What makes a shoe comfortable? - YouLookFab Forum

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What makes a shoe comfortable?

Plushpenguin

I know that lower heels, round or snub toes, some padding, and soles that grip are all essentials for comfort, but what else should I be looking for? What are some comfy brands that are not necessarily "comfort" brands? Do you find that high end shoes are really more comfortable? Just how high end do they have to be for their to be a noticeable difference over all? Anyone else have a problem with their flats constantly slipping off at the heel? What about patent being extremely uncomfortable? Is that only true of fake patent?

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Plushpenguin

Btw, I'm going to add a bunch more comfy but cute flats to my wardrobe, since I love heels a little too much, and I'm about to be on my feet a LOT more hours per day.

shiny

Veteran

I don't find that more expensive shoes are necessarily more comfortable. I recently tested out that theory on our fantasy shoe shopping trip!

However, from what little I know, shoe makers use a particular "last" - it's the clothing version of having a fit model - so if one shoe brand works for you, it's likely other versions in the same brand will work for you too. This is one reason I'm loyal to Cole Haan and Franco Sarto. There's something about those two brands - probably the last - that works for my feet. Cole Haan also has the advantage of the Air Nike technology.

Me-Too's get a lot of high marks from everyone on this group. I agree. I had to size up 1/2 size however, to make them work for me. It was a width-wise issue not a length issue. So then I had to add a small insert in the back because they were a tad too long and kept slipping off. However, now they are perfect, and I can indeed walk in them all day long - 8 hours. I wore them about 80% of the time we were in Paris. They accomodate foot swelling if you are on your feet all day, which is a huge plus. My only complaint is that they are made of man-made materials, so in hot weather, your feet sweat and this can lead to blisters.

As for patent, one of my most comfortable pairs of shoes is a pair of patent leather driving mocs. (They come out frequently for use on rainy days in the fall/winter months.) I also have a pair of red patent wedge heels that are uber-comfy - they are Aersoles which is a comfort brand but they look pretty trendy. And some Ann Klein patent peep-toe wedges which are also quite comfy. So no, I don't think patent is uncomfortable.

But I *do* think real leather shoes are better than man-made. They mold to your feet over time and just get more and more comfortable, the more you wear them. This is esp true for high heel pumps. In my experience - YMMV.

It's very much a YMMV thing when it comes to shoes!!! Everybody's feet are different.

Maya

Veteran

Shiny has something going with the last. My foot is straight and I would go so far as to say all shoes are created on a curved last, so that's one reason that shoes are painful for me. They try to force my foot into a curve that just isn't natural for it.

There has to be enough room in the toe box. It doesn't matter what the shape is if it's still squashing your toes.

I have the same problem as you of shoes falling off my heels. I used to fix it with heel inserts but now not even those work. I bought 2 pairs of the Me To Swanns: one in a 6 and one in a 6.5. The 6.5 is far more comfortable but just won't stay on my foot. The 6 just barely stays on my foot but isn't quite wide enough, even after stretching. I've pretty much given up on them for long walks. In fact, I've given up on ballet flats in general. I'm trying to stick with mary janes and slip-on sneakers instead.

I sometimes find patent to be too stiff. This was especially true about the Sofft Pilar shoe. It was awful. For a comfort brand, I sure find Sofft shoes painful. But I think the non-patent might have been slightly less stiff. This isn't always the case though.

Real leather is far more comfortable than fake. It stretches and breathes in a way that manmade materials just can't/don't. Shoes are the only exception I make for my otherwise strict vegetarian self. It's hard enough to find comfortable shoes for my deformed feet. I don't need to manufacture another problem.

As for brands, beats me. I don't find specific brands comfortable, only specific types of shoes.

Maya

Veteran

BTW when Stacy and Clinton tell you expensive shoes are more comfortable because of the engineering, they are lying. The comfort of a shoe depends on its compatibility with your foot, full stop. Expensive shoes can be even worse because of their stupid "edgy" designs which were never meant to accommodate an actual foot, but it all depends on the brand of course.

Plushpenguin

I never heard of that kind of heel insert. Where can I find some?

