Get to know your foot type. Take the ‘wet foot test.’ Place your bare foot in some water. Place it on a dark piece of construction paper. Look closely at its shape. If you are flat footed, you will see a complete imprint of your foot because the whole bottom of your foot came in touch with the paper. If you see a blank spot where the arch of your foot didn’t touch the paper, you have a high arch. If the wet print of your foot shape has a moderate area missing where your arch is, this is considered a neutral foot shape
Before buying yor shoes online, go to a good quality shoe store and get fitted professionally. The clerks at these types of stores are well trained in determining your shoe size. Get fitted in the afternoon because your feet swell during the day. Getting your foot measured at this time of day will ensure that you will buy a shoe that will not be too small for you. If you know what style or type of shoe that you want to buy, have the clerk bring out some similar sizes. Pay close attention to the fit. This will give you an idea of how the shoes you buy online should fit your foot.
Once you buy your shoes online, put them on and walk around on the carpet. This will help you determine how they fit. Make sure that you have between ¼ to ½ inch of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of your shoe. This gives you room for your foot to spread as you walk.
Your shoe should flex at the ball of your foot. Make sure that your ball joint fits in this flex space when you put on your shoe. If it doesn’t, send the shoes back because you will have blisters and sore feet.