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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Shoes
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Gwai
Shipmate
# 11076
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Posted
I asked in the general question thread how long people expected a pair of shoes to last if they wore just the one pair. Many people said a year to two. Brenda said better shoes last longer. Some people noted how hard it is to find proper shoes. I wanted to answer again too, so I've started a thread:
I absolutely detest shoe-shopping because it's something I have to do so often. I have relatively flat feet* and maybe I walk funny, but most of my shoes last less than six months before something falls apart. I used to buy $80 dollar shoes, but they still broke in six months. I've since started thrift shopping my shoes or buying cheapo shoes, but they last the same amount of time on average. Maybe if I weren't choosy this would be okay, but I have weird feet, so unfortunately I really am.
I do walk a number of miles every week, so my friend says this is all to be expected, but I swear shoes are a bother. Do you find them easier, or do you have tips?
My weird bucket list item is to have a custom pair of shoes made, but that's very expensive, and for all I know they wouldn't last longer anyway.
*Used to absolutely need inserts, but have changed the way I walk so that I don't anymore.
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A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea.
If they think they ha’ slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.
Posts: 11914 | From: Chicago | Registered: Feb 2006
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
I hate shopping for shoes. Almost every pair I've ever had have caused me blisters or worse until my feet have been broken in, which usually takes c. 2-3 weeks, half a packet of sticking plasters and the thickest socks I can find, and it still doesn't always work.
I also need a wider fitting these days so most pairs of shoes on sale are going to be too tight. I've resorted to buying flat, comfortable, inexpensive, all-purpose ones when I find them.
I would really love to wear glam shoes, something feminine, colourful and smart, but it's not worth the hassle.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
The other question is whether you can find a better fit by finding shoes of a different type. Can you wear sneakers/trainers/athletic shoes? They are often made sturdier and certainly fit differently. I have found that walking sandals are a very different animal than ordinary sandals. There is also a perceptible difference between shoes made for men and for women. Men's shoes are always wider, often sturdier, and the toe box is wider. If your female feet are big enough that a small men's size can fit you, it might be worth shopping on the other side of the aisle.
I have never bought custom shoes through here, but they have been recommended to me by several people:
Custom shoes
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
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Posted
I will pay £100 to £150 for my primary pair of shoes and wear them almost exclusively. For this I expect them to last a minimum of 18 months and upto to three years.
I will generally by walking shoes or ecco ankle boots, gortex lined because I hate wet feet, usually leather uppers and most importantly - with vibram soles (good grip & last longer). I walk unevenly and can tell when my shoes are getting knackered because they start to squeak. I'll usually wear them till they a) squeak and b) start to go at the seams.
I never buy second hand shoes, I had it dinned in to me as a child that shoes mould to your feet and wearing second hand shoes will hurt your feet.
Generally speaking I am always willing to pay more for shoes than I will for clothes. I think of them a bit like glasses, having a physical impact on my long term health. I almost never wear heels or court shoes for this reason - I know they damage your feet and strain your back.
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All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
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no prophet's flag is set so...
Proceed to see sea
# 15560
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Posted
I have found that better quality shoes that actually fit last 6-8 years. I happened across Blundstones about 15 years ago. I can wear them outside in the winter, with a suit, casual. I've had the 500s and 550s, actually I still have all three pairs I've ever bought in 15 years. They are about $180 I think these days. The soles on the first pair are worn, so I leave them at work, just in case I show up in runners. A little shoe polish and they're good. I think people often think of them as a man's shoe, but my wife who teaches at university tells me that she sees them at least as often on women.
I also have some light waterproof hiking books which cost more than the Blundstones, and last about as long. Salomon.
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Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.
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Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010
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Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
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Posted
[crosspost]
(I used to work as a sales assistant in a mountain shop and have been trained to sell shoes. I know that fit varies hugely by make, and there are differences of fit by gender - in particular ankle position is slightly different.)
If it takes weeks for your shoes to break in, and you get blisters, then they have not been fitted properly.
However, one way of avoiding blisters is - rather than a thick sock - using lined socks. The double layer mitigates the rubbing.
[ 11. May 2015, 20:14: Message edited by: Doublethink. ]
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All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
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Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
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Posted
In the past I have had shoes resoled, but my experience is that the price of having vibram replacement is just not really economic.
