Comfortable shoes for women can be cute, too!

Dansko Shoes

A lot of women are under the impression that comfortable shoes must equal ugly shoes. Twenty to thirty years ago that might have been the case, but these days we have so many more options for cute, comfortable shoes in a wide range of styles and colours which the average woman would not be ashamed to wear in public.

Here are some things to look for when shopping for the most comfortable shoes:

Flats and casual shoes
Check to see if the insole is removable. If it is, you can replace it with an arch support or orthotic to make the shoe more comfortable. Make sure the heel cup is high enough to take an orthotic, otherwise your heel will slip out of the shoe. Avoid shoes that are too flimsy or flexible; if you can bend it in half, it is unstable and will not hold up to an orthotic.

High-heeled shoes
Consider a wedge or chunky heel rather than a stiletto. The shoe will be more stable and provide more shock absorption. Rubber soles and inside cushioning will provide more comfort. A rocker bottom on the forefoot will take some pressure off the ball of the foot. Avoid shoes with very pointed toes – your feet don’t look like pizza slices, so your shoes shouldn’t either.

Sandals
Look for something with a built-in arch support. Completely flat soles will give you arch fatigue. Make sure that there is a wide enough strap or vamp on the top of the sandals so you don’t have to clench your toes to keep them on. This is why I don’t like flip flops, as they can cause contracture of the toes (aka “hammertoes”).

It's important that you know your correct shoe size. Some women’s feet do get bigger with age, weight gain or pregnancy. If you haven’t had your feet measured in 20 years, you may be surprised.

That being said, shoe sizes do vary between manufacturers, and sometimes you have to go by the “Rule of Thumb,” which means allowing the width of your thumb to fit between the tip of your longest toe and the tip of the shoe.

It’s critical that you try on shoes before buying them. I don’t usually recommend buying shoes online or by mail order unless you already know that the style and brand fit you well.

You may have to try on ten pairs of shoes before you find a pair that is right for you, but it is worth the time and trouble to wear shoes that feel good. And if they don’t feel good in the store, they won’t feel good at home - so don’t buy them!

Here are some brands that I think offer the most comfortable shoes for women:

DANSKO  –  Great sandals with built-in arch supports and shoes with rocker bottom soles.

THINK  –  Good arch support; I have a couple of pairs of sandals that have lasted for years.

FINN COMFORT  –  Both shoes and sandals have removable and very supportive insoles that are the next best thing to a custom orthotic.

HOTTER USA  –  I came across these shoes in England a couple of years ago and I love them. They have removable insoles, come in wide widths and really cool colours. Unfortunately there are no stores in the US, so I had to break my own rule about online ordering.

CLARKS, MERRELL and ECCO  –  Good casual shoes with removable insoles, most with rocker bottoms.

MUNRO  –  Comfortable, dressier shoes in several widths with removable insoles.