Make Your Shoes Last Longer By Getting the Right Fit.

There’s a lot more to getting a good fitting shoe than just wandering in to the store and trying on a few pairs. Shoes are designed to flex at the ball of your foot, so a well-fitted shoe will bend in the right places; meaning that it will last longer, give you better support, improve your posture and generally make you a lot more comfortable.

Know Your Correct Shoe Size

The first step to getting a correctly-fitting shoe is to measure your feet.

Measure your feet in the afternoon, when feet tend to be their largest.
Tape a piece of paper to the floor so it won’t move.
Wearing your normal socks (or barefoot if you’re buying sandals and won’t be wearing them with socks), sit down on a chair and place your foot firmly on the paper. Bend your leg forward slightly.
Trace around your foot, keeping the pencil as close as possible (you might need someone else’s help here).
Draw parallel lines at the bottom of your heel and the top of your toes.
Measure between these lines. Make sure that you follow the axis of your foot perpendicular to the two parallel lines, not at an angle.
Note this measurement and convert it to the right shoe size with the following table;

Please note that shoes sizes can vary widely between different manufacturers - if buying online, always check the web site's return policy to help you make the right decision.

Choose the Right Width

Many people make the mistake of thinking they can wear longer shoes in order to acquire a wide enough fit. This can actually cause problems, so make sure that in addition to getting the right foot length you also measure your foot width accurately.

Give the Shoe Some Time

Sizes can vary between individual brands and shoes. When you get the shoes home, try them on soft carpet. Before you stand up, make sure that there is a little room all around; your feet will expand and change size as you walk throughout your day.

Good quality leathers often feel stiff when you first put them on. Wear your new shoes at home for a few hours at a time for a while to let them soften and shape to your foot.