the black pair before and wear them for my full 12-hour shift at the hospital and my feet don't hurt at all." Another customer with arch pain, heel pain, and plantar fasciitis said this about her Carly sneakers, "These are amazing! I have very high arches and need shoes that will support me and provide cushioning. I love that they're cute too because I don't want to have the same shoes my grandma would wear. These are also great for anyone needing a shoe for traveling where they'd be doing a lot of walking. I'm definitely buying another pair before I go to Disney World."

Angie Arch Support Sneakers

For those who like to skip the laces, check out a pair of Angie Sneakers! These lightweight sneakers are made out of stretchy knit fabric that molds to your foot for the perfect fit each time. The Angie features our Cobra Orthotic Technology, padded heel, and rubber pods for durability. A customer with arch pain and plantar fasciitis said this about the Angie, "I love the shoes! I recommend them to anyone who has issues with plantar fasciitis or balance and trouble walking. I wear these at physical therapy and pretty much anytime I go walking. I feel confident in them as I continue to regain my sense of balance." Happy feet equals happy walks!

We know it's not always easy finding time to go for a walk, so click here for some tips on how to add more steps to your day.

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