They look oh so gorgeous, but there’s a dark side to heels every woman recognises; sore feet. As beautiful as heels are, sore feet are a good reason to buy a pair of trainers. That’s a shame since some outfits just scream for a good pair of heels. Wouldn’t it be brilliant if a pair of high heels could be just as comfortable as a pair of trainers? We tell you all about comfortable heels that won’t give you sore feet!
What do I focus on when I buy high heels?
It’s not an exception to the rule that, by the end of the day, your new heels just don’t feel as comfortable as they did when you bought them. To avoid sore feet in high-heeled shoes, you can focus on the fit, height of the heel, and so on before actually purchasing your pair of heels.
Comfortable high heel brands
A pair of Louboutins may look stunning, and the high prices can make you think they’ll be very comfortable to wear. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. It appears that even the luxury heels give you sore feet. Are you looking for a pair of comfortable high heels, then it’s better to look at brands that focus on footbed, fit and material use. Learn more about a brand; do they focus on comfort, or do they focus on the looks?
Of course, this doesn’t mean that comfortable shoes can’t look good. These brands often pay more attention to comfort so the heels can keep your feet healthy, but they don’t forget about the looks as well. For instance, Tamaris heels are very trendy and fit like a glove. Also, the Gabor heels are known for their perfect fit and modern looks.
The fit of comfortable heels
A narrow fit combined with wide feet is never comfortable, let alone a pair of heels. The heel causes your foot to slide forward. That’s the reason why it’s crucial to focus on the fit when you buy your pair of comfortable heels. Both width and length are essential to the fit of a shoe. Do you have wide feet and do your heels often fit too tight? Then look at heels with a wide fit. Your foot has to ‘fall into’ the heels for maximum comfort, and it must not feel too tight or too loose.
Heels come in all shapes and sizes, but one is more comfortable than the other. Heels with a pointed nose will trap your toes more than heels with a round nose. Even peep-toe can be too tight on your toes. If you regularly experience this, it might be better to look for a different kind of heels.
Perfect heel height
Do you want to wear 6’’ heels if you never wear heels? That’s not a good idea if you want them to fit comfortably. The more experience you have with walking in heels, the less you’ll experience sore feet when wearing a higher heel height. Are you a beginner? Then stick to 1.5-.2.5’’ heels. If you want your feet to get used to wearing heels, then wedges are very comfortable.
No more pain and sore feet with the right size heels
Buying the right size heels can reduce the risk of getting sore feet, but when it comes to heels, finding the correct size is a lot more complicated compared to any other kind of shoe. For your heels to fit comfortably, they must not be too small, not too big, not too wide and not too tight. When there’s some space leftover or you immediately feel pressure points, then it’s not the shoe for you. It’s no big deal when the heels are a tiny little bit tight: the shoes and your foot will find a way to comfort each other after the break-in period.
The shoe length is also something that needs attention; a comfortable heel shouldn’t have any space left near the heel, but it shouldn’t crush your toes as well. Have a critical eye: if the shoe doesn’t fit comfortably when you try them on, then they’ll never be comfortable.
Comfortable heels and materials
If you want your heels to fit comfortably, take into account the material used. Natural and breathable materials are a lot more comfortable than heels made of plastic. Plastic causes sweaty feet and doesn’t form to your foot very well. That increases the risk of getting blisters and sore feet. On the contrary, leather heels or suede heels form to your feet yet giving them enough ventilation. Also, natural materials are a lot more sustainable and you’ll enjoy your comfortable heels for a long time.
Heels soles
A burning sensation under the ball of the foot is an ache most women complain about after having walked on their heels. Lots of women think this is the package deal and that the only solution to it is acceptance. A good pair of heels should never give you this burning sensation! The sole on the forefoot plays an essential role in this. A flat sole, the one you’re walking straight on the ground on, will cause your front foot to get sore. This is less likely when the sole has a platform on the front. Platform heels have more cushioning, and this reduces getting sore feet.
Checklist to use when buying comfortable heels; what to focus on?
- Choose a brand that pays attention to the footbed instead of good looks only
- A heel with a round nose is more comfortable
- When you have wide feet, choose wide fit heels
- Comfortable heels should never be too small, too big, too wide or too tight
- A heel height of 1.5-2.5’’ is most suitable for beginners. You can choose a higher heel height when you have more experience
- Choose leather or suede heels for more comfort
- Choose platform heels to prevent sore feet
Discover the most beautiful high heels
What you can do to make your heels even more comfortable
Once you’ve bought your pair of comfortable heels you can start breaking them in. Even comfortable shoes need a proper break-in and this often causes sore feet. We have a few tips for you to make the break-in period as comfy as possible.
Use gel pads or insoles
Gel pads and insoles are perfect to make your heels more comfortable. Gel pads are great if you feel some pressure points in your heels. There are also gel pads that you put under the ball of your foot available. They reduce the risk of getting those awful burning sensations under the ball of your foot.
Have your heels become too big? An insole makes your shoe about half a size smaller. This can make the difference between a comfortable shoe and shoes that are a bit too big.
Tape your toes together
A simple trick to prevent getting sore feet by the end of the day is taping two toes together. It may sound a little bit funny, but apparently, this reduces the chance of getting sore feet. Use some skin-coloured tape to tie your third and fourth toe, counted from your big toe, together. You’ll notice your heels will feel a lot more comfortable, even after a long day of walking.
Preventive use of blister plasters
New shoes often mean blisters, and most people throw these shoes in the back of their closet to never wear again. Busted feet are anything but comfortable, so we recommend you always keep some blister plasters in your handbag. There are Compeed High Heels blister plasters specially developed for heels and high heels.
Something that works even better is the preventive use of blister plasters. Under the guise of ‘better be safe than sorry’ you can use blisters on the spots that you expect to get crushed by the end of the day. This reduces the risk of getting blisters, and your heels will be a lot more comfortable.
Always keep a pair of flat shoes in your handbag
If you wear your heels on a shopping trip, on a night out or to a party, it’s always a good idea to keep a pair of flat shoes in your handbag. If your heels start to feel uncomfortable, you can always give your feet some rest by putting on your flat shoes. Ballet flats are perfect since you can turn them into a tiny package.
Use stretchers in your heels
Do your new heels need a time out in your shoe closet? Then put stretchers in your heels. Breaking in happens while you actually wear them, but you can speed up this process by using stretchers. They put a strain on your heels that cause them to stretch and become more comfortable. The biggest advantage is that you won’t have to do anything since the stretchers do their job.
