A man’s shoe is an important part of his outfit. Whether you’re going for a formal look or just want something comfortable to wear all day, choosing the right shoes for men is essential. It goes a long way toward making a great first impression. Buying shoes for men is a serious affair. It’s important to remember that the wrong pair of shoes can have an impact on your overall health and comfort. You don’t want to ruin your day with blisters or bad feet.
So, here are five things men should remember before buying shoes.
1. Correct fit
The most important thing for you to remember when buying shoes for men is that they should fit like a glove: tight enough for your foot to be held snugly in place, but loose enough so that they don’t pinch or bind. Most importantly, you’ll want the heel to be snug and secure. If the shoe has a loose heel, it may slip off your foot when you walk or run. Finally, make sure that the shoe feels comfortable on your foot and doesn’t cause any significant pain when you wear it (this will vary depending on how much time you spend walking or running).
Finally, make sure that the shoe feels comfortable on your foot and doesn’t cause any significant pain when you wear it (this will vary depending on how much time you spend walking or running). The best way to test this is by walking around in them inside the store at different speeds: first slowly, then faster, and finally as fast as possible. Don’t worry about the looks the salesmen or other customers give you. It’s fine as long as you don’t knock anyone down.
Also, keep in mind that feet swell during the day, and even more so when exercising or in hot weather. So, when you first try them on, your toes should not touch the end of the shoe. If they do, then you need a larger size. This gives your feet room to grow as needed throughout the day and keeps blisters from forming on hot days when your feet swell up more because of heat stress, sweat from exercise, or humidity.
2. COMFORT
It’s no surprise that comfort is the most important factor when it comes to buying shoes. But what do I mean by “comfort”? Is it the same thing for everyone? The answer is no; in fact, it can mean many things to different people. The best way to think about comfort is as a subjective personal thing—a combination of many factors including: arch support, toe box shape and size, heel size and shape, etc. It takes a bit of shoe-buying experience to learn what works for you and what does not. Once you do know how to chose the most comfortable shoes for yourself, I’d stay stick to the learning.
3. QUALITY
Quality is the most important part of shoe shopping. The quality of the leather and/or other materials used to make the shoe is paramount. The quality of the shoe is mostly determined by how long it can last and how well it stands up to wear, tear, and abuse. If you can’t find a pair of shoes that are made from quality materials, have a good construction and design, and are finished well, then it doesn’t matter how much you like them or how much money they cost. You should not buy them!
Quality footwear is a worthwhile investment because it will last longer and be more comfortable than cheaper versions. Especially if you are buying leather shoes, look for vegetable-tanned leather rather than chrome-tanned leather. Vegetable tanning is an older method that uses natural materials such as tree bark to produce the tannins used in dying. Chrome tanning uses synthetic chemicals and produces a stiffer hide that’s less pliable when it comes time to make shoes out of it.
When looking at construction details like seams and stitching patterns, look for straight lines with no fraying threads or crooked stitching holes. These will get worse as the shoe ages. Remember:
- Quality shoes are more comfortable.
- Quality shoes are more durable.
- Quality shoes are better finished.
4. Lifestyle
When buying shoes for me, as with women, lifestyle is an important thing to keep in mind. I am not sure this gets enough consideration though, to be honest.
The first thing to consider is the occasion for which you will be wearing them. If you need to wear formals often, then you will need more dress shoes. If you are physically very active, then perhaps you need more sneakers. You will also need some special occasion shoes that will go with your ethnic wear. So, what kind of shoes and how many to buy depend a lot on your lifestyle and life events.
Consider this: If you buy some nice designer sneakers for yourself (or someone else), they’ll probably get ruined pretty quickly if you wear them on rainy days or while walking around town all day—it’s just not worth it to have something expensive look like trash after a few uses! Make sure you think about what kind of conditions these shoes would be best suited for before purchasing them; otherwise, they might end up sitting unused in your closet forever, and nobody wants that.
5. Weather & Climate
When considering which shoes to buy, it’s important to think about what kind of climate you live in.
- Hot or cold, Think about where you live and how much time you spend outdoors. Is it warm all year? Does it get cold in the winter? There are shoes for every climate, but it’s important to find one that fits both your needs as well as the environment around you.
- Waterproofing. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain or snow, look for a shoe that’s waterproof. It may cost more than you want to pay initially, but having wet feet—or, worse yet, wet socks—can be uncomfortable and dangerous. A good pair of waterproof shoes will also last longer than their non-waterproof counterparts. So it is a worthwhile investment.
- Breathability. Breathability is key when buying summer shoes! You want something designed specifically with breathability in mind so that air can circulate freely through each layer between your skin and a potentially smelly sock layer. Don’t assume all “sneakers” are created equal: some manufacturers use mesh uppers while others opt for leather; some have perforations on top while others do not; still others use mesh linings only around their toes instead of throughout the entire footbed… you get my drift. Or else, ditch the sneakers and wear sandals!
I hope that this post has given you a good overview of what to look for when buying shoes for men. I know it can be difficult sometimes, but by keeping these five things in mind—correct fit, comfort, quality, lifestyle, and climate / weather—you’ll be able to make smarter decisions about how much money goes into each pair.