How To Choose A Quality Pair Of Walking Shoes To Make Your Exercise Enjoyable

Men these days are concerned about their waistlines and maintaining youthful physiques. Not all guys want to go to the gym and work out and get all buff, and not all guys want to go running to stay in shape. They aren't the sorts to go play football with the other guys or hit the tennis courts and possibly blow out a knee in the process. What these men are looking for is a low-impact, fun way to keep the pounds from adding up and stay healthy. One of the popular ways to improve your overall fitness is to go walking.

It may seem obvious but many men out there would benefit tremendously from simply going for walks on a regular basis. They've been duped by all the commercials on television encouraging them to join a gym, purchase expensive and bizarre home workout equipment, or send away for fitness videos hosted by creepy weirdos. All this press makes it seem like staying in shape requires a big investment of time and money. This is not true. Walking is an inexpensive hobby, which requires little more than what you were born with, and it doesn't have to take up a lot of time.

If you've decided that you want to start going for walks in order to improve your healthy, it's widely advised that you purchase a pair of good quality walking shoes. Sure, you can go for walks in any shoe you already own, but experts recommend that you wear a shoe specifically designed for walking.

What differentiates a walking shoe from a conventional shoe? Shoes made for walking are designed to minimize the chances of injury, make the most of the walking stride, and perform well. Walking shoes are well-cushioned and supportive. For those of you simply going for leisurely walks around the block, any decent pair of running shoes should provide all the cushioning and support you'll need. If you're going to be taking longer walks, you should look into shoes with as much cushioning as possible.

Walking shoes are usually more flexible than running shoes. This is because walking requires the full motion of your feet and ankles. Running, by definition, is done more on the balls of your feet. A walking stride starts at the heel and rolls through the entire length of your foot. The heel on walking shoes is notched to allow a greater range of movement.

When shopping for a new pair of men's walking shoes, you should be aware of the characteristics of your stride. Do you tend to roll your ankles inwards, outwards, or do you feet strike the ground at a fairly neutral angle? If you're not sure, take a look at the shoes you already own. Is there a great amount of wear on one side? Bring your shoes with you to the shoe store so the salesperson can look at them and determine which shoes will work best with your stride. Also, you should determine what your arches are like. Do you have high arches, normal arches, or low arches? If you don't know, the best way to find out is to step in some water and then step on the ground. If you see most of your footprint, then you have low arches, or flat feet. If you don't see a lot of your foot, then you have high arches. This little bit of info will help you find the right pair of walking shoes.

Trail Running Shoes - How to Pick the Perfect Pair

Trail running is a wonderful way to get into shape and experience nature.  Not much is needed to get started in this soul nourishing sport but a decent pair of shoes.  Trail running shoes specifically.

Trail running shoes tend to be about 75% road running shoe and 25% hiking boot. The different manufactures have different ratios but in order to keep things simple for this article I'm going to New Balance trail running shoes.  These are the shoes that I run in and find them to be the perfect balance of running shoe an trail worthiness.   This info can still be used for just about any trail running shoe.

First off - What is a trail running shoe?

 Trail running shoes follow the same key design concepts as road tuning shoes but for a few key differences.

       A combination of water proof and breathable materials to keep you feet dry
       A tougher heavy duty sole that can take the beatings that the trails dish out.
       Lower center of gravity - many trail shoes keep you feet lower to the ground and that helps you keep you  balance when the trail get trick
      Deeper and more aggressive treads and lugs and sticker soles.  This gives you better traction over rough  terrain such as soft dirt and rocks

So how do I pick a trail running shoe?

All types of running shoes, be they trail or road, come in three types to fit the three basic types of feet.  What o I mean abut three types of feet?  Well it all has to do with this thing called pronation.  Pronation is the way your foot rolls when your feet strike the ground.  Most people have a slight pronation which means the foot rolls slightly inward when the foot strikes. Many people have what is called over-pronation.  This is when the heel strikes first and then rolls overly inward to toe-off.  The last foot type is the high arch type.  High arches tend to cause the foot to roll outward which is called under pronation or supination.

What types of shoes match these foot types?

Neutral or Cushioning - These shoes are best for the neutral foot type and also feet that have under-pronation.  These shoe have extra midsole cushioning and do not have any form of motion control.

Stability - These shoes are perfect for mild to moderate over-pronators.  These show offer an added amount of stability but also offer a decent amount of midsole cushioning.  Most runners fit this shoe type.

Motion Control - These shoes are designed for moderate to severe over-pronators.   They have extra support devices on the inside of the foot to help with the pronation.  These feet usually have low arches to flat feet.

Find out your foot type.

To find out your foot type you can try the following test.  It's called the wet foot test.

Wet Foot Test

 For this test you will need a shallow pan of water such as a cookie sheet and two blank pieces of paper or paper bags.  First place one of your feet into the pan of water.  Then step with that foot onto a piece of paper.  This will leave a wet footprint on the paper.  Now repeat the previous steps with the other foot.  You now have two wet foot prints.  Compare them to the following pictures to find out you foot type.

