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Most Comfortable Shoes for Elderly: Our Top 10 for Men & Women

By Maurice

Most Comfortable Shoes for Elderly

Wearing comfortable footwear - especially when we are at the age of 60 and counting - makes a world of difference.

Comfortable shoes can not only motivate and benefit us to move around more, and be physically active, but this confidence also has a positive impact on our state of mind. Staying physically active keeps us in good health and emotionally optimistic.

As we age our body structure and physiology tends to naturally decline. Health conditions like diabetes and arthritis have an overall toll on our bodies, which can only get worse with less physical activity.

As our bone structure, muscles, tendons and ligaments weaken with age, we need to have the right kind of support and comfort, especially in our feet, to move around and carry out our daily activities.

Wearing the wrong footwear for seniors especially, can only worsen an existing foot condition by aggravating it further or instigate one due to the weakening of our physiology, or the presence of other health conditions. The wrong footwear not only has a negative impact on our feet, but also on our ankles, calves, knees and lower back.

We have put this article together on the most comfortable shoes for elderly to guide you with the features to look for in footwear that will meet your purpose and requirement, be it your everyday chores or a health condition.

Most Comfortable Shoes for Elderly Women

  • Easy Spirit Traveltime Women’s Clog features an orthotic friendly shoe with changeable sock liner and footbed, along with excellent arch supports that absorbs shock for added comfort while walking or standing.
  • Propet Wash & Wear Slip On II is a comfy slip-on in leather, suede or nubuck and features a stretchable neoprene collar for easy on and off. It comes with an EVA rubber outsole for durability and traction, a removable footbed and arch-supporting EVA midsole, and is machine washable.
  • Propet Women’s TravelActiv comes with a lightweight TravelTek outsole for durability and traction, and is a flexible shoe. It features an engineered mesh upper with mesh lining and a cushioned EVA insole.
  • New Balance Women’s WW577 Hook and Loop Walking Shoe comes with cushioning in the heel for outstanding shock absorption, along with a hook and loop closure for a custom fit. It is very durable with a leather upper, polyurethane midsole, and a solid rubber outsole for stable cushioning and superb support and traction.
  • Skechers Women's Go Walk Joy Walking Shoe is lightweight and features an advanced 1-piece mesh fabric upper to shape your feet naturally, with Parametric cushioned 5Gen midsole, and Air Cooled Goga Mat Technology for ultimate support.

Most Comfortable Shoes for Elderly Men

  • Hush Puppies Men's Gil Slip-On Shoes features a hook and loop closure on the front, along with an exclusive removable EVA footbed. It comes in full smooth grain leather and a ZeroG lightweight outsole for suppleness and traction.
  • Hush Puppies Men’s Lunar II is a full grain tumbled leather slip-on shoe with soft padding and a moisture-wicking lining. It also comes with a thick padded, leather tongue and collar lining, and ZeroG lightweight outsole for flexibility and traction.
  • New Balance Men’s MW577 Hook and Loop Walking Shoe features Abzorb support and heel padding for unparalleled impact absorption. It also comes with a hook and loop closing providing you a discrete fit, a leather upper, polyurethane midsole for stable padding, and a dense rubber outsole.
  • Propet Men's Life Walker Strap Sneaker come with a steady heel and a removable footbed, softened EVA midsole and a herring-bone tread rubber outsole. It offers a leather upper, brushed nylon lining and cushioned collar and tongue, with a twin strap closing.

How to Find the Most Comfortable Elderly Shoes for You

  • Purpose and Requirement

Look for shoes that meet your purpose and requirement. Your purpose could be walking shoes, jogging shoes, house shoes, shower shoes, etc. Your requirement could be shoes which address balance problems, easy slip-on shoes, Velcro shoes for swollen feet, ankle support shoes, shoes to prevent falls, etc. Once you’ve shortlisted your purpose and requirement, which could be a combination of the above-mentioned activities along with the foot health condition, or exclusive of each other, you will know which range of shoes to close in on.

  • Features of Comfortable Shoes
  • Size includes fit. Try them on and walk around in them for some time to see if they fit you perfectly. Check if your toes have enough of space to wiggle around, like the shoe toe box area must be wide enough. Feel if your feet are well supported in the arch area, around the heels and ankles, and the upper part of your foot has sufficient padding. Ensure you feel-good all-round support and comfort.
  • Easy to put on and take off like slip-ons or Velcro shoes, depending on your purpose and requirement. If your requirement is to address a foot health condition like swollen feet you can wear slip-ons with a wide mouth, and materials which contour the shape of your foot, around the house, however you would be better off in Velcro shoes for a walk, as they secure your feet firmly, as well as ensure ease of putting on, taking off, and adjusting for the right fit, without the hassle of having to bend down to tie laces or fear of them coming loose and tripping over them.
  • Lightweight and Breathable quality shoes give you that feeling that you’re not wearing any shoes at all. Lightweight shoes put less pressure on your ankles, calves, and knees, as well as your lower back. Breathable shoes with mesh uppers, and ventilated insole and outsole materials, ensure that your feet don’t get moist due to sweat, as a number of good shoes come with anti-bacterial features which prevents odor in and from your shoes. This will take care of, or help your foot blisters heal, as well as prevent itching and pealing of skin between your toes.
  • Cushioning and shock absorption in today’s shoes is all about technology. Look for shoes with the latest technology (as highlighted in some of our shoes shortlisted above), with good cushioning and responsive shock absorption in the insoles and outsoles, as well as cushioning around the collar and sufficient padding in the tongue area. The toes, arch and heel area must have the right kind of material, cushioning and support, especially if you have a foot health condition such as plantar fasciitis, which can be taken care off with beveled pads. A number of shoes offer double depth and removable insoles. If additional arch support is required they can be replaced with biomechanically designed orthotic or proprioceptive insoles, for you to get the most comfortable shoe based on your requirement.
  • Traction and slip resistant is extremely important to prevent you from slipping, sliding, and falling, which could otherwise result in a serious injury and hospitalization. The are many shoes which come with certified slip resistant soles. Selecting shoes with good traction includes making sure that the sole is sturdy, yet flexible and durable, with the right kind of grooves designed in the tread of the shoe to give you the best grip possible irrespective of mud, grass, dirt or a wet surface. Good traction and slip resistance will give you the confidence and motivation to move around without that fear of falling in the back of your head.
  • Low heel height is a must for reduced burden on the ankles and feet tendons, ligaments and muscles, as well as for comfort, improved grip and balance.

Conclusion

In our article above we have put together a list of some of the most fashionable and technically advanced shoes, with comfort as a priority for seniors, along with what features you should look for in selecting those pair of shoes which will provide you with the most comfort depending on your purpose and requirement.


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