Running shoe recommendation? One foot smaller than the other.

October 26, 2021 3:33 PM

I’m new to running (just finished couch to 5k) and having some trouble with my running shoes. I've got a new pair of Brooks Ghost 14's that I put Superfeet running insoles in. The left shoe fits perfectly and feels great, but my right foot and ankle moves around in the shoe a bit -- enough that during runs my right foot cramps up and feels sore in the arch and outside of the foot. I tried the next size down just for my right foot, but it was definitely too small. I do heel lock lacing and try to tighten up the lacing through the rest of the shoe, but my foot still moves around and if I tighten it up too much, it makes my foot ache and my arch hurt even worse.

I know the best thing would be to go to a running store to get fitted, but with a baby and full-time job I find it hard to have time to do stuff like that. I’d prefer to have stuff delivered to the house to try out.

Does anyone have recommendations for shoes that might accommodate my larger/wider foot but then also hug the smaller/narrower foot better? Or any other tricks I could try to improve this situation? I did also try adding in a heel bumper thingy and that also just made things worse.

posted by imalaowai to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (8 answers total)

Response by poster: Oh! Thought I should add: I’m in the U.S. and I wear a women’s size 5/5.5.
posted by imalaowai at 3:55 PM on October 26, 2021

As you say, the correct answer really is to go and get fitted at a running shop - it's not just that they let you try several pairs, it's that someone who's properly trained will be able to watch you run and see things that you're not aware of, and recommend shoes accordingly. It saves money, time (in the long run) and possible injury.

However, if that's genuinely off the table, some people claim that lacing your shoes in a particular way can help different issues - I've not tried these so can't vouch for them, but here's a selection you could try, lacing each shoe differently to suit.
posted by penguin pie at 4:00 PM on October 26, 2021

Best answer: Get a thicker slck for the smaller foot. Black or white. Or try some variation of this, like an extra, ankle height sock for the smaller foot.
posted by Oyéah at 4:01 PM on October 26, 2021

You can try different insoles in one shoe and not the other. For example, Superfeet black are supposedly thinner than Superfeet green. Along the same lines, you can not run with the insole in one shoe and not the other.

There are shoes that have a very stretchy upper, but the downside is that they are stretchy and don't hold well to your foot. The shape is still going to be too big or small. They're sometimes called 'knit uppers'; the Brooks Levitate is one of these. Regardless, one shoe is going to have more pressure than the other; I suppose you can also swap out insoles to dial in something that feels the same on both feet.

I think shoe fitting is an pseudo-science, but those stores have treadmills where you hopefully can run a little bit and see how it feels. The employee is likely trained around pronation/supination issues which don't apply to you. Bring different socks, insoles, and anything else you want to try.

Also, Nordstrom allows the purchase of two different sizes in a pair of shoes, but I have no experience with it.
posted by meowzilla at 4:16 PM on October 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

If you definitely can’t make it into a running shop, phone a well reviewed one close to you and ask if they can make a recommendation. The shop I used to use would ship shoes locally which was handy for replacements once I had been fitted with my beloved Mizuno Waveriders. I would suggest these to you solely based on the fact that when I get a new pair they generally fit a little tight and loosen up with use, but I am not a shoe expert so take that with a grain of salt.

The caveat here is that you definitely want to purchase the shoes from them, and if they don’t ship this might mean a trip to the store anyway, but still worth a shot!
posted by nancynickerson at 5:13 PM on October 26, 2021

I would try a thicker sock and maybe even some moleskin on your heel. Why not try a fairly low budget fix before bringing out the big guns?
posted by raccoon409 at 6:48 PM on October 26, 2021

Response by poster: How did I not think of two socks?! Duh. I tried that this afternoon and it worked the best of anything so far. Only issue is that I wish there was more room in the toes, but I think it will be workable.
posted by imalaowai at 9:22 PM on October 26, 2021

Best answer: If you consistently use the same sock as your shoe filler, it will wear itself thin in the tight spots faster than it does where it's just filling up space.

Depending on your sock fabrics and running style, you might also be able to get away with cutting the toes off an outer sock and still not have the cut end ride up your foot and make a lump. Worth a try if you've got some old socks with holed toes in the rag bag.
posted by flabdablet at 4:45 AM on October 27, 2021 [1 favorite]