Ecco Shoes and Healthy Feet

Ecco is still the benchmark to beat, when casual comfort is in focus. Ecco men's and women's shoes take the classic Ecco values, comfort and quality to new levels and turns up the heat on competitors.

Trendy, challenging and 'edgy', or traditional and laid-back - Ecco new design strategies provide new possibilities.

View the range of Ecco shoes and footwear. For further information or to view the range, click on the link. Available in both mens and womens styles.

Shoe Fit
Ecco Fit - The European last (shape) fits snug in the instep and heel, very roomy up front, allowing freedom of movement and circulation in the toes - it closely resembles the foot shape. Europeans have 2/3 less foot problems than the average western population because of the shape of their shoes.

The ideal design for a foot adapted for weight bearing when standing still would be quite different from a foot designed as an ideal for walking or running. Primarily, our feet are designed for moving about and it is when we stand still they are under the greatest stress.

Standing still is an unnatural activity indulged in only by civilised man. Because feet are meant for movement and locomotion, they have an arch on the inner side of each foot, and when they are called upon to bear the weight of the body the whole foot tends to roll over inwards. This can be seen by looking at the heel bone and the thick tendon at the back of the heel. In a good foot the heel bone should be upright and the tendon should be straight but in many feet the heel bone has rolled over and the tendon curves outwards. Feet like this used to be called 'flat feet' because as the foot rolled over the arch disappeared. However, a well structured foot can have low or high arches.

Good Fit Counts
Whenever a task is undertaken which involves a great deal of standing, it is important that a shoe is worn which helps to prevent the foot from rolling inwards. The foot will be less tired and strained if properly supported.

Ecco has perfected the art of combining superior durability with incredible flexibility. Liquid PU is pressure injected into moulds to be directly attached tot uppers using no glue or stitching. This forms a water tight bond. Duel density (2 layers) give the best of both worlds - softness against the foot and durability against the street or track. Latex on some fashion styles is a natural rubber which is also very durable, flexible and shock absorbing.

The bones in the back half of the foot are square and chunky in shape and the joints which they form do not permit a wide range of movement. The bones in the front part of the foot are long and slender and the joints they form are more flexible. It is in the forepart of the foot, especially in the toes, that many foot disorders occur.

There is a saying amongst chiropodists that healthy toes mean healthy feet. Toes are very easily buckled and once buckling has taken place, it is not easy to straighten them again. Once a toe has become buckled, corns and other painful conditions may develop over the joints. Of much greater importance is the fact that the pressure of the shoe on the 'buckled' toe may force the corresponding bone in the sole of the foot downwards, and thus make it take more than its full share of weight of the body. The extra weight falls upon the same small area with every step that is taken, and severe corns and callosities may result. Once toes have become buckled the shock absorbing mechanism of the foot is thrown out of gear.

Other features of Ecco shoes include:
- Soft, hand crafted, full grain or nubuck uppers. No stiff mid-soles or shanks providing maximum flexibility. The foot controls the shoe instead of the shoe controlling the foot.
- Dynamic energy - - Plugs in the heel, also called shock absorbers, give trampoline-like effect to evenly distribute weight.

Preventing Smelly Feet
Ecco shoes feature Vegetable tanned leathers against the foot ensure no irritation. 'Memory' foam used to absorb perspiration, is antibacterial treated to fight odours. Insoles are removable to dry if necessary. New washable insoles are soft, more absorbent and breathable. Gortex - a 100% waterproof membrane is available on selected boots and shoes. Like human skin it breathes and lets out perspiration, yet won't let water in. Ecco Gortex men's or ladies can be used in warm or cold weather.

When feet are prone to sweating, special attention should be put on foot hygiene. Feet should be washed daily, rinsed thoroughly, dried thoroughly, rubbed with surgical spirit and then powdered. Shoes should be aired and socks/stockings changed every day. Tight footwear should not be worn. Should these measures prove ineffective, then advice should be sort from a doctor or chiropodist.

Stockings/socks and footwear that do not breathe can harbour odour. However, remedies are available to combat these odours. Sports type running shoes, for example, with foam padding and nylon may not breathe easily and a build up of bacteria may cause them to smell more than a leather shoe.

'Pleasant walking' is not simply an expression or aim of Ecco. It is the essence of Ecco. Ecco are shoemakers. This is evident in the new collections available. We present a wide range of shoes, boots and sandals for different people and situations.

All models have their own unique characteristics in the form of specially selected materials and sophisticated detail. But what all models do have in common is the superb product development that has gone into them beforehand.

The following people are known to have worn Ecco shoes :
Harry Potter, Jack Nicholson, James Bond, Sean Penn, Kiefer Sutherland, Nicholas Cage, Bruce Willis, Michael Douglas, Jack Lemmon, Burt Reynolds, Steve Martin, Edward Burns, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, George W Bush.

Stones Shoes features a range of Ecco shoes and footwear. For further information or to view the range, click on the link. Available in both mens and womens styles.