Your Foot Type Is The Most Important Consideration

The complex alignment of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons in your feet form side-to-side (metatarsal) arches and heel-to-toe (longitudinal) arches. Walking puts up to 1.5 times one’s body weight on each foot as it impacts the ground. As you walk, these springy, flexible arches help distribute this weight evenly across your feet. Your arch type plays an important role in how you adapt to various surfaces as you walk, and is the most critical consideration for determining the best walking shoe for your foot type.

Some people have “floppy” feet that are very loose-jointed. Because feet like this are too mobile, they give or over-pronate when they hit the ground. These people need a stability walking shoe that is built to control the foot’s excessive motion. Saucony Women’s Grid Omni Walker Walking Shoe is a good example of walking shoes for flat feet. At the other extreme are people with “rigid” feet.” These feet are very tight-jointed and do not yield enough upon impact. To help avoid impact-related injuries, these people need cushioned walking shoes like the Saucony Men’s Progrid Hurricane 10 Running Shoe. Finally, the third type, the neutral-arch or normal foot, falls somewhere between mobile and rigid. This type of foot can use any women’s walking shoe or men’s walking shoes that is flexible and properly cushioned.

Buy motion control walking shoes for floppy feet.  (low arches or flat feet)

Buy impact control walking shoes for rigid feet. (high arches)