UK foot health, podiatry and footwear tech
UK shoe sizing measures length and then hopes for the best. For anyone with a broad forefoot, that hope rarely pays off — so here is how width fittings really work, how to check your own fit at home, and what to buy if your toes have been complaining since 2019.
Glass plates and tablet screens have landed in shoe shops, pharmacies and running stores across the UK. Here is what those 3D foot scanners genuinely measure, where the accuracy runs out, and how to tell clinical guidance from a well-rehearsed upsell.
Recovery slides now cost anywhere from £50 to £120, but a plush footbed is not the same as useful support. After six pairs and a lot of wet club runs, here is what actually helps tired feet — and what is just marketing with a logo.
NHS podiatry access in 2026 still depends heavily on where you live, how your local service triages and whether self-referral exists. This practical guide maps the realistic routes, the red flags that should shortcut the wait, and the home and private options worth considering.
Smart socks and in-shoe pressure sensors are now being sold to UK runners, diabetic patients and anyone with a stubborn foot niggle. Here's what the data genuinely shows, what it quietly guesses, what it costs — and the questions worth asking before you hand over your card.
Thin soles and ground feel sound lovely until you hit a wet setts-paved high street in February. We wore eight barefoot-style shoes through a British winter — wet tarmac, greasy kerbs, train floors and all — and graded grip, toe box, water resistance and all-day comfort.
Every November the slippers come out and the heated insoles go in. Both can feel wonderful and both can quietly cause trouble. Here is what podiatrists look out for, and how to keep your feet warm this winter without trapping heat, sweat and pressure in all the wrong places.
Your phone thinks it can analyse your running form. We spent several weeks with five of the most-downloaded gait apps on UK app stores to see what they genuinely measure, where the numbers start to drift, and how to use the results without being sold a pair of insoles you do not need.
Cold, wet commutes are hard on feet, especially when orthotics, chilblains or Raynaud's are part of the picture. This practical 2026 guide looks at waterproof membranes, boot fit, insulation and grip without turning your journey into a footwear science project.
Off-the-shelf inserts, semi-custom footbeds and podiatrist-made orthotics can all claim to help runners, but the price gap is huge. This 2026 buyer's guide breaks down materials, fitting, pressure mapping and durability so you know what you are paying for.