Comments on: My dogs are barking!

Question: My dogs are barking!

blueskiesinside — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:34:59 -0800

Shoe filter: I just got a job that requires standing for ten hours on concrete floors. My feet have been killing me by my lunch break. What shoes, preferably with good arch support, will keep me comfy all shift long?

The shoes don't need to be heavy duty or fancy, I just need comfort and probably good soles (since I don't want to slide around on the concrete). Cheap would be nice (under $100 is optimal) but I'll spend if they're really worth it and will last a while. I'm currently wearing a pair of New Balance sneakers, and while they keep my ankles from hurting, the soles of my feet ache between my heel and the ball of my foot.

By: chez shoes

chez shoes — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:42:28 -0800

You need Danskos. According to your profile you're a girl-type - get the Marcelles.

By: Miko

Miko — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:44:40 -0800

Seconding Danskos. I've also had good luck with Duck Head shoes.

By: netbros

netbros — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:48:35 -0800

I wear these among other cushioned athletic shoes.

By: theichibun

theichibun — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:49:48 -0800

I got some of the ugliest Rebooks I've ever seen when I was a waiter. All black with a strip of white on the sole. But they were comfortable.

If you have any teacher/waiter friends, they would be a great group of people to ask about this.

By: Westringia F.

Westringia F. — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:00:04 -0800

Nth-ing Danskos, and adding the note that their non-stapled lines do not have the same wonderful arch support and comfort that their stapled clogs provide.

By: calumet43

calumet43 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:00:13 -0800

I wore Red Wings shoes for years. They took a month to break in properly but once broken in they were good for at least two years worth of comfort. I tried a pair of Shoes for Crews after reading a review of them and they are now my favorite work shoe. They were comfortable from the first day that I wore them and cost 1/3 the price of my old Red Wings.

By: sanka

sanka — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:13:49 -0800

After getting a few knee surgeries and having my ankle screwed back together I only wear two things on my feet. Shoes=Rockports and workboots=Red Wing.

By: shoeman

shoeman — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:14:46 -0800

Brooks Beast.

By: Balonious Assault

Balonious Assault — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:29:07 -0800

When I went from a desk job to a standing-on-concrete-all-day job, my feet hurt like hell for several weeks. I got a pair of Red Wings that turned out to be quite comfortable and lasted for years, but what really helped me was bringing a second pair of shoes to switch into halfway through the work day. Eventually my feet adjusted to the demands of the job and I was able to wear any old shoes all day without experiencing foot pain.

Several of the women I worked with swore by their Eastland Stacies for comfort on their feet all day.

By: katemcd

katemcd — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:45:58 -0800

They are pricey (mine were a gift), but I swear by my MBT's. I've noticed that many of the medical professionals I've met wear them, and they rave about them as well.

By: abdulf

abdulf — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:49:49 -0800

SAS shoes.

I like these for the cushioning, support and breathability. Shoes are a highly personal decision, but I know most airport employees in Houston wear these. I don't know if SAS shoes are available outside of Texas.

By: Bella Sebastian

Bella Sebastian — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:21:03 -0800

Re. the Dansko recommendations above: I wear Dansko clogs all day, every day in my chef job. I recommend that you find a place to try them on before buying (I know Nordstrom's used to carry them, maybe they still do) because they tend to have a narrow fit with a high arch. Mine feel okay now, but they took several (kind of painful) months to break in.

By: notsnot

notsnot — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:10:31 -0800

If you wind up getting an enclosed shoe because of job requirements, a pair of Superfeet inserts turned my steel-toed boots from puppy killers into my favorite foot covering.

By: gauchodaspampas

gauchodaspampas — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:38:57 -0800

You need inserts. Seconding superfeet. Go to a store with salespeople that know what they're talking about. One that specializes in either work shoes, or running and walking shoes. Have them help you pick out the right insert.

By: nax

nax — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:47:52 -0800

You might also try exercises that strengthen your lower back and lower legs/feet. Feet in particular are neglected in most exercise regimens. I'm a figure skating teacher, sometimes standing on ice in skates 6 hours a day, comfortable shoes not an option. Get your feet and ankles in shape and a lot of the discomfort goes away.

For foot comfort, best shoes I ever found were a Payless ripoff similar to these but with a flat sole. Not good for walking, but if you're mostly standing these are fantastic.

Oh, and I'm buying at least 3 of the shoe suggestions above. Now if only I could figure out a way to attach blades to them.

By: notsnot

notsnot — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:50:53 -0800

I need to refine my answer: a pair of off-the-shelf Superfeet cured my steel-toe boot problem. I "graduated" to hiking boots I wear every day, and for a long backpacking trip I treated myself to custom Superfeet. They build up the insert and vacuum-form it to your individual feet, and it's a whole 'nother level of comfort.

By: sondrialiac

sondrialiac — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:55:34 -0800

Shoes for Crews are great because they're really meant for working and have great features like anti-slip, etc. that more "recreational" shoes might not have.

By: dreaming in stereo

dreaming in stereo — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:19:54 -0800

Try visiting a Walking Company store. They sell Danskos & Earth Shoes (my personal favorite), among others. The salespeople are really helpful and they have this special computerized pressure pad you can stand on to analyze how you stand to help identify the right shoe for your feet.

By: koahiatamadl

koahiatamadl — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:36:45 -0800

2nding getting your back, legs and feet into good shape. As a side note I found that after standing, walking and carrying stuff at work all day and aching in a number of places (including my feet) the best thing I could do to give me quick relief from all these aches was 30mins of exercise...I'd feel like a new person!

By: alpha_betty

alpha_betty — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:55:49 -0800

Love the Danskos in theory, but here's one data point: they are nice for daily use and for my office job, but when I worked as a cashier and was on my feet for 8 hours a day, my feet hurt worse at the end of it in Danskos than when I wore my plain ol' chuck taylors with gel inserts. I may have weird feet (they felt raw!) but there it is.

Also, I don't know about the soles on concrete or appropriateness at your job, but Crocs are like walking on pillows.

By: get off of my cloud

get off of my cloud — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:38:18 -0800

These insoles saved my feet. A few people I work with swear by Z coil shoes

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:35:04 -0800

I am a great fan of Mephistos. I used to wear them regularly through 36 hour on-my-feet shifts, and though there were many problems with those shifts, foot pain was never one of them.

I wore Dansko clogs for a week during this time after I got tired of hearing people tell me, again and again, that I shouldn't wear "nice" shoes into the hospital. At the end of the day my feet were always burning in pain. In addition, the lower back pain that these clogs produced took several weeks to go away. I do not understand what went wrong, but I can definitely attest that Danskos do not work for everyone.

By: tomble

tomble — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:52:19 -0800

Don't skimp on socks, either. No point wearing great shoes and awful socks - I tend to spend around $30.00 on a pair of socks, specifically high quality walking socks. I have spent many long days standing upright, and good socks offer some cushioning, wick away sweat and help support your feet. You don't need to spend that much, of course, but don't buy $100.00 shoes and $2.00 socks.

Also, a pair of gel insoles will do wonders, and can help make a pair of average shoes extremely comfortable.

By: CwgrlUp

CwgrlUp — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:35:26 -0800

I have heard good things about Ecco shoes.