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Alternative to athletic shoes?

Anonymous

I hate athletic shoes. Any shoe that laces up, actually. They make my feet hurt. And if I lace them up loosely enough to avoid top-of-foot pain, they're so loose they practically fall off my feet when I walk. Any suggestions on an alternative casual shoe that's comfortable? Oh, and I also hate my athletic shoes because they make me feel like I'm walking on concrete, even though they're supposed to be walking shoes. Go figure. They're that way even with the gel insoles I just put in them. Out they go, as soon as I find an acceptable replacement.

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from

carter

Veteran

I'll be reading this thread with interest. I have a pair of Skechers that have bungee laces (no tying). They're a much smaller, slimmer profile that regular sneakers. I find them very comfortable.

MRL

Veteran

I wear low heel boots in the winter and find them very comfortable. It's a lot more difficult in warm weather. I have had good luck with a few pair of shoes made by Cole Hahn (loafers and ballet style). Good luck!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I have a pair of Sperry Top-siders for warmer weather and wear them so much that they need replacing. I rarely wear anything that much. For cold weather, its boots for me too.

El Cee

Veteran

I find my Clarks and Hush Puppies (flats, loafers, clogs) to be so comfy that I only wear athletic shoes at the gym (where it is the required footwear). I also own a couple pairs of Ryka Mary-Jane style athletic shoes that I find fit me better than lace ups and are perfect for fair weather walks. If I am going to be on my feet all day, I find that my Dansko boots or professional clogs are the most supportive. And, like Dianthus, I like Sperry Top-siders in the very warm weather.

Jacky

Veteran

I wear Vibram FiveFingers to the gym and for short runs. I'm told that for longer runs (10+ miles), they're pretty awful, but they've been great for me for 5ks. A number of my friends also wear them for workouts and seem to like them. I wouldn't recommend them for casual everyday wear though.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Are you talking an alternative for in the gym? Because depending on what you are doing, maybe you don't need shoes.

Kristin L

Veteran

I recently found this shoe at Off Broadway. It's Lifestride and it feels amazing! I normally can't ballet flats because of my narrow feet, but these work well. And they have about a 0.5 inch heel. I bought it in both black and brown because I can see these are becoming workhorses.

http://www.offbroadwayshoes.co.....N+TOO.prod

Kristin L

Veteran

Oops. I meant 1 inch heel.

Sarah A

Veteran

I too have had trouble with top of foot pain. It is the pits! Like Jacky I use the vibram 5 fingers for runs shorter than 4 miles and also weight lifting and the like. For longer runs I use the Brooks Green Silence, which has an assymetrical lacing so the lace offsets for greater comfort. The brooks pure grit and several other models have this lacing system too.

I actually read in about 2000 that in the past farmers often wore shoe that tied on the side to relieve the pressure of laces on the top of the foot and I have kind of been obsessed with it ever since, some World Blend oxfords used it but the sole didnt wear well at all. Anyway, that might be something that helps reduce the pressure and top of foot pain.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm currently wearing a kind of leather loafer that has a more almond-tapered toe and replaces a squarish-toed slip-on that I'd still wear from a comfort standpoint but it looks off to me now.

Even in winter there are times I want something other than a boot for going on weekend errands. Also, one of the jeans styles I am wearing in cold weather is better for scrunching than tucking into boots.

This current shoe is not what I would call high style, but it's acceptable for now.

What I've learned is that some version of a leather slip-on flat--but more structured than a typical ballet flat--is a weekend workhorse for me, and so it's a goal to keep updating that type of footwear, whether it's the vamp, the material, the color, the toe shape. It has to be very comfortable, so that sometimes rules out a few trending toe shapes. The "converse" (!) is that I also need a similar lighter shoe--might be canvas or might be light leather--for summer; something that looks good with shorts, as I seldom wear open-toed sandals as first choice.

If I have that type of shoe, I will wear it instead of althletic shoes, and I think it looks better, for me. It can still be difficult to find "the ones," but it helps to know I only need one pair (ideally one pair for each of the 2 seasons as noted) and I'm always hopeful they'll work for more than one year.

chadya

Veteran

are you looking for something to wear everyday not for the gym
I would reccomend looking at the Dansko Professional Clogs. I can wear them all day and have on a day out in NYC for example

Anonymous

I do wear a lot of boots, and that has literally been my salvation as far as comfort goes. What I'm looking for is a shoe for exercise or for times when I need to do a lot of cleaning and am on my feet for hours at a time.

April

Veteran

Ruth, how stylish do they have to be?

Last year, in desperation, I bought a pair of Naot Matais for just the kind of situations you're talking about. I'm not in love with the look, but man are they comfortable.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

For exercise - it depends on the type of exercise you are doing. So first I would research needs for that and then look for specific alternatives.

For around the house, that's a different story -- lots of choices, all depending on your foot shape and so on.

I am not sure you'll find an ideal shoe that you can use for both. But in a way, that may be a good thing. Often, our feet benefit from a CHANGE of footwear as much as anything else. If you have trouble with some shoes causing pressure, then switching your shoes up will provide a fair bit of relief. It's more expensive maybe and feels less efficient, but after all, you're asking your feet to do very different things here in each situation.

MuseumGal

Veteran

I realized recently that this is why half my shoes are mary janes. When I absolutley need the shoe be snug, I wear hiking type boots laced very loosely over the foot and then snugly at the ankle.

