Walking on pavement
August 28, 2010 11:29 AM   Subscribe

Walk a lot on pavement (city walking), cushioned shoes or something more minimalist? Better yet, on a very tight budget.

In the past I've worn running shoes with superfeet for walking, as they're wearing out I'm debating whether I should go with runners again, because my arches are often sore (and my knees sometimes), I feel like they're kept uncomfortably rigid in my shoes. I've become curious about this whole barefoot/minimalist trend, and frankly, though I have concerns about pavement (and what's often on it, not to mention establishments frowning on bare feet), sometimes I walk around barefoot and it feels like a relief.

Philosophy aside, I'm on a very tight budget, so I'm wondering what my best bet is to will keep my arches and knees pain free.
posted by mbird to Health & Fitness (13 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
I'm fond of the Privo brand, as I have high arches. I find them at places like TJ Maxx for around $40. If you're a guy, I dunno.
posted by Ideefixe at 11:31 AM on August 28, 2010


Tabi boots, aka jika-tabi. Google search for them in your country; they are available mail-order for under $20 a pair. You'll need split toe socks, also available in quantity for cheap.

We have them and love them. Cheap, durable, have a thin, rubber sole and encourage a natural stride rather than the damaging heel-strike that cushioned shoes do.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:26 PM on August 28, 2010


Pretty much any shoe that's fairly unpadded, I'd think. Converse sneakers are pretty flat... canvas boat shoes? Something along the lines of a tai-chi shoe? Or the cheap-ish slip-ons you can get at big box stores.

If you like wearing sneakers, you could try racing flats to walk around town in. Still a sneaker-fit with laces, but the soles are substantially thinner and much more level. I got a pair of beat-up old Adidas Manas that don't quite cut it for running any more, but they're comfy enough for long walks. I got mine at a local outlet store for about 50 bucks - if you check around athletics stores during sale/clearance times, you might luck out and get some for cheap.

From what I understand the whole padded shoe vs. unpadded shoe/minimalist debate is still ongoing, but in my own experience I've had much happier feet and hips since I've switched from heavily padded shoes to more lightweight ones. YMMV - some people do need some padding, some don't.
posted by zennish at 12:55 PM on August 28, 2010


I've had several pairs of very well loved Saucony sneakers, the most recent being their "Bullet" style. They're really lightweight, which I think is great for walking (which I happen to do in the city). They're also really cheap.
posted by phunniemee at 2:04 PM on August 28, 2010


I run barefoot on the treadmill plus a bit outside in regular new balance shoes. (I mostly walk outside lately because of the heat) and I just bought a $5 pair of aqua sock type shoes so I can start running in them outside. So far, I love them, although I have a few new little blisters on the bottoms of my feet. I am coveting fivefingers, but thought a $5 experiment was a good start, rather than an $80 one.
posted by artychoke at 2:45 PM on August 28, 2010


I work as a dog walker, and walk mostly on concrete sidewalks. I have been wearing vibram five fingers for about a year and a half and they are awesome. I had years of troubles with plantar fasciitis and while it is not entirely gone, it is a million times better. I am def for any sort of minimalist shoes; I really think it makes me much more aware of how I am landing on my feet. Love them.
posted by katinka-katinka at 2:49 PM on August 28, 2010


I just started running in Nike Frees and I've found them a nice balance - minimalist, but still soft and comfy. Like walking on cloud pillows. I'm excited to travel with them because they'll pack so much better than my old running shoes and also be great for wearing in transit, when I'm carrying a lot of stuff and on my feet all day.
posted by TrixieRamble at 7:51 PM on August 28, 2010


I know this sounds crazy, but lands end beach slides are the most comfortable walking shoes i've ever owned. And I do some serious walking, almost all of it on pavement--6 to 8 miles every other day or so. I have high arches, too, and official walking shoes always put too much strain on them, as well as cramping my toes so they can't spread out with each step to stabilize my stride.

Right now they're on sale, too, since summer is on its way out, though the color combinations are pretty awful.
posted by miss patrish at 8:03 PM on August 28, 2010


Nike Frees are good--I have hip and knee issues and these are the only shoes I can run in (I haven't tried Vibrams yet, but hope to get some for the holidays). A more expensive (but OMG worth it) alternative is Dansko clogs. I have a pair of closed back black clogs (the style name is "Professional") and walked all over NYC for years. They were recommended to me by the nurses I worked with. They're terrific.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:02 AM on August 29, 2010


Also Saucony. Used them on an urban trekking tour years ago with a heavy pack and no other shoe came close. This is only if the last fits your foot. I can't go near a Nike last but some people love it.
posted by Mertonian at 9:25 AM on August 29, 2010


I walk a minimum one hour daily on city streets and grew up spending as much time as possible barefoot. The shoes I've found that stand up well to hard use for months have flexible, thin soles: good quality leather soled men's dress shoes with a hard rubber heel, Merrell Arabesque, and canvas shoes imported from China with rubber (not plastic) soles.
posted by thatdawnperson at 5:43 PM on August 29, 2010


I find cheap rubber clogs -- like knock-off crocs -- have really great cushioning for when you hve to be on your feet/walking for hours. They do wear through, and are obviously really only good in summer.
posted by jb at 7:21 PM on August 29, 2010


Crocs work for me, 9+ miles on sidewalks a day. High arches, tendency towards shin splints. Or my Bates combat boots, oddly. Tennis shoes never feel good for more than a month, Birkenstocks tend to cause blisters or odd pains over 5 miles, Keens aren't bad (but don't feel as good as Crocs or the Bates).

Haven't tried the Crocs knock-offs, but they'd be good to try, or I have seen a lot of Crocs in thrift stores lately.
posted by QIbHom at 12:43 PM on August 30, 2010


« Older Espresso machine pump got noisy   |   m4ridiculously nervous, socially awkward f Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.