Daddy needs a new set of feet!

April 5, 2006 8:32 PM

I need news shoes. My feet are achy,

(they crack alot) I'm usually sitting down all day, so it's not from walking around or running or anything -- but the climate where I am at doesn't allow me to have my shoes off during the day.

Suggest some shoes for me. The achyness is generally in my arch and only seems to occur when I wear shoes -- not when wearing sandles or going barefoot. I'm actually not sure if this is natural or not. Are most people's feet generally achy even when wearing goos shoes? (I guess I haven't evolved to wear shoes naturally yet and when did the rest of humanity evolve to wear shoes?) My shoe size is 11 2E with a fairly low arch, my feet tilt slightly out when I walk. I'm tired of new balance trying to sell me something that I don't need.

posted by the giant pill to health & fitness (14 comments total)

I have a similar problem. I wear orthopedic inserts in my shoes and I'm considering getting some Rockports.
posted by eighth_excerpt at 8:42 PM on April 5, 2006

Do a search for "vivo barefoot" to discover a line of shoes that comes about as close to wearing no shoe while still wearing a shoe. The upper is like a normal shoe, but the sole is so thin that they put a layer of kevlar to protect your foot. I got mine cheap at Snooty Hideout although they don't have my style anymore, which were more work appropriate (tan leather, no laces).
posted by furtive at 8:45 PM on April 5, 2006

I'm probably headed in the wrong direction here, but as a waiter and bartender who lives on his feet, and has for 20 years, I endorse Red Wing shoes with Red Wing orthopedic inserts (They're made in the USA!).
/pepsi blue

I had problems with sweaty, itchy feet years ago, and switching to cotton socks with a liberal dose of talcum resolved that. The achiness, if you don't spend a lot of time on your feet, is caused by the shoes you wear -- you are right to seek alternative footwear. One thing that may look stupid around the office but will totally cure the foot thing is to wear chef's clogs, which allow you to ease your feet out of them when under the desk, have great air circulation, and are unbelievably comfortable when standing. The good ones are not too expensive, and can even look decent.

Take care of your feet, and they'll take care of you.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 9:29 PM on April 5, 2006

Not Rockports! Their vibram soles are horrible on slippery pavemnet. I have Eccos with rubber soles and good arch support. If you can splurge, try Mephistos--I have their sandals, which are THE most comfortable things--just be sure to get what fits best for you, since they tend to run small.
posted by brujita at 9:42 PM on April 5, 2006

So don't buy NewBalance. Go to a good shoe store, (an independent) running store, or an outdoor store (REI,f'rex). Tell the clerk what you told us. S/he should ask you other questions, too; like what do you do when you're not sitting, and what kind of shoes have you tried, etc. They should have some ideas on what kind of shoe you need.

Are you sure you're wearing the right size? Is the ache in the arch (bottom) or instep (top) of your foot? Try putting a heel cup and/or arch support in your current shoes. It's a quick fix, and it might work. If it doesn't, you've not spent a lot of money, and you've got another data point.
posted by jlkr at 9:42 PM on April 5, 2006

I just went to an independent running store yesterday, and I now have the most comfortable trainers I've ever owned. The owner spent time watching me walk, put me on a treadmill to check my stride, and then started picking out shoes for me to try.

It was brilliant.

She finished off by recommending a similarly expert establishment for non-sport shoes. I haven't been yet, but I'm now trying to find an excuse to go.
posted by I Love Tacos at 10:01 PM on April 5, 2006

Dry, cracked feet can sometimes signal a fungal infection like athlete's foot. It usually occurs between the toes but it can also be on the bottoms and heels.
posted by defreckled at 10:23 PM on April 5, 2006

by crack, I am talking about crack as in sound --- like the cracking of knuckles.

Also about 1/2 of my day is sitting in a car driving around and looking at people and telling them to do things right... so I'm not looking for anything pretty. In fact there is mud sometimes.
posted by the giant pill at 10:45 PM on April 5, 2006

I'm tired of new balance trying to sell me something that I don't need.

