Long walks are a great way to not only get and stay in shape, but they’re also good for lowering your stress levels as well. And part of making your long walks more enjoyable and better for your body is choosing the correct footwear for this type of physical activity. After all, the last thing you want is to return from your walk with blisters on your feet and your toes or heel writhing in pain because you wore the wrong type of shoes.
To avoid this type of unfortunate situation, the best footwear to choose for long walks should have these four main qualities:
- It is flexible so that it bends with your foot as you take each step. One way to test this is to hold the shoe in your hands and twist it. If you can’t then it’s probably too rigid and you should choose a more flexible shoe.
- It has little if any heel so that your feet roll with each step versus hitting the ground hard. Additionally, the heel that it does have should be more undercut and beveled than flared to help with this proper foot placement even more.
- It is lightweight to keep you from feeling as if cement blocks are tied to your feet after taking hundreds, if not thousands, of steps on your long walks.
- It is breathable to prevent your feet from getting too warm while on your walks, also allowing any moisture on your feet to evaporate so they stay dry and comfortable.
The best time to try on walking shoes for long distances is toward the end of the day when your feet are naturally a bit bigger in size. Also, be sure to take the time to try the shoes on and walk in them a bit before buying them to ensure that they are the right fit for you.
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What type of footwear do you prefer on long walks?
