Shoe Fitting

Ill-fitting shoes that are the leading cause of foot pain and foot problems:  8 out of 10 people’s shoes fit incorrectly.

At Feet First Clinic we put your feet first: feet are your body’s foundation and choosing footwear that fits properly is critical for preventing injury. That’s why we fit every client free of charge to ensure that you invest in the healthiest footwear for your feet’s needs. 

Our chiropodists also perform footwear assessments: The chiropodist will examine your feet and gait and make footwear recommendations to match your foot shape, structure, alignment and accommodative needs.

How Do I Get A Shoe Fitting at Feet First Clinic?

You can get a footwear assessment and shoe fitting by either appointment or drop-in:

1. Appointment:  

You can book a full footwear assessment with one of our licensed chiropodists by using our online booking form or calling us at 416-769-3338.  Depending on your specific needs, a biomechanical assessment with our Video Gait Analysis machine may be involved.  This will help us determine how you carry your weight when you walk, and which shoes will best accommodate your needs.

After your assessment, our staff can help select and fit you for shoes in our shop, where we carry a specially curated selection of orthopaedic footwear and pre-fabricated footwear designed to address various foot issues, from flatfoot to bunions.  Click here for more information about the brands and shoes we can fit you for. 

If stock item or modified orthopaedic footwear is required, a chiropodist will give you a referral. We will then size you and order the shoes that best fit your needs.  Once your shoes arrive, you can try them on to make sure they fit properly and feel comfortable.  See orthopaedic footwear for more information.

2. Drop In:

If you do not have any particular concerns requiring a chiropodist assessment, you can stop by our foot clinic during office hours. Our knowledgeable staff can then guide you through the shoes we carry in our shop and help you find the shoe that fits best.

To ensure the best fitting shoes, we strongly recommend bringing socks with the thickness you would wear the shoes with. 

For our top tips for buying shoes, check out our shoe shopping checklist.

Shoes that fit properly can help treat and even prevent just about every foot condition and common foot problem.  This includes (but is certainly not limited to):

• Bunions
• Hammertoe
• Metatarsalgia
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Heel Spurs
• Calluses
• Corns
• Arthritis
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Flatfoot
• High arches
• Cracked toenail
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Ingrown Toenail

See our conditions page for more information.

Shoe fittings are provided by our clinic free of charge. 

Non-modified commercially available footwear is not covered by most insurance providers.

If you intend to claim your shoes through your insurance company (i.e.: as orthopaedic footwear), you will likely require a prescription from a foot specialist or medical doctor. This requires a footwear assessment from one of our chiropodists. If you are unsure about your footwear coverage, please contact your insurance company directly, or check with your online benefits portal to receive a breakdown of your policy. Insurance quotes for orthopedic or modified footwear are recommended to ensure that specific makes and models are approved.

For more information, please see our orthopaedic footwear services. 

All footwear at Feet First Clinic are final sale.

Anatomy of a Good Shoe

When fitting a shoe, we look for the following:

Collar: Shoes should not ride up when you walk. Your heel should sit in your shoes with minimal slipping

Laces: When tying your shoes, the width of the laces across the tongue should be the same from the toes to the top of the tongue.

Toe Box: There should be ½ inch of space between the end of your longest toe and the end of the toe box

Last: The Last is the shape of the shoe and should fit the natural shape of your foot. It can be curved, semi-curved or straight. Per the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, curved lasts tend to be lighter and less supportive, whereas straight lasts are heavier but provide more arch support. 

Midsole: The midsole is responsible for shock absorption, cushioning and stability. The structures in the midsole should accommodate your foot type and gait pattern. For example, if you overpronate, you want to look for a stability shoe. If you have high arches, you want a neutral shoe with a lot of cushioning. And if you have joint issues like arthritis, you want a shoe with a lot of shock absorption and cushioning. 

Outsole: The outsole should improve traction and cushion your feet when walking on hard surfaces.

Tread: One of the important factors that determines the friction coefficient of a shoe. Increased tread will help to reduce the risk of slippage or falls

Heel Elevation: A higher elevation causes a contraction of the calf muscles and leads to increased pronation (when your ankle rolls inward when you walk). 

Insole: Select insoles that redistribute heel, ball and toe pressure.

Body: The upper part of the shoes should be made of a soft and flexible material that molds to the shape of your foot

Heel Counter: The heel counter is the part of the shoe that wraps around the outside of your heel. It helps support the back of the shoe and helps it keep its shape. To ensure a good quality heel counter, squeeze the walls of the counter to test for firmness: They should be difficult to and not collapse into each other.

Click here to learn more about the anatomy of a shoe and how each part affects your feet.