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Sadly, the best shoes for my feet (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 3/19/11 1:28 PM ET
I have very high arches, chronic plantar fasciitis, and arthritic pain in second toe. All of my life I have worn shoes like leather ballet flats, unstructured pumps, or thong sandals because my arch was too high for most straps or vamps. Very few running shoes would fit. Now I pay the price!
Last year after the latest flare, I threw out every single pair of shoes I owned because none of them had the support I needed to alleviate the pain. Behold the only shoe that I can wear all the time without pain:
Birkenstock Arizona. The foot bed with arch support and toe bar is instant relief. I have Arizonas in black and stone, and wear them in the evenings and weekends, but sometimes pull them out to wear all day when I have pain. I had to promise my daughter I would never wear them with socks outside of the house.
Slightly cuter, Birkenstock Mayari. The strap around the big toe works really well to stablize my foot when I walk on uneven ground. I have it in silver and black patent.
Closed toe shoes for the winter create more of a problem because I need a large toe box, width across the toes and have a narrow heel. Has anyone notice how few shoes in wides are available now? Dansko/Sanita clogs have the best design, but I'm sort of between sizes. I have to find a style that runs big or wear thick socks in a larger size. I have two styles of stapled clogs: Dansko professional clogs in gray leather and Dansko Ivy mules in black. I have two pairs of Birkenstock Boston Clogs, one with a soft footbed and one without. I'm packing all of these away this weekend and painting my toenails for sandals.
For this spring, I found Alegria sandals and Sanita sandals. I'm trying them for short periods of time. The other brands I found that have good arch support are too narrow. I wish I could wear Mephisto, Finn, or Naot, but can't find a width that works.
Shoe styles affect fashion choices, too. I'm making up a cluster of linen and cotton Sewing Workshop tops and pants for warmer weather.
Is anyone else trying to deal with limited shoe choices this spring?
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Last year after the latest flare, I threw out every single pair of shoes I owned because none of them had the support I needed to alleviate the pain. Behold the only shoe that I can wear all the time without pain:
Birkenstock Arizona. The foot bed with arch support and toe bar is instant relief. I have Arizonas in black and stone, and wear them in the evenings and weekends, but sometimes pull them out to wear all day when I have pain. I had to promise my daughter I would never wear them with socks outside of the house.
Slightly cuter, Birkenstock Mayari. The strap around the big toe works really well to stablize my foot when I walk on uneven ground. I have it in silver and black patent.
Closed toe shoes for the winter create more of a problem because I need a large toe box, width across the toes and have a narrow heel. Has anyone notice how few shoes in wides are available now? Dansko/Sanita clogs have the best design, but I'm sort of between sizes. I have to find a style that runs big or wear thick socks in a larger size. I have two styles of stapled clogs: Dansko professional clogs in gray leather and Dansko Ivy mules in black. I have two pairs of Birkenstock Boston Clogs, one with a soft footbed and one without. I'm packing all of these away this weekend and painting my toenails for sandals.
For this spring, I found Alegria sandals and Sanita sandals. I'm trying them for short periods of time. The other brands I found that have good arch support are too narrow. I wish I could wear Mephisto, Finn, or Naot, but can't find a width that works.
Shoe styles affect fashion choices, too. I'm making up a cluster of linen and cotton Sewing Workshop tops and pants for warmer weather.
Is anyone else trying to deal with limited shoe choices this spring?
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Elizabeth
Posted on: 3/19/11 1:46 PM ET
I think Memphisto has a very good arch. You might try Munro if you are near a Nordstrom.
Posted on: 3/19/11 2:45 PM ET
For the Dansko clogs--try buying larger size and putting in orthotic insoles from the drug store. They take up about half a size.
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.
Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
Posted on: 3/19/11 3:14 PM ET
In reply to elizajo
Quote: elizajo
Is anyone else trying to deal with limited shoe choices this spring?
Is anyone else trying to deal with limited shoe choices this spring?
I too have very high arches and thus limited choices as well since I need a level of support the run of the mill sandal/shoe doesn't provide (not to mention, the run of the mill cheap sandal/shoe - - the good choices are all expensive!).
Posted on: 3/19/11 3:15 PM ET
Or you could try Naots. Some of the styles are pretty cute and they have a wide toe box and straps so the heel doesn't fall off.
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Debbie
Viking Sapphire 930, Babylock Evolution
Viking Sapphire 930, Babylock Evolution
Posted on: 3/19/11 3:30 PM ET
I understand your distress. I had plantar fasciitis about six years ago and had to find shoes that I could wear. It was soooooo painful, and there was no way I could do my job sitting down. I found that the Ashby Footprints model of Birkenstocks was the shoe that felt best on my foot. You might try it on, and see if it works for you. I needed a larger size in it than I do in my regular shoes. The toe box is quite roomy though. It is a closed toe shoe black leather in the front with a very small back that doesn't appear to be backless when worn with slacks. Because of that I could wear it with business pants outfits and not appear to be wearing a special shoe. I bought some men's style thin black socks to wear with them so that it was not easy to discern where the black Birkenstocks ended and the foot began. Take a look at this model, which looks a bit more like regular shoes. I like them so much that I continue to wear them, even though I am back to wearing regular shoes now.
