Walking shoes are the everyday footwear choice for most people, right next to flip flops if you live in a warm country. For the most part, most people prefer walking shoes than any other form of footwear because they protect the feet, they are comfortable and durable.

Shopping tips for walking shoes

Here are some general tips that you will find helpful when shopping for walking shoes.

• Quality
  Do not scrimp on quality when shopping for shoes. This means that you do no necessarily have to buy the most expensive pair -— just get a pair that speaks of good workmanship and material. You may not find shoes like this at rock bottom prices but most quality shoes are still affordable. Quality is very important if you want your shoes to last.

• Support
  Support means that the walking shoes must have a low supportive heel that rounds in, as opposed to a thick heel which predisposes you to sore shins. You also need a flexible outsole, a comfortable, sturdy insole, along with more bend in the toe for a tight grip when walking.

• Great fit
  A great fit for walking shoes means about a thumb’s width between the tips of your toes and the end of the shoe. Your toes should have ample space to wiggle in. To do this, shop later in the day when your feet has expanded to their largest size.

• Style
  If you are concerned about making your shoes fit the rest of your wardrobe, you won’t have trouble finding stylish walking shoes. Walking shoes can be paired with almost anything casual. If you like the classic pair of jeans and white tee, you can easily find walking shoes in grays, blacks, browns, or navy blues to will go well with most of your casual walking outfits.

When to replace walking shoes

Walking shoes have a definite lifespan. Experts say that you need to find brand new replacements after 500 miles or so, because this is often when the protective cushion of the shoes is broken down completely. If you walk regularly, 500 miles can roughly translate to about 3 to 6 months.

If you are into buying discount walking shoes, you must keep in mind that most discount shoes are sold at lower prices because they have been on the shelf for too long. This means that you could be getting a brand new or old stock of shoes that are aging slowly. Old stocks of shoes tend to have cracked heels, hardened rubber, and cracked finishes due to storage. If you want the most mileage out of your walking shoes, buy current, brand new models.