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Hand-Me-Down Athletic Shoes Not Recommended

From Alana Cioffi, Technical Field Representative and Training Coordinator at New Balance

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Alana Cioffi, Technical Field Representative and Training Coordinator at New Balance, says hand-me-down or used athletic shoes are not a good idea because:

  • the bottom sole of hand me downs may be too worn to offer adequate traction

  • Every child's foot is different, so that the used shoes may have become so adapted to the original owner's feet that they may actually cause the second user to develop foot deformities (bunions, blisters etc.)

  • Compressed cushioning (mid-sole) of hand me down shoes may cause problems for the new owner, including arch pain from not enough arch support, and blisters.