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All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
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Doublethink.
Ship's Foolwise Unperson
# 1984
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Posted
Crockett & Jones full bespoke handmade leather shoes, from your own last, take six months and cost from 3000 euro upwards ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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All political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome. George Orwell
Posts: 19219 | From: Erehwon | Registered: Aug 2005
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Amanda B. Reckondwythe
Dressed for Church
# 5521
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Posted
I've discovered ebay as a good source for both new and pre-owned shoes. Prices are generally lower than in the stores, there's no sales tax, and many merchants do not charge for shipping (those that don't are worth seeking out).
I have two pairs of dress shoes, one brown and one black. I don't remember when I bought them -- it's been at least five years -- but I wear them infrequently and they've lasted and lasted!
I have one pair of Timberland boots that again I wear infrequently -- bought them used on ebay -- and I expect them to last at least two years.
I also have two pairs of sneakers, both bought on ebay -- one new, one used -- that are the shoes I wear primarily every day. I expect they'll last for at least a year -- the new pair longer than that.
As a young adult I wore size 10-1/2 but now in my dotage I can't get into anything smaller than a 12. Depending on the style and brand, I have to go with a 12-1/2 sometimes.
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"I take prayer too seriously to use it as an excuse for avoiding work and responsibility." -- The Revd Martin Luther King Jr.
Posts: 10542 | From: The Great Southwest | Registered: Feb 2004
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Hazey*Jane
Ship's Biscuit Crumbs
# 8754
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Posted
In what way do your shoes wear out most frequently? That might give you some guidance as to what features you need to look for.
Depends on your style, but I've found Doc Martens of all varieties to be extremely durable. The soles last very well even with lots of walking. I miss having them in my wardrobe at the moment.
Posts: 4266 | From: UK | Registered: Nov 2004
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marzipan
Shipmate
# 9442
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Posted
I walk around a fair bit each day (but not too much) and I find that I'm lucky if I can get a pair of shoes to last me a year. Part of my problem is that I probably don't pay enough, but often expensive shoes have lasted about as long as cheap ones. Although I have fairly normal size/shape feet, I think my shoe preferences are non fashionable at the moment as I have trouble finding ones I like which don't cost a fortune. My most recent pair of boots are lasting quite well though - they're RED ankle boots with a low ish heel, I've had them six months and I've only had to have them re heeled once (generally the heel the cobbler puts on is better than the original anyway!)
My last few pairs of shoes have broken by the upper coming away from the sole, which seems quite common due to how they are fixed together, but is super annoying when you're walking around a rainy city most of the time!
Eta: my shoes have to look good enough to wear to work as well as be able to walk about in so I tend to get 'fashion' shoes or boots rather than walking boots or doc martens etc
[ 11. May 2015, 22:44: Message edited by: marzipan ]
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formerly cheesymarzipan.
Now containing 50% less cheese
Posts: 917 | From: nowhere in particular | Registered: May 2005
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blackbeard
Ship's Pirate
# 10848
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Posted
It's years - decades - since I bought any shoes from a shoe shop. I am shod thus:
casual wear - trainers, from a sports shop. Really casual, and around house, Crocs (if anything), also from a sports shop
smart leather shoes - are actually deck shoes, from a yacht chandlery. I even have a pair in black, suitable weddings/funerals.
Serious walking - boots, from an outdoorsy shop.
I always check to see a. plenty of toe room, and b. that shoe does not bite into back of heel (Achilles tendon).
Totally agree with Doublethink, I don't believe in extended "breaking in" (beyond a brief introduction shoes/feet).
How long do they last? Years! but I'm fairly light on my feet... except that there's a catch with trainers - the foam plastic underfoot can break down after a while, and the shoe loses its cushioning effect even though the sole might still look OK; when this happens it's time to retire the shoe, from running at least.
Posts: 823 | From: Hampshire, UK | Registered: Dec 2005
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
If you go to Ebay, you can refine your shoe search: by size, by new, even by new in box with labels. The key is to be sure of what you want; it is worth knowing the brand and size in advance. I have acquired Birkenstocks this way at significant savings.
