No, I'm not walking on porposies, or how to make orthotics not squeak.

September 6, 2011 6:16 PM

I have to wear orthotics in all shoes. I have a few pairs of shoes I love (including the all-important sandals that one can actually wear orthotics with) that started squeaking horrendously with each step not long after I got them. This never seems to happen in the store. Does anyone have a solution that actually works for making such shoes actually wearable without the embarrassing noise?
posted by kbuxton to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

Sprinkle some baby powder in the shoes, both above and under the orthotic.
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 6:31 PM on September 6, 2011

Yeah, baby powder. Lots and lots of baby powder will solve the problem.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:07 PM on September 6, 2011

Response by poster: I've tried baby powder (or maybe cornstarch) before, but maybe I just didn't use enough.
posted by kbuxton at 7:11 PM on September 6, 2011

I've had success with lining the edges with that shiny packing tape. It's not ideal because it will wear down from the friction and need to be replaced but it's better than having to dump powder in them all the time.
posted by any major dude at 8:13 PM on September 6, 2011

Leather orthotics last until a puppy finds them, and they don't squeak.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 8:56 PM on September 6, 2011

I use a little bit of tape, too. You can experiment with different kinds. It's just one small strip on each orthotic if you can find the right spot. The tape I used has lasted for months.
posted by zeek321 at 9:18 PM on September 6, 2011

An alternative to baby powder for open/strappy shoes is to rub some body lotion on the soles and heels of your (bare) feet. I've got several pairs of strappy sandals that squeak unless I do this.
posted by Ness at 3:55 AM on September 7, 2011

I've noticed that, for shoes worn with socks, the thinner the sock, the less squeaking. My theory is that with the little bit of extra space to move around, the orthotics aren't forced against the side of the shoes.
posted by Montgomery Roebuck at 7:38 AM on September 7, 2011

Response by poster: Tape definitely helps! I didn't manage to entirely get rid of the noise but reduced it significantly. What seemed to make the most difference was actually packing tape covering the foamy part on the bottom (rather than the edges or the rigid part). More experimenting to come. Thanks all.
posted by kbuxton at 8:25 PM on September 7, 2011