Trainers rated the most popular type of shoe in the UK, claims poll

Men own less pairs but spend more on the average pair, survey finds

The comfortable shoe, once reserved for fitness and sports, has become a staple fashion item in the nation's wardrobes (Getty Images)

Britain is a nation of trainer-lovers, a survey has found.

The comfortable shoe, once reserved for fitness and sports, has become a staple fashion item in the nation’s wardrobes, the poll found.

Now, it has been named the UK’s most popular style of shoe, ahead of ankle boots, flat sandals and brogues.

The survey found the average respondent owned nine pairs of shoes.

However, many men had just a couple of pairs of shoes to get by, with half of those surveyed saying they only own two pairs of “smart” shoes while a third have just a single pair of more casual footwear.

But while men own fewer shoes than women, they spend an average of £51.62 on a new pair – £8.68 more than women.

“While shoes are a practical item we can’t live without, we still follow trends and have a favourite type of shoe," said Simon Wilson, head of buying at shoe retailer Deichmann, which commissioned the survey.

The poll also found the average adult will buy three new pairs of shoes each year, spending a total of £141.33. This is on top of the nine pairs they already have.

Those aged 25-34 own the most shoes, with an average of nine pairs each.

However, rather than opting for bright and colourful shoes, black is the most popular choice of colour, followed by brown, then white.

The survey, carried out among 2,000 adults found comfort was more important than style with 71 per cent saying they would choose a shoe because of how it felt to walk in rather than how it looked.

One in 10 put the style as the most important consideration when buying a new pair of shoes. Despite this, almost four in 10 admit to wearing shoes they like the look of, even though they hurt their feet.

Almost half of women admit to donning painful shoes in the name of fashion compared to just 30 per cent of men.