Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Shoe Shopping: Five Steps for Finding a Great Fitting Pair of

Katya Coen

Most everyone knows the frustrations of buying a nice new pair
of shoes, only to find that they hurt their feet, slip off, or
just don't feel comfortable - like shoes should. With just a few
simple steps, however, you can avoid these problems to help
ensure that you have comfortable feet, whether you are on the
job or going out for a night on the town.

Know Your Feet

When shopping for shoes, being able to try them on is wise, but
if you do choose to buy your shoes online, knowing about the
unique qualities about your feet can be very helpful in helping
you find a perfect fit. For example, if you have pain in the
arches of your feet, then you will want to look for shoes with
added arch support. If you cannot find shoes you like with arch
support, you can always purchase arch supports to place in your
shoes. Knowing how much foot support you need will be important
when shoe shopping, too. Another thing to consider is whether or
not your feet pronate - this is a condition where one puts the
majority of his or her weight on the sole of the foot, sometimes
causing it to be uncomfortable. A proper fitting shoe can help
alleviate this discomfort. Also consider details like the width
of your feet, the shape of your toes, and if you have bunions or
not. Knowing these details should help you decide if you need
shoes with extra width or other special shoes. This is where
shopping online can be a benefit - it is often easier to find
these special types of shoes online.

Research Different Brands of Shoes

A great thing about the internet is that you can search for the
exact details that you want in a shoe, and typically, more
choices than you imagined present themselves. Once you find a
set of shoes with the specifications you want, look them all
over, compare reviews, and find out which is the best. Then,
head out to the stores knowing exactly what you want. That way,
you will know what to ask for if you need to place a special
order. Or, of course, you can always purchase the pair online.

Shop Around

Having some knowledge of the kind of shoe you want will also
help you save some time when it comes down to shopping for your
shoes. Personally, I hate spending much time shoe shopping - it
used to be that I would scan a store, then once I targeted in on
something that looked good to me, I would buy it, sometimes
without even trying it on! While I usually ended up with a pair
of shoes I liked, appearance-wise, the shoes I bought did not
always feel comfortable. The problem with this is that they had
to last me for months. Now, I realize that taking a little extra
time to shop around saves me lots of discomfort. So look around
at different stores, try on different brands, and don't let the
salesperson pressure you to buy right away - remember, you're
going to have to be wearing the shoes for quite some time!
You'll be more likely to find something comfortable, you'll have
shoes that you can actually wear in your closet, and you may
even save yourself a trip back to the store to return unwanted
shoes.

Sizing Up

One of the drawbacks of buying shoes online is that you cannot
try them on - and yes, that is quite a big drawback! Sometimes
it is not enough to know your shoe size and simply order that,
the reason being that sizes often differ between different
companies. If you know your show size in the brand you want, it
is likely that you will be safe ordering online, but if not,
beware of size differences. Also be aware that international
shoe sizes can vary greatly - so be on the lookout for that.

Determine Where You Want to Buy Your Shoes

Now that you know your foot shape, you know what style you want,
you have done some research on different brands and have shopped
around; it is time to decide where you want to buy your shoes.
One important thing to consider is which stores you can afford
right now - what is your budget? Will you be wearing these shoes
every day or just occasionally? If you will be wearing them
regularly, you might want to spend a little more on them.
Consider your budget and determine the best quality shoe that
fits your price range. Now consider what stores fit in with your
budget, and which stores you would feel comfortable shopping in.
Remember, you want to spend a little time looking around. Would
a department store fit in with your budget? Would you be more
comfortable in a popular chain store or in a small shop? Or, do
you prefer to buy your shoes online? If you do want to purchase
your shoes on the internet, just make sure you shop from a
reputable site. Sometimes online auction sites can be great
places to find deals on shoes, too. Just be sure you get what
you want, because most, if not all, online retailers will not
accept refunds for shoes.



About the author:
Katya Coen is a regular contributor to href="http://www.shoeguide.net/">Shoe Guide - Your source
for shoes for all walks
of life!