Proper Footwear

Today’s shoes are easily interchangeable between sports—or so it seems. It is easy to pull on a pair of shoes and go walking, or running, or hiking—without thinking much about whether the shoes are right for the activity. Everywhere we look, in every magazine we page through, we are inundated with choices in footwear. Why not walk in running shoes, run in walking shoes, or hike in road shoes? In fact, do all three in one pair of shoes. Does it matter?
     Well, in fact, yes—and—no! If you go to a good shoe store and make an educated purchase of a pair of high quality shoes, you will probably be fine. Too many people, however, go to the mall or the discount store and buy shoes. In this case, you will probably suffer. The shoes will likely not fit well since most of the sales people don’t understand fit. They shoes may be an unknown style from the maker or may even be ‘seconds.’  It may surprise you but go into any discount store and look at the walking, running and hiking footwear. Write down the names of some of the shoes and their maker: Nike, New Balance, etc. Then go home and search Google for these shoes. Type in "shoe manufacturer + shoe name + reviews" and see what you find. Here’s an example, "Nike + Tailwind + reviews." Look in Runner’s World, Backpacker, Shape, Running Times, and other magazines for shoe reviews. I’d bet the shoes are not listed in these industry magazines.
     So, back to the question. Does it matter? If your aim is to wear the shoes in a sports activity, I would recommend buying shoes made for that activity. Walking shoes for walking, running shoes for running, and hiking shoes for hiking. The exception is trail running shoes that can easily be used for hiking. Each type is designed for that activity with support and cushioning, fabrics and materials, and midsole and outersole chosen for the activity. Play it smart. Buy and wear shoes for your sport. Your feet will be happy.