Hot Foot! Owie Owie Owie!

April 21, 2008 4:51 PM

Need shoes that really breathe.

After seeing several doctors for agonizing joint pain, I was told that the key to the pain was pronation in my feet, to be corrected with orthotics. I don't know if I fully buy every line from the doc that made the orthotics, but he is highly experienced. So let's assume that "don't wear the orthotics" is not an answer.

The down side is that I have worn sandals/Birks for more than a decade - not because I like them especially, but they solve another problem I have: my feet get roaring hot in "normal" shoes. My feet end up being bathed in sweat, I get zit-like sores on my insteps and then the flesh starts to rot away, unaffected by over-the-counter fungal treatments. Pleasant, huh? It doesn't help that I need to wear compression stockings (and socks to extend the life of the stocking which are bloody expensive).

The orthotic doc told me that sandals (which made the heat problem vanish) are "out of the question". I need shoes that will properly hold the orthotic AND they must breathe, breathe, breathe AND they must have a firm midsole.

posted by plinth to clothing, beauty, & fashion (13 comments total)

Would canvas beach shoes be an option?
posted by Solomon at 4:55 PM on April 21, 2008

I just got a pair of New Balance 811 All-Terrain sneakers and the upper is all synthetic mesh. They breathe pretty well and dried in under an hour after I wore them out in the rain yesterday.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 4:59 PM on April 21, 2008

My podiatrist custom made Birkenstocks, or something similar. Try calling around.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 5:04 PM on April 21, 2008

My running shoes are Nike Pegasus and are extremely breathable to the point you can feel the air blow through the uppers.
posted by brautigan at 5:17 PM on April 21, 2008

I also suffer from overprontation. I've worn the Brooks Beast for a few years now. They're quite breathable, and have a removable insole. They're running shoes, so I'm unsure if you want to spend the bulk of your time walking around in running shoes (though they are quite heavenly comfortable). The only problem is that when you insert orthotic insoles, they make this squeaking farting sound with every step--annoying and embarassing. You can fix the farting sound with something like baby powder or some other stuff (some running stores are aquainted with this problem, and carry some anti-abrasive powder that does the trick).
posted by rybreadmed at 5:20 PM on April 21, 2008

I'm a big fan of Quoddy Trail shoes. They're the most breathable shoes I own mainly because they're unlined leather (I have the Canoe Mocs) and, because of the design, they're not especially tight-fighting. They're hand made; you can email or call them to see about having them design you a pair around your orthotics. (I've read that they've done that sort of thing before.)
posted by buriedpaul at 5:32 PM on April 21, 2008

I wore skechers' version of crocs (the adult version of this, which I can't find on their site) all last summer and fall, and never felt like I was wearing a sandal. Even though the color was black, I never felt my feet get hot or sweaty. Comfy foam- or something-ized rubber. And I wore them in Puerto Rico in June, no prob. Dunno if that's orthotic freidly enough, but the site does say they are "Vegan Friendly," so (shrug). I liked them because I have the same problem with hotfoot (to a lesser extent) but I hate sandals. These felt like a good in-between.
posted by not_on_display at 6:08 PM on April 21, 2008

i have a pair of mephisto sandals that have great arch support. not cheap, but very comfy.

also, apparently birkenstock sells their own arch supports, although i'm not sure if they're "orthotically correct."

also, i tried on a pair of keens that felt like they had good arch support, and they have enough material that they could hide a pair of removable inserts if you need 'em.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:17 PM on April 21, 2008

plinth, I sell running shoes at my job and endorse rybreadmed's Brooks recommendation. I would also suggest the Asics Gel Kayano 14 or GT-2130. They are both great for overpronation, very light weight (12 oz. for a size 9), and breathable mesh. In addition to Brooks and Asics, Mizuno makes some terrific shoes that would meet your criteria. Go to any quality footwear running shop and try them all on to pick the one that best suits your needs. Take your orthotics with you so you can slip it in the shoe while trying them on.

You should also definitely get some moisture wicking running socks to wear either under or over your compression stockings. They keep your feet dry and are cushioned in the heel and toe. Good brands are Asics, DryMax, Thorlo, Nike. Good luck to you. Life is no fun when your feet bother you.
posted by netbros at 7:20 PM on April 21, 2008

If you've got the cash to spare, Geox Respira's are one hell of a breathable shoe. I just bought a pair, and not only are they stylish, but I can literally feel the breeze blowing across my feet. Supremely comfy, light, and durable.
posted by pedmands at 7:52 PM on April 21, 2008 [1 favorite]

I wear orthotics for pronation as well, and I have special low-profile orthotics that were made for me so I could wear them in my figure skates. The bonus is that I can wear them in Birkenstock-type sandals, too. Basically, any sandals that have that sort of cup-shaped heel, which holds the orthotic in place and hides it from view. I still can't wear flip-flops with them, of course.

My other orthotics, the high-profile ones with the cork heel, made it almost impossible to wear anything but my Converse Chuck Taylor hi-tops, because they were quite a bit thicker.

Anyway, if you have the low-profile orthotics it is possible that there are some sandals somewhere that would still work with them. I see the doctor has said no to this, but I'm not entirely sure why. Ankle support might be an issue, but you didn't mention that. Arch support is mostly handled by the orthotics themselves, at least, mine seem to work that way.

(IANAPodiatrist)
posted by litlnemo at 9:35 PM on April 21, 2008

Seconding Geox shoes. I have a couple of pairs and wear orthotic devices. They have a perforated sole with a water proof membrane. The concept is similar to Gore-Tex - vapour passes through easily, liquid does not.

I've worn these in the Dubai desert in summer and honestly didn't have any over-heating problems. My feet sweat a lot, but not in my Geox.
posted by dantodd at 3:23 PM on April 22, 2008

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll consider them all very carefully.
posted by plinth at 7:42 PM on April 22, 2008