Recently, I broke several pairs of shoes, leading me to wonder about what kind of advice for buying shoes there is on the internet. Here’s a smattering of what I found from the REI website.

Think about where you plan to walk most of the time. Then narrow your walking shoe choice based on that place. As I was looking at REI’s advice, they have three categories: road-running shoes, hiking shoes, and trail-running shoes, but there are a plethora of other good walking shoes out there, so splash about and see what suits you.

The experts at REI suggest that when you’re considering any walking shoes, you should focus on these factors:

• Stability: lateral support: a shoe that you can’t bend or twist easily is what you’re looking for.
• Cushioning, and
• Fit

They also point out that fit supersedes all other considerations: technology, reviews, fashion or recommendations from friends. A proper fit helps prevent bruised toenails and heel blisters, as well as more serious foot problems. Buying a shoe that fits you well is the best way to end up with a shoe that’ll keep you and your feet happy forever.