If The Shoe Fits: Length

Finding a shoe that’s the perfect length may not seem like big deal...you stand on that funny metal thing (called a Bannock Device) to find your foot size and you’re good to go, or you try on a shoe and see if you have a finger nail’s width of room to the end. But those methods, while useful to an extent, don’t tell you the most important thing you need to know about how a shoe’s length interacts with your foot. The key to getting a shoe the proper length to make sure the shoe bends where your toes bend.

Ever notice how your shoes have breaks in the rubber on the bottom of the sole? The shape and spacing of the tread on your shoes isn’t just a nice design, it actually affects where the shoe will bend and flex. Your job is to make sure the bend in the shoe matches up with the joint where your toes bend. If you happen to have longer toes than average you may find that when the bend matches you no longer have a thumbnails width of room at the end; that’s OK as long as your toes aren’t actually bumping into the end of the shoe. Likewise, if your toes are shorter than average you may find you have more room than usual; again, that’s perfectly fine as long as the shoe isn’t slipping up and down. If you find that a shoe that fits at the toe bend doesn’t fit otherwise you may need to try on a few other brands to find the one that fits best.

Seeing where a shoe flexes can also help you determine if it has enough stability for you. If you’re looking for a traditional type of running shoe with more stability the only place the shoe should bend is at the toes, not further back by the arch. One the other hand, if you want a minimal shoe that will allow your foot to move unencumbered look for one that will flex down the entire length of the sole (although even in this case there may be more flexibility at the toe than in the rest of the shoe). You can even get shoes that won’t bend at all! These shoes have a special sole called a rocker bottom that allow you to roll through toe-off instead of pushing; which can be real blessing for anyone with Hallux Limitus or Hallux Rigidus (painful arthritic conditions of the big toe).

Assuring a shoe bends at the same place as your foot makes sure your anatomy stays in control and isn’t forced into inappropriate movement because of the shoe. Make your shoe work for you!

~Nicki