Updated September 2026
At Foot Solutions, we love the internet as much as the next person.
Virtually any product you want, or information you need is usually instantly available at the click of a mouse or an on-screen button.
However, there is one product we strongly recommend that you don’t buy online – footwear.
As the Society of Shoe Fitters rightly point out, footwear is the only item of clothing that can seriously damage your health. Ill-fitting or inappropriate footwear can directly lead to painful, long-term foot issues that include; arthritis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes and more.
It’s not just foot health that is at risk. Because footwear influences the way we walk, it affects our entire physiology and can cause unnatural wear on the important joints in the body.
Why Is It Essential To Try Out Footwear Before Buying?
Trying out footwear before buying is important for 4 key reasons:
- Accurate measurement for proper fit
- Testing suitability for usage
- Ensuring comfort, support and stability
- Injury prevention
Accurate Measurement for Proper Fit
Because there are several different internationally-recognised shoe size standards, sizes (which are often based on foot length) are often interpreted very differently by shoe manufacturers and a size 7 in one brand may be very different to the same size in another brand.
Rather than just recording the length of a foot from heel to toe, accurate foot measurement requires assessing the length, width and arch of both feet using a gauge such as the Brannock Foot Measuring Device. Measurements should be recorded by a trained shoe fitter who can interpret gauge measurements to recommend appropriate footwear to suit the size and shape of the feet.
During the foot measurement and assessment stage, a trained shoe fitter will also be able to advise regarding the need for additional support in terms of custom arch supports.
Testing Footwear Suitability for Usage
Footwear needs to be appropriate to lifestyle and leisure activity needs. For example, people working on their feet all day, need shoes that provide good support. Hikers need extra ankle support and good grip. These specific requirements can only be tested in person by trying before buying.
Ensuring Comfort, Support and Stability
Not all shoes are appropriate to all feet. The perfect fit to one person may feel like instruments of torture to someone else. The material and cushioning of some footwear may be ideal for some foot shapes but may cause pressure and friction for others. Trying before buying with the help of a trained shoe fitter is the only way to assess whether shoes are comfortable and provide necessary levels of comfort and support.
Injury Prevention
Good footwear shouldn’t need ‘breaking in’. If shoes don’t feel comfortable when you first wear them, it’s a warning sign. Continued wearing of uncomfortable footwear can directly cause painful foot issues like bunions and, by affecting a person’s gait, lead to joint pain particularly in the ankles, knees and hips. Trying before buying reduces the risk of long term injury and discomfort.
Find out more about our FREE foot assessment and gait analysis
If you would like any further advice or information, please contact the store and speak to one of our highly-trained consultants
Image credit Ru Pixen via Unsplash