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WELCOME TO SHOE SCHOOL - WHERE YOU'LL FIND ULTIMATE COMFORT!

Our expert top tips and fitting advice

Although the vast majority of our customers tell us their she wears are comfy from the get go, we all have very different feet.  Sometimes it just takes a few small tweaks or adjustments to get the shoe fitting right for your foot type. Keep reading for our shoe designer's top tips on getting you comfy!

This guide is based on the assumption you've already decided the she wear shoes you've received are the correct size and style for you.  Check out the post purchase fitting guide to make sure they're the right fit before you begin to wear (this is absolutely the most important factor in comfy shoes).

she wear boots and socks

SHOE SCHOOL STEP 1

The "wearing in" process

This is 100% a must! All shoes should be worn in slowly over a period of time. There are many reasons for this and we'll talk about she wear shoes in particular here.

Firstly, our footwear is crafted with premium, quality materials and are made to last.  They may feel "stiffer" or thicker than say, a fashion shoe or a lesser quality shoe that you've been wearing. The upper materials in our shoes will soften and give with wear.

Secondly, our shoes may be built VERY differently compared to another brand or another style of shoe that you've been wearing.  For example ...

- If you're used to wearing men's footwear, the shoe will feel very different, particularly the heel.  The design of our heel counters will give you a lot more support and offer more stability and balance. But they may take some time to get used to.

- If you've been wearing a fashion shoe that offers that "soft goo-ey comfort", you'll find our shoes a little more restrictive at first.  Our design principles are based around good bio mechanics and structural comfort which your body needs .. and deserves! Shoes that are too soft or have a flimsy heel counter, are just not good for you.

- If you're used to a flat footbed or an insole with minimal to no contour, you may find your body in different alignment compared to when you're wearing a she wear shoe.  Our footbeds offers support and structure to align your body correctly. Yep shoes have a LOT to answer for in terms of overall body health - our feet really are the foundation of our body!

- The heel to toe drop in our shoes may be different to what you've been wearing.  We believe a higher heel pitch is a FANTASTIC thing for when you're spending long days on your feet and when you walk, you will generally heel strike (ie. your heel hits the ground first), so there's lots of advantages to a higher pitch.

- If your old shoes have an overly flexible sole, you'll find the she wear sole firmer and less flexible - again, a GREAT thing for your body!  Overly flexible shoes can cause aaaaaallllll sorts of foot and ankle injuries.

On top of this, it's better for your foot health to allow your shoes to mould to your foot shape, and also better for the longevity of the shoe!

So, grab out the pair of shoes you've been wearing and check out the difference.  You will no doubt be amazed at the differing structure, support and contour! Welcome to the world of happy feet ♥

Once you start to wear your shoes, you may notice areas that are rubbing or just don't feel 100% right.  Read below and click on any of the issues you're having, to see the remedy and potential fix!

I'm getting slippage in my heel.

Ensure your laces are tied firmly (from the very bottom eyelet).  If you're still feeling slippage, tie your laces using the lock lace method. Click here to watch our YouTube video on lock lacing.

Pop a gel heel guard on the internal shoe heel whilst you're wearing the shoe in.

Experiment with socks - good quality socks (like our organic bamboo socks) can make a big difference.

You do want to try to alleviate the slippage as this can cause blisters (and ouch, who has time for those pesky things!) and it may cause holes in the shoe lining due to the constant friction.

My shoes feel a little too firm.

It will depend where it's feeling too firm.  We do have considerable hidden depth in our shoes for our signature bio mechanical footbeds, so it can be as simple as swapping to a thinner inner. This even could just be a temporary measure until the upper material relaxes with wear. We do offer a fantastic alternative premium footbed which is available for separate purchase.

If it's a little tight over the foot - loosen the laces from the very bottom of the eyelets. Skip the middle eyelets (if they're feeling tight across the top of the foot), or try this method of lacing. If it's around the toes or generally a little firm all over - Remove the she wear bio mechanical footbed and replace with a thinner footbed. Try thinner socks.

Make sure you if you feel a blister forming, pop on a bandaid or a gel blister pad!

Keep in mind, if you're wearing a safety toe cap shoe, this area will never change - so they may not be the right style for you.

Make sure you if you feel a blister forming, pop on a bandaid or a gel blister pad .. stat!

Another trick that does work is having your shoes mechanically stretched if they are feeling too tight in a particular area. A great idea for bunion sufferers!

My shoes feel a little too big.

Ensure your laces are tied firmly (from the very bottom eyelet). If your shoes are still feeling a little too big, tie your laces using the lock lace method. Click here to watch our YouTube video on lock lacing.

Change your socks to a thicker style.

