How to Keep Your Feet Happy & Healthy This Summer

Your feet carry you through life’s adventures, so you owe it to them to ensure they're in the best shape. To help you accomplish this, we’ve asked our Rockport team of experts - our footwear designers and engineers - to answer some of your most burning foot care questions, with an emphasis on warmer weather woes. Happy feet = happy life! I feel most confident when wearing heels to work, but the balls of my feet hurt by lunchtime. You may have not used one since grade school, but it's important to have your feet measured properly on a Brannock Device, not only to confirm the length of your foot, but also to identify your ball reach. Very often, people wear shoes that fit them in length, but not in ball reach or ball girth. It's most important to have the widest part of one's foot fit the widest part of their shoe. If your ball joint is not appropriately aligned in the shoe, you will experience pain in the ball joint, cramped toes, and sore feet. The correct fit is absolutely essential (did you know we offer the majority of our shoes in multiple widths, including some in extra-narrow all the way to extra-extra-wide?). Visit your local shoe store to be properly fit if you haven't already. You should also always wear shoes with an outsole that provides cushioning and shock absorption with compounds such as rubber or TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane, a durable synthetic material) and TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber, a natural rubber compound). When shopping online for shoes, look for these compounds listed in the shoe's product details. Our Total Motion 75mm V Sling or our Cobb Hill Taylor caged heel are heels that you forget are heels, and our Audrina Sling Boot features an on-trend block heel that gently slopes down to a cushioned forefoot.

Pictured: Total Motion 75mm V Sling ($120) | Cobb Hill Taylor ($110) | Audrina Sling Boot ($130)

I want to wear sandals this summer but suffer from plantar fasciitis. Dealing with plantar fasciitis is common in the summer, because people tend to wear flatter, less supportive footwear in warmer months. To avoid this painful ailment, wear a shoe or sandal that has an anatomic footbed with a molded heel seat, like the Cobb Hill Hollywood Cuff Sandal or the Cobb Hill Tropez High Vamp. For a flatter sandal, try the Cobb Hill REVsoothe T Strap. Wear a sole that is firm and offers significant stability and support since footwear that is too soft underfoot or compresses easily tends to make heel pain or plantar fasciitis worse over time.

Pictured: Cobb Hill Hollywood Cuff Sandal ($110) | Cobb Hill Tropez High Vamp ($110) | Cobb Hill REVsoothe T Strap Sandal ($90)

My feet sweat a lot, but I can’t wear sandals to work. Perspiring on a hot summer day is normal, sweaty feet included. Look for footwear that is leather lined or has a breathable, antimicrobial lining. Try to avoid shoes that are lined with a synthetic PU material, which will trap heat in the shoe and make your feet even hotter. The Cobb Hill Aubrey and Cobb Hill Angelina have an EVA footbed with a pigskin and textile footbed cover. Our truFLEX styles, for both men and women, offer leather socks with breathable linings.

Pictured: Cobb Hill Angelina ($110) | Cobb Hill Aubrey ($100) | truFLEX Slip On ($130)

I walk to work and don’t want to have to change shoes when I get there. Your feet should be the last thing on your mind as you commute each day. Look for shoes with outsoles that have rubber tread pads. Rubber will offer great traction while walking to work and is incredibly durable. For men, our DresSports Modern Collection has a PU sole with rubber forefoot and heel pads. For women, our Total Motion collection offers a host of commuter-friendly heels or flats. Total Motion offers stylish, sleek work silhouettes that are built with molded footbeds, padded upper linings, TPR soles and an outsole technology that aids your natural walking motion.

Pictured: DresSports Modern Cap Toe ($150) | Total Motion Melora Captoe Pump ($120)

My lower back hurts when I wear dress shoes/heels. Back-to-back meetings, alfresco cocktails, and more weddings than you can count are just a few occasions this summer where you'll be donning dress shoes. Unfortunately, many people experience back pain after spending a day in dress shoes, so it's important to make sure that you select footwear that offers underfoot cushioning and support. Women should spend the day in a heel height that they feel comfortable in and aim to change up their heel height throughout the week. Don't spend all week in your highest heels! The Total Motion Collection offers a range of comfortable heels and heights, including a 75mm pump, a 50 mm kitten heel and a ballet flat.

Pictured: Total Motion Pointed Toe Pump ($130) | Total Motion Kalila Pump ($120) | Total Motion Adelyn Ballet ($110)

Men should look for dress shoes that offer soles made out of shock-absorbing materials, such as rubber or EVA, which will dramatically improve impact at heel strike. Check out the Dressports 2 Lite or Total Motion Fusion to find an incredibly comfortable dress shoe that will allow men to look their best, while feeling comfortable all day long.

Pictured: DresSports 2 Lite Apron Toe ($120) | Total Motion Fusion Wing Tip ($140)

Have a fall foot care question of your own? Ask away at [email protected], and your question might be answered in our next foot care feature.