Can you expand on this? I was just about to say that the most dramatic foot-relief I've ever gotten from a pair of shoes came from a pair of New Balance running shoes.

If you've tried those and they didn't work, that's one thing. If you don't want to wear running shoes, that's another. If you think NB is overpriced, there's something to that. Which is it?
posted by scarabic at 11:00 PM on April 5, 2006

scarabic: If you've tried those and they didn't work, that's one thing. If you don't want to wear running shoes, that's another. If you think NB is overpriced, there's something to that. Which is it?

I've tried those and they didn't work. I am not looking for running shoes (they have walking shoes.) And NB is priced fine... they just are very pushy and try to fit you into a shoe as quickly as they can... maybe's it's just the salespeople that I've dealt with at the stores that I have been visited. I seriously doubt that their 2-6 week training course is enough knowledge to fix all feet problems. But that's the nature of sales, they try to sell you shit and you tell them no.

My feet have never felt good in shoes, so I've never been very aggressive in how I buy shoes until now.
posted by the giant pill at 11:15 PM on April 5, 2006

Have you tried Birkenstocks, or Doc Martens? A great shoe store online, if you have trouble finding a good "real" store, is Zappos. Those brands are both good for those of us who have unevolved feet.
posted by theredpen at 3:55 AM on April 6, 2006

One word...Crocs. I don't know how professionally you are required to dress, but if you stay away from the funky colors and stick with the 'island' or 'professional' line, they're pretty conservative. Lightweight (6 oz), non-slip, antibacterial, ventilated and roomy to boot, with the bonus of simply rinsing to clean, these have been a lifesaver. Friend with fallen arches, mother with enormous bunions, father who stands all day, coworker that sits all day, brother that hikes, field archaeologist friend that rinses mud off rocks all day ...all Croc converts.

This sounds like a commercial. Sorry. Personally, the greatest thing I can say about them is that I never think about my feet anymore...with my left flat foot, and my right plantar fasciitis, that's high praise.
posted by cdadog at 7:34 AM on April 6, 2006

jlkr writes "Go to a good shoe store, (an independent) running store, or an outdoor store (REI,f'rex). Tell the clerk what you told us."

Hell yes. If they don't ask to watch you walk, they haven't done thier job. I had problems with arches, until I was told by a running store clerk that I had severe overpronation. The clerk then showed me what that meant, and what to look for in a shoe to ensure that I would be comfortable.

What are you looking for - dress shoes (or at least less casual shoes)? Personally, I like the Merrill World line (although they don't have the best arch support, they are really comfy). I am currently wearing a pair of Børns that I love. The sole is cushioned quite a bit - internally, not externally - with breather holes in the footbed to help your feet stay dry. Keens also come highly recommended - more of a sandal feel in a shoe, and especially good for wider feet. I've tried Eccos but felt the sole to be too thin.

If you're looking for a sneaker, try Asics: I've been wearing them almost exclusively since about 1990 or so. My dad (who has very flat feet) loves them as well. The major reason? A new pair feels as comfortable as the old, broken down pair you are replacing. FWIW my wife tried New Balance and didn't like them either - heel problems, not ankle. We both wear Asics when we run, and neither of us needs orthotics, etc. to make them fit comfortably.

Recommendations from others are nice for starters, but you need to find the brand / model that fits you. If a store employee is trying to shoehorn you into a specific brand, rather than telling you what type of shoe to look at and offering several brands as options, walk the heck out and find a different store.
posted by caution live frogs at 8:19 AM on April 6, 2006

Just a couple of more things about Crocs: first, these suckers are designed wide, really wide. My big duckfeet barely fill them out. Second, the price is right; you'll pay $30-$40 USD for a pair that goes well with or without socks and will mold to your feet. Check out the footwear products at crocs.com for the specs before you spend so much more elsewhere for something you know will eventually get mudstained. Then hit zappos.com for free shipping and free returns if you end up not liking the Crocs.

Lord, how I know, achy feet suck. They make you tired even if the rest of you is fine. Which is why I go on like a lunatic, now that I've found my personal shoe saviors.
posted by cdadog at 10:57 AM on April 8, 2006