How To Do A Shoe Checkup

​How are your feet doing?  If they aren't feeling healthy & happy, it’s always good to check in on any shoes that you use regularly or that have foam soles.  Whether you wear them or not, the foam in your shoes gets more dense and compresses over time. 

Don’t wait until your feet hurt to do a shoe checkup.

Have they lived their best life?  Are the soles worn out?  Is the fabric stretched out?  Are your feet hurting at the end of the day or after workouts?  Do your knees or back hurt more lately? 

If so, they're all signs it might be time to get a new pair.
 
Before you pick out a pair because of the color or cuteness, here are some shoe shopping tips to consider that’ll help prevent injury and give your foot muscles the love they deserve.
 
COMFORT: 

What’s your first impression after putting on the shoes?  Don’t play mind games with yourself by telling yourself that you need to wear them in for that seam cutting into your pinky toe to go away. 

It doesn’t matter how cute they are, if anything feels uncomfortable or off when you first put them on... you need to move on.
 
If they pass the first impression test, move around in them to double check your foot and heel stay in place.  Stand on one leg. Jump. Walk or run a few steps. Turn and stop quickly.

Still feel good without any slipping or sliding going on?  You may have a keeper.
 
SUPPORT:

You're aiming for just enough support for your arch and the activity you will be doing.  The more impact your activity, the more cushion you will likely need from your shoe. 
 
Caution: Be careful with the barefoot or minimal arch shoe styles, especially if you run.  I love to workout barefoot to help turn on all my foot muscles but it’s super easy to injure yourself if you run or lift weights with shoes that have minimal arch support.  I’ve done it a few times and it can take months to heal foot injuries.  If you have a pair, you must wean into them and they aren’t meant to be worn all day. Change it up and/or take a break if you feel your foot muscles getting tired or cramping when using a minimal arch support style shoe.
 
TRACTION:

Make sure you’ve got the right tread on the bottom for what you’ll be doing.  Rocky terrain requires a different level of traction than smooth pavement. 
 
GREEN BRANDS:

If you’re committed to a green lifestyle, take the time to investigate where your shoe parts and packaging come from and whether the shipping does or does not support the planet. Here are two companies to consider:

• ADIDAS has a commitment to making a line of shoes from plastic ocean waste.
• VEJA is a Brazilian shoe company that makes all parts of the shoe from various recycled plastics and waste. Check out the product details on one of their shoes:

- Upper in Alveomesh (100% recycled plastic bottles). Alveomesh is a technical fabric made exclusively from recycled plastic bottles. It brings breathability, flexibility and lightness to the shoe.
- Pannels in suede & leather
- Side V Logo in Rubber and Rice Waste (23%)
- Organic cotton laces (100%)
- Midsole made from sugar cane (53%)
- Glued outsole made of Amazon rubber (12%) & rice waste (30%)
- Sugarcane insole, Amazon rubber, recycled E.V.A. & organic cotton
- Tech inner lining (100% recycled plastic bottles) developed to acquire a better resistance to friction and provide maximum comfort and flexibility thanks to its mesh structure.
 
It’s actually fun to see how creative these companies are getting with recycling and athletic gear. The Veja shoe listed above is super cute too.

OK, time to go check your shoes and get to shopping. 

To Happy, Healthy Feet!

Mollie

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