3 Best Shoes for Women

Let’s face it, shoes can practically get you killed today. I mean the spiked heels are deadly, the pointed toes, torturous! Wearing today's styles is akin to Chinese foot-binding practices. Marketing convinces women that to look good, to look hot, we have to walk like acrobats on stilts and cram our feet into all sorts of contortions. It’s all tied into sex and we know that in the world of marketing, sex rules. It’s all about convincing women to go to any length to get the guy whether it kills them or not. Do you ever wonder why the women detectives on shows like CSI wear extremely high heels, show cleavage, and have on gobs of makeup? They manage to pull this off while chasing down rapists—that’s got to be stressful, and their footwear is not helping. It’s not because it helps them run faster, avoid sexual harassment in the workplace, or do a better job. Women's shoes can be deadly.

I take this personally because once I sprained my ankle when my foot turned because I was wearing high heels—a sprained ankle is agonizing. That said, my favorite shoes are:

#1 Danskos

Turn me On

Thank God I bought my first pair of Dansko Clogs a few years ago when my feet started hurting. I wonder why they were hurting? Perhaps because my shoes didn’t have arches? I was experiencing heel pain—they call it plantar fasciitis—I now own: 2 pairs of Dansko Clogs, 1 pair of Dansko Merrie Stapled Clogs, and 1 pair of Dansko boots. They are my staples, my mainstay, and my bread and butter of shoes. The Clogs are fantastic women's shoes and great in cold weather—I love them with Smart wool socks and all my knitter friends love wearing them with hand knitted socks!

I know this is not sexy, but your feet will love the fact that Dansko shoes have received a Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association “for allowing normal foot function and promoting quality foot health.” And normal foot functioning means a lot to me—I appreciate having the ability to walk in women's shoes that leave me pain free for hours if I choose.

Here are some facts I found on Dansko.com that were a real turn-on!

Carbosan® Cushion Insole
A dual-density carbon-activated latex and rubber blend for cushioning comfort and shock absorption.

Certified Slip Resistance
All Dansko's Sport Clogs and Stapled Clogs have soles which are slip-resistant in environments where fats and oils are present, as approved by SATRA and the ASTM F1677-96 standard.

Dri-Lex® Lining
Dri-Lex® technology combines hydrophobic (moisture-hating) polyester and hydrophilic (moisture-loving) nylon to create a dual-zone, moisture-wicking, abrasion- and bacteria-resistant environment.

Dri-Lex® Ultimate Suede Insole Cover
This durable fabric feels extra-soft against the skin as it manages moisture and keeps you cool.

LITE (Low Impact to the Environment) Leather
Dansko makes their LITE (Low Impact to the Environment) leather in a tannery that recycles water and heat and utilizes solar energy for a lower industrial carbon footprint.

SATRA tested
This Dansko shoe has been designed to be suitable in workplace environments where excesses of vegetable oils and animal fats are present. Slip resistant tests have been carried out by SATRA, the world's leading research and technology organization for the footwear industry. SATRA Ref#: FWT0152567/0723/Z

#2 NAOT

— I think their sandals are kind of sexy!

I have both the Slide and the Foot Thong sandals, and find them so comfortable I can walk trails wearing them. My friend wore her NOAT sandals while traveling in Europe every day for a month—they were always comfortable, and she was doing a lot of walking. NAOT makes women's shoes that are both comfortable and beautiful.

NAOT of Israel has been around since 1942, and has become an international success story. I like that NAOT has an environmentally friendly line that only uses natural materials in an eco-friendly production process—the BE COLLECTION. These have a 1 1/4" heel and offer a removable footbed.

NAOT is known for its anatomical footbed designed to mold itself to the contours of the wearer’s foot, and encourage correct and natural posture. By distributing the body’s weight evenly throughout the foot, the support massages the foot. The footbed is shock resistant and absorbs perspiration.

#3

Merrell

Merrell began its company focusing on creating cowboy boots and footwear for outdoors. The company then became an industry leader of high tech athletic shoes with attitude, and has recently started a line for women who want comfort and style.

It's no surprise that 80% of all foot problems occur in women.

Reasons for not wearing high-heels include:

• they can cause foot pain
• they can create foot deformities, including hammertoes and bunions
• they can cause an unsteady gait
• they can shorten the wearer's stride
• they can render the wearer unable to run
• altered forces at the knee caused by walking in high-heels may predispose to degenerative changes in the knee joint
• See "Foot and Tendon Problems" below for many of the medical reasons.
• Women who wear high heels frequently have a higher incidence of degenerative joint disease of the knees. This is because they cause a decrease in the normal rotation of the foot which puts more rotation stress on the knee

If your feet are killing you, you can find women's shoes that both feel and look great - consider putting your feet in one of above brands and enjoy!

More on footwear:

Uggs – My Favorite Boots!

More on footcare:

Pamper your Feet!

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