Choosing Walking Shoes After 60

Feet change with age. The fat pads under the heel and ball thin out. Ligaments stretch. The forefoot widens. A shoe that fit perfectly at 45 can press in all the wrong places at 65. Buying for what your feet are now — not what they were — is the single best thing you can do for comfort.

Five things that matter

1. 1Width. Most older feet need wider shoes. If the side of the shoe overhangs the sole, it's too narrow.
2. 2Toe box room. Toes should wiggle freely. The end of the longest toe should sit a thumb's width from the front.
3. 3A firm heel cup. Press the back of the shoe with two fingers — it shouldn't collapse easily.
4. 4A flexible sole that bends only at the ball of the foot, not the middle.
5. 5Easy on, easy off. Velcro, elastic laces, or zippers are not a compromise — they're a practical upgrade.

Five things that don't matter as much as people think

• Brand. Fit beats logo every time.
• 'Arch support' as a marketing word. Real arch support depends on your arch, not the box.
• Memory foam. Compresses quickly and can hide pressure points.
• Color. Buy what you'll actually wear.
• Bargain price. A $60 shoe that fits beats a $200 shoe that doesn't.

Fitting tips

• Try shoes on at the end of the day, when feet are slightly swollen
• Wear the socks you actually walk in
• Walk on a hard floor, not just the carpeted store aisle
• Bring orthotics if you use them