Good Boots, Good Fit and Happy Feet!

Boot with wooden sole and leather upper, made by the Danish company Sanita. Colour wood and light blue. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As cooler weather approaches you are probably looking for that must have pair of boots to go with almost any outfit. You want something versatile, warm and outrageously sexy. You can get all three in one pair if you do some looking, but the important thing to keep in mind is function over fashion. You always want to consider the overall welfare of your feet.

When contemplating what would be the perfect pair to complement your winter wardrobe, you may want to consider the following:

• Color

• Shaft height

• Heel height

• Construction

• Heel and sole composition

The style that most adequately answers this call to duty is the leather riding style boot. They are well constructed and easily water-proof for protection against wet and salt. Also, it is easy to re-treat them as needed. The leather riding style boots are durable and function well.

If you are more of the cowboy boot type, they are a great boot for autumn, but don’t carry through to winter well because of the smooth leather soles. They come in an endless variety of colors and designs and are great with jeans, slacks and just about all casual wear. They are great for both guys and gals, but there are some fitting details you should be aware of.

• Make sure the shank fits your foot. The break in the boot should coincide with your arch.

• The ball of your foot needs to settle into the widest part of the boot.

• Try the pinch test for width. Try to pinch leather between your thumb and forefinger across the foot top of the boot. There should be a small allowance for movement, but not enough excess material to grasp.

Inappropriate and poor fitting shoes can cause a multitude of foot problems. Never force your foot to fit the boot. Boots needs to conform to your foot. Also, shop for shoes in the afternoon when your feet are apt to be a bit swollen. Don’t think footwear will feel better once they are broken in. If they don’t fit in the store, the situation will not improve at home. As heel height increases, so does the pressure on the ball of the foot and toes. Keep heel height to two inches or less. Dr. Boucher has other excellent shoe fitting advice on her website - http://www.centralctfootcare.com/library/3778/GettingaProperFit.html.

If you have foot pain, call Dr. Boucher for an accurate diagnosis at (203)238-3668. She can send you home feeling better than when you walked in. Getting help for your foot pain is a first step in the right direction.

References:

http://www.ehow.com/info_8099480_types-make-legs-look-longer.html
http://houstonfootspecialists.blogspot.com/2012/03/correct-fit-in-cowboy-boots-lesson-in.html

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