A look at the helpful features that make walking shoes comfortable -- and supportive.

With summer here, people's thoughts turn to the outdoors -- mine included. Taking walks with my son is one of the things I love to do during the summer. Walking is enjoyable, I get to stop and visit with my neighbors and it is good exercise. Indeed, for those first starting an exercise program, walking is considered a good way to start.

But walking can get old pretty fast without the right shoes. Regular walking puts stress on the foot and on your other joints, and it can result in blisters and calluses. The proper shoes, though, can solve most of these problems. When considering your walking shoes, think about these parts of the shoe, and what they do:

Achilles notch. This is a sort of dip at the top of the back of the shoe. It is designed to reduce stress on the Achilles tendon, creating increased comfort, and allowing you to do more walking.

Ankle collar. Around the top of the back part of the shoe is a line of cushioning known as the ankle collar. This supports the ankle, and it helps stabilize you as you walk. It also contributes to a proper fit.

Upper. Look for an upper (the part of the shoe that goes over your foot) made with mesh on the inside. This helps ventilate your foot and keep it from getting sweaty as you walk. New technology makes the upper more breathable, while still being sturdy and protecting.

Toe box. This is the area that houses the toes. Look for one that is roomy, and that has a round shape. Make sure that your toes aren't squished together. A comfortable toe box can prevent blisters and chafing.

Soles. The soles are general divided into outsole and midsole. The outsole is the part you see on the bottom of your shoe. This provides traction and is usually made of sturdy materials with a slight give. The midsole is the part between the outsole and where your foot rests in the shoe. Often, there is a gel pad to further cushion your foot and reduce impact with the ground. You can also get removable insoles that provide further shock protection and cushioning.

Roll bar. This is part of the walking shoe that stabilizes the foot. It keeps the ankle and foot from rolling to the outside or inside, and plays a part in preventing injury.

The construction of steel toe shoes can provide protection.

Many people work in environments in which it is possible to sustain injury to the feet. Construction sites, logging, firefighting, industrial jobs and factories can all be hazardous. Indeed, many of these work environments require employees to wear steel toe shoes. Steel toe shoes have a piece of steel meant to protect the toes from injury if something should be dropped on them. It can also prevent the toes from being sliced off in cases of heavy machinery and chainsaws. Some people even like to have them for camping and landscaping. Some of the more popular steel toe shoes are Dr. Martens, which are known for their durability.

Construction of Steel Toe Shoes

Steel toe shoes are made similarly to other types of shoes, but they include extra steps for the insertion of the steel portion designed to protect the toes. Steel toe shoes have a sock liner and a vamp lining. The front part of the insole is attached to the bottom of the sock liner. The vamp lining has a toe part. The vamp lining and the shoe liner are stitched so that the toe can fit in the area. The steel part, which often extends partly up the foot (but not terribly far), is positioned around the toe section of the vamp lining.

In addition to having the steel part over the toe, steel toe shoes are usually made from stiff, tough materials. Event the materials that are used are tough, designed to aid in the protection of the toes. This way the entire shoe is part of the safety. Often, steel toe shoes are cushioned to help make them more comfortable. Doc Martens, especially, are known for trying to combine comfort with functionality in steel toe shoes designed for working.

Safety of Steel Toe Shoes

You want to know that your steel toe shoes are safe. While they won't provide complete protection, they can add to the safety of your work environment. My cousin, a firefighter, had a rather large and heavy metal door fall on his steel toe shoes. Under normal circumstances, his toes would have been broken. And they might have been if the door had remained on his feet too much longer. But when the door was levered off, he discovered that his steel toe shoes had prevented permanent damage: All he had were bruises.

Another concern is electrical hazard. Because steel conducts electricity, some people wonder about this if they will be working in areas that include electrical wires. Most steel toe shoes are insulated in such a way that the electric current wouldn't make it to the steel in the first place. It is important that you check your steel toe shoes for electrical hazard designation if you are concerned about this.

Steel toe shoes can provide protection in a dangerous work environment. If you have a job where you think that something could be dropped on your foot, it might be a good idea to buy a good pair of steel toe shoes.