My feet are killing me.

May 9, 2011 9:04 AM

My new business requires that I be on my feet for 10-14 hours at a time and I need shoes that will alleviate my aching feet.

I am indoors 99% of the time I'm on my feet, and the catch is that the shoes have to be somewhat dressy (so no sneakers or sandals).

I have flat feet and plantar fasciitis, so completely flat shoes are unacceptable (not to mention they make my back hurt).

There have GOT to be some shoes out there that people swear by. I've tried Ariat clogs (no cushion) and Naturalizer loafers (too flat, no arch support).

posted by suchatreat to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (19 answers total)

See this from last week? I think many of the answers will apply to your situation, even though the previous poster worked in a warehouse.
posted by raisingsand at 9:07 AM on May 9, 2011

Working in retail management (ie dressy and on your feet) I swore by Redwings. They make dress shoes (at least for men) in addition to their better known boots.
posted by postel's law at 9:11 AM on May 9, 2011

Have you looked into Danskos? They are legendary for all day comfort.
posted by caddis at 9:19 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

You want this site: barkingdogshoes. They address all sorts of problem feet and provide links to shoes way beyond your usual Clark's & Naturalizers.
posted by widdershins at 9:23 AM on May 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Dansko clogs have been very kind to my plantar fasciitis.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 9:24 AM on May 9, 2011

Or Sanita clogs? They used to manufacture for Dansko until a few yrs ago and have a slightly differently shaped foot bed from current Danskos - maybe a tiny bit wider and shorter.
posted by oneear at 9:26 AM on May 9, 2011

Response by poster: One note: I frigging hate Danskos. Heavy, clunky, and I hate the way they slide off your heel with every step (I know that's what they're supposed to do).
posted by suchatreat at 9:37 AM on May 9, 2011

I am now the queen of Birkenstocks. A friend of mine who was a chef recommended them to me, not only for just standing around for plantar fasciitis as well. Worked like a charm. Bought the first pair for the going price. After that I found some great deals on Ebay.
posted by PJMoore at 9:41 AM on May 9, 2011

You might want to check out Born shoes. Very comfortable, the internet tells me good for people with plantar fasciitis, and they come in an assortment of styles, some very dressy indeed.

They are admittedly pricy, but you can get a deal if you shop around cunningly and hit places like Nordstrom Rack.
posted by Andrhia at 9:56 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure if they are dressy enough, but they have black and navy blue and other classic colors suitable for work, but TOMS shoes are awesomeeee. Seriously the comfiest shoe I have ever worn. They have a built in arch support, too! They have some they market for weddings (read=dressy), so maybe check out This one. Or even some of the men's styles for more classic ones.

If you need extra support on the heel, perhaps buy a size bigger and get some of those squishy-awesome support inserts.
posted by fuzzysoft at 9:57 AM on May 9, 2011

I recommend barefoot shoes, soft star if you can get away with it or vivo barefoot if you really need something that looks like a smart shoe.
posted by Not Supplied at 9:57 AM on May 9, 2011

I have plantar fasciitis, too, and I've been doing pretty well with Dr Scholl's inserts in my closed shoes, but I'm mostly shopping for sandals now - I recently tried on a pair of Romika sandals that felt like a dream in the heel - didn't work across my arch, but I'd definitely look into their shoes when the weather turns cooler. I've also had pretty good luck with Ecco.
posted by EvaDestruction at 9:58 AM on May 9, 2011

Previously.

My job typically allows (classy, hip) sneakers, and I actually enjoy very flat shoes. So I can't give any more specific advice. But may you learn something from my previous woes.

If memory serves, I believe I found something with the help of the barkingdogshoes blog widdershins linked above.
posted by Sara C. at 10:05 AM on May 9, 2011

What everybody above me said, except also....can you bring a second pair of shoes and switch halfway through the day? When I was a waitress I swore by having a second pair for the second half of a double.

Fresh shoes just put that spring right back into my...standing around.
posted by bilabial at 10:07 AM on May 9, 2011

Lots of the brands recommended in this thread are great, but whether or not they work for you will depend immensely on the shape of your feet. Your best option would be to go to a good comfort shoe store (not the walking company! nordstrom is great if there's no independent option) and talk to someone in person, so you can try things on and see how they feel. That said, if you have a narrower foot (which I suspect, given that you hate Danskos), you might try Mephistos, Eccos, or Naots.

I see from you're profile that you're in NH-- if you're ever driving up to Maine anyway and go through Freeport, try J L Coombs. I worked there a million years ago, and they do a really good job of ensuring that all of their employees are well educated about shoe fitting and about what makes specific brands better for different types of feet.
posted by dizziest at 10:23 AM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Superfeet insoles saved me from plantar fasciitis. Or more acurately, they saved me from buying all new shoes when it flared up.

I also find it really helpful to stretch my hamstrings daily.
posted by advicepig at 10:29 AM on May 9, 2011

Yes - you are going to have to try the shoes out and see if they work for you. I stand on my feet for up to 13 hours a day and love earth shoes. The inverted heel saves my back and I can wear them for days at a time. Some people with plantar fascitis love Borne shoes if you do better with cushion, some folks hate them because they push on the pain.

Don't forget to pamper your feet after work - a nice epison salt bath makes a big difference.
posted by mutt.cyberspace at 11:20 AM on May 9, 2011

several years ago i had a job that had me standing on concrete warehouse/factory floors all day. i bought some Blundstones. Don't have the job but still have the 2 pair of boots i bought and wear them all the time. i think they rule.
posted by rainperimeter at 11:29 AM on May 9, 2011

Wolky : expensive, but they have a few at sierratradingpost.com for 50-70% off.
posted by vitabellosi at 4:06 AM on May 10, 2011