Abstract
In order to clarify the effects of the shape characteristics and material properties of shoes on the ease of walking, we used various types of shoes for a walking-test on a treadmill and stairs. For this study, we used 26 types of shoes, each having different characteristics regarding the bending properties of the sole, the angle of the sole and the shape of the toe-sole. Some relationships between the characteristics of shoes and the ease of walking are clarified through these experiments. In addition, we found out that the ease of walking using various shoes depends upon what type of shoes each subject usually wears.
