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You’ve probably seeing this blog for the first time and if that’s the case then welcome! It’s early days for us using social networking, so please, tell us how we’re doing, what you’d like more of, etc. Happy Monday! Wes.

When clients of mine come into one of my New Balance stores or email me after they’ve visited TriCity New Balance online they often complain about foot pain and ask how I can help find the right shoe to help them decrease the pain while playing sports, walking, or hiking. The first thing I like to do is to ask them why they always insisted on having shoes that fit so tight.

To most people when they shop for shoes they don’t shop for the right fitting shoe. They shop for a shoe that is either too small or too tight. I’m passionate in teaching that a good fitting shoe should leave room so that the foot has proper room to shift, and so that the arch in the foot stays arched. It’s also important that for each company you shop with knowing that shoe sizes are a bit different for each. I’d say that 70-75% of my first time clients do not have properly fitted shoes which is why I personally make sure everyone of my employees are taught how to properly measure and consult on the right fitting shoe so that my clients make less trips to the doctors. I find this to be lost in a lot of other companies and stores that only care about moving the product. I believe that our business is about doing the right thing for the customer which includes fully educating them about how their shoe selection will impact more than just their wallet or performance. It’s about educating them about how their shoe selection will also impact their quality of life.

For instance if I take a measurement on a Brannock Device (you know, that old fashion metal thing your foot goes in) and the shoe size that is returned to me is 9 then I’ll start with a 9 ½ or a 10 when fitting one of my customers. One of the other nice things about New Balance is that we have different widths for most of our shoes and can customize the order. If someone is a 9 shoe size in length and an 11 shoe size for width, we can accommodate that. Make sure that when you shop for shoes that you not only have proper length but width as well. While a lot of my clients shoe length stays the same over time the width can change based on weight gained (pregnancy) and lost (surgery).

Some of the complications that arise from improperly fitted shoes can include:

Decrease in foot arch – Your foot is naturally arched to allow the foot to support the weight of your body and maintain proper posture. A decrease in foot arch could lead to the arch collapsing which could cause long term pain or discomfort. Most of the time foot arch is inherited but can be altered based on the way you train your foot and what shoes you wear.

Heel pain – General heel pain or plantar fasciitis can be as basic as pain that is felt close to the heel bone or could be caused by a strained plantar fascia connective tissue which connects the heel bone to the toes. It can occur in all humans but is most frequent in adults 40 or older. Having the correct shoe size which allows for proper stretching can prevent some of the wear and tear on these muscles.

Turf Toe – For those athletes that compete year round outside on the Football field or Soccer field turf toe can be prevented by wearing a shoe that allows for more room. Turf toe is pain that is located at the base of the big toe. It’s usually caused from jamming the toe or pushing off during competition or practice. It can cause inflammation and sideline athletes for weeks. This happens more often for those athletes that participate on a hard surface or artificial surface since those surfaces tend to never soften up after rain.

In closing make sure that you take the time to think about the types of shoes that you currently have and if they are a proper fit. In a lot of cases you are still able to obtain the same “style” being a half size or size larger that you would if you had a size that was skin tight (I know this can be especially hard for the ladies). If you have any questions or would like to chat about this feel free to shoot me an email at wesmccluney@newbalanceatlanta.com or visit my site which has more information at www.tricitynewbalance.com

I hope everyone had a wonderful memorial day weekend the other week and look forward to seeing you all in my stores or chatting with you online or off during the next few weeks as we gear up for fourth of July festivities.

Wes

About Wes: Wes McCluney was raised in Memphis, TN where his family owned and operated Athletic Shoes, Etc for over 25 years. He was born into the shoe business and during early childhood was actively involved in the community and especially sports. After playing football for and graduating from The University of Virginia Wes became actively involved in building the New Balance Brand in Atlanta, GA. He joined his Father and business partner in opening several New Balance stores throughout Tennessee and Georgia and was the vision behind www.tricitynewbalance.com

During the summer months many of you will be hitting the trails and it’s important that you figure out what type of shoe that you need to maximize your experience and to keep you safe. I’ve hiked myself and have noticed the difference I feel when choosing whether or not I should have a sneaker on (for easier trails) versus a hiking boot (for tougher trailer). I’ve also had a lot of friends injure themselves by not having the right type of shoe on and slipping or falling off of ledges due to lack of support or grip.

