Author name: Sikasok Team

Not only does wearing the wrong shoes for your foot shape feel discomforting, but it is also hazardous to your feet. It can worsen existing foot problems and add tension to your bones and supporting tissues. This is where the wet test comes in. It helps you figure out what your foot shape is and pick the right shoes needed for it. Find out more in the following post. 1. BEFORE BUYING SHOES, KNOW YOUR FEET Before buying new shoes, be familiar with your feet. Know their mobility, symmetry, technique, and arch. When you’re buying new shoes, have some prior knowledge of your feet. There are 4 important keys to keep in mind: mobility, symmetry, technique, and arch. Foot mobility is how your feet move. It is crucial to determine the right shoes needed to aid you with movement. Symmetry is the contact your feet make with the ground. Technique determines which part of your foot (heel, midfoot, and toes) hits the ground first. You can go to a podiatrist (a foot doctor) or a specialized shoe store in order to find out more about these three points.  The wet test will help you with the fourth point, your foot arch or the curve between your toes and heels. They keep your balance when walking and aid your feet in absorbing shocks. Determine your foot arch type in the comfort of your own home with the wet test. Let’s go to the next point to find out what is the wet test and how to do it. 2. WHAT IS THE WET TEST? The wet test is a procedure that figures out your foot shape by revealing the arches. It’s vital to take it to get the right shoes with the necessary comfort and support required for your foot type.  Just like its name, you need to get your feet wet. Fill a bowl or container with water and prepare a paper towel or regular towel to step on. Dip one of your feet into the water and stamp your wet foot on the towel. Now you can see your foot arch marked. The steps involved in the wet test. Determine your foot shape by stamping your wet foot on a towel.   3. FOOT SHAPES: FLEXIBLE, NEUTRAL, AND HOLLOW The three types of foot shapes: flexible flat, neutral, and hollow feet. After taking the wet test, you’ll see one of the three common foot types: flexible flat, neutral, and hollow. Flexible flat feet (or flat arches) mark your entire feet on the towel with little to no curves. They increase in shoe size every time you stand. With a flat arch, your feet move inwards (or overpronate). This means you’re prone to moving too much and getting your feet, legs, and knees hurt often. But there’s a silver lining. Flexible flat feet take in shocks (energy transmitted between your feet and the ground) as they spread out when your soles contact the ground. Neutral feet (or neutral arches) are common in most people. With their half-curved arch, your well-balanced feet roll out flawlessly. This means you can walk and do physical activities with ease. Neutral foot types can also absorb shocks very well while in motion. Hollow feet (or high arches) are the less universal foot shapes. The wet test only displays your heel, the top of your foot, and a thin curve cut in half. Since hollow feet are underpronators, your feet move outwards and take a lot of shock to your legs. This makes you trip easily, giving your feet the inability to absorb shocks. 4. THE RIGHT TYPE OF SHOES FOR YOUR FOOT SHAPE Get the right type of shoes needed for your foot shape to comfort your feet. First things first, NEVER FOCUS ON FASHION OVER COMFORT. If you’re buying a pair of Nike shoes because their design caught your attention, then you’re making a big mistake. If they don’t work for your foot shape then your feet may hurt like crazy. For those with flexible flat feet, avoid overpronation by getting a pair of shoes with low heels. They restrain your feet from excessive motion. Make sure they include good arch support to stop your feet from flattening when you walk. Shoes for neutral foot types are sold the most in stores. Get shoes with dense soles, comfortable cushioning, and enough backspace to keep your heels well supported. Wearing the wrong shoes can make your feet get blisters and other foot problems. If you have hollow feet, the right shoes are those with good cushioning and a high collar (the shoes’ upper part). They absorb more shock, add more weight to your feet to avoid tripping, and make room for your high arches.  Now that you know your foot type, start styling your feet with some stylish shoes for men and women. Check out more care tips for shoes and socks.

