Are you aware that Americans spend nearly $150 each month on apparel? If you’re hoping to curb your spending, you might be better off investing in higher-quality clothing and footwear. Better yet, with the right kinds of shoes, you can maintain better health and feel more energized.
Keep reading to learn about the 5 benefits of having high-quality footwear!
1. Keep Your Body Aligned
One of the key benefits of good quality shoes is better body alignment. In other words, a good pair of shoes can benefit your back, knees, and joints.
When you don’t have shoes with adequate padding and arch support, you may adjust your stride to try to compensate. For instance, you could take shorter steps when wearing shoes with minimal padding. As a result, you won’t distribute your body weight evenly as you walk.
You may put extra pressure on some areas of your feet, causing your vertebrae to be misaligned. This can lead to joint problems, hip pain, and other debilitating side effects. Invest in shoes that provide enough padding to serve as shock absorbers and help you maintain a normal gait.
2. Feel More Comfortable
If you spend a lot of your day on your feet, you want to feel comfortable. Shoes with poor padding can make your feet ache and your entire body feel tired more quickly. Similarly, shoes with skinny heels or confined toe boxes can lead to discomfort.
Aim to find dress shoes that give your toes enough room. And avoid stiletto heels if you can. These skinny heels won’t help with weight distribution, leaving you with an unusual gait and increased pressure.
Instead, opt for shoes with arch support and comfortable footbeds. And don’t assume that a new shoe that feels too tight will loosen up over time.
Choose the right types of shoes for the job, too. For instance, if you’re training for a marathon, you’ll want running shoes that have a thick sole and adequate flexibility. Since cushioning can become compressed in just a few months, make a point of replacing them more often to ensure good support.
3. Stave Off Infections
If you’re hoping to avoid getting sick, your best bet is to wear shoes. While you might like the feeling of being barefoot, you’re putting your health at risk when you do so.
For starters, you could step on broken glass or other foreign materials that you don’t see right away. Depending on where that glass has been, it could be loaded with bacteria and germs. Not only will you end up with a nasty cut, but you’ll also be at risk of infection.
Spending time barefoot in an area with lots of vegetation means you could encounter poison ivy. And you might also be more susceptible to tick bites and other insect issues.
4. Control Foot Moisture and Odors
Do you like to exercise or play a sport? During intense physical activities, your shoes will become a trap for moisture. And even if you’re not running a 5k, you’ll still generate sweat that gets embedded within your shoes during daily activities.
Moisture-laden shoes can feel damp and heavy on your feet. They’re also a magnet for bacteria.
Fortunately, good shoes can help regulate moisture so you don’t end up with bacteria in your shoes. For instance, leather shoes are known to be better at absorbing moisture in the air. This breathable material can help generate more ventilation for your feet.
You can use wooden shoe trees to help keep the humidity in check in your shoes. You also should avoid storing your shoes in humid environments. Even the best shoes will struggle to be moisture-free when the humidity is oppressive.
Finally, when you opt for better types of shoes, you reduce the risk of bad odors. Breathable materials always are a better choice than cheaper synthetic materials. And you’ll notice the difference the next time you get close to a pair of well-loved shoes!
5. Save Money with Better Shoes
With the right kinds of shoes in your closet, you can save money. Lower-quality shoes will lose their luster quickly. You’ll notice deflated footbeds offer little support and you’ll need to replace them more frequently.
By contrast, with better shoes, you’ll get materials that provide longevity. It’s normal to see the middle of the heel worn down over time on a pair of shoes. But when you notice the sole crumbling or starting to detach from the body of the shoe, it’s time for an upgrade.
For average use, you may need to replace some shoes every six months. Many people use 500 miles as the benchmark for knowing when it’s time to go shoe shopping. With shoes that are made from higher-quality materials, you may want to look into getting them re-soled.
You might be able to save money when you choose better shoes. They’ll last longer — and you won’t endure foot pain due to poor padding. When you wear poor shoes, you could end up spending money on a visit to the podiatrist to address a foot problem.
Choose High-Quality Footwear
High-quality footwear can propel you through your day and stave off foot problems and hip pain. You’ll feel more comfortable during the day, and you’ll avoid changing your gait and triggering joint problems. In addition, you can keep away infections and moisture — and you might save money over time.
When you’re ready to learn which shoes are the right choice for your needs, contact us so we can help!