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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jedijudy
Organist of the Jedi Temple
# 333
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Posted
I'm another one with difficult feet, precious little flowers that they are. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Last year I discovered Finn Comforts, and when I first stood in them, my BFF saw the look on my face and knew that I finally had comfortable shoes on my feet! They're very pricey, but very well made and I expect them to last a nice, long time.
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Jasmine, little cat with a big heart.
Posts: 18017 | From: 'Twixt the 'Glades and the Gulf | Registered: Aug 2001
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
I own one pair of tennis shoes (trainers, whatever) and one pair of decent-for-funerals shoes. That's it, bar a pair of ballet slippers. The reason is that the forefront of my foot (you know, the bit that's supposed to be covered by the tongue and laces of a tennis shoe?) is about an inch higher than normal people's. Which means that unless the shoe has virtually no upper, it will crash against the bone there and hurt like hell. What do you call that, tall-footed? thick-footed? Whatever it is, it's a disaster for a woman who is required to wear non-laced closed toes work-formal shoes (i.e. pumps). I go straight to the men's department and most of those don't work either.
This is all made much much worse by the fact that I have to wear custom orthotics in my shoes, which raises the height of the foot one inch more. My mother says I should just wear the shoebox and be done with it. Thanks, Mom.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Gee D
Shipmate
# 13815
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Doublethink.:
Crockett & Jones full bespoke handmade leather shoes, from your own last, take six months and cost from 3000 euro upwards
Not a viable option from here, but over the years I have had quite a few pairs of their ready-made shoes and they have been very good - as have Church, Loake, and Bally. R M Williams boots are great for casual wear, but I don't know how easy they are to obtain outside Aust. They all seem to last forever.
My parents drilled into us that we should not wear the same pair of shoes 2 days running - bad for the shoe and bad for your foot. As much as I can, I have kept to this over the years. I think that's part of the longevity of my shoes.
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Not every Anglican in Sydney is Sydney Anglican
Posts: 7028 | From: Warrawee NSW Australia | Registered: Jun 2008
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
I can count on the toes of one foot the makes of shoe where I have any hope of finding a comfortable fit. Ecco were my mainstay for years, a Dutch brand called Wolky, but mainly Widerfit Shoes. They're not infallible - does anyone know how to counter 'sock eating' in a shoe? But by and large, they work for me - like the pair I'm wearing at the moment - a flat, semi-sandal with a narrow strap across the instep and bright pink. These are now entering their second summer, during which they'll be the default shoe for every day. They may see a third - it depends on how soon I can detect individual pebbles through the soles.
I would like to find something with a more cushioned sole - I speak as one woken in the early hours by the leg ache from a day traversing the cobbles of old Strasbourg - but I find most trainers ugly and sweaty and not particularly comfortable.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
Part of the problem is there doesn't seem to be any standardization in sizes any more and half sizes are rare. It's often a choice between a cramped 5 or a baggy 6 in one shop, when a half size would be much better, or a cramped 4 and what initially appears to be a comfortable 5 in another, but which, when you buy it, has the happy knack of pulling one sock slowly, bit by bit, down one foot into the end of the shoe as you walk and rubbing the back of your heel raw in the other.
The most comfortable pairs I ever had cost £12 from a market stall until they became a discontinued line. Admittedly after 6-9 months the sole would usually crack, but until then I could go anywhere and do anything. False economy it might be, but for the duration I had complete freedom of movement and no problems.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
I think one of the problems in Britain is of shoes made for the Continental market and sized according to its norms.
I am basically a British size 10, which is half-way between a Continental 44 and 45. But the latter are often marked as 9 1/2 and 10 respectively - which they're not. The best fit for me are the British-made Hotter; the lovely German-made Rohde and Siebel shoes just aren't quite right.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
AIUI shoes last longer if you don’t wear them every day, i.e. if you only have one pair of shoes and wear them all the time they might last a year. If you invest in buying two pairs at once and alternate them, they will last three years between them.
(I admit this is a little academic in my case because I am one of those people who enjoy shoes and have ahem, several pairs.)
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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Jengie jon
Semper Reformanda
# 273
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
I think one of the problems in Britain is of shoes made for the Continental market and sized according to its norms.
