In this post I'm going to tell you what happened to me on Saturday with a woman, a walker, and a pair of shoes that said much more than it seemed. And along the way, you'll understand why sometimes the problem with walking better isn't in the feet... It's a little higher up: in the noggin.
On Saturday morning, I was downtown doing some shopping. As I passed by Town Hall, I heard:
—Hey, hey!
I look. A woman is waving at me. I approach her, and without beating around the bush, she says:
—Look, help me get down there.
«Over there» was a small ramp on the sidewalk. The kind meant for a stroller, a wheelchair, or, precisely, a walker.
The woman was in her late seventies. She was holding onto her walker, but her face said otherwise: painted lips, bright eyes, and that friendly yet commanding tone of someone who is used to speaking her mind.
I help her. But then I look down and see the shoes: with a heel or rear incline. The incline caused her toes to practically slip out the front.
I couldn't help myself:
—If you were wearing flat shoes, you'd be much safer.
The woman looks at me, lifts one foot while still holding onto the walker, and says:
—But they ARE flat!
I stared at the shoe, then at her. And I thought: "Better dead than plain."
And here is the interesting part: that woman was short, and she had probably spent decades feeling she looked better with a bit of a heel. You put on flat shoes and, suddenly, you feel strange, shorter, different, as if those shoes aren't meant for you.
And then something very human appears: we see what we want to see. You can even lift up a heel right in front of someone and say: —But they ARE flat!
There is none so blind as those who will not see. Indeed.
I don't believe the solution for someone in their late seventies who has worn heels all her life is to switch tomorrow to a 4-millimeter sole. That would just be swapping one problem for another.
You have to find a middle ground: wide, stable footwear with room so the toes don't have to seek an escape out front, but also with a slight rear lift to provide comfort and some height.
Now in summer, sandals with a generous sole and a slight rear lift to maintain comfort and stability.
If you prefer closed shoes, these canvas sneakers from Mustang come with two different insoles: one completely flat and another with a slight incline between heel and toe. To adapt to what's natural without the shock of abruptly switching to completely flat footwear.
At certain ages, the most important thing is that when you reach a small ramp, you don't have to shout: —Hey, hey! so someone helps you down.
Indeed.
Health starts in your feet.
— Antonio Caballo
These Lems Switchbacks aren't just eye-catching.
Behind their spectacular design lies a key detail: a slight 3mm drop that softens the transition to barefoot or gives you that extra bit of heel protection.
So ditch the boots or chunky shoes and free your feet with an all-terrain sandal, ready for traveling and exploring cities.
*Unisex model. Sizing corresponds to US men's sizing.
As you know, narrow shoes are a thing of the past, which is why the Mustang Free is the respectful woman and young woman's shoe that has everything your feet need for a natural posture.
I’ll tell you more about it in detail below.
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