Pop in a thin half sole under the she wear bio mechanical footbed to pad the boot out slightly. You can use either a half insole (eg. a forefoot or a heel insole), or a thin full footbed.  We don't suggest to use another thick footbed as this will change where your heel sits in the shoe.

The ankle of the boot feels a little too restrictive / I prefer more flexibility through the ankle area.

If you have our zip lace up boots, you can unloop the top 1 or 2 eyelets and tie up lower down the ankle.  You will get a lot more flexibility through the ankle this way!

If you have pull on boots, the ankle will give with wear.  Wear for short periods of time with thick socks and fold them over to help "stretch" the area.  Don't do this for too long though - you don't want to overstretch the elastic!  If that doesn't help and you do have "thicker" ankles, you can have them mechanically stretched by a cobbler.

I'm getting blisters!

Yuck blisters ain't fun!  They're generally formed when you are getting friction in your shoes (ie. the foot is rubbing up and down in the footwear) or your shoes are not the right fit (could be too small or too big).

Wet socks can also be a major culprit!  A recent study of hikers found that wet socks was associated with a 2 times greater risk of experiencing foot blisters, so if you're prone to sweaty feet, change your socks during the day.

Pop a bandaid on your foot where it's rubbing and pop a gel comfort pad onto the area it's rubbing (in the actual shoe).

If blisters are on your heel, lace your shoes with the lock lacing method. 

I feel I personally need more arch support.

Our bio mechanical insoles offer great arch support for the vast majority of people, but sometimes extra support is needed in that area, especially if you over pronate, have flat feet or high arches.

You can pop in an arch support insole under our footbed, or remove the footbed and replace with your own support or orthotic.

I think I need a half size?

Half sizes are actually a bit of a myth! A half size is purely a slight width change in the upper. Some manufacturers just put padding around the foot last during production and the actual sole isn't any wider. This means your foot could potentially sit "over the edge" of the sole.

We don't believe in the "one style fits all" approach so we actually go one step further and design different styles for different foot widths. We believe a wide fit shoe, should be a TRUE wide fit shoe.  We use a wider sole in our designs and this offers a better fit, better support, better stability and balance.

If the style you're wearing feels too tight width wise, you can remove the footbed and replace with a thinner one and also try the lacing method missing some of the eyelets (as explained above). We do offer an alternative, thinner footbed.

You may need a different style to get the best fit for your foot type.

I'm getting underfoot pain after I've worn new shoes all day.

We definitely recommend to wear in slowly, so go back to wearing for just short periods of time.

Your previous shoes may have been designed very differently, so it could be a range of reasons ..

They could be either too big or too small.  If shoes are too big, toes can "claw" in our shoes and cause pain.  If they're too small, the shoes may rub in certain areas where's there is pressure or tightness.

If you aren't used to a contoured footbed and you've been wearing a flatter footbed with no support, it may just take a little extra time to wear in your new she wear shoes.  It'll be worth it for sure! Trust us ;) 

If you're used to wearing an overly flexible sole, again, it may just take some time to wear in as your foot (and body!) aren't used to the shock absorbing structure.

There are a lot of shoes on the market that aren't healthy - they lack support, structure and are too flimsy.  If you're going from this type of shoe to a she wear shoe, yes it's going to feel very different.  But it's worth it - we know it can be painful to be patient (ha) but your body will thank you for it!!

I have a bunion and it's rubbing on the shoe.

Our uppers do give with wear but you can have your shoes mechanically stretched where your bunion is. We have quite a few customers who have tried this nifty trick and they now LOVE their shoes!

Keep in mind we do offer wider fit styles, and also a mesh style, that can cater for bunions.

The shoe feels heavy.

There's not much we can change with this one but the weight is generally to do with the materials of our sole compared against a lightweight athletic shoe (which hasn't been designed for all day wear). 

A slightly heavier sole is honestly good for you for so many reasons - the shoe is more durable and will therefore last longer, and it's more shock absorbing and will impact your every step. Running shoes don't have a long life as their soles are designed for high impact and should be turned over after a few months. Our shoes will keep you striding day in day out for a LONG period of time!

TOP TRICKS!

Lacing techniques

These are our go-to techniques for when shoes are either slipping or feel a little too big, or if you have a wider foot and/or your shoes feel a little too firm!

lock lacing method for slipping shoes
lacing options for wide feet
lacing option for wide feet

DISCOVER

Accessories for your shoes

The best shoe accessories right at your door stop!  From socks to care kits, from laces to comfort gel pads - we've got your back!

premium bamboo socks

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Our sock collection

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shoe care kit

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Premium shoe care kit 

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shoe and boot laces

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Shoe and boot laces

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gel comfort pad

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Gel comfort pads

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