While they can't necessarily work miracles, comfort shoes provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

When you have a medical condition that makes walking uncomfortable, comfort shoes come to the rescue with special construction that can help make walking easy again. While they can't necessarily work miracles, they do provide the wearer with benefits such as additional padding, observation of pressure points, wider soles and better support that improve the walking experience.

Sometimes referred to as "orthopedic," comfort shoes are produced by a wide variety of manufacturers, such as Dr. Scholl's, Comfort One and even New Balance. In some cases, they are geared toward specific conditions that consumers might be dealing with, such as diabetes, while in some, they are designed for the average consumer who might need some extra protection against the rigors of walking.

For example, Arcopedico is one of the most popular manufacturers of comfort shoes, and they provide options in a wide variety of styles, colors and widths. Their most notable feature is the polyurethane outsole, which helps absorb the impact of every footfall while providing additional traction to avoid slipping and falling. Other companies use similar materials for shock absorption and traction.

You'll also find that comfort shoes provide more room for the wearer, making it easier to stave off injuries to the foot, such as calluses, Dansko, for example, produces occupational comfort shoes that have Thermoplastic toe boxes that simultaneously provide the toes with more room and provide reinforcement for the shoe itself. Dansko also uses PVC for the inner frame, which protects the entire foot without sacrificing flexibility.

Dr. Scholl's also provides innovative designs in comfort shoes, such as their Women's Client mary janes, which have cushy memory foam insoles for shock absorption as well as suede leather uppers for maximum flexibility while walking.

Soft materials such as gel, memory foam and leather are the cornerstones of comfort shoes, as they allow the foot to move freely regardless of the speed or gait at which the wearer walks. In many cases, these materials are combined with reinforcements, such as the PVC in the Dansko shoes, providing support for the moments when you need it most. Some are also made with different variations of canvas, which is both breathable and durable.

Additionally, most comfort shoes are built upon a foundation of extreme traction because consumers who buy these types of shoes are more prone to slip-and-fall accidents. Rubber tread is the most frequently used material for this type of feature, and can vary depending on the amount of slip resistance required for the shoe. Cross-hatched tread is generally the most effective, and is common with tennis shoes, walking shoes and sometimes even sandals.

And finally, clogs are the latest style in comfort shoes, and are preferable to many closed-toe versions because of their breathability. In years past, comfort shoes were often considered ugly and were easily identifiable, but now manufacturers are focusing on style as much as function. Clogs often have adjustable heels that allow for swelling and other changes to the foot during the day, and are sometimes just as comfortable as your standard walking shoe.

Look out your window. What is the weather like today? Is it rainy, snowy or sunny? In today's world it really doesn't matter what the weather is like because the roads are paved, there are sidewalks and most of the destinations we need to get to are climate controlled. However, during the Middle Ages things weren't so accommodating. In fact, a rainy day could turn the roads into a quagmire where you could easily lose your footwear, a tire or worse. Because the rustic condition of many roadways and walkways, people in the Middle Ages wore Pattens. Pattens were slip on clogs that protected the wearer from muddy paths and were the precursors to galoshes.

Pattens and the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages shoe fashion was somewhat unreasonable for the road conditions of the day. One of the most popular shoes on the market during this era was a thin soled pointy toed shoe that was impractical for walking outdoors. To protect these fashionable shoes Pattens were worn over them. Pattens elevated the wearer so that they could keep their feet out of the mud.

Pattens came in three basic designs. The first design used a flat wooden sole that elevated the person above the mud. This design often included a hinge to make flexing the foot easier to do while wearing this type of Patten. The second design used an iron or wooden wedge as the sole of the Patten. This wedge also elevated the wearer's feet above the mud. The third Patten design utilized many leather laminates to create a flat soled platform.

The Patten was a very useful tool during the Middle Ages, and its popularity kept it in fashion well into the 15th and 16thcenturies. However, in later years Pattens made from willow, alder and poplar were replaced by leather Pattens.

17th Century Pattens

The design of the Patten evolved steadily over the years, and by the 17th century the flat soled and wedged shaped Pattens were replaced by circular hoop designs. These Pattens included a wooden platform that strapped on to a person's foot, a metal plate that was nailed to the wooden platform, a metal circle that sat on the ground and two metal bars that connected the metal plate to the metal circle.

During the 17th century many advancements were made including thicker soled boots for men and better street construction. These advancements meant that men generally did not need to wear Pattens any more, however, lower class men still wore them. From the 17th century on, Pattens were marketed almost exclusively to women.

The Extinction of the Patten

Like any type of footwear, Pattens were eventually phased out of existence. Paved roadways made Pattens obsolete, as did advancements in men's and women's foot fashion. For example, in men's footwear, Pattens were replaced by thicker soled boots during the early part of the 17th century. Women's footwear evolved somewhat slower, however, by the end of the 17th century women had the option of wearing galoshes instead of Pattens.

Today there are dozens of footwear choices that will keep your feet dry and warm. There are work boots, galoshes, Uggs, moon boots, cowboy boots and hiking boots. It may be hard to believe now, but even these modern footwear designs will most likely be replaced in the future with new outdoor footwear options.