How to Stop Your Shoes Wearing Down on One Side
Over time, every pair of shoes will eventually succumb to wear and tear, but there are plenty of ways to keep them at their best for longer. One of the most common causes of breakdown is that shoes begin to wear down on one side, creating a lopsided effect that can destroy your shoes and throw off your step. Read on to find out more about why this happens and what products can be used to prevent this issue.
Shoes can begin to wear down on one side, creating a lopsided effect that can destroy your shoes and throw off your step
What's Covered In this Guide?
- Why Do My Shoes Wear on One Side?
- How Can I Prevent Uneven Wear on My Shoes?
- Our Solution to Prevent Uneven Wear on Shoes
Why Do My Shoes Wear More On One Side?
The rate and way in which our shoes wear down is affected by many variants: from body alignment and biomechanical stresses to the kind of shoes we choose to wear. Most likely, uneven wear will be a result of an overpronating gait (when your foot rolls inwards to the big-toe-side) or a supinating gait (where your foot rolls outwards towards the little toe). By looking at the soles of your shoes once they start to wear, you should be able to tell which camp you fall into:
- Overpronation Wear Pattern: More wear in the centre of the heel and the big-toe-side of the forefoot
- Supination Wear Pattern: More wear towards the little-toe-side of the forefoot and heel
How Can I Prevent Uneven Wear on My Shoes?
By far the most effective way of reducing uneven wear in the heels of your shoes is by wearing heel pads / insoles. These handy shoe insoles will keep your feet balanced, preventing them from rolling inwards and outwards (supination and overpronation) and as as result prevent the unsightly uneven heel wear that happens over time. Check out some of our best heel pads / insoles below for correcting this issue and helping prevent uneven wear on the shoes.
Our Solution to Prevent Uneven Wear on Shoes
Pedag Correct Heel Pads
Editor's Verdict: The Pedag Correct Heel Pads are well-cushioned heel pads that provide a soft cushioning effect that favours one side of the heel, helping to alleviate either supination or overpronation depending on how you place them in your shoes. These heel pads will correct your walking posture and therefore level out your heels to reduce the pressure that causes shoes to wear down. By evening out the pressure you place on your instep or the outside of your shoe, your weight will focus on the centre of the sole, providing optimal pressure distribution that your shoes can deal with. As an added bonus, you'll feel much more comfortable as you walk as well.
Why We Love Them...
✔ Cushioned heel pads correct walking posture
✔ Treat supination and overpronation to prevent rolling
✔ Prevent unevenly worn shoe heels
✔ Alleviate discomfort caused by bowlegs and knock legs
Customer Verdict: "Before I got this product I had the issue where the back of my shoes would be slanted as I walked funny but this product has really corrected the way I walk; I find it more comfortable also as I experienced pain prior to using these and now it’s painless and smooth to walk. " ★★★★ Nathaniel
Pro11 Posture-Correcting Heel Cups for Under/Over Pronation
Editor's Verdict: Soft, thin and supportive, the Pro11 Posture Correcting Heel Cups for Under/Over Pronation will help balance your heels whilst wearing all kinds of shoes. By correcting overpronation and supination, these heel pads realign the bones of the feet and ankles, reducing pain in the shins, knees, hips and lower back. Thanks to this realignment of the bones, the uneven wear in your shoes that happens over time whilst walking will be a thing of the past, and your shoes are kept looking fresher for longer. As an added bonus if you're also recovering from a sports injury or undergoing rehabilitation these heel pads will keep your feet protected and well supported.
Why We Love Them...
✔ Soft, thin and unobtrusive supportive heel pads
✔ Correct supination and overpronation to balance the feet
✔ Prevent unevenly worn shoe heels
✔ Reduce foot, ankle, shin, knee, hip, and lower back pain
Supplier Guarantee: "PRO11 Wellbeing posture-correcting heel cups are incredibly versatile — you can swap left or right, depending on whether your feet turn in or out, and the strong rubber/latex pimples provide protection to the underside or the back of the heel, depending where you most need the protection. They’re also washable, comfortable, and extremely unobtrusive. Pair them with most (heeled) shoe types."
Rehband QD Pronation and Supination Foot Wedge Insoles
Editor's Verdict: Another excellent solution for correcting overpronation and supination is wearing the Rehband QD Pronation and Supination Foot Wedge Insoles. Similar to the Pedag Correct Heel Pads, you're able to decide which way to place these insoles inside your shoes in order to correct either overpronation or supination, depending on which you have. Developed as a high durability insole, these will last you a long time, ensuring you'll get to see the results of the reduced uneven wear of your favourite shoes. As a bonus these are also excellent if you've got plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, inflammation and wear and tear injuries.
Why We Love Them...
✔ Neutralise foot misalignments such as pronation and supination
✔ Offer comfort and support to the outer or inner edge of the feet
✔ Prevent unevenly worn shoe heels offer support to the outer or inner edge of the feet
✔ Treat plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, inflammation, supports wear and tear injuries and more
Customer Verdict: "These insoles do a great job of re aligning my feet, really comfortable you forget there in your shoes." ★★★★★ Tracey
Save Your Soles
Whether you wear your shoes down by walking, running or anything else, correcting your gait can do more than just save the soles of your shoes. Conditions like back, hip and knee pain can all be worsened by an uneven gait, so sorting the issue out before it gets any worse is crucial to your long-term mobility. You can purchase the mentioned heel pads / insoles above here at Health and Care with free UK delivery on all orders, or if you'd like to see the range we've chosen these heel pads from, feel free to browse our comprehensive Insoles for Pronation section.
Do you have any questions about any of the products mentioned on this blog, or have something to add? Share your thoughts below, or find us on Facebook and Twitter!
Tags: Foot Care, Health and Care Expert Series, Insoles, Running, Shoes
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Pedag Correct Heel Pads
- Heel pad to correct gait and prevent uneven wear on heels
- Ideal for bow legs, knock knees supination and overpronation
- Cushioned material reduces impact on heels as you walk
- Self-adhesive design for easy placement