VernieJane

There is a brand called Fitflop, I don't know if you can find it near you, but it is very popular in the UK, especially for people who have recently had foot surgery, people suffering from foot pain or back pain, etc. They have a lot of different styles, from slip ons to flip flops to even walking shoes. I have heard a lot of people singing the praises of this brand, and they buy tons of pairs at a time because they are afraid they might not be able to get them someday--they must be that good!

Peri

Veteran

I have really injured feet...one was crushed by a horse and has a bone deformity now, that's how bad I'm talking! And three kinds of "itises". But I do wear running shoes with custom orthotics and an extra cushion...sized up to fit that. Maybe you haven't found the right pair yet.

But the one thing I've found beside that that will work for me if there is not serious walking involved, is a pair of Merrill ankle boots...side zip...with the insole taken out and the insoles I'm not using from the running shoes put in instead because they are more cushioned. And then Smart Wool socks that are also cushioned. So once again, the boot sized up a half size to fit this without squeezing.

Well, I've gotten all kinds of shoe advice, but this was what I figured out myself. No one can guess what things feel like on your feet. Good luck!

t

I bought a pair of Keen Mary Jane's in the summer and I wore them like crazy. Just a few weeks ago I bought a similar style, same brand, that is a lace up. I have that top foot pain too, so once I got the looseness of the shoe right, I just slip my foot into those as well (keeping them tied). Good luck!

Anonymous

Ruth, tie shoes hurt the top of my feet too most of the time. I did find a pair of metallic Born sneakers that work for me. In cold weather I like to wear short ankle boots with a zip. For some reason an oxford can be more comfortable than sneakers for me. I also like loafers when nude knee high stockings are warm enough. In the warmer months I like slip-on athletic flats and have a variety. As Suz says, a change of footwear can make a big difference. I avoid wearing the same footwear two days in a row, even traveling.
Brand can be personal choice since feet are different.

JAileen

Veteran

I have a pair of Keen's I took to Turkey last year. These are very comfortable for walking. I'm not sure about exercising or cleaning.

http://www.zappos.com/keen-mercer-lace-cnx-shitake

Anonymous

I forgot to mention my high instep and need for a wide D width. Looks like I'm going to stick with boots for all but the summer months. My primary need at home is something that's comfortable (and does not slip off my feet) for walking up and down stairs to do laundry, etc. As for exercise, I primarily do a lot of walking, so I can't really think of a good reason to keep my lace-up athletic shoes. By the time I loosen the laces to where they don't hurt the tops of my feet, they're so loose I walk right out of them.

rute

Veteran

I love flat boots and flats, slippers are comfy too!

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Alassë

Veteran

I wear Aravon Farah Mary Janes for any walking. With an insert, they're extremely comfortable & supportive for my fussy feet. I find they run 1/2 size smaller than your normal shoe size, and they come in black or brown and wide widths. http://www.onlineshoes.com/wom.....p_id228517

Dee

Veteran

Ruth, Keens don't come in a wide but several of their styles are cut very wide, particularly across the toe box. They are one of the few brands that I can wear not in a wide width, so I own a few of their Mary Janes for days that involve a lot of walking.

Linda

Runners are pretty notorious for being finicky about our feet. (Well, we tend to be ON them for hours, pounding away, so there's that!). I recommend finding a specialty running store in your area. Go and get fitted. You can explain if you aren't planning on actually RUNNING in the shoes. But if you find a good running store they will take fitting shoes really seriously. (If you need more "medical" advice, I think they'll steer you to that, too, although they won't TREAT foot problems as such).

You may have to pay handsomely for a shoe that fits right, but it is worth it - foot problems REALLY mess up your day. If you're just randomly trying on shoes, you might not be taking your gait and foot-plant and so on, into account, It's a LOT easier for someone else, especially someone who sees a ton of walking and running legs all day, to recognize what's happening.

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm assuming that you have experimented with various alternative lacing patterns? I always use lace lock lacing at the top so I can keep the lower part fairly loose but no longer use fancier lacing because I finally found shoes that fit me well. And I guess velcro fastened athletic walking shoes won't work for you either? I am partial to Brooks Addiction walkers and runners which are for over pronators. Both come in Extra Wide which I need for my bunions and extra thick Thorlo socks. The walkers come in both lace and velcro versions.

Anonymous

Thanks for filling me in on the Keen fit, Dee. I've always been drawn to Keen shoes, but have never tried them.

DonnaF: Yes, I've experimented with lacing. The simple fact of the matter is that lace-up shoes bother the top of my foot, and the pair I presently own (designed for walking) not only bother the top of my foot, but also feel like concrete by the end of the day. I just can't tolerate them for more than a few minutes. Not good!

I'm always looking at how high the instep is. If not high enough, no amount of alternate lacing or velcro adjusting is gonna do the trick. That's why I've had such great luck with boots. I sure would like to have a slip-on that would work. I may investigate the Keens. My Danskos are fine, and they're not supposed to be wide width shoes, either.

Oh, and this may be asking too much, but well padded insoles would be great.

Anonymous

I do have these, which are fab in the summer:

http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-W.....cr_pr_pb_t

I wish I could order another pair of them. I found these, though, which I think might do me for the cooler months:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ.....hoe_swi5_3

Reviews say they have hidden velcro closure for an adjustable fit, so they just might work. I've had great luck with Clarks, so maybe...

Anonymous

What I don't get is why lace-up shoes always hurt my feet, and the bungee-tie sandals don't. I mean, really. There's not much difference, I don't think, but apparently there's something about lace-up shoes that are bothersome. My father had the same problem, so it may be an inherited condition of some sort.

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