Let’s face it, our feet experience a fair amount of natural wear and tear. Accompanying old age, our arches flatten and our feet grow slightly longer and wider. Our ankles also stiffen, and just don’t seem to be as sprite as they once were. Additionally, the body’s natural weight can gradually cause feet to spread away from their natural vantage points just when we need them to hold up and support our aging knees, ankles and hips.
Buying the right shoes is essential to protecting your precious feet. As we all know, all shoes are not made equally. It’s not just about finding a shoe in the proper size, it’s about finding a shoe that works well for your unique feet. Regardless of how highly recommended a shoe is, you should always walk around in a new pair for five or 10 minutes before deciding to buy.
So the question here is what, exactly, do we look for in an elder-friendly shoe?
Obviously, finding a sturdy, functional shoe is key. Because the senior population is prone to falls, a shoe that provides your body with a sense of stability is also essential. The shoe shouldn’t be too heavy or bulky because you want to be able to walk with ease. Look for shoes with good traction, which can provide your feet with balance and stability. Shoes with ankle support can also give your feet some relief.
Insoles and midsoles can add additional cushioning, while those with cartilage and bone spurs degenerate can benefit from wide shoes that don’t bind at the spurs. Sometimes even box-toed shoes might do the trick. Diabetics should avoid shoes with high heels, as well as narrow dress shoes because such fits impair sensation and feeling in feet. Not good.
Simple laces and Velcro, especially if you suffer from arthritis and have a difficult time tying shoes, are big pluses. High-heels are a big no-no. They don’t provide any stability and cause extra pressure on your ankle. Also look for a shoe that accommodates inserts like orthotics and gel insoles.
We want to recommend a cross-section of reliable, elder-friendly shoes so we looked at shoes not just from different brands but also for different occasions and uses, including athletic, casual shoes and work shoes.
So without further ado, ElderGadget presents the top shoes for seniors:
crocs Men’s Trailbreak Exo-Frame Outdoor Clog
Elder-friendly features: Lightweight, multi-traction outsole, comfortable, grooved outsole, rubber toe bumper for protection.
Cons: Complicated lacing system, unable to slip orthotics in shoe.
Conclusion: Just because it’s a sandal, that doesn’t mean it can’t be elder-friendly. The lightweight plastic is more of a help than a hindrance, as it allows your foot to breath.
New Balance Men’s MW926 Walking Shoe
Elder-friendly features: Stability walker, midsole has extra cushioning, outsole has extra shock absorption, wide toe box, works well with orthotic inserts, wide frame, simple lacing, reliable built-in arch support.
Cons: Heavy, insole lacks strong cushioning.
Conclusion: Nothing fancy about this podiatrist-recommended New Balance model but it is a reliable walking shoe.
Asics Men’s Gel Kayano Walker 7 Walking Shoes
Elder-friendly features: Great outsole traction, lightweight midsole that is still durable and provides bounce back, gelled insole, simple lacing, works well with orthotics.
Cons: Toe box isn’t very wide.
Conclusion: Health Magazine calls the Kayano Walker 7 the “best walking shoe,” which is a pretty darn good title. We aren’t going to disagree with that.
ECCO Men’s Golf Flexor Hydromax Golf Shoe
Elder-friendly features: Wide toe box, works well with orthotics, a roomy instep (the part of the shoe that covers the foot between the toes and the ankles), durable yet comfortable midsole and outsole, known to be blister-free.
Cons: They’re (very) expensive at around $190. But you get what you pay for.
Conclusion: Golf is a pastime, a lifestyle of sorts for many seniors, so it comes as no surprise that there should be an elder-friendly golf shoe. Luckily, Ecco’s Flexor Hydromax fits the bill. We should also mention that the shoe is quite stylish.
New Balance Men’s MW576 Walking Shoe
Elder-friendly features: Velcro, works well with orthotics, comfortable insoles and midsoles, durable, wide toe box.
Cons: Nothing inherently wrong with the shoe to us.
Conclusion: We like this shoe, especially for those who suffer from arthritis, as you don’t have to deal with lacing and unlacing.
P.W. Minor Women’s Liberty Diabetic Shoes
Elder-friendly features: Made specifically for those with diabetes (helps to eliminate calluses, foot ulcers, scratches), comfortable, minimizes foot rollover, works well with orthotics, while there are no laces or Velcro, it has a strap for that extra support.
Cons: It’s a heavy shoe.
Conclusion: It’s a good-looking shoe; it doesn’t scream, “I have diabetes.” Could wear it to both formal and casual events.
Propet Men’s M2034 Stability Walker Athletic Sneaker
Elder-friendly features: Lightweight, padded tongue, wide toe box, high quarter for ankle support, ideal arch support, either a velcro or lace option to fit your personal needs, traction, comfortable insole and midsole.
Con: Nothing we could find.
Conclusion: Great, stable walking shoe. Supportwise, it is built similar to diabetic walking shoe but not as pricey.
Rockport Men’s World Tour Classic Walking Shoe
Elder-friendly features: Extremely comfortable, works well with orthotics, strong supportive midsole, defined arch, roomy toe-box, shoe raised for ankle support, solid rubber outsole for traction.
Cons: Nothing we could find.
Conclusion: Received the American Podiatric Medial Association Seal of Acceptance for promoting healthy feet.
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