No one is a stranger to waddling around helplessly while our feet cramp up because of high heels. Whether you like to admit it or not, you’ve probably felt pain and struggled while walking on them, standing on them or even trying to put them on. But, lucky for us, chunky heels are back in style, and they are much, much nicer towards our feet.

Many medical practitioners agree that chunky heels are much gentler for our feet. The bigger surface means an even weight distribution, and more stability. This is also great news for people who have balance issues, and if they are prone to ankle sprains. But, heels are heels, and they will, without a doubt, cause some level of pain and discomfort. So, what can you do to combat this?

If you really, really want that super high heel, then, by all means, choose one that is supported by a platform. The platform is an extra bit of material, sturdy material, that softens the angle your feet and ankles are positioned at, removing some of the pressure from your joints, muscles, and tissues. When you first try out your heels, walk around in them, for more than a few minutes if you can - you must determine whether the angle suits you or not since it’s in your best interest to feel good.

If you still feel discomfort but don’t want to give up on the heels, look at the insoles! The insoles are gentle towards our feet, since they are usually made out of materials that work to create a comfy environment, and they usually come equipped with pads and cushions. These cushions are located in places where you are bound to feel the most pressure. The pads absorb some of that pressure and make it easier to survive standing tall in heels. Those pads are usually light, made out of gel and foam, meaning they won’t add any additional weight to tire you down. They are also porous and breathe well, so you’ll be safe from sweat and bad odors. And, most of the times they are not bulky, so they won’t squeeze your arches and cause more discomfort than they’re worth!

If you followed all of those instructions, but still feel pain and discomfort, don’t worry, there are still a few things left you can do to feel better! One of the first things you can do is to look up at ballerinas, and follow their example - tape your third and fourth finger together. By doing this, you take off a significant amount of pressure from a nerve that is located between the two of those fingers. This lowered amount of pressure will help with the pain you can feel, and with the pressure too.

Then, try and think hard about the way you walk when you have heels on. Do you engage your abs when you walk? Do you walk on your tiptoes, or do you use your whole foot, from heel to toe? If you do all of these things then great, but if not, try! You’ll see that you will have a much easier time conquering their height. If your pair is new, then there’s one crucial thing you need to do before you actually wear them - break them in!

Grab a super thick pair of socks, pull them on and try your best to squeeze inside the heels. If you can muster it, wear an additional pair. After that, walk around your house as much as you can, and you can even get a hair dryer and apply some heat to stretch them out faster. This way you will make more room for your feet to wiggle and readjust, lowering the amount of pain even more.

If you are someone that has wide feet, please try to avoid pointy toes and narrow constructions! You won’t do your feet any good, no matter how great you look in them. On the other hand, if you’ve got flat arches, avoid heels that are higher than three inches, because they will make you cramp up. Go for a shorter heel or a pair that has a platform. Moleskin might not sound like a solution, but trust us, it is! Just take a piece and stick it on where you feel pressure or pain, or where the boots rub you the wrong way, and you’ll feel instant relief.

Make sure you’ve bought a pair that is your true size, because otherwise you will slide around in the boots, and that will create friction, which will, in turn, create blisters. If you already bought the pair and it’s too late to correct that, inserts exist too, and they can help you lower the friction you’ve got going on in there. Also, there is a product that can help you fight blisters, called an anti-blister stick! You simply put it on where your feet need lubrication, so that the boot doesn’t rub or pinch you the wrong way. It’s also small, so you can take it with you wherever you want.

If you never liked the way wedges look, but cringe at the idea of walking on a thin stick, then you can rely on the chunky heel trend of today. They are the perfect hybrid of the two, offering the same sleek, slimming elevation stilettos do with the stability and comfort of wedges. They are more mature and solid, but still good looking enough to catch the eye and attention of bystanders. If you worry about the height of your chunky boot, you can rest knowing that you can find every possible height and thickness you could want, so you can work it into your daily or special outfits.

Everyone should have a selection of minimalistic, basic outfits in their closets. These outfits are the ideal solution for the days you want to feel comfy, yet appropriate for every occasion, but still cute and trendy. Yet, there are many people out there that their basic outfits are too basic, and not fun enough to fit into anything else but a trip to the local grocery store. So, one great way to improve your minimalistic look is, you guessed it, by throwing in a pair of chunky heel boots. They are versatile enough to fit in with almost every possible combination, yet they stand out enough to add a breath of fresh air to your ensemble. Crop tops and high waist shorts or pants simply beg for an ankle bootie with chunky heels, giving you that chic city dweller vibe.