I am basically a British size 10, which is half-way between a Continental 44 and 45. But the latter are often marked as 9 1/2 and 10 respectively - which they're not. The best fit for me are the British-made Hotter; the lovely German-made Rohde and Siebel shoes just aren't quite right.
No, it would only be the case if sizes were so well defined. I have bought three pairs of trainer by the same manufacturer in the last nine months and they were sized 7,7.5 and 8. The 7 and 7.5 were the same design and the 7.5 was too big. The 8 is not too big.
The difference is the width of the last as there are differences between the average width of feet in different nationalities. Italians tend to have narrow feet when compared with the British.
Jengie
[ 12. May 2015, 09:30: Message edited by: Jengie jon ]
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"To violate a persons ability to distinguish fact from fantasy is the epistemological equivalent of rape." Noretta Koertge
Back to my blog
Posts: 20894 | From: city of steel, butterflies and rainbows | Registered: May 2001
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
AIUI shoes last longer if you don’t wear them every day, i.e. if you only have one pair of shoes and wear them all the time they might last a year. If you invest in buying two pairs at once and alternate them, they will last three years between them.
(I admit this is a little academic in my case because I am one of those people who enjoy shoes and have ahem, several pairs.)
I find work shoes never last long, even though they're only used for walking around the office; indeed, they never leave as I change into them when I get to work - work shoes are pretty useless for any actual function, such as riding a bike or walking any distance.
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Arch Anglo Catholic
Shipmate
# 15181
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Posted
I 'rotate' my pairs of shoes, never wearing one pair for more than a day at a time, and they last much better.
I have four pairs and the four will last about 5-7 years. Good shoes will stand re-soling regularly and do require regular cleaning and polishing, but you do get what you pay for!
Posts: 144 | From: Shropshire | Registered: Sep 2009
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Penny S
Shipmate
# 14768
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Posted
This makes me feel like Imelda Marcos, as I have shoes in colours to go with different clothes - but it does mean I don't wear them two days running. So they have time to dry out, and ensure that any fungal spores have nothing to grow on. I generally buy from Hotter, via the internet, though there are a few outlets near me where I can check colours. As they have extended their ranges, though, they have changed lasts, so that some fit beautifully, and some, the same size (7 1/2 wide), don't. And they don't do so many wide fit styles, which can be very disappointing.
I really don't know how long they last. I bought the first from them a number of years ago, and I have only got rid of a couple of pairs when the soles wore out. They aren't the kind you can have resoled.
Posts: 5833 | Registered: May 2009
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Drifting Star
Drifting against the wind
# 12799
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Posted
I gave up on Hotter when my previous perfect size with them stopped fitting (their change not mine), and they refused to refund either lot of postage. Their customer service was appalling - and still is, judging by a friend's recent experience.
I find that Evans shoes are very good. Almost all are EEE fitting, although they are half a size larger than the norm, and that makes me need a half size with them, which they don't do. Sandals and boots are fine - I go down half a size for sandals and up half a size for boots.
If you're a half size usually they might be well worth trying. They don't have many shops any more, but online they usually offer free delivery on orders over £50, and free returns.
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The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Heraclitus
Posts: 3126 | From: A thin place. | Registered: Jul 2007
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
Why would shoes last longer if not worn all the time? I believe it could be true, but it doesn't make any sense to me.
Because there are days when they're not in use. On that basis, I've got 20 years worth out of one pair I still have, which I've worn about twice.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Tree Bee
Ship's tiller girl
# 4033
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Jengie jon:
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
I think one of the problems in Britain is of shoes made for the Continental market and sized according to its norms.
I am basically a British size 10, which is half-way between a Continental 44 and 45. But the latter are often marked as 9 1/2 and 10 respectively - which they're not. The best fit for me are the British-made Hotter; the lovely German-made Rohde and Siebel shoes just aren't quite right.
The difference is the width of the last as there are differences between the average width of feet in different nationalities. Italians tend to have narrow feet when compared with the British.
Jengie
This is why I buy shoes from a factory shop that stocks continental brands. As I have narrow feet, AA, shoes made for the UK market rarely fit me.
I have a pair of shoes that I seldom wear that are older than cb as I bought them in 1978. The insoles are a little cracked but they still look good .
