Taking a brisk walk every day has immense benefits on your physical and mental health. It keeps your blood, cholesterol, and sugar levels in control. Moreover, with just 10-15 minutes of walking, there is a visible uptick in your energy, with increased mental alertness and an uptick in mood. If all these reasons make you want to go for a daily walk starting today, there is something more you should know – an important thing you may have completely missed out on, i.e., your shoes. If you are wondering why shoes are crucial in this aspect, let us tell you why.
Many people overlook the importance of the right pair of footwear and wear any type, irrespective of the activity they indulge in. If you have been doing this, you need to stop now. Walking, just like basketball or football, has its unique movement. The way your foot rolls, lands on the ground, the impact you feel on your legs, etc., all while walking, starkly differ from what would happen while playing some sport. Needless to say, your footwear also protects your feet from injuries while offering you the required cushioning and stability. Thus, walking requires footwear made specifically for this movement. This is where walking shoes for men come into play. Curious to explore what makes walking shoes different from other shoes and why they are a must in your wardrobe? Read on to uncover this in detail.
What Makes Walking Shoes Different From Other Shoes?
The best way to keep your feet happy and protect them from any probable injuries is to have the correct shoes. Why so? Let us understand with an example.
Let’s say you are a fitness enthusiast who goes for a brisk walk every day while your friend is a professional runner. Both activities are different in terms of the foot movements involved, the muscles you use, and the strain you feel on your legs. Even if you think that walking is simpler than running, the activity still uses more muscles than you would imagine. It engages your legs, toe muscles and core as you move forward.
Moreover, you, as a walker and your friend, as a runner, will use different foot strikes while moving. This is because, during the respective movements, walkers have one foot down while runners have both feet off the ground. Also, though walkers and runners both land their heels first as they move, walkers instantly roll forward onto their toes. Both running and walking have different weight distributions due to the varying amounts of pressure exerted on your feet. Runners distribute almost twice or thrice their body weight across their feet and legs with every step forward. Walkers, on the other hand, top out only once or twice. All these factors make walking shoes for men different from other types of footwear.
Reasons to Add Walking Shoes In Your Wardrobe
It is common for many people to head out for their daily walks in sandals, flip-flops, loafers, and sometimes even canvas sneakers. While you may think this will benefit your health, going for walks in any footwear may do more harm than good. This is because unless you wear shoes designed for that particular activity, be it hiking, running, or playing basketball, you will always be prone to injuries. Sometimes, even worse, you may develop foot conditions or back problems that may take you prolonged periods to recover from. Let us take a look in detail at why buying walking shoes for men can be the most beneficial investment for you, especially if daily walks are a part of your routine.
1. Promote proper biomechanics
A good pair of walking shoes for men becomes absolutely essential to maintain correct walking movement. The right shoes will keep your feet stable and secure as you walk without hampering your footwork. Your feet, joints and muscles function optimally when you take your walk in dedicated footwear.
2. Avoid foot conditions
The price you may have to pay for a quality pair of walking shoes for men will always be worth the benefits it offers. In the absence of the right shoes, you may develop acute or chronic foot conditions such as bruised toenails, blisters, corns, bunions, Achilles tendons, plantar fasciitis, etc. Many of these cause heel pain, discolouration of feet, and hideous growths.
3. Prevent injuries
Imagine going for a walk in your flip-flops and tripping midway, hurting yourself severely. When you have an excellent pair of walking shoes for men in your closet, the probability of such unforeseen circumstances reduces drastically. These lightweight shoes are designed to promote correct footwork and keep your feet secure.
4. Maintain proper body posture
Ill-fitting footwear makes the joints in your body compensate for the incorrect foot angulation. This may lead to long-term functional and structural changes in your body. Any footwear not designed for brisk walks will also lead to hip, back, lower back and knee pain due to incorrect body posture. So, whether you walk short or long distances every day to meet your fitness goals, it is better to buy walking shoes for men.
Tips to Remember When You Buy Walking Shoes for Men
Now that you know why these shoes are a must in your wardrobe, here are some things to remember before your purchase:
- Shop towards the end of the day since your feet usually expand as the day ends. That is when trying on new shoes is better because your feet are at their maximum size.
- Bend the shoes a little to check the flexibility at the ball of the foot. The more flexibility, the better the range of motion.
- Look for walking shoes for men with low heels. Do not be tempted to buy shoes with big bulky heels as they can hinder the natural rolling foot movement of walking.
- The shoes should fit perfectly, with a little wiggle room for your toes.
Conclusion
Whether you like to take a leisurely walk to relieve your entire day’s stress or love to keep yourself fit with daily walks, you cannot undermine the importance of good footwear. From enabling the correct foot movement to protecting you from developing foot conditions, walking shoes for men are designed specifically for this activity. Make sure you have the right pair of snug fittings in your wardrobe whenever you head out for a walk. Try them before you buy them, and keep your feet safe!