Neutral Arch -   A stability or neutral/cushioning trail running shoe will serve you best.  This is the type of foot that I have.  For most of my life I ran on a neutral shoe.  When I started to run over 13 miles,  I started to notice tenderness on the inside of my knee.  This was cause by slight over-pronation.  When I switched to a stability shoe my pain went away.  If you plan on running longer distances, I would go with a stability shoe. 

Low Arch or flat foot - This type of foot tend to over-pronate heavily and does best in a motion control shoe.

High Arch - This type of foot is best served by a neutral of cushioning shoe.

What else should I look for in a trail running shoe?

Shoe such as New Balance trail running shoes come in many different models.  The main reason for this is that trail running shoes come across many different conditions. Here are some questions to ask yourself before buying a pair of shoes.

What type of terrain will you be predominately running on?  For well groomed trail you might want to save some weight and go with a lighter trail shoe such as the MR790.  This is a lightweight trainer that can handle the trails.

If you are running on rocky trails you would want a shoe that features Rock Stop 2 tm like the MT909 which protects your feet from the sharp rocks

If you are expecting to come across wet conditions then you want your shoe to have a water resistant liner such as the 875 with a Lightning Dry liner.

Lastly if you want to be prepared for anything than extreme terrain shoe like the MT840 New Balance trail running shoe should fit the bill.

No matter what trail running shoe you choose, trail running is a fantastic way to spend some quality time with nature and increasing your fitness.  Happy trails!

What Are Women's Fears About High Heel Boots & How to Over Come That Fear!

Why are women so addicted to high heels? Simply because WE like to be feminine!
And what's better for highlighting our feminine side then wearing a sexy pair of high heel boots? Well it's hard to say that there's something better then high heels boots...

Whether you go to work or to a party, you can always look sexy, chic and feminine with a perfect pair of high heeled boots. They can be even more comfortable than a regular pair of flat footwear.

The success of high heel boots is their adaptability in the everyday life. Think about how much easier it is to walk in an ankle support pair of high heeled boots... You will agree that it is a thousand times easier wearing a high heel pair of boots... With a good support you will feel more confident!

How many women love high heels but are afraid about wearing them? Forget about fear! If you don't like... or aren't used to sky-high boots, look for boots that feature slightly lower heels, chunky high heels, wedge heels, or platform soles that will help offset the height of the heel.

The wide range of high heeled boots available today gives you an idea about how popular high heeled boots are today with women. They are stylish, casual and make you feel "more of a woman". From short to tall, from leather to suede... they suit all.

If you are looking for a sexy yet affordable pair of high heeled boots, Jessica Simpson's collection of boots can be a very good option. Jessica Simpson's heels are created for every woman. They are made with comfort and elegance in mind. The designers wanted to make her boots accessible to woman all over. Her shoes in particular are very sexy and fun yet priced affordable. These shoes are very sophisticated and priced at an affordable level

Interested in Checking out some of these boots? Take a look at some of the links below to find out more info about some of Jessica Simpsons boots.

A Few Hints to Help Choose the Right Pair of High Heeled Shoes

There are a world of assorted types of high heeled shoes, including pumps, platforms, sandals, wedges and high heeled boots for ladies...there is also the increasing trend for men to now wear heels, this indicates just how many styles today's shoe fashion embraces. Heels don't have to be too high to be in fashion and acceptable ...so here are a few ideas for choosing the right pair of high heeled shoes:

Choose the right heel and shoe shape for your legs.... If legs are too thick, heels with a pointed toe may seem much smaller and may make feet look out of proportion with the rest of the body. Find a heel that makes the legs look in proportion with the shoes. Many people make their legs appear leaner by choosing a wider design in heeled shoes. Heels that are too sturdy may make your legs look sturdy also.

What shoes are suitable for an outfit?

Color, dress length and style are critical to shoe choice, as an example, if very high heels such as stiletto are worn with a mini skirt there is real danger of the wrong message being given out. A pair of heels will enhance the look of long skirts on a shorter person but take note of the height of the heel as the dress or skirt must not appear too long or too short. A full length dress does not require elaborate shoes because they will not be visible. Mid height heels may be more suitable for knee length outfits.

Be careful of wearing highly decorative shoes with a longer dress particularly as they may conflict with the dress details. Extravagant shoes achieve better results with shorter dresses. Simple classic heels are more suited to longer elaborate dresses. Avoid black shoes with pastel outfits unless bags and belts are coordinated. If wearing jeans, the shape of the bottom of the jean leg can also determine the type of heels that should be worn. Platform heels can be great with jeans and if the jeans are longer the impression is that you are taller which can be a bonus!

Safety.... With high heels and stilettos, beware of strappy shoes. They can look super sexy but ankles can be twisted easily. Take care that straps are firmly attached and the heel chosen is well balanced. Maybe choose a wedge heel. An additional idea would be to roughen the bottoms of new heels which can avert a nasty accident on the dance floor.

