Hey Dudes are great lightweight very reasonably priced stylish shoes that are hugely popular, especially in hot weather. However, are Hey Dudes good for your feet? Can you wear them all day without problems or are they going to hurt your feet and cause discomfort?
Buying a new pair of shoes means that you need to think about whether your footwear is going to be comfortable or whether it could cause you foot problems and pain further down the line.
Here’s what you need to know about Hey Dude Shoes to help you make a more informed choice when you are thinking about buying a new pair of shoes.
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What Makes a Shoe Good For Your Feet?
So how do you know if a shoe is good for your feet or not? In order for shoes to be comfortable they need to fulfill some basic functions.
They Need To Be Supportive
Shoes need to be supportive to keep your foot in the correct position as you walk. Unsupportive shoes mean that your feet will move from their ideal position and cause pronation. This can cause foot problems as well as impact your body.
They Should Fit Properly
It should go without saying that any shoe you buy should fit you properly. That means you shouldn’t feel as if you are squeezing your feet into shoes that are too small and equally they shouldn’t be falling off your feet. Ill-fitting shoes cause foot pain, and blisters and lead to problems such as corns and bunions.
Shock Absorption Is Important
If you are going to be walking or standing in your shoes for long periods then they will need good shock absorption. This protects your feet and body from the impact of walking.
They Should Have Laces Or A Strap
To make sure that shoes fit well on your foot laces, straps and velcro can help you to adjust how your footwear fits. This will help you adjust the shoes to fit your feet.
Have Breathable Fabric
Breathable fabrics mean that sweat can’t build up inside your shoes or boots. Sweaty feet can cause friction which leads to blisters and shoe bites. Sweat also can cause foot odor and lead to fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.
They Shouldn’t Hurt
Shoes that need considerable breaking in periods or that hurt your feet should tell you that you need to buy something else. Choose shoes that are going to be comfortable straight away.
They Should Be Wide and Deep Enough
Make sure that any shoes you buy are wide enough for your feet. If not your toes will be squeezed or pinched which will not only hurt but mean that you could get problems such as hammer toes. Hey Dude shoes do come in wide-fitting sizes which helps if you have a broader foot.
Are Hey Dude Shoes Supportive?
Now that you know what makes a good shoe let’s look to see if Hey Dude shoes meet the criteria.
Firstly are Hey Dude shoes supportive and will they help you keep your feet in the correct position whilst you are walking?
Well, the answer is there is some support there but because they are lightweight shoes that can be bent and twisted with their fold technology this may not give you the help you need especially if you suffer from mechanical foot problems.
Their shoes with adjustable laces such as the Wally Loafer are going to help more because you can adjust the shoes to fit your feet.
Whilst there is no doubt that because the shoes have a thick memory foam insole they may feel comfortable but this will not necessarily stop your feet from pronation when walking.
Do Hey Dudes Have Arch Support for Flat Feet?
Whilst Hey Dude shoes are super comfortable on many people they do have poor arch support in comparison to some shoes.
Arch support can however vary from person to person. If you have flat feet for example you may need different arch support from someone with a high arch.
If you have no need for arch support then Hey Dudes will make comfortable shoes. However, for someone with flat feet, the memory foam insoles that Hey Dues have may not be enough.
Normal Hey Dude Insoles have thick memory foam which may make you feel like you are walking on air if you don’t have foot problems. If you look at this picture you will see that they are completely flat which means they don’t offer any additional arch support.
Hey Dude shoes do however have memory foam insoles that are however removable. This means that if you wanted to take them out and replace them with a more supportive insole or custom orthotics this can be done quite easily.
Contrast the Hey Dude Insoles to Walk-Hero Arch Support Insoles and you will see there is a big difference. These have a deep heel cup and 3.5cm of arch support which can help reduce foot pain and support flat feet.
Custom orthotics or insoles for fallen arches are important for your foot health and can help make Hey Dude shoes comfortable. They can also help stop pronation and help with the general support in the shoe.
