Try these nine tips when buying your next pair of shoes for happier feet. – By Emily Furia

Here are 9 tips to help you have your own Cinderella moment.

1. Buy shoes after work.

Your feet can swell up to a full size on a hot day, so do your shopping as late in the day as possible.

2. Bring your cycling socks.

And if you wear orthotics when you ride, don’t forget to bring them to the shop, too.

3. Take baby steps.

If your shop doesn’t carry half sizes, consider finding one that does. It’s admittedly an unscientific study, but when our group of journalists was fitted, almost everyone ended up taking a half size.

4. Stand, then sit.

While cycling is generally a low-impact sport, there are situations—like when you’re cranking up that monster climb – where you put a fair amount of weight on your feet. So when you try on shoes, stand up while you’re tightening the straps and buckles. Then you can sit down and relax as the upper begins to conform to your foot (more about that later).

5. Start with the piggies.

The first strap you tighten should be the one that’s closest to your toes. Proceed back toward your ankle.

6. Take it slow.

While many uppers don’t stretch, they will conform to your foot differently as the material warms up. This process can take up to 30 minutes, so don’t be in a hurry to leave the shop. (Consider it an excuse to ogle the rest of the gear on display.) As you continue to make adjustments to the straps, do so in small increments.

7. Consider all dimensions.

There’s more to evaluating fit than seeing how far your toe is from the end of the shoe. You should also take a look at the parallel edges of the upper that meet on the top of the foot. Make sure they’re not puckering at the pivot points (which means you need less volume) or bulging outward (more volume). Run your thumb and finger along the side of the toe box – if there’s enough material to grab, the shoe is too wide. On shoes with hook-and-loop closures, take a look at how much fuzzy material is visible when the straps are closed. Up to a centimetre is normal: If you see more than that, or if you need to pull the straps so tight that they hang over the edge of your foot, try a different size.

8. Don’t be afraid to cross-dress.

Most brands make shoes for men and women, but the best shoe for you might not be the one that matches your gender. For example, some women’s shoes have a narrower heel and normal-width toe box. But a woman whose feet are skinny from heel to toe could be better off in a unisex narrow. Likewise, men who have problems with heel slip might want to consider a woman’s shoe. Bonus: The ladies often get more colour choices.

9. Try and try again.

Even if you think a shoe fits, try on the sizes above and below to make sure. After all, good-quality cycling shoes don’t wear out quickly, so you want to make sure the fit is as perfect as it can be before plunking down your plastic.

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