Flexibility.... Wedge heeled shoes can provide greater flexibility and can give all the 'leg slimming' and 'extra height' benefits of a heel that's not so high. They are great with mid and mini skirts and are great for wearing to the office. heeled boots can also be very flexible and can be worn with almost all outfits. They are great with skirts and suitable for office wear.

Comfort.... High heels don't have to mean 'super high heels' or stilettos which can be very painful if not selected properly, and they are also not geared for walking too far in. If heels do need to go hand in hand with comfort, which is a sensible option..then a lower heel or a kitten heel should be selected. Maybe choose a style with squared-off toes or open toes and shorter, chunkier heels instead of stilettos or maybe, again, the all round wedge heel which slopes the foot gently and supports the whole of the foot area. Wedge heels are good for the office because they can be worn for longer periods of time without too much strain on the foot. maybe shop later in the day as feet swell as the day goes on. Also break them in in advance if one intends to wear them to a special function. Ultimately, the heel height one chooses should be determined by how many aches and pains one can allow oneself.

Sex appeal....Sandals with heels and boots with heels are very, very, sexy, and very versatile as well. In addition to enhancing ones femininity, sandals fastened at the ankle, or higher up the leg, will draw attention to legs as well as feet. Most sandals, including flip flops, some of which do fall under the category of high heeled shoes, have small, delicate heels, called kitten heels, which gives them a look that can be dressed up or dressed down, depending on what one prefers.

Difference Between Men and Women's Running Shoes

Because women generally have smaller physique, feet, and body mass than men, there are certain differences in the design and structure of women's shoes. However, there is still the general rule and guide when choosing shoes, which applies to men and women based on foot movement or pronation. In this article, we break down these differences and similarities and come up with a simple guide to choosing running shoes.

While the size difference is an obvious factor, the foot structure is one thing to consider. First, women have narrower heels and shorter feet than men. They also have differences in the arch, ankle, ball of the foot, and sides of the foot. You can't simply chose a smaller-sized men's running shoes for women but cater specifically to women's fundamental narrow foot structure. Otherwise, there could be risks of physical injuries and muscle strain.

Moreover, because men have generally bigger mass than most women, there is greater impact when the foot strikes the pavement or ground when running. Men also exert more pressure on the heel while women have less impact and land in mid-foot. In that case, men need shoes that have more support to reduce the impact. Women, on the other hand, have more flexible feet. They tend to overpronate or flex while running. To reduce the excessive movement, shoes that provide more cushioning and stability would benefit many women runners.

While men and women have different foot structures and specific needs in athletic shoes, there is a common guide to help in the selection process. Both men and women have to know in which category they belong - neutral runner, underpronators, or overpronators. Neutral runners often need a combination of cushioning and stability. The underpronators who have the tendency to roll their foot outwards when running need cushioning. The overpronators, on the other hand, need motion control and support as there is excessive foot movement.

Each runner has a specific running profile, foot structure, and arch shape. Based on those factors, one can easily narrow the choices and find the most suitable pair of running shoes that will encourage healthy foot movement and reduce the possibility of physical injuries and muscle strain.

Getting To Know The Maximalist Running Shoes

High cushion running shoes or popularly known as "maximalist" appear ready to explode. With more and more of these shoes coming into stores, here are our take on this category, its trend and what is in it for you.

Maximalism 101

The maximalist running shoe is an idea developed by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, both are experienced mountain runners from France and former employees of the Salomon footwear company. They started Hoka One One running shoe for years ago and based its design on the oversize concept used in powder skis and full suspension mountain bikes. The design is all about having a bigger sweet spot which can aid performance. In addition, the high cushion concept is also about dynamic midsole foams and modern shapes.

Are maximalist shoes only suitable for ultrarunning competitions?

It is a fact that maximalist shoes have been more commonly seen during ultrarunning events than any other type of races. Between 40 and 60 percent of runners are wearing Hokas during ultrarunning races. Why? Because that high cushion can withstand long hours of pounding during the race. This capability makes maximalist running shoes become more prevalent in half marathons and marathons as well.

Is there any scientific independent study on maximalists?

As of now, there has been no independent study at all on the maximalist running shoes. The only studies available so far are conducted by manufacturers and not surprisingly, their results will only support their marketing pitches.

How many manufacturers out there producing maximalist models?

This is entirely depend on what you define as maximalism. Just like minimalism, the definition can be blurred between person to person. Generally speaking, these companies - Hoka One One, Brooks, Pearl Izume, Vasque, Puma, New Balance, Altra, Skechers - have at least one maximalist model. Adidas Boost foam can also be regarded by some runners as a maximalist model. You could also argue Nike's Lunar Eclipse 4 as a maximalist type of running shoe due to its thick midsole.

Is maximalism a breakthrough or just a fad one-time gimmick?

Answering this question is difficult. Our advice to you is that maximalist running shoes cannot suit everyone. Just like other running shoes, you need to find one that suits and fits your foot and is suitable for the kinds of runs you regularly exercise. Maximalism, for us, is just another option. It will fit some runners and will not do the same to others.