Our beloved chunky heels sometimes have the reputation that they are too casual, simply because they are more likely to be combined with outfits that are not so dressy when compared to other heel styles. But, as you might have already guessed it, that certainly isn’t the only setting chunky heels can be worked into. You can create a professional look with chunky heels, without sacrificing formality. Fitted midi skirts, tights, and a bright blazer look wonderful when paired with chunky ankle boots. And they work great in professional environments! One more reason they work so well is that they are much comfier than your standard heel, so you won’t wobble and drag your feet around the office, risking looking silly and unprofessional.

On the other hand, if you’ve got an outfit that you feel is a little over the top and way too busy, you can bring the tone down with a pair of chunky heels. Chunky heels are simple, polished and they can certainly work as a neutralizer, but they’re not too casual, like sneakers, and they won’t downplay on the playfulness of your clothing combination.

Some people worry that chunky boots make their legs look thick and round, instead of long and slim. You can combat this by pairing the boots with a dress or a skirt, to help elongate your legs. Loose, patterned dresses work great here, but they are a bit thin for colder weather. So, you can wear a skirt, tights and a cropped sweater to really nail that slimming look.

You might think that your heels simply need to be flexible around the ball of your foot, but you will be surprised to know that that may simply not be true. Shocking, right? Plenty of us believes that the more flexible a heel is, the more comfortable it will be. We believe this so much that it even became a marketing strategy where salesmen compete whose boots have more elasticity! When you are just a small child, you really do need flexible shoes, especially toddlers who are just learning how to walk.

Or, you can even let your children walk barefoot, since this will be of most help to the development of the foot, and the connections your brain makes between the feet and itself. These are very real reasons toddlers need to have a connection with the ground because the more connected they are, the better the balance and proprioception they will have once they age. A few years ago, the barefoot running craze began, and many people started to throw out their shoes for the chance to run free. This is all great, but you won’t have adequate protection nor support, and your feet will start to hurt, leaving you a broken non-functional mess.

Today, a similar thing is happening with heels. Many heel manufacturers are quick to say how limber and soft their heels are, promoting comfort and confidence. When you wear flats, there is a certain amount of dorsiflexion (upward movement) your big toe needs in order for you to walk properly. This requirement equals to about 65 degrees, but when you’re propped up on heels, this can go up to 90 degrees!

When your feet constantly remain in this position, it stresses out your big toe and causes joint problems. This is only exacerbated by heels that are way too flexible since you do not have enough support and stability present to evenly distribute the pressure and weight. The best solution for this is to wear chunky heels with platforms since they are the whole package!

As we already mentioned, chunky heels are quite versatile, able to fit in almost anywhere. The varying thickness and heights help them blend in, even more, meaning chunky heel boots are your new best versatile winter pair. But, their versatility does not depend only on their heel, it can depend on many factors. One of the things that affect their versatility is their color. Calm colors, like taupe and nudes, can be combined with any outfit you wish, but if your clothes are already neutral, then maybe you’ll benefit with a bolder color.

The pattern scattered around the upper also plays a role here. If you’ve got a clean upper with nothing on it, you’ve found yourself a versatile pair. But, if you sport a pair that has stripes and floral decor all over it, you’ve got yourself a statement shoe, and it should be the focal point of your outfit. In other words, it won’t be so versatile. Accessories also affect the versatility. A pair that is over-embellished, with a myriad of crystals and studs, or lace and sparkly details surely won’t be able to fit with most of your outfits. But a clean, simple chunky boot will manage to work itself into plenty of your style choices!

When we buy boots, we often think about how heavy the pair will be. Boots are usually made out of leather, a lovely natural material that is also heavy, and if it’s combined with wooden details, or used to create a very tall boot, the result can be intimidating. But a heavy shoe shouldn’t worry you too much. It’s normal we think that a heavy pair can tire us down and make our feet sore, but a pair that is way too light can also be a problem.

A light pair is great - it doesn’t tire our feet down, and makes the shoe limber, allowing our foot to move the way it’s supposed to. But a pair that has a minimum amount of weight spells trouble, because that usually means that the padding or the construction suffered, resulting in a flimsy pair that does not provide you with enough support and stability. So when you go out to buy chunky heels the next time, keep this in mind, and don’t be afraid to go heavy - besides, you’ll get used to the weight pretty fast!