Footwear has come far from just being a tool for function; functions like protection from sharp objects, extreme temperatures, and disease in rough terrain are now just the bare minimum a footwear provides. Today, footwear has transcended to become a fashion statement. Surely, there were fashionable footwear items in the past which were accessible to the wealthy but now it is the desire of the masses to purchase a shoe for style’s sake. In this scramble of jumping on to the bandwagon of the latest shoe trend, have we compromised on the comfort value shoes can potentially provide? Enter: soft-soles.
Soft-soles are a top option for those looking to maximize their walking and feet comfort to benefit their health, while not sacrificing on the style factor that is agreeably very important. There are many reasons why wearing soft-soles shoes will be your next best investment:
- Crème de la Crème of Comfort
Soft-soles have one main function: to make your feet comfortable. Most shoes and sneakers that are popular in the mainstream are not designed for the natural bone structure of our feet and especially at the toe-box section, there is usually not enough room to occupy all toes in a comfortable natural alignment.
Thankfully this issue can be aided with the help of soft soles which provide a cushiony soft feel that acts as your personal feet masseur by giving you proper weight distribution as you traverse along a path and also eases specific harsh impact points you would otherwise feel with harder soles.
- Fine Flexible Feet
Wearing a good shoe means that you don’t have to worry about stretching your legs every half an hour because the tightness of your shoe is leaving you with less breathability of your feet and toes feel like it’s being crunched.
Soft-soled shoes are great at giving you a full-range of motion that contributes to a healthy gait and natural feet posture which is incredibly crucial for your feet’s health as it can allow for proper blood vessel circulation around the area. The last thing a shoe-wearer wants is developing footwear-related issues like bunions, corns, and plantar fasciitis from wearing traditionally hard-soled shoes. Plus, these are also great for shock absorption and so makes it a great choice for runners who want to feel like they’re landing on jelly as they tread rough terrain.
- Adaptability + Versatility
Hard-soled shoes are usually function-based, or work-specific for adults who toil in harsh conditions and surfaces which aren’t easily walkable; certainly not for children who will complain about the lack of comfort and heavy weight almost immediately after wearing it. For most people however, those who walk on straight footpaths, tiled houses, and solid terrain, getting soft soles should be a no-brainer. It is an option for all age groups and can be counted on for all daily-use activities and environments, whether it’s to navigate the office, the gym, a restaurant, a school, or the grocery, even at home for the elderly who’s feet and bone health is of dire importance.
Crossing function with fashion with leaps and bounds of both is the reason the soft sole train had tooted its first horn. That train is still pressing forward mightily with no intent to stop. So it’s important to note that choosing soft soles isn’t just about style – it’s about investing in your well-being. And that is an investment that you cannot put a compromise on.
By Vinay Mathew – Executive VP- IDDC, Paragon Footwear.
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