It’s the annual pre-summer holiday dilemma: when it comes to footwear do you go for chic, leather slip-ons, spongy pool sliders or perhaps good, old fashioned flip-flops?
Trouble is, you want shoes that ooze style without destroying your feet.
This year’s must-have is the leather slip-on seen adorning the feet of celebrities such as model Helena Christensen.
But the design, which features a single strap of thin leather across the toes, is a guaranteed route to strained tendons and agonising heel pain, according to podiatrist Emma Price.
And it’s not the only style to avoid, say the experts. From 70s-style Birkenstocks to the Duchess of Cambridge wedge, here are the summer shoes that will have you aching for a sit down…
Wedges, often worn by the Duchess of Cambridge (pictured in Heidelberg, Germany 2017), are one of this summer's must-have shoes. But experts warn it could cause damage to your feet
Celebrity slip-ons can be such a pain
Budget-friendly versions of this current favourite, originally created by Italian designer Hermes, main picture, are plentiful.
They have a broad, leather strap across the toes. The sole is flat, although some versions tout a tiny heel.
VERDICT: The main issue, says Price, is the heel and ankle remain largely unsupported – a recipe for pain and injury ‘because the foot slides around easily’.
While the Hermes sandal (pictured), and budget-friendly versions of it are popular - the main issue for wearers is the heel and ankle which is largely unsupported – a recipe for pain and injury ‘because the foot slides around easily’
‘This puts excess strain on ankle ligaments, bands of tissue that join bones together, leading to sprains,’ she says. ‘It can even tear them.’
The flat sole also puts pressure on heel tendons, which join muscle to bone, causing painful foot cramps and Achilles tendonitis – soreness in the leg or above the heel.
A 2010 study of more than 3,000 women in the US found those wearing sturdy shoes or boots were 67 per cent less likely to suffer foot pain than those favouring flat, slip-on footwear.
If you’re planning summer walks, the hippy favourite Birkenstock, left, is undoubtedly the shoe for you.
Its best feature is a firm, cork sole that is moulded to fit the shape of your foot.
This combats the most common cause of foot pain – no support of the natural curves of the feet, also called the arches.
This supportive shape balances the distribution of body weight across the legs and feet, preventing damage to ligaments and muscle strain.
‘Opt for a version with two bands across the top of the foot and an ankle strap for optimum stability that will stop you slipping’, advises Emma Price.
The best feature of the Birkenstock sandal (pictured) is the firm, cork sole that is moulded to fit the shape of your foot
Price says strengthening muscles can help, and adds: ‘Try simply jumping up and down on the spot on your toes. Or opt for a version with a slight heel.’
COMFORT SCORE: 3/5
Flimsy flip-flops may lead to toe surgery
The beach-to-bar classics are usually made with leather or foam, with a narrow Y-shaped thong that slip between the toes.
VERDICT: ‘Flip-flops are the worst shoes you can wear. They are only fit for around the pool,’ warns Price.
Walking in flimsy flip-flops for longer than 30 minutes daily can put you at risk of hammer toe – where tendons in the toes shorten.
The toes grip on to the shoe to keep the foot stable, one of the most common causes of hammer toe,’ says Emma.
It’s a condition that
