The honest self-care

Shoes are an investment. Never buy cheap shoes. Buy good shoes.

My grandma

You know how comfortable sneakers are. And they are so practial, as they match with so many outfits during almost all seasons.

But you would’t be here, searching for an alternative if not sometimes, during summer, you just wish to free your feet.

And we are not talking about „dad sandals“, but fashionable summer shoes that that will go with you on a long day at the office, on a long stroll through the city or your summer holiday.

If you are here because you are only looking for the latest trend, cheap as possible and lasting for only one season, then this article will not help you.

I will show you what shoes will not make your feet cry in pain.

Shoes that are comfortable, long lasting and still looking good.

And if you are still here, reading, you are on the right way. Because your future you will thank me later.

1. Summer shoes without foot pain- what to look for
2. Best shoe material for sweaty feet
3. Best fashionable shoe brands for healthy feet
4. Is walking barefoot healthy?

1.Summer shoes without foot pain- what to look for

I have been there. You have been there. Flat sandals are a stadard equipment for summer months.

And while you were a teenager, you didn’t really care if your shoes are pinching or rubbing.

And probably you even haven’t even noticed.

You bought them at ZARA, H&M or another cheap fashion brand. As loong as they were looking good,everything was fine.

But as an adult, it starts bothering you.

It is not normal to have foot pain after walking.

You don’t want to think about your hurting feet every view minutes.

And you shouldn’t.

Because feet that hurt during normal daily life are a sign that your feet are suffering and can also be permanently damaged.

For a smooth gait and to better absorb shocks, the midfoot is arched.

Now imagine all your body weight is supported only by your feet. And your weight presses the foot down with each step.

Wearing very flat shoes means that your feet bones are pressed into a flat position again and again.

When the naturally given position of your bones and tendons changes, this means that the foot movement can no longer run optimally.

This causes permanent foot pain.

Unfortunately, we often notice the consequences only too late with increasing age.

1.Look for a shoe with a thick sole.

A thick sole does not let you feel the hard floor and you automatically roll your foot properly when walking.

You will be able to walk hours without feeling any pain.

2.Look for a shoe that is shock absorbing.

Walking on a hard floor you feel a strong shock when you put your feet down.

Because this feeling is uncomfortable, you do not roll your foot properly while walking. The foot should roll forward from heel to toe.

When you walk on hard floor, your whole body is pushed into an unnatural movement process.

So it is not only your feet that might hurt from the hard ground, but your back might be affected as well.

Have you noticed that after a long day on your feet you fall into your bed- relieved? This is because your back has been stressed the whole day.

Imagine you are doing this every day.

Your back will be so stressed, that it will hurt constantly even if you don’t move anymore.

3.Look for a shoe with an anatomically correct pre-shaped inner sole.

Ideally the imprint of the inner sole corresponds exactly to the sole of your foot.

When you walk, your foot is not flattened but remains in its natural shape.

This not only prevents you from getting foot pain in the short term, but also in the long term.

Don’t be disappointed if your feet will hurt the first few times when your are wearing pre-shaped shoes.

This is because your feet are not used to it. They have already lost some of their natural shape and know they need to get back to it.

4. Have your shoes customized for you.

If you have been wearing the wrong shoes for years, maybe your feet have changed their natural shape.

Or maybe you were simply born with not so perfect feet. That happens.

The above mentioned advice (1-3) is not working for you, as pre-shaped shoes are only for standard feet.

Now what you need to do, is to get shoes made for you.

Go and visit your local store specialised in orthopaedics technology (yes, the one your gradma visits regularly).

Nowadays, these shops have a completely different choice than years ago.

They have many fashionable and up to date shoe styles, which will be customised just for you!

The technician will scan your feet and then make your chosen shoe style according to your measurements and foot shape.

2.Best shoe material for sweaty feet

Have you ever noticed a not so pleasant odor in the office next to your colleague. Or even worse, the odor is yours.

Well, this is because even if we wear open shoes, our feet still sweat.

No matter if the temperatures are high or low, sweating is a natural process which can not be fully prevented.

But you can prevent the unpleasant odor.

If your shoe smells, this is because there are bacteria who multiply on its surface.

And this is mainly bacteria, who multiply on places where no oxygen can reach. This is especially for the places where your feet touch the material like the foot sole.

What you need, is a material that is either breathable or bacteria repellent.

– If you prefer natural material then you should go with leather, which is antibacterial due to the way how it is processed.

Vegan alternatives for leather are cork and crepe rubber.

–Cork consists largely of enclosed air.

The trapped air is responsible for the excellent insulating properties of natural cork against great heat and also in cold. So it is the perfect material for sweaty feet.

Also it is a very sustainable material. It is is obtained from the bark of cork oaks, which are mostly found in Portugal.

-Natural crepe rubber is made from vulcanised, specially prepared rubber. It is more flexible that cork and therewith nicer to wear.

-If you found really great shoes but made of plastic– don’t worry.

The material can be very easily cleaned, so that bacteria causing that unpleasant odour are no problem any more.

• If your inner sole is made of hard plastic, simply use desinfection spray on your shoes.
• Put baby powder on the inner sole of your feet. It will absorb sweat and dirt. Baby power contains zinc, which is antibacterial.
• Use apple cider vinegar for cleaning your shoes.

3.Best fashionable shoe brands for healthy feet

Some brands specialized totally in keeping your feet healthy.

Also, sustainable clothing brands increasingly take foot health into account. These are the ones I like best.

1.Germans love their Birkies.

Birkenstock is a very traditional german brand and a must have for men and women.

The brand is famous for its anatomically shaped footbed.

They have elegant styles for work (maybe a german thing), simple styles for daily life and very fashionable styles that even made it into VOGUE.

2.Marco Polo. This brand preference lies in natural materials and high-quality workmanship.

They have summer shoes made from leather as well as vegan shoes made with crepe rubber.

They are always up to date regarding the latest fashion trends but still classic.

(I bought these cream colored shoes this summer and I swear I have never had such light and comfortable summer shoes before)

3.Hessnatur. A very sustainable brand that only uses natural materials and offers many vegan shoes.

4. EKIN Made in Portugal from pure ecological materials under fair conditions.

5. VARLEY Varley offers an everyday wardrobe for woman. The style is simple and clean.

4.Is walking barefoot healthy?

Walking barefoot is healthy, provided you are walking on natural ground like sand or earth.

On this soft ground your feet can roll of (the foot should roll forward from heel to toe) naturally.

Here, walking without shoes, strengthens ligaments and muscles, which are otherwise hardly exercised in shoes.

This makes the ankle more stable and injuries less frequent.

Humans (or any other animal) are not made for walking on solid floor.

Even walking barefoot at home is not healthy!

The floor has no shock absorption.

The pads of your feet will need to absorb the impact from every step. This can cause permanent damage to your feet. And foot pain during walking.