I find sandals wear out quickly and only last me 2 or 3 years. I put this down to wearing them with bare feet.
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"Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple."
— Woody Guthrie
http://saysaysay54.wordpress.com
Posts: 5257 | From: me to you. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
Some people though are saying that shoes get more uses when they are worn less often.
OK, possibly because they get the chance to dry out in between uses from body heat/rainy days, revert to their natural shape, not get too stretched by constant use, etc.
Incidentally do most other people wear shoes indoors? I always leave mine in the hall.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
I have indoor shoes (slippers, scuffs, etc.) and outdoor shoes. This preserves the hardwood floors and carpets, also keeps things like leaves from being tracked in. I also have a couple pairs of shoes I keep at the office. Like many women with ordinary-sized feet I have an inordinate number of shoes, for all occasions, all weather conditions, all activities. I sincerely sympathise with all of you who have odd-sized feet.
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Penny S
Shipmate
# 14768
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Posted
Indoors I have bare feet in summer, socks in winter - can't be bothered with slippers, and in fact rather find them prone to living up to their name, and having two flights of stairs, regard them as risky.
Posts: 5833 | Registered: May 2009
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Pomona
Shipmate
# 17175
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Posted
I have the opposite problem to a lot of people here - I have narrow feet, with high arches/instep . I basically have feet like a Barbie doll! However, while some high street shops do wide fit shoes, nowhere does narrow fit shoes now that Clarks have stopped doing their narrow range. I also need arch support, so ballet flats are out. I usually find trainers/sports shoes and Dr Martens to be the most comfortable. I recently got a pair of Red Or Dead sandals in a sort of strappy Birkenstock style (reduced in the Schuh sale). I wear a 5.5 normally, but these are a 5 and enormous on me! I think the style makes them wide.
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Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? [Ecclesiastes 7:13]
Posts: 5319 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2012
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Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
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Posted
My feet are British size 2 1/2 and wide and flat, which means I have to wear size 3 as size 2 1/2 are very rare and if actually found are children's shoes and ridiculously narrow by any standard. Not all high street brands sell size 3 either.
My current shoes are wonderfully comfortable rubber soled Mary Jane's by Red or Dead; I have them in 3 colours ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif) I always buy several colours if I find shoes that fit well. I expect these to last a good few years as they are well made with thick soles.
My husband finds shoes only last him 6 months to a year with constant wear.
eta Pomona, we must be describing the same shoes!
[ 12. May 2015, 20:33: Message edited by: Heavenly Anarchist ]
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'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
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Pomona
Shipmate
# 17175
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
My feet are British size 2 1/2 and wide and flat, which means I have to wear size 3 as size 2 1/2 are very rare and if actually found are children's shoes and ridiculously narrow by any standard. Not all high street brands sell size 3 either.
My current shoes are wonderfully comfortable rubber soled Mary Jane's by Red or Dead; I have them in 3 colours I always buy several colours if I find shoes that fit well. I expect these to last a good few years as they are well made with thick soles.
My husband finds shoes only last him 6 months to a year with constant wear.
eta Pomona, we must be describing the same shoes!
These are my sandals. I wouldn't call them Mary Janes though!
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Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? [Ecclesiastes 7:13]
Posts: 5319 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2012
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SvitlanaV2
Shipmate
# 16967
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Posted
Dr Martens have a range of 'shoes for life'. The idea is that you register the shoes when you buy them, and when they finally wear out you can get them replaced free of charge (plus postage and packing).
I have a pair of these shoes and can vouch that they're very hardy indeed. Far, far more expensive than any other shoes I'll ever buy, though.
Posts: 6668 | From: UK | Registered: Feb 2012
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lilBuddha
Shipmate
# 14333
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
quote:
Originally posted by Gwai:
Some people though are saying that shoes get more uses when they are worn less often.
OK, possibly because they get the chance to dry out in between uses from body heat/rainy days, revert to their natural shape, not get too stretched by constant use, etc.
It is more hygienic and healthier for your feet to regularly switch pairs.
Easy for me as I wear Converse as much as possible. I will put on no fancier shoe unless work or occasion requires.
