The material commonly called canvas is a coarse cloth fabric made of hemp that is commonly utilized in a number of different products including boat sails, tents, Artist's boards (used for painting on, for example painting canvasses) and even shoes. Canvas shoes are a very basic form of casual shoe or sneaker constructed in a very basic way with uppers made of canvas and a rubber sole. You can buy these shoes in high top or low top versions and in just about any possible color you can imagine. If you are looking for support, canvas shoes do not have much protection in the way of shock absorption, cushioning or support and therefore are not suitable for any type of high impact activities. If you are an active person that likes to run, do aerobics play tennis or any other similar sports then you need sports shoes that are designed with protection for your feet and use the canvas shoes for the beach.

In addition to the fact that canvas footwear tends to be more affordable, another big advantage is that they are very easy to maintain and care for. When you first get the shoes you should protect them before wearing them by spraying them with a cloth care spray or starch. If you have are one of those who has sensitive skin you should wear protective gloves when you spray your shoes and be sure to wash your hands good afterwards. If you have asthma or any other respiratory problem always wear a mask and if the spray gets into your eyes or causes your skin any irritation then rinse immediately with lots of water. These are just really common sense items but I didn't want to neglect them.

Another great thing about these affordable and durable shoes is that you can easily throw them in the washing machine when they are dirty. Be sure to knock off any excessive dirt or mud first and if the shoes are caked in mud then scrub them with a soft brush and water first. You should also remove the laces and either wash them with the footwear, hand wash them or wash them the next time you do a load of laundry. The reason for this is to prevent staining from the eyelets and to get them clean all over. They can also easily be hung on a line to air dry and will last longer if you use this method as opposed to putting in the dryer. The heat from some dryers can actually damage the rubber and adhesives on the shoes.

Because they are inherently not structurally supportive shoes, they don't always retain their natural shape and it can also be because of the way we wear them or how we walk in them. For example, due to the way their feet pronate, some people put more weight on one side of their shoe than the other and this could potentially serve to wear down the sole or heel of a shoe and cause the upper to be stretched unnecessarily.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - How To Properly Care For Your Canvas Shoes

About the Author

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as canvas shoes at http://www.designershoesplus.com