SHOES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Follow these basics to find shoes that fit, feel comfortable and help you avoid injuries:

Shop for shoes at the end of the day. Throughout the day your feet swell. Buying shoes later in the day helps you avoid getting shoes that are too tight.

Don’t be fooled by the size. Athletic shoes tend to run shorter than dress shoes. So your walking shoe will likely be 1 to 1-1/2 sizes bigger than your other shoes.

Get enough room in the toe. There should be a thumbnail’s width (or about a half inch) between your toes and the end of the shoe. And it should be wide enough in the toe that your toes can move freely.

Support is good. If your heel rolls inward when you step (called “overpronation”), or if you have a high arch, get a shoe with plenty of arch support or buy arch supports that you can insert into the shoe.

The flatter the heel the better. Running shoes often have a raised heel to meet the motion needs of a running stride. Walkers don’t need that. Look at the sole under the ball of the foot and choose a shoe with the least height difference.

Look for substance, not style. A good pair of shoes typically costs $70 to $90. If the price is any higher, you’re paying for fashion, not effectiveness.

Buy new shoes every 500 miles. Once you reach that milestone, the shoe materials have broken down — even if you can’t see it with the naked eye. Continuing to use the shoes can lead to injuries like shin splints.