Are Hey Dudes Good For Walking?
Hey Dude shoes are popular with so many people because they are lightweight and comfortable. They are great shoes for walking around in especially in the summer. However, are Hey Dudes good for your feet if you want to walk in them for longer distances?
Whilst they are a great shoe for general wear they should never be mistaken for a distance walking shoe or for footwear that is designed for hiking.
Hey Dude shoes are the perfect footwear for day-to-day walking such as short trips to the shops, walking the dog or wearing around the neighborhood. The memory foam cushioning will keep you comfortable and as they are lightweight they are going to be really easy to wear.
For longer-distance walking however you will need a better shoe or sneaker with arch support, ankle and foot support, and potentially better grip depending on where you are going to be walking.
Hey Dudes are also not that great to wear in wetter or colder weather. Whilst the rain might not ruin them your feet are going to get soggy and cold if you are wearing them.
For longer-distance walks, you need shoes or sneakers such as the HOKA ONE ONE Bondi 8 Women’s Shoes that are more robust and are designed for maximum comfort.
If you are hiking then you need specialist waterproof hiking shoes that have great traction to help keep you on your feet when you are walking on uneven ground.
Are Hey Dudes Good For Standing All Day?
If you standing all day you definitely need a shoe that is supportive and that has good cushioning and arch support. Firm support on the midsole of the shoe is also important to help stop any mechanical foot problems.
Whilst Hey Dude Shoes feel comfortable and have fold technology they will not be sufficiently supportive if you are going to be on your feet all day.
By all means, wear Hey Dude shoes if you are on your feet for short periods of time but they are not going to be great for all-day usage.
The place where you are going to be standing will also impact the shoes that you need to purchase. For example, in some workplaces, specialist safety shoes may be required to make sure that feet do not get hurt if something falls or spill onto your shoes.
Shoes that may be ok for you to wear indoors may not be suitable if you are standing all day on outside concrete. A nurse for example who may be on their feet all day will often wear shoes without laces or straps for safety reasons. A landscaper or gardener may wear construction boots.
Hey Dude shoes simply are not suitable enough to wear in some locations. This isn’t a fault of the shoes but because one brand of shoe is not going to be suitable for every situation and environment.
Are Hey Dudes Good for Plantar Fasciitis?
Are Hey Dudes good for your feet if you have plantar fasciitis?
Well, I have suffered from plantar fasciitis and tendonitis over the past ten or so years I know that I need specialist orthotics or arch support shoes to help stop my foot pain.
When I wear flat shoes no matter how cushioned they aren’t enough to help my problem. Instead, I need shoes with good arch support to solve my problem such as Vionic shoes which I rave about because they made such a difference to my problem.
Whilst Hey Dude shoes do have great cushioning which may be suitable to help some people with heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis they might not work for everyone such as people like me who need arch support as well.
As I mentioned earlier however there is absolutely no reason why you can’t remove the existing Hey Dude insoles from the shoes and replace them with insoles of your choosing. That way you get to wear the stylish Hey Dude styles but also help your feet by creating more comfortable shoes for your foot problem.
Hey Dudes Causing Foot Pain
Are Hey Dudes good for your feet? Well, the good news with Hey Dude shoes is that they are less likely to cause you shoe bits and blisters than other types of shoes or sneakers if they are the correct size. This is because the lightweight material used in the shoes is flexible and comfortable which means it is less likely to cause friction.
As Hey Dude shoes have super comfortable insoles they are unlikely to be the source of any obvious pain either in the first instance.
However, if you have other foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, or pronation issues Hey Dudes could potentially make your problem worse because of their lack of support, especially in the arch.
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a too-comfortable shoe that can make your feet lazy and lead to imbalances that can impact not just your feet but your whole body.
So if you are experiencing any foot pain do think about switching out your regular insoles for something a little more robust to see if that solves your problem. If that doesn’t work then Hey Dude shoes are probably not right for your feet and you need to find something that is better suited for your needs.
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