Plushpenguin

Found them, and I think they'll solve my problem with patent flats. My two shoe peeves combine in patent flats. the slippage and inflexible material leads to the heel cutting in to my foot to the point of bleeding sometimes.

shiny

Veteran

Maya, it's my impression that the Me-too's stretch quite a bit. Have you also gotten that impression? And have you tried this online site - I've heard rave reviews about it:

http://www.footsmart.com/default.aspx

Plushpenguin - try your local drugstore. There should be an aisle that has Dr Scholl and other brands of all kinds of inserts for feet. I have tried various styles and brands and only like the kind that you put at the back of the heel for shoes that are a tad too long. The ones that go into the shoe - for added padding and comfort - always seem to make the shoe too tight.

Exception being PowerStep inserts, which I wear in my running shoes and could not live without!!! They eliminate plantar fascitis and other aches and pains. But I suspect they only really work for running shoes.

Maya

Veteran

I have tried Footsmart and was not impressed. Most of their shoes are hideously ugly/orthopedic types, or Crocs. The nice ones are by brands I'm already familiar with, but haven't worked out for whatever reason.

I once ordered some reusable gel heel inserts from them and they were awful. They took up too much space and don't stay in the shoe. The back is so slippery that not even masking tape will stick to them. I've all but given up.

The Me Too flats stretch a lot where I don't want them to. I think Plushpenguin might be right about patent being stiffer than regular leather. The white leather on my Swanns is wonderfully soft and flexible, but unfortunately that just made them wear out quickly and become too loose around the heel. The part where I need that kind of flexibility--the toe--is all patent and hasn't stretched much at all.

Also I wore some patent flats to the city the other day. Huge mistake. They completely rubbed the skin off my toe, right where the big toe joins the foot. It was hideous. It doesn't look like a blister or a cut. It looks like an open wound. Gross. It makes the cut on my heel from the same shoes look pretty minor. These shoes were a 6EE, so I assumed they would be comfortable, but I couldn't walk fast because they kept falling off in the back. That was the defining moment for me, when I decided it's time to just give up on ballet flats for good.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*big sigh*

I spend so much of my time finding clients comfortable, yet good looking shoes. Sometimes it seems impossible. I too have fussy feet and hear you. But fussy feet are not created equally. My foot issues are different to yours. Shiny and Maya make fantastic suggestions and I hope you get sorted. I whole heartedly believe that expensive shoes are NOT necessarily more comfortable. There is never a guarantee. Comfortable shoes are a constant battle and it’s best to not leave a stone unturned.

Anonymous

My best 8-hour shoes this summer have been from the sport casual catagory similar to those below:

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/c.....038;brand=

http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/c.....038;brand=

I couldn't find the exact ones I have which are Hush Puppies in a nude beige with a couple of skinny straps on top that are not on top of the foot, but closer to the toe and give a longer leg line. I find that they look enough like flats to wear with casual skirts and dresses, but inside have lots of the details of athletic shoes. Worn with shoe liners they are extra comfy. Something like this may work for you in place of flats in casual situations.

Plushpenguin

Btw, ankle straps also solve the slippage issue, which for my not very fussy feet, is by far the biggest issue. Strangely, very few flats have ankle straps recently. It's one of those simple, non orthopedic, comfort solutions that designers just keep forgetting to take into consideration.

Plushpenguin

Also, are there any other specific things you try to avoid? Maya, you should have a ton in mind

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Plush penguin, I find ankle straps extremely uncomfortable. They cut into my skin no matter what I do). Fussy feet come in all shapes and forms. Feet remain the hardest part of my body to dress. I'm glad I'm not alone.

*bigger sigh*

Maya

Veteran

I don't understand why shoe manufacturers/designers don't do simple things like make straps soft and flexible. Why are the straps on most shoes so stiff and sharp? My mom has a pair of mj's with a strap that's just floppy, buttery soft leather...no real structure at all, but once your foot is in it, it gives it the structure it needs. I don't understand why more shoes can't be like that. These were Steve Maddens. Not the most expensive shoes in the world. What's stopping this from being mainstream?

Joy, I love how those Naturalizers feel, but they still slip off my foot because the strap is not adjustable. I need to strap my foot in very tight to get the shoe to stay on.

I can't say what you need to avoid Plushpenguin. Like Angie said, fussy feet are by no means created equal. Angie found the Ann Klein Impress shoes very comfortable, while I found them tight and painful. Angie can't wear ankle straps, but I can. I'm not sure what the particulars of your feet are. All I know is that I can't wait for boot season because my boots are by far the most wonderful, comfortable shoes I own. I think this is in part due to the fact that I can wear them with socks.