1. Toe Box: the wide front part of the shoe that provides space for the toes. It should have plenty of wiggle room—if you can't move your toes, the shoe is too tight.

2. Heel Counter: back part of the shoe that surrounds the heel and prevents excessive motion. It's usually made of plastic embedded in the shoe. Make sure it's snug yet comfortable. For added stability, look for shoes with a visible external heel counter in addition to the inner one.

3. Midsole: the layer between the shoe's upper and outsole. Try midsoles made with different shock-absorbing materials; polyurethane is heavy and durable, but a softer material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (eva), may feel better on your feet.

4. Outsole: bottom of the shoe that directly contacts the ground. It's usually made of hard rubber. Look for outsoles with enough friction to prevent slipping. Many also include flex grooves, notches cut into the sole to improve the shoe's flexibility.

5. Pronate: a common tendency for runners. It occurs when the foot turns inward while moving (excessive wear on the inner heel is a sign of pronating). A good salesperson will watch you run to see if you pronate. Or you can take the shoes you've been running in with you for evaluation. Severe pronators should look for motion-control shoes with a stability post, a device built into the midsole that reduces side-to-side motion.

6. Supinate: a rare condition in which the foot tilts outward while moving and causes excessive wear on the outer heel. Shoes with more support in the arches and extra cushioning help supinating feet feel more comfortable during a run.

Find the Shoes That Fit
Flexible shoes that fit properly are a serious walker's best friend. Have both feet measured with your walking socks on, shop late in the day (when feet are most swollen), and give the pair a spin. Make sure your heels don't slip, toes don't touch the end of the shoe, and there's no pinching or binding.

A walking shoe that passes the following tests will have a smooth heel-to-toe roll and allow you to hit maximum speed:

Bend it. Hold the shoe in your hands and bend. It should flex easily through the ball of the foot, but never at the arch.

Poke it. Place the shoe on a flat surface, then poke down at the very back of the heel inside the shoe with a pencil. The heel should be rounded or beveled enough that the toe lifts off the ground—the position your foot takes on every walking step.

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