Shod him!

October 25, 2023 5:19 AM

I need suggestions for a men's sneaker, with good cushioning, for someone who is way too used to wearing Converse All Stars that are ruining his feet. Another painful twist: must cost around $50?
posted by tiny frying pan to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (26 answers total)

What about adding insoles to the Converses? If the cost wasn't a factor, I'd recommend Brooks but the cheapest are more like $75. Insoles could let him keep the look of Converses without the damage.
posted by Eyelash at 5:31 AM on October 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: (Insoles have helped somewhat but new shoes are also needed and it's an opportunity to move away from Converse - hopefully)
posted by tiny frying pan at 5:39 AM on October 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Can you give more info about how his feet are being ruined? Is there any possibility of his seeing a podiatrist? Different shoes are good for different problems, and it's fruitless to guess. (For example, my friend and I - similar size, similar build, similar arthritis problems - need exactly the opposite in shoes. I need zero-drop, she needs maximal structure.)
posted by restless_nomad at 5:47 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]

There's a bunch of things that can effect shoe recommendation such as wide vs narrow feet, high arches or flat feet.

That cost is fairly limiting as well.

On that budget If you have fairly generic average feet, you may be able to get away with going to a discount place like Marshall's and seeing what shoes they have in the 50 dollar range that work for you.
posted by AlexiaSky at 5:47 AM on October 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I wore nothing but Converse for many years and have finally advanced to the age where my inherited foot issues have caught up with me. My podiatrist recommended New Balance sneakers (specifically, ones where the sole isn't visibly narrower than the upper part) as a decent starting place for more support. You can find many options on sites like ebay or poshmark.
posted by SeedStitch at 6:01 AM on October 25, 2023 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: $50 is now too cheap to buy shoes with good support?!? I really hope not.

Mostly experiencing heel pain, or at least that's the main complaint.
posted by tiny frying pan at 6:01 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: Typically, the more specialized support, the more expensive. Hokas are a great choice for people with foot pain; they're up in the $150 range usually but if you can find them on clearance or nearly new on Poshmark that's a great way to save.

Kuru sneakers are also a well-regarded option for plantar fasciitis, which may be causing the heel pain. They are not chaper than Hokas.

Vans are a similar aesthetic to Converse and come in a newish version with memory foam insoles -- that might be a cost-effective and fashionable choice.

Finally, for a low-fashion, high-value option, Skechers can be a solid choice. They tend to knock off popular looks from other brands.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:11 AM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Here's a solid Skechers option at US$62.99.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:13 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: I'd caution against Skechers. I have chronic heel pain from heel spurs, and the Skechers I've tried make it much worse.
posted by goatdog at 6:48 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]

$50 is now too cheap to buy shoes with good support?

Yes. Really have to think about the amount of wear on a shoe hour by hour. Skechers got me through the early part of my medical career but we all end up in (current trend:) On Running or Hokas or old school clogs after a few years of 12+ hr shifts. I would look resale if cost is really not flexible, but again, think about the cost per hour on foot.
posted by cobaltnine at 6:50 AM on October 25, 2023 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: I'm just saddened to think the poorer among us are now destined for foot pain or have to spend time spending that amount for used shoes! More than $50 for non painful shoes is a lot. Thank you for the suggestions so far.
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:18 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: Not a specific shoe but I have had a lot of success buying fairly high end athletic shoes at Marshall's/Winners/TJ Maxx/whatever they call themselves in your area. My best, most perfect for me shoes were bought at Marshall's for like $80 Canadian and normally retail for closer to $200. You don't get a lot of choice of colours but they often have good athletic brands mixed in among the crap Skechers.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:27 AM on October 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Many models of Skechers will still be way better than Converse All Stars, which are a plague upon the feet of the world even though they look super cool.

OP, if he can go to a Nordstrom Rack during a sale (and/or stick to the clearance athletic shoe section), there may be $200 shoes for $50 if he's lucky, or at least $150 shoes for $70 or something. Those shoes will likely last longer than the Skechers, too.
posted by wintersweet at 7:29 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Unlike the conitributor above, I have had very good luck with Skechers. They make shoes for a number of different foot issues, such as plantar fascitis and arch conditions. The only shoe I wear anymore at the age of 67.
posted by jcworth at 7:37 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: Yeah, I agree with jcworth. Sketchers are not good actual running/athletic/sports shoes, but as casual shoes they are perfectly fine, and have lots of options at their outlets for different foot conditions at reasonable prices.
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:42 AM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I'd also check 6pm.com. That's Zappos' clearance site, so you might get lucky with last year's model of a shoe you want.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:52 AM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: My podiatrist recommended New Balance and they have lasted forever despite my tendency towards Very Long Hikes. They tend to break in cosmetic ways in the upper, fraying or staining, nothing that impacts function. They're more like $75 and up to $200 but Black Friday is coming. Look into models - with high arches, narrow heels and a tendency to plantar fascitis I wear 996.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:53 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: If you can't get beyond the attachment to Converse, it's worth noting that Jack Purcells and Chuck 70s are slightly more expensive but WAY more comfortable and supportive than the standard All Stars.
posted by dizziest at 8:11 AM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: the site is not as great as it used to be but it won't hurt to check out Joe's New Balance Outlet
posted by glonous keming at 8:12 AM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Nthing the Chuck 70s but also their skateboard shoe, the CTAS Pro Suede Low Top.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:31 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: Adidas / Puma / Reebok regularly have sales where shoes can be had for under $50 on their web sites. Go try on a bunch of shoes then wait for a suitable pait to go on sale?
posted by sid at 9:02 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: I just got a pair of New Balance 574s on sale on Amazon for around $63. They have great arch support and have really helped me with some foot pain.

$50 is now too cheap to buy shoes with good support?
Sadly, yes. You can't even buy a new pair of Chucks for $50, let alone any decently constructed sneakers.
posted by gnutron at 9:55 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: Walmart has "work shoes", including Sketchers, for under $50. A lot of them only come in black.
posted by shiny blue object at 10:10 AM on October 25, 2023

Best answer: I am a big fan of Altra shoes for comfort. They are usually more expensive than your budget but there are a bunch at Sierra.com for $59.99 right now.
posted by Empidonax at 12:27 PM on October 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If there's an Ecco outlet store near you, you can get their excellent products within your price range. Most of the non-golfing shoes sell for $100-$200, but the outlet stores sell them for half price most of the time. (Sometimes it's buy one get one free, so it's not a 100% guarantee that you can get out of the store for $50)
posted by wierdo at 6:18 PM on October 25, 2023

I switched to hiking shoes when the runners all got ultralight soles and stopped protecting my feet enough. I don't like any of the popular running shoe brands anymore because none of them provided enough impact protection.
posted by Jane the Brown at 6:45 AM on October 26, 2023