If you are searching for the best shoes for high arches, you’ve come to the right place. If you have or suspect you have high arches, then you’ve likely already noticed that buying any old pair of sandals off the rack doesn't exactly provide you with comfortable and stable foot support. But you don’t have to spend the summer wincing from the discomfort caused of your off-the-rack sandals. There are great options for you out there. Indeed, some sandals are designed for people with high arched feet and they will leave you comfortable and make you look stylish all season long.
Before we get into the top best sandals for high arches, let’s take a closer look at what having high arches really means, how high arches will impact your health and why it’s important to wear the right kind of shoes for your arch type in order to reduce pain and other potential side effects.
Foot Arches: Identifying Your Arch Type
First, let’s talk about the different arch types found in the human foot. There are three primary arch types that podiatrists can identify; these arch types are: low arches, medium arches and high arches. There are varying degrees and nuances within each of these arch types, but even knowing your general arch type will go a long way towards finding more suitable and more comfortable footwear with arch support.
Low Arches:
Low arches are found in people who have nearly "flat" feet or arches that sit low to the ground. People with low arches also typically have highly flexible feet, though they also experience various foot problems related to certain pressures and walking gaits caused by low arches. To see if you have low arches, take a look at your feet planted firmly on the ground; is there a raised curve or hardly any curve? If there is no raised curve in your arch or it barely lifts off the ground, then you likely have low arched feet.
Medium arches:
Medium arches are found in people who have a defined but not significantly high arch; this arch is noticeable when you view it from the side but is not excessively high. Medium arches are considered to be the most mechanically efficient and ideal arch for avoiding many types foot problems. People with medium arches may still experience some foot problems, but it is typically related to excessive stress on the foot or inadequate footwear rather than their foot arch. To see if you have medium arches, take a look at your feet planted on the ground; is there a defined curve? If there is a defined curve and it does not raise too high off the ground, then you likely have medium arched feet.
High arches:
High arches are found in people with a defined, high arch that sits higher off the ground than a medium arch. People with high arches typically have stiff feet that are not as flexible as they should be; the most distinctive feature is the curve in the arch of the foot which sits relatively high off the ground. Someone with high arches will experience a host of foot pain related to improper foot pressure and stress caused by a high arch. To see if you have high arches, take a look at your feet planted on the ground; is there a defined, high curve? If there is a defined curve which raises high off the ground, then you likely have high arched feet.
If you believe you have high arches, it would be helpful to confirm with your podiatrist, as they will be able to help you understand the degree of your high arch and whether or not you may need special inserts or orthopedic pieces in addition to wearing adequate shoes (and sandals!) designed for people with high arches. Remember: high arches are perfectly manageable as long as you take the right steps (no pun intended) to keeping your feet properly supported.