by Bridget Webber

Created on: December 21, 2008

When it comes to basic shoe styles men have far fewer options from which to choose than women do. This may well be a blessing in disguise. In order to find the perfect shoe a man just needs to have an idea about the usage he expects to get out of them, and to try them on before purchasing them.

The shoe styles themselves have been developed in a practical sense so that the style of shoe is made to fulfil a particular purpose, such as those meant to be worn during strenuous activity, or on formal occasions for example. The following are the basic styles of shoe that are available to men.

Activity/Sports shoe.

These shoes are sometimes called trainers or sneakers. They tend to be flexible and to be made from breathable material with non-slip soles. Often, they are slightly padded inside to provide comfort and to absorb physical activity such as running and playing squash.

They generally lace up as a means of fastening and come in a variety of colors and styles and can cost allot of money if the buyer wants to have a designer brand.

Classic/Formal shoe.

The type of shoe that would be worn to a wedding, christening, funeral, job interview or important meeting may be regarded as the classic or formal shoe. They mainly come in dark colors, such as black or brown and tend to be made of leather, or occasionally synthetic material of a high quality.

These shoes are sturdy and smart in appearance, providing comfort , when the fit is correct, and confidence. As with the sports shoe, most of these are lace up styles and range from designer wear to off the shelf affordability.

Comfort Shoe.

These shoes are specifically designed to be comfortable while supporting the wearers feet. They are often sold as orthopedic shoes and are usually designed with the health of the wearers feet as their primary concern.

Very often the shoes fasten by means of velcro, which allows the wearer to pull them as tightly or as loosely as is comfortable for them.

Leisure Shoe.

This type of shoe may be made from a variety of materials and comprise of many different styles. They tend to have the comfort of the wearer in mind, although some of the cheapest varieties can let the wearer down as straps that normally fasten with a buckle break or they don't stand up to much wear and tear.

The sandal, flip flop or simple day to day shoe fits into this category.

Specialist shoe.

Some shoes are made specifically for a particular activity, rather than for a range of activities in a definite area like the other shoes. Hence you can find hiking shoes, climbing shoes, ski footwear and professional running shoes.

These shoes are very hard wearing and are designed to withstand the activity that they are made for. Their price tends to reflect this, but they last far longer than shoes which are not made for a particular purpose that they are used for.

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