What Makes a Shoe Great? 

There are a myriad of components that go into making a great shoe. Every part, be it big or small affects how a shoe will fit. Knowing what those parts are will give you the best chance at a perfect fit.

Midsole 

The midsole is the area between the upper and the outer sole of the shoe. It is here that all the shock-absorbing bells and whistles are housed. The relative firmness or softness of the midsole dictates the shoe’s overall rating for stability and rigidity. Densities of material are played with to control the flexibility, cushioning and the overall ‘ride’ of the sneaker.  

Medial Post 

A ‘stability running shoe’ has a firmer material lodged into the ‘medial’ aspect of the shoe. These firm sections keep the foam from collapsing under extra pressure. These higher density sections have evolved over time but continue to help (in classic shoe theory) to reduce excess pronation.

Heel counter 

In performance running shoes, the heel counter or ‘heel cup’ is made of thermal plastic. It is the most important structural part of any pair of shoes. Keep in mind that the more control the foot requires the more vital a strong heel counter is. 

Foot Bed 

This term refers to the insole of the shoe which acts primarily as a comfort liner for the foot. It rarely enhances support, and can be easily replaced by an off-the-shelf arch support or custom orthotic. 

Foot frame/Cupsole 

In shoes designed for court or lateral activity, the midsole or outer sole may be molded up the side of the foot at key stress areas to help keep the foot over the sole plate and thus decrease the risk of turning an ankle. This feature is mostly found in court shoes and cross trainers. 

Stiff Rocker Shoes

There are numerus iterations of rocker soles designed to offload forces at the foot. The rocker we look for orthopedically is called a “forefoot rocker.” A rocker itself is a simple tapering of the midsole. Depending on where the rocker begins to taper determines what orthopedic issue it will positively effect.

Stiff rocker shoes help manage many forms of metatarsalgia (ball of the foot pain). A forefoot rocker is combined with stiffness to get a splinting action which can effectively unload the forefoot when you walk or run.

Drop 

The drop of a shoe is the difference in height between the heel and the forefoot of the shoe. In running shoes offsets can be from 0-13mm.

Stretchable uppers 

Traditional upper materials are being combined with stretchable materials like lycra to help accommodate foot abnormalities. These stretchable uppers are ideal for individuals with bunions, hammertoes and sensitive skin.