As stated before thinking about what type of hiking you are going to be doing is key. Choosing boots that are made to support you and your party (backpack, wagons, etc.) is important so map out how much weight you will be important.

Trail Shoes: Trail shoes are great for hiking in hot weather or during times where rain is not foretasted. They are also great for short walks and climbs.

Trail Hikers: Are the next step up. These will be for those hikers who are going on an all day event where the climbs are a bit stepper. Trail Hikers are also a great idea if the weather is foretasted to be rainy or there was a recent storm that came through the area you are looking to hike at.

Mountaineering: These are for those extreme climbers. If you are planning to hike a large mountain or climb during the winter these types of boots will provide the support and dependability you are going to need up on the mountain.

What is a good boot?

Good boots have a rock hard bottom on them: Make sure that when you try them on to ask the store if they have a “rugged” terrain test where you can walk over stones of some sort. If they do not have this test then try to see if you can feel the bottom of your thumb through the sole of the shoe. If you can feel your thumb then the shoe probably won’t support a hike.

Good boots provide ankle support: When trying the shoe on see how far you can twist your ankle. Remember, when you are up on the mountain you will encounter many situations where your ankle is tested. By testing the ankle before buying you’ll make sure that you don’t end your day early with a trip to the doctors.

Good boots are weather-proof: While many hikers try and predict the weather no one can actually control the weather. Weather can change in an instant and if you are caught in the rain or snow your feet will be at risk for blisters which will decrease your performance on the hike. I’ve spoken with many people who did not have weather-proof boots and have since been turned off to hiking because of their experience on the mountain.

Good boots fit right: Make sure to wear the socks you plan to wear on the hike when testing out boots. They should be snug as you’ll avoid frostbite by not allowing more air in (remember, weather-proof boots work best!). Also make sure that you test the boots on multiple surfaces along with inclines and declines.

Other Tips:

Make sure that after you buy the boots that you follow the recommended maintenance suggestions as this will keep your boot.

Break in your boots. Try taking short hikes or walks around the neighborhood, backyard (if you have woods), park, etc.

The price you pay is what you get: I wish I could write that good hiking boots cost $15.99 but that just simply isn’t true. Most good boots are made of leather which drives cost up a bit. Good boots can cost anywhere between $50-$200 depending on what features you need and what type of hike you are about to embark on. My recommendation is to try several boots, select a few that would work best for you, and then worry about the price tag. You should be able to have several pricing options if you can find a few shoes.

In closing I hope that you are all having a great spring season and look forward to seeing some of you in the upcoming weeks at my stores. It’s not easy to find the right shoe and whether the shoe is for hiking, athletics, or just a walk around the block it’s important that you find the right shoe for you that fits. If you want more information feel free to check out our websites listed on the right or comment on the bottom.

Regards,

Wes

About Wes: Wes McCluney was raised in Memphis, TN where his family owned and operated Athletic Shoes, Etc for over 25 years. He was born into the shoe business and during early childhood was actively involved in the community and especially sports. After playing football for and graduating from The University of Virginia Wes became actively involved in building the New Balance Brand in Atlanta, GA. He joined his Father and business partner in opening several New Balance stores throughout Tennessee and Georgia and was the vision behind www.TriCityNewBalance.com

Headquartered in Memphis, TriCity New Balance (a privately-owned subsidiary of T.A. Sports, LLC) is an independently owned and operated licensed retailer of New Balance footwear and apparel for over 20 years.

We operate New Balance ProCare™ concept stores in Memphis, Green Hills in Nashville, and Cool Springs in Franklin, Tennessee and in Atlanta, Georgia at The Forum in Norcross and North Point in Alpharetta. We launched our online New Balance store, TriCity New Balance, in 2003. Our New Balance stores stock a wide variety of shoes and sizes in order to offer customers the best possible choices for their footwear selection.

We invite you to see our special offers online at www.tricitynewbalance.com