Three Reasons To Stop Buying Cheap, Poorly Fitted Shoes

5 May 2015

Jaime Allen

When it comes to shoes, do you reach for the $10 sandals you know you'll only be able to wear a few times, or the $100 sandals that will last for years? You may think buying cheaper shoes is the better option since it allows you to have more variety in your wardrobe, but your feet and legs would not agree. Here are three good reasons to start investing in good shoes, rather than cheaply made ones.

Poor arch support can lead to all sorts of foot problems.

Cheap shoes are often quickly made without careful plans or measurements. They may not offer the right amount of arch support to ensure your weight is properly distributed on your foot as you walk. Some don't even have any arch support at all – they're completely flat on the inside.  One of the most common consequences of poor arch support is plantar fasciitis. This is an inflammation of the connective tissue in the underside of your foot, and it can be quite difficult to treat. Plantar fasciitis won't develop after one day of wearing shoes without arch support, but stick with this habit for several months or years, and there's a good chance you'll wake up with aching arches one day.

Your legs are more prone to injury when you wear poorly fitted shoes.

It's not just your feet you have to worry about. When you walk around in shoes that don't fit properly (and most cheap shoes do not fit properly) unneeded strain is put on the joints all of the way up your leg. Are your knees sore at the end of a long day? What about your hips? Chances are good that your shoes are to blame, and that if you start buying better shoes that fit your foot properly, your pain will go away.

Cheap textiles may cause allergic reactions.

High-quality shoes are generally made from leather or high-quality textiles. Cheap shoes are usually made from faux leather or cheaply dyed fabrics. These cheap fabrics cause allergic reactions in a lot of people. Just because you have not had one yet does not mean that the next cheap pair of shoes you buy won't contain a dye that makes your skin break out in hives. Stick with reputable brands, and you can count on higher-quality materials that are less likely to cause these issues.

A surefire way to know whether the shoes you've been wearing are built well is to wear them the next time you visit your podiatrist. Ask your doctor like one from Northside Foot & Ankle if he or she thinks your shoes may be contributing to the problem. Chances are good that if you've been wearing cheap shoes, your doctor will recommend switching to better-made shoes as a part of your treatment for most any foot condition.

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