A short day trip out or a day at work can be ruined by uncomfortable shoes, so imagine being halfway through a long walking or hiking trip or even worse a hiking holiday only to realise you need different footwear!

Even more that that, having the right shoe can effect more than just your comfort there and then, getting the right walking shoes will mean you’re not at risk from sports injury or any associated problems after the exercise has taken place.

I think we’d all agree that walking shoes are the most important item of outdoor clothing gear.

So what should you look for in a walking shoe?

* Enhanced shock absorption: The heel of a walking shoe will be lower than that of a running shoe, and won’t flare out at the back like a running shoe does. The heel is often undercut at the back which allows for a smooth roll through from heel to toe.
* Toe Box: A roomy toe box allows the natural splaying of the toes as the forefoot flexes to push off – a tapered toe box may cause blisters.
* Flexibility: When walking, your foot will flex as you roll through a step from heel to toe. You must be able to bend and twist the shoes. If the shoe is too stiff, your foot will fight it with each step.
* Cut away at back: A cutaway section at the Achilles tendon is useful, so that the tendon does not get rubbed or inflamed.

A few extra tips, if you’re going to a shop to try on shoes:

* Go in the afternoon, your feet will be at their maximum size then.
* Try them on with the type of socks you will be wearing.
* Try to stand when you lace them up (that’s how you’ll be walking in them).
* Allow for a space as wide as your thumb in the toe box.
* Walk around in them – try taking rounded strides to test the flexibility and feel.
* Make sure they’re perfect from the off. You should no longer have to ‘break’ shoes in and suffer from blisters and pain doing so.

So which shoe is best?

Of course everyone is going to have a different opinion on this because there is no one best shoe. Each person’s feet are different and you may have to compensate for stride problems you may have, such as overpronation (when the feet roll inward too much). Try following the guidelines above to find the walking shoes that fit you best. Remember to consider support, flexibility & cushioning and take all advice with a grain of salt.  A shoe fitting expert will help you find the shoe that is best for your walking distance, speed, style, and surface as well as your weight and stride.

That said, I can say I’m a particular fan of both Hi Tec and Regatta walking shoes, both in my mind offer a good value for money for the quality of shoe they provide.
What about walking boots?

Whilst this post has been about walking shoes, I feel I should at least briefly mention boots as many long distance walkers wear hiking boots, which do have a lot of good points (which I’m not going to go into now). However, boots do not provide motion control features that many people need, and may be inflexible and heavy compared to walking shoes. You may discover that they need a boot for the trail but not for the street.

Did you know?

When shopping for shoes, the best time to try on shoes is in the afternoon. Your feet will be at their maximum size by then so you’ll be able to know which shoes fit your feet well.

-Guest Blogger: Angie from Outdoor Look