March 12, 2024How to Wear Sandals Correctly
Sandals are a wardrobe accessory many of us look forward to in the warmer weather. The joy of allowing our feet to breathe is a pleasure that simply cannot be duplicated.
There are four basic rules to follow when fitting sandals. It does not matter whether they are walking or dress up.
- Heels should not protrude over the back
- Toes should not extend over the front
- Toes should not hang over the sides
- Straps should never dig into your toes, heels or any other parts of your foot
When heels or toes hang over the front, sides, or back it is obvious they do not fit. Sandals, like shoes, need to fit the length and width of your foot. It is also important to remember that in the warm weather feet can swell. It is quite possible the straps fit in the morning but not in the afternoon. Always make sure you have additional room with your straps and that they are not on the last hole or stretched to the limit.
For as little as $2 you can buy a pair of rubber flip flops in any colour you want. They do serve a purpose around the pool or at the beach but if you spend too much time in flip-flops you can run into long-term foot, leg, and even back issues. Blisters are the most obvious problem. Sliding our feet into flip-flops causes rubbing against the toe post with every step. Heel pain is another concern and generally manifests itself in something called plantar fasciitis. Without arch support the foot flattens as you walk. Your toes need to flex and grip the strap to keep the flip-flop on. The end result is the plantar fascia ligament can stretch and tear causing extreme pain.
You do not have to sacrifice support when wearing sandals. Many footbed sandals offer tremendous arch support. They can easily double as house slippers for those who require the extra support. Such sandals are distinguished by a cork and latex footbed contoured with anatomical support for heels, arches, and toes. Cork being a natural material allows your foot to contour to the insole and not overheat. The latex provides some shock absorption and also prevents the cork from deteriorating and chipping. With footbed sandals you get as close to a custom fit insole as possible. Prime examples include Mephisto, Birkenstock, Finn Comfort, and Naot.
A footbed sandal allows your feet to rest inside the footbed. Hence your heel sits in the heel cup, arch in the arch support, and toes enjoy the metatarsal bar.
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Sandals are a wardrobe accessory many of us look forward to in the warmer weather. The joy of allowing our feet to breathe is a pleasure that simply cannot be duplicated.
There are four basic rules to follow when fitting sandals. It does not matter whether they are walking or dress up.
- Heels should not protrude over the back
- Toes should not extend over the front
- Toes should not hang over the sides
- Straps should never dig into your toes, heels or any other parts of your foot
When heels or toes hang over the front, sides, or back it is obvious they do not fit. Sandals, like shoes, need to fit the length and width of your foot. It is also important to remember that in the warm weather feet can swell. It is quite possible the straps fit in the morning but not in the afternoon. Always make sure you have additional room with your straps and that they are not on the last hole or stretched to the limit.
For as little as $2 you can buy a pair of rubber flip flops in any colour you want. They do serve a purpose around the pool or at the beach but if you spend too much time in flip-flops you can run into long-term foot, leg, and even back issues. Blisters are the most obvious problem. Sliding our feet into flip-flops causes rubbing against the toe post with every step. Heel pain is another concern and generally manifests itself in something called plantar fasciitis. Without arch support the foot flattens as you walk. Your toes need to flex and grip the strap to keep the flip-flop on. The end result is the plantar fascia ligament can stretch and tear causing extreme pain.
You do not have to sacrifice support when wearing sandals. Many footbed sandals offer tremendous arch support. They can easily double as house slippers for those who require the extra support. Such sandals are distinguished by a cork and latex footbed contoured with anatomical support for heels, arches, and toes. Cork being a natural material allows your foot to contour to the insole and not overheat. The latex provides some shock absorption and also prevents the cork from deteriorating and chipping. With footbed sandals you get as close to a custom fit insole as possible. Prime examples include Mephisto, Birkenstock, Finn Comfort, and Naot.
A footbed sandal allows your feet to rest inside the footbed. Hence your heel sits in the heel cup, arch in the arch support, and toes enjoy the metatarsal bar.