And you can get Converse in sooo many colours and prints and there are many places which will apply custom artwork.
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I put on my rockin' shoes in the morning
Hallellou, hallellou
Posts: 17627 | From: the round earth's imagined corners | Registered: Dec 2008
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
I own one pair of tennis shoes (trainers, whatever) and one pair of decent-for-funerals shoes. That's it, bar a pair of ballet slippers. The reason is that the forefront of my foot (you know, the bit that's supposed to be covered by the tongue and laces of a tennis shoe?) is about an inch higher than normal people's. Which means that unless the shoe has virtually no upper, it will crash against the bone there and hurt like hell. What do you call that, tall-footed? thick-footed?
High instep.
quote:
Whatever it is, it's a disaster for a woman who is required to wear non-laced closed toes work-formal shoes (i.e. pumps). I go straight to the men's department and most of those don't work either.
This is all made much much worse by the fact that I have to wear custom orthotics in my shoes, which raises the height of the foot one inch more.
Aravon shoes have removeable footbeds so you can put your orthotics in. They sell low-heeled pumps with a low vamp (the vamp is the part of the shoe that would go up over the instep if it had a high vamp). Something like this.
I have high arches and high insteps and plantar fasciitis, and the Aravon sandals I got in March are unbelievably comfy.
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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Kelly Alves
Bunny with an axe
# 2522
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Posted
(another person with arch issues here) those are a damn revelation!
Judy: I would be all over these.
[ 13. May 2015, 02:02: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
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I cannot expect people to believe “
Jesus loves me, this I know” of they don’t believe “Kelly loves me, this I know.”
Kelly Alves, somewhere around 2003.
Posts: 35076 | From: Pura Californiana | Registered: Mar 2002
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Leaf
Shipmate
# 14169
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Posted
My taste in shoes tends to the monastic. I have three pairs of shoes, all black: sandals, oxfords, and pumps. That's pretty much it. Oh and one pair of white runners (sneakers, whatevs). Although I must admit that recently, in a fit of spring madness, I blew my mind and annual shoe budget on an outrageous pair of Fluevog heels.
I make up for the lack of quantity with quality. My oxford-types are either Ecco or Mephisto. This sort of thing. Yes, the name, I know, but I think of it as treading the devil underfoot. ![[Two face]](graemlins/scot_twoface.gif) The Mephistos are expensive, but I wear them every day, all day for years on end. My current pair is two years old, unbefrickinlievably comfortable, and I'll probably replace them next year.
Posts: 2786 | From: the electrical field | Registered: Oct 2008
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Palimpsest
Shipmate
# 16772
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Posted
I have foot problems, wide feet and need orthotics.
If your orthotics and instep problems are not as bad as mine, it's worth finding a shoe store that carries orthopedic extra depth and extra wide shoes. They cost upwards of a hundred dollars, but they are usually well made.
They don't fit me so I need $1000 custom shoes which I get from a shoemaker in San Francisco. I think most of his clientele are diabetics who get one pair paid on the Kaiser health plan. I get a prescription but I have to foot the bill and get to San Francisco to get measured. I can pay for it with a pretax health flexible spending account
The good news is that the shoes last several years and I do a fair amount of walking and am very heavy. Mine finally wore out enough that there was a tear in the upper, but my local shoemaker repaired them when he resoled them. They get reheeled about every 6-8 weeks now that they have a new durable heel. I'm going to have to get a new pair this year.
Another thing that's very helpful are Thorlo padded socks. They come in various paddings that make them comfortable. They last a very long time. They are synthetic, and they need to be washed with fabric softener or they get hard.
[ 13. May 2015, 05:20: Message edited by: Palimpsest ]
Posts: 2990 | From: Seattle WA. US | Registered: Nov 2011
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Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pomona:
quote:
Originally posted by Heavenly Anarchist:
My feet are British size 2 1/2 and wide and flat, which means I have to wear size 3 as size 2 1/2 are very rare and if actually found are children's shoes and ridiculously narrow by any standard. Not all high street brands sell size 3 either.
My current shoes are wonderfully comfortable rubber soled Mary Jane's by Red or Dead; I have them in 3 colours I always buy several colours if I find shoes that fit well. I expect these to last a good few years as they are well made with thick soles.
