The materials used to create affordable shoes can mean all the difference in the world. Depending on what you are going to use the shoes for, the kind of material used in their construction can aid you tremendously or completely bring you down.

Textile, especially canvas, is very commonly used to create sneakers and other kinds of footwear made for warmer weather. It’s a man-made material, with cotton threads woven tightly, but with enough room for air to flow into and out as well.

Textile is super light and very elastic, so it will feel like you are walking on air whenever you wear textile footwear. It also takes on color very well, and a lot of shoemakers use this to their advantage - they create the same pair in various different hues and with plenty of different patterns. But, textile lacks durability - it will tear and sprout holes, so be prepared for that.

How can we talk about materials without mentioning leather, right? Leather is a natural material that comes from animals - precisely, leather is their skin. After the leather is cut, sewn together, checked for irregularities and similar, it gets its chance to be a shoe. The leather is very hardy, so you’ll get affordable shoes that will last you for a long while. It also helps keep water away, and if you treat it with special sprays, be sure that no water is getting in!

Leather needs breaking in, but once you do it, you will be rewarded with a world of comfort.

If you feel upset about the origins of leather, then you should be happy to know that we included affordable shoes made out of faux leather too! This is a synthetic material made to look like the real deal. It has all the great properties real leather does but without the guilt or the high price. However, it can be prone to cracking, peeling and breaking, so you should always have that in mind!

Mesh is a synthetic material often used when making footwear for a variety of outdoor activities. It is elastic, and it stretches easily no matter what you do to it. Its main purpose is to keep your feet secured in, creating a great fit. Due to the large pores present on it, it allows all the air inside, ensuring you get properly dried and ventilated, and makes it easy to regulate our temperature!

Rubber is a natural material, and it comes from tree sap. It's great for rain boots and affordable shoes created to keep water away, but it's also used to make most outsoles today. It has great non-slip properties, and many skate shoe companies use it and enhance it, giving their sneakers the proper grip and board feel. If you wear heels, be sure that rubber has your back - it will make sure you are standing no matter how steep the shoes are!

How relieved will you feel when you discover that your new affordable shoes are comfortable as a cloud? It means that you won't have to worry about aches, blisters, pain and other issues, and it also makes it so much easier to just keep pushing no matter what life throws at you! If you wear an uncomfortable pair of affordable shoes, it will be all that you can think about, and you won't be able to focus on anything!

Ortholite footbeds are super common today and are used by many popular brands like Converse and ASICS. What makes this footbed so special is its low compression rate, how light it is and how much cushioning it provides. It breathes with every step you take and stubbornly keeps the same shape as when you first bought it. You can also remove it whenever you like, making it easy to wash it or replace it when it gets worn down.

Molded sock liners are also a way to improve comfort, and luckily for us, many brands in our list feature one. Converse uses a lightweight liner that absorbs the impact created while you walk. This relieves all the pressure from your joints and muscles, and makes it impossible for the pain to show its face!

A gusseted tongue, besides cushioning your arches, also serves one more purpose, improving comfort! It helps our feet stay where they are meant to be inside our footwear. This way you won't feel that much friction while you walk, and no blisters will form, keeping you safe from wounds and infection.

An elastic gore is a piece of stretchy material inserted to the sides, and it binds two pieces of the upper together. It enhances the fit and it makes it easy to put on or to take off your affordable shoes.

It also helps if you have high arches, and often come upon shoes that are just too tight. The gore will stretch out that part and will make it easier for your arches to adjust. The gore insert also makes it easier to break in a new pair, and it moves together with your foot, widening and shortening as you make every step.

A cloudfoam midsole resides in some of the affordable shoes mentioned here. The midsole is the part of the shoe that is sandwiched between the insole and the outsole and provides the most stability and comfort. The cloudfoam insole makes it feel like you are walking on air. It’s very light, so it won’t feel like you are shackled, and it absorbs pressure, keeping you pain-free. It has plenty of bounce and rebound, and it makes it easy to run around or just walk from point A to point B.

The style of the shoe is important, and it is one of the main aspects we look for when we search for our next pair. Fortunately, affordable shoes come in many styles that have been around for ages or have been created only recently. Style can also affect the versatility of the shoe, and the occasion you can wear them to.

Sneakers are the most comfortable shoes. They come in many different shapes and sizes, made out of any material imaginable. Some brands have reimagined sneakers completely, and have added fashionable details or heels and wedges to them, making them appropriate for fancier occasions! The heel defeats the casual purpose of them though, but if you like the sneaker style and want to wear it all the time, then those are for you!

Slip-on canvas shoes are simple, casual pairs that can be matched with almost anything in your closet. They are light and super comfy, made to be worn when the weather gets warmer. However, they are not so durable, and won’t keep the cold out.

Sandals are the best choice for summer shoes. They usually have straps, with or without buckles, and open sides and toes. They can feature a heel or a wedge, but they can also be flat. They can be a casual shoe, or even an evening shoe, depending on the number of details it sports.

Booties are short boots that are made for autumn. They only cover your ankles, and can keep you warm, but not too warm. They can also be either casual or formal and can be made out of many different materials. They are very versatile, and will help you look chic when the rainy seasons roll in!

The value of the shoe is also determined by how long it will last. Who even wants to spend money on something that will break apart in a day? So, we looked for affordable shoes with a long lifespan, to make sure you get the most out of your choice!

The lifespan of a shoe is determined by the material it’s made out of. Leather has the hardiest properties and lasts the longest, but it’s not good for warmer occasions, and it can be quite heavy sometimes. Textile, on the other hand, is super breezy, light as a feather, and bends just like your feet do. But it falls apart very fast, and tears with just a slight force.

The construction of the shoe also plays a role in its durability. If one pair was simply glued together, without a care in the world, it would fall apart so fast that you wouldn't even notice it. If, however, there are strengthening stitches and even welts, the pair might just outlive you!

When you're trying to gauge the durability of your new affordable shoes, think about these points: whether you want quality materials, or whether or not the footwear is constructed well. Find a balance between these and you should have no problems coming home with a long-lasting pair of affordable shoes!

Versatile affordable shoes are the dream; that dream might seem unachievable, but trust us it’s not so hard. Many items we mentioned are very versatile, and you will be able to wear them for many occasions. Their color and their style decide this.

If the designs have vivid hues scattered all over their upper, or if they have various patterns everywhere, you won’t be able to pair them with many outfit choices. However, if they have a neutral, earthy tone - such as black, brown, navy, grey, nude, taupe - you’ll have an endless number of options to match with your personal style.

The style of the shoe affects this too. If you have towering stilettos with feather details, we doubt you will be able to wear these to many different occasions. But if you have a classic sneaker, you will have endless choices and will be rewarded with very versatile affordable shoes!