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In
shoe jargon, the word "Last" refers to the shape
of the shoe. Shoes with an hour glass shape have a curved
last. Generally the more curved the last the less support
a shoe has. The reason is that shoes with curved lasts are
more flexible (twistable) than shoes with straight lasts.
It is an inherent weakness in a design that is meant to make
the shoe lighter. Cutting and tapering the midsection of a
shoe does make it lighter but it also weakens it. To get more
support out of your shoes try to stick with shoes that have
a straighter last. |
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Up to
this point everything that has been presented here can be applied
to athletic, casual, dress or outdoor shoes. This next section is
about a technology that is only found in running shoes. I am including
it because many people who need a good walking shoe and who can
wear colorful athletic shoes prefer buying running shoes to walking
shoes. The main reason is that walking shoes are usually just weaker,
pared down versions of running shoes. They almost always have less
support than a comparably priced running shoe and they usually come
only in all white or all black. They are basically designed for
people who aren't running and who can't or won't wear colorful running
shoes. For this reason Feet Relief recommends that if you can get
away with wearing colorful running shoes then do it. You'll get
more for your money out of a good, supportive pair of running shoes
than from walking shoes.
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Some running
shoes have a piece of support technology that no other shoe has.
It is called a dual density mid-sole. A dual density mid-sole is
made from two pieces of material rather than one. One piece is always
harder than the other. The harder piece is always put on the medial
side (inside) of the mid-sole and is always colored Grey so that
it is recognizable. See the examples below.
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This
is a regular, single density
mid-sole.
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A
light Grey band denotes this
dual density section.
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A
dark Grey band denotes
this dual density section.
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dual density mid-sole will compresses more to the outside (the softer
side) and less to the inside (the harder side). This helps keep the
foot from rolling inward (over
pronating) as the shoe breaks down. Don't just rely on a visual
inspection of the shoe to confirm a dual density mid-sole. Squeeze
the mid-sole with your fingers. If the Grey side doesn't feel any
harder than the other side then it probably isn't. In a good dual
density mid-sole you should be able to feel that the Grey part of
the mid-sole is harder than the rest. Some shoe companies have been
known to paint a Grey band on shoes that don't have a true dual density
mid-soles. Shop carefully! |
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