Remember that small problem you had about losing your favorite running shoes? Worry no more—you can make them last longer! At Sikasok, we always come up with solutions that guarantee to put a smile on your face (or, in this case, shoes!). In this blog post, we give you 5 ways to make your running shoes last longer so that you two would (almost) never break apart! 1. DON’T WEAR THE SAME SHOES Every time you put on shoes, the cushioning and shock absorption change. Your endurance, weight, and your shoes’ midsoles’ mileage contribute to these changes. If you go beyond the listed factors, then you’d have to kiss your beloved running shoes goodbye. Get the tissue box ready. Credits: Tenor To make your running shoes last longer, don’t wear them every single day! You can choose to wear them solely for runs. If you own other running shoes, give them a chance and leave your preferred footwear to be for a couple of days (more on that later). If you’re not going for a run, wear other types of shoes. Lucky for you, we have some suggestions right here. 2. DON’T LEAVE YOUR RUNNING SHOES TIED AFTER WEARING THEM Leaving your shoes tied after wearing them can stretch out their heels. Let’s admit it, we all put on and take off our running shoes with the shoelaces tied. Our little effort to untie the laces don’t do our shoes any favor. Keeping your shoes tied before and after wearing them can affect your shoes’ heels. It can result in getting them stretched out, which can become unfit for your feet. Make sure always to untie your laces to extend your running shoes’ lives. It only takes a few seconds to get them undone—it’s not rocket science! Credits: Tenor 3. KEEP YOUR RUNNING SHOES CLEAN Clean your running shoes regularly if you want to extend their lives. You know those people who are so fastidious about their clothes that they don’t want a speck of dust to land on them? Yep, you’re going to have to join that club if you want your running shoes to last longer. Keep your shoes clean to revive them like the day you first bought them. Wipe off any dirt, mud, or water you see on your footwear. Pull off any pebbles that get stuck on your shoes’ soles. For a faster cleaning process, wash your running sneakers in a washing machine. Use liquid detergent and wash them at a cool temperature for about 30 to 40 minutes. Add 4 to 6 towels to absorb shocks and for a quieter wash. NEVER use a dryer to dry off your shoes. It can dismantle the glue that holds the shoes together. If you wish to clean your shoes the old-fashioned way, soak them with soap and water. Make sure to wash their inners too to get rid of their odors. 4. ADD NEW INSOLES IN YOUR SHOES Cover or remove your old insoles with new ones to renew your shoes’ odor and protection. Credits: The New York Times. Don’t only focus on your shoes’ outers—concentrate on their inners too. This includes looking at their insoles: a placeable sole that provides freshening and support for your feet. If your soles appear damaged, colorless, flat, or smelly, then they’re a no-go. Cover or remove your old insoles with new ones that provide enough freshness and protection needed for your feet. That way, you’ll revive your shoes on the inside.  5. SPREAD YOUR MILEAGE In Point 1, we talked about wearing your other running shoes. This is crucial to spread all the mileage you run in your favorite running shoes. That way, one of your shoes’ midsoles (the thick layer between the insoles and outsoles) doesn’t get damaged and exceed their mileage limit. In other words, distribute all of your running mileage into all of your other running shoes, not just one! If you want your “BFFs” to last longer in your circle of closets, then here’s what you should do: 1. Don’t wear your running shoes all the time, 2. Untie them, 3. Clean them, 4. Add new insoles, and 5. Spread your mileage to all of your running shoes. If you want more socks and shoes care, click here.  After reviving your old running shoes, get motivated and start running!

