I always want to wear more than running shoes, but I can never find anything really comfortable. What do you recommend?
You might be surprised to know that, in many cases, dress shoes can be just as comfortable, if not more so, than running shoes.
The main issue with most dress shoe makers is that they don’t quite properly focus on padding or fit as much as they do style and craftsmanship. This usually means that even “upper tier” dress shoes end up feeling pretty uncomfortable.
The way to fix this problem? Two steps.
First off, if you can, put insoles in all shoes you have that do not come with proper insoles. Some dress shoe makers (like Johnston & Murphy) have their own insoles now, but even those can be somewhat inadequate for long term wear. There is no real preferred brand or style of insole you need — get something affordable that fits the shoe and that is reasonably comfortable.
Second off, wear your dress shoes. If you keep a pair of dress shoes in your closet and wear them only in special occasions, they will continue to be stiff and uncomfortable. This is not to say you want to “break in” your shoes like you would a pair of boots, but it is to say that you want to wear the dress shoes around until the leather softens up slightly and rub points wear down a bit. Wearing your dress shoes around your house should do the trick. Polishing your dress shoes also helps, to a degree.
In any case, don’t restrict yourself to running shoes exclusively. With a bit of pickiness and work, dress shoes can feel just as comfortable.
Tags: dress clothing, dress shoes, insoles, running shoes, Shoes
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As someone who has extra-wide feet, I’ve found that it can be easier to get dress shoes that come in my size than sneakers. So I’ve began wearing dress shoes a lot more, unless I’m working out or something. Good article.