How to find the best shoes for foot pain

Buying the right shoes is an investment in foot health. But how do you find a shoe that fits properly and provides adequate support? Here's what to look for in shoes for healthy feet.

Tips for women

For women, the most comfortable shoes are low-heeled but not necessarily flat—no higher than three-quarters of an inch. (If you have a tight Achilles tendon, shoes with a slight heel are more comfortable than flats.)

The shoes should have a wide padded heel, a wide toe box, and a sole that provides sufficient cushioning against the impact of walking. The height of a heel is more crucial than its width; in general, the higher the heel, the worse its effect on the foot. It doesn't matter whether the heel is thin and spiky or wide and chunky.

One exception is when both toes and heel are raised high, as with platform shoes. Because both toes and heel are elevated, the toes are not subjected to additional stress. But watch your step-in platform shoes: you may be more apt to twist your ankle.

Tips for men

Men generally feel most comfortable in athletic shoes, sturdy oxfords, wingtips, loafers, or low-heeled boots. Look for sturdy sole construction that provides support to the foot and cushions against shock. If you have weak or painful ankles, you may want to try a high-top sneaker or boot. If you have diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, you may need special extra-roomy shoes.

Specific foot problems

A few people benefit from shoes that are custom-designed to address a specific foot problem. People who have diabetes are more likely to fall into this category, as are those who have significant foot deformities. Discuss this option with your foot care specialist.

The following may also be helpful when shopping:

• Take a tracing of your foot with you. Place any shoe you think you might buy on top of the tracing. If the shoe is narrower or shorter than the tracing of your foot, don't even try it on.
• Wait until the afternoon to shop for shoes — your foot naturally expands with use during the day and may swell in hot weather.
• Wear the same type of socks that you intend to wear with the shoes.
• Have the salesperson measure both of your feet — and get measured every time you buy new shoes. Feet change with age, often growing longer and wider (as the accumulated weight they bear exacts its toll over time). If one foot is longer or wider than the other, buy a size that fits the larger foot.
• Stand in the shoes. Make sure you have at least a quarter- to a half inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. This provides enough room for your foot to press forward as you walk, without jamming your toes. Wiggle your toes to make sure there's enough room and press gently on the top of the shoe to determine where your longest toe lies.
• Walk around in the shoes to determine how they feel. Is there enough room at the balls of the feet? Do the heels fit snugly, or do they pinch or slip off? Don't rationalize that the shoes just need to be "broken in" or that they'll stretch with time.
• Find shoes that fit from the start. Trust your own comfort level rather than a shoe's size or description. Sizes vary from one manufacturer to another.
• Pay attention to width as well as length. If the ball of your foot feels compressed in a particular shoe, ask if it comes in a wider size. Buying shoes that are a half-size bigger—but no wider—won't necessarily solve the problem.
• Feel the inside of the shoes to see if they have any tags, seams, or other material that might irritate your foot or cause blisters.
• Turn the shoes over and examine the soles. Are they sturdy enough to provide protection from sharp objects? Do they provide any cushioning? Also, take the sole test as you walk around the shoe store: do the soles cushion against impact? Try to walk on hard surfaces as well as carpet to see how the shoe feels on both.
• If you wear over the counter or custom insoles, try them in the shoes you are considering purchasing. Assuming the shoes have removable insoles, take those out and put your own in. You may need to go up a half shoe size if the shoes feel tight with the insoles in place.

For more information on caring for your feet, buy Healthy Feet: Preventing and treating common foot problems, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

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