My husband finds shoes only last him 6 months to a year with constant wear.
eta Pomona, we must be describing the same shoes!
These are my sandals. I wouldn't call them Mary Janes though!
Ah,
these are mine but probably just as roomy! They are great for wide feet and I like the retro look. I might go and buy the dark green pair...
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'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Arch Anglo Catholic:
I 'rotate' my pairs of shoes, never wearing one pair for more than a day at a time, and they last much better.
I have four pairs and the four will last about 5-7 years. Good shoes will stand re-soling regularly and do require regular cleaning and polishing, but you do get what you pay for!
Not in my experience. I've paid £40 for a pair in a regular shoe shop and £15 in a cheapo place. Both lasted about 9 months.
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
High instep.
Aravon shoes have removeable footbeds so you can put your orthotics in. They sell low-heeled pumps with a low vamp (the vamp is the part of the shoe that would go up over the instep if it had a high vamp). Something like this.
I have high arches and high insteps and plantar fasciitis, and the Aravon sandals I got in March are unbelievably comfy.
Thanks for the correct term! I'll have to see if I can find some. Unfortunately, my instep is so high that I couldn't even wear that comfy-looking pair you linked to, I can tell already. I need virtually no vamp. After googling I am informed that the next step up is a club foot
![[Ultra confused]](graemlins/confused2.gif) --Off to google that now, as my mother was just diagnosed with a slight degree of that at age 70.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Gwai
Shipmate
# 11076
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Posted
I love that idea of a lifetime guarantee. I would pay so much more for a pair of shoes with even a five or ten year guarantee. (Yes, I have looked at the couple companies that I know even sort of do that ll bean, and eddie bauer. Neither sells many women's dress shoes. Clarks guarantees their socks, but not as far as I can tell their shoes.) Considering the odds that people would forget to use their guarantees, I bet the added customer service value would be easily worth it. Heck, I've just given free publicity to the companies when I mentioned them just now.
All I can guess is that most people must actually enjoy shopping for shoes. Otherwise they'd stop changing their really successful shoes so that those of us who liked them and would rebuy them could!
[ 13. May 2015, 13:26: Message edited by: Gwai ]
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A master of men was the Goodly Fere,
A mate of the wind and sea.
If they think they ha’ slain our Goodly Fere
They are fools eternally.
Posts: 11914 | From: Chicago | Registered: Feb 2006
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bib
Shipmate
# 13074
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Posted
I find it very difficult to buy shoes in my size as it is rare to find a shoe shop carrying half sizes and our top shop in the city also had nothing wider than a C fitting (I like a D) as they claimed that women don't have feet that wide! Maybe I'm really a man.
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"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"
Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007
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Pomona
Shipmate
# 17175
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Posted
Ruth and LC, I'm also in the high instep/high arch club! Fortunately my feet seem healthy otherwise, it just makes shoe shopping a pain. Old lady shoes for me I guess!
I would definitely recommend the Red Or Dead sandals I linked to for women with wide feet - they're not described as wide-fitting but they definitely are! They're comfy but so huge on me, though I guess that's better than too small.
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Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? [Ecclesiastes 7:13]
Posts: 5319 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2012
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JoannaP
Shipmate
# 4493
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Incidentally do most other people wear shoes indoors? I always leave mine in the hall.
I do most of the time; as a child I was not allowed into my mother's sewing room without shoes on, in case there was a pin on the floor, and the habit has stuck.
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"Freedom for the pike is death for the minnow." R. H. Tawney (quoted by Isaiah Berlin)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 1877 | From: England | Registered: May 2003
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Tree Bee
Ship's tiller girl
# 4033
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by JoannaP:
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Incidentally do most other people wear shoes indoors? I always leave mine in the hall.
I do most of the time; as a child I was not allowed into my mother's sewing room without shoes on, in case there was a pin on the floor, and the habit has stuck.
Slippers in winter and wooden Scholl sandals in the summer. Purely for comfort . I feel uncomfortable when guests remove their shoes and when I'm asked to do so in other people's houses.
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"Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple."
— Woody Guthrie
http://saysaysay54.wordpress.com
Posts: 5257 | From: me to you. | Registered: Feb 2003
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