Posted on: 3/19/11 3:43 PM ET
In reply to elizajo
I can relate. I hurt my knee a couple of years back and could only wear a pair of hiking shoes with some over the counter orthotics in them. Not a cute look.
I finally found Fit Flops
They seemed to be marketed for toning you legs. I can't speak to that at all. I find them super comfortable. The sole is super squishy, and was very comfortable for my knee. In my opinion, they have what seems like more arch than even the Birkenstocks. They come in several styles and colors.
My husband recently bought some for men and is in love with them. He has foot problems on occasion.
Hopefully, you can find some locally and try them on. I was shocked to find such expensive (~$50) sandals not in a shoebox, but hanging on a display like $5 flipflops in my shoestore.
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I finally found Fit Flops
They seemed to be marketed for toning you legs. I can't speak to that at all. I find them super comfortable. The sole is super squishy, and was very comfortable for my knee. In my opinion, they have what seems like more arch than even the Birkenstocks. They come in several styles and colors.
My husband recently bought some for men and is in love with them. He has foot problems on occasion.
Hopefully, you can find some locally and try them on. I was shocked to find such expensive (~$50) sandals not in a shoebox, but hanging on a display like $5 flipflops in my shoestore.
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Becky
Posted on: 3/19/11 3:53 PM ET
In reply to elizajo
Quote: elizajo
I have very high arches,
I have very high arches,
I'm surprised the regular Arizona is supporting such high arches. I have to buy the Arizona with high arch to support mine. Otherwise I am beset with low back pain, and I never want a recurrence of plantar fasciitis. BT,DT. Supporting my arches was the only way to relieve it. I could live in my Birks forever, except cold weather.
Finn Comfort shoes are very good, too. I have a few pairs of their "Jamaica" sandal. The footbed pops right out, and I can glue in a thin arch cookie to raise the arch.
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iPad's auto-correct is my enema.
Posted on: 3/19/11 4:39 PM ET
I have a small gallery of Birkenstocks that are absolutely necessary to the comfort of my feet. They are significantly better than any orthotic I have ever tried, including the custom ones from a good podiatrist. DH finds the same thing, though his feet rebel even against his Birks if worn too long or often.
The other brand that I find amazing is Keens. Their footbed is not as extreme as Birks, but seems to be very, very good. A friend has a physio who claims to never wear any other sort of shoe.
I have some Hush Puppies that are slightly dressier looking that work for my feet, a pair of Aerosoles very dressy with heels and the whole nine yards that I swear i could walk miles in (oh- two pairs, actually!) and a few other assorted pairs that have turned out to be very wearable. I pretty much only shop in discount places, so if I get a pair that I have to reject, it doesn't break the budget.
Best of luck finding great shoes!
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The other brand that I find amazing is Keens. Their footbed is not as extreme as Birks, but seems to be very, very good. A friend has a physio who claims to never wear any other sort of shoe.
I have some Hush Puppies that are slightly dressier looking that work for my feet, a pair of Aerosoles very dressy with heels and the whole nine yards that I swear i could walk miles in (oh- two pairs, actually!) and a few other assorted pairs that have turned out to be very wearable. I pretty much only shop in discount places, so if I get a pair that I have to reject, it doesn't break the budget.
Best of luck finding great shoes!
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http://bgballroom.wordpress.com to follow the progress on my next ballgown.
Posted on: 3/19/11 5:09 PM ET
In reply to Doris W. in TN
I can't tolerate a high arch support unless it is an exact fit-- the edge rubs the troublesome spot where arch meets heel, so I do better with less aggressive arches. The regular, narrow footbed in Birkenstock gives enough support. Adding my own arch support usually works best in other shoes. What is different and beneficial to me in Birkenstock is the toe bar and indention for the major toe first joint. I wish I could find some fitflops locally to try on to compare footbeds. I may order some from zappos to try.
I have full length orthotics which in theory would work, but I need enough room for my toes. I found one pair of mary jane Sketchers sneaker last summer that had a big toebox.
I remember distinctly rolling my eyes at DM and aunts who would compare notes about shoes, never thinking I would be in the same situation when I got older.
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I have full length orthotics which in theory would work, but I need enough room for my toes. I found one pair of mary jane Sketchers sneaker last summer that had a big toebox.
I remember distinctly rolling my eyes at DM and aunts who would compare notes about shoes, never thinking I would be in the same situation when I got older.
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Elizabeth
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