Festival season is on its way, making this the ideal time to find the right footwear so you can keep up with the party. After all, a beautiful outfit and careful planning are all for nothing if you’ve cut your heel or twisted an ankle. Shoes that don’t fit the British climate or the terrain you’re walking across will get in the way of your fun, too. The challenge is finding footwear that looks great and performs well. Here are four festival footwear essentials you can’t ignore.
Anything Waterproof
While you may be tempted to buy cute little sandals, the first priority should be practicality. No, you don’t have to wear work boots when trudging through the muddy field at a festival, but you do need to stick to sturdy, durable shoes that are waterproof. Sturdy shoes won’t break and leave you hobbling back to your car. Durable shoes won’t be ruined by a long hike. Waterproof shoes protect you from rain, puddles on the ground and mud. Then you’ll be prepared if the sunshine turns to rain. This will rule out open toed shoes and anything with high heels.
Nice Trainers
If you want to wear trainers, you can either wear a cheap pair to protect your feet that you can throw out if they’re too muddy, or invest in a water-repellent spray that will keep them in good condition. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be stylish; stores like Head Over Heels, for instance, have a wide selection of great looking sneakers that look just as good as high-end designer trainers for a fraction of the price. They have everything from chunky dad trainers to mixed material trainers that will stay dry no matter the weather while letting your feet breathe.
Insoles
It doesn’t matter how good the shoes look – if they don’t fit well, you’ll end up with blisters or a trip hazard. This is why you need to find shoes that fit you perfectly without rubbing against your feet. If your shoes don’t have good arch support, consider adding insoles. Insoles will also make shoes that are a little loose fit better. If the shoes are a little snug, wear them around the house to break them in. A side benefit of this approach is that you’ll know in advance if the shoes just won’t fit right and you need to get another pair.
A Nice Pair of Boots
While we’ve discussed having practical shoes in terms of design and performance, this doesn’t mean you have to wear clunky, boring shoes. Look for shoes with bold colours or unique patterns. Wellingtons are an ideal choice, since they’ll keep both your feet and lower legs dry in the rain and across muddy fields. Or you could wear stylish hiking boots as long as they’re as suitable for dancing as they are for walking. This is also a great way to protect your feet if they get stepped on.
Don’t Forget Your Socks
If you’re picking out festival boots, don’t forget the socks to go along with them. For example, when you’re wearing wellies, wear socks that protect your feet and lower legs so they don’t rub against each other. If you are wearing ankle high boots, socks need to go high enough to prevent blisters on your ankles. All socks you wear must protect against blisters, but at the same time, you don’t want them to trap body heat so well that your feet become hot and sweaty.
Don’t be left on the side-lines due to sore feet or broken shoes. Follow our tips to find shoes that will both look and feel great at the end of the day.
