Mark Adrian Shoes Newsletter – Perfect Fit
July 17, 2024 6:45 pm Leave your thoughtsI wanted to share something with you today that is a big focus for us when we are helping customers fit their feet to shoes…
Did you know that when it comes to fitting shoes, your thumb plays a big role? That’s right, your thumb contains a secret fitting tool to make sure a pair of shoes is just the right size for your feet. Presenting…the thumbnail!
Our Rule of Thumb (pun intended) when fitting shoes properly is that you should generally have about a thumbnail’s worth of space in front of your toe before the end of the shoe. I can hear you say it: “That much space, Adam? That’s crazy!” Yup. That much space.Why? Well, I’m glad you asked.
First, let me say that most people on their own fit themselves too small. Maybe they have been wearing the same size all their adult life. Maybe they have gotten used to wearing shoes tight, thinking that that will give them the most stability. Allow me to share a few important things:
1. The healthiest way to wear shoes is that your toes can splay as if you are barefoot. Constricting your toes can lead to bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis and other foot ailments. Plus, it is our forefoot that helps us balance and stay stable, so allowing your forefoot to spread out as much as it wants will help keep you happily upright.
2. Slight foot movement in a shoe is healthy and appropriate. If the shoe is restricting your foot movement too much, it will in turn be restricting your natural gait. Allow your heel to move up and down slightly (especially in a non-tie shoe), and for your foot to move forward and backward in the shoe a bit. That leads us to…
3. When you are moving at pace, and especially downhill (think exercise walking or hiking), your foot will migrate forward in any shoe – whether that shoe is too big or too small. If you give yourself about a thumbnail’s space in front of your toe, your foot will migrate into air instead of into the end of the shoe (see #1 above).
So, when you come into Mark Adrian Shoes, you will notice us touching your toes. It is not the only aspect of a proper fit, but it is likely the most important one.
We look forward to having you in to try on shoes and put our thumbs to the test!
Until next time,
Adam
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