You wear your beloved and longtime running shoes everywhere you go and you never miss a day not wearing them. They bring nothing but comfort and safety to your feet. Only one day, they decided to backstab you. They’ve now become painful and discomforting. What a horrific ending to a beautiful and long friendship. If your running shoes are no longer cozy, this is a clear sign to replace them with new ones. Follow this blog post to find out the 7 indications.  NB: We included a fun test at the end that lets you know whether or not you own good running shoes. 1. YOUR RUNNING DISTANCE AND WEIGHT CHANGE YOUR SHOES Your running style and weight change your shoes over time. You know, it’s not always the shoes that change all by themselves—their owners can affect them too. First, every runner has a different running style, and it all depends on their speed and distance. For light runners, shoes can last up to 805 kilometers (equal to 500 miles). For heavy runners, they can run up to 482 kilometers (equal to 300 miles). Second, weight also plays a vital role in affecting your shoes. If you’re at your ideal weight, you’re likely to benefit from your shoes’ mileage and run ideally. However, if you’re overweight, your shoes get worn out and make you overpronate (your feet roll inwards). 2. INTENSE PAIN IN YOUR FEET The durations, pressure, and intensities you apply to your shoes change when you move in them. This damages your footwear’s cushioning, which is a component needed to provide comfort to your feet. If the bottom of your feet, especially your arches, become very sore, then your shoes are telling you that you need to change them. This is because their shape has changed over time, making them unfitting to your feet. If you’re unfamiliar with your foot shape, take the wet test and get the perfect running shoes for your feet. So either way, it’s you or your BFF who put an end to the friendship. We’re sorry we had to be the ones to tell you. Credits: Tenor 3. HARDENED OR WRINKLY MIDSOLES If your running shoes’ midsoles appear wrinkly, it means you’ve exceeded your shoes’ lifespan. Midsoles are the thick outer layer of foam found at the bottom of your shoes. They’re essential to look out for when buying new running shoes. The midsoles’ cushioning and shock absorption set the force and pain resistance on your feet. The lifespan of midsoles is around 805 kilometers. If you go beyond that distance in the same pair of running shoes, the midsoles become hardened or wrinkly.  If you’ve exceeded 805 kilometers, then it’s high time you buy new running shoes. 4. YOUR SHOES RUB TOO HARD When you run, your shoes avoid rubbing and friction that can hurt your feet. Like Point 3, your shoes’ shape changes every time you increase your mileage in them. As a result, they lost their shape, paving the way for rubbing and friction. 5. YOU CAN FEEL EVERYTHING UNDER YOUR RUNNING SHOES Change your jogging shoes if you feel everything under your feet. If you own a pair of worn-out running shoes, don’t be surprised to feel every single pebble in your run. Your shoes are history once they lose their cushioning and their outsoles have deteriorated. 6. YOUR RUNNING SHOES MAKE YOU SLIP If you find yourself slipping out of your running shoes, then you must replace them. Your running shoes can handle any surface you run on. That’s all thanks to your shoes’ outsoles, treads, and materials combined. If you find yourself slipping out of them, then the parts mentioned above have become worn out. It’s a clear indicator that you must replace your old running shoes. You don’t want to end up with two left feet. Credits: Tenor 7. YOUR SHOES’ HEEL CUPS ARE RIPPED Ripped cups in your running shoes can get you plantar fasciitis. Every time you move, your heels are in constant contact with the ground. Your plantar fascia (tissues that support the arches of your feet) faces a lot of pressure. It can ache your heel and midfoot when you go on long runs. That’s where heel cups come in and save the day. Heel cups are pads in your shoes that pull up your heels, give comfort, and lessen pressure on them. This drops the chance of getting plantar fasciitis, an inflammation on your heels. If you witness a huge rip in your shoes’ heel cups, then you need new shoes. You can get plantar fasciitis if you pay little attention to the rip. If you want to avoid foot problems, massage your feet daily. 8. TEST YOUR SHOES WITH THE TWIST TEST Check if your current or new running shoes are good to run in by taking the twist test. Like its name suggests, the twist test requires you to hold both ends of a shoe and twist it. It tells you whether or not your footwear includes the support needed for your feet when running. The test proves the available support by showing the creasing that should occur when the feet flex. Start the test by holding the shoe’s heel and front and twist as firmly as you can. If the shoe remains stiff, then you’re good to go! But if it’s too flexible, then the whole pair is too hazardous to your feet. Look out for these 7 signs to know when it’s time to get new running shoes: 1. You changed your running shoes from your training and weight, 2. Your shoes are killing your feet, 3. Your footwear’s midsoles are hard or wrinkly, 4. Your shoes rub too hard, 5. You can feel almost everything under your shoes, 6. You’re slipping out of your shoes, and 7. The heel cups are torn. Take the twist test to see whether or not you own/will buy good running shoes. While you’re out buying new trainers, get some sportswear to match with them. And once you’re done shopping, get started with running.