Question for those of you who wear orthotics in shoes

I have seen some posts where some of you talk about shoes that fit your orthotics and I am in the same orthotic club as you.

I learned the hard way last week on a trip where I walked many hours a day that to do without my orthotics in the interest of fashion is PAINFUL. I got blisters and trashed my feet.

The shoes I wore were not even high fashion!

I really feel challenged by the fact that I need support/comfort/orthotics AND I need to feel polished and smart casual.

On the last day of our trip I am embarrassed to say that my feet were so trashed by the days before where I was trying to be stylish, that the only shoes I could wear were my asics sneakers. We went on a city walking tour and at night a home tour and I wore my sneakers?!?!?* I had not brought my puma mostros or my gray converse. I felt very ugly. They were not white but still they were sneakers but at that point I did not really have a choice.

The embarrassing part was seeing some business assoc. in the hotel lobby when we got back. I felt so fugly. The wife of the bz assoc is one of the most stylish people I know. She was in cute flats.

This area of footwear is really a challenge for me and so if you have any advice I would love to hear it.

17 years ago

Amanda

Active Member

This is a huge challenge because I've found that shoes need to come with removable insoles in order for me to put in my orthotics. And ballet flats definitely don't have room for orthotics. Shoes that people will say are 8 hours shoes for them often aren't comfortable for me because they don't have enough support.

I think that there is a balance between being stylish and recognizing that you have to protect your feet. Since you do so much traveling and walking, I would suggest looking at brands that make sturdy shoes and find a pair that are comfortable for you and that you like -- they won't be the height of style but they can look nicely casual. I have a pair of brown leather teva chunky shoes that I wear whenever I am going to do significant walking. For the summer I have a pair of black "hippie" sandals by Naot that I can walk in for hours. They aren't cute but I don't think they are ugly. My perspective is that if my outfit looks good and my feet are healthy that is fabulous for me.

Debbie

good advice AJ

thank you

HL - and I think if you wear sturdy shoes with bootcuts, they don't "show" as much -- a great pair of PPL bootcuts and a fab top and jewelry -- who's going to notice sturdy shoes?!

right on aj

aj I tried on some Privo mj's today and the insole was glued down. Do some of their styles have removable insoles?

We should have a YLF pact that whenever one of us who wears orthotics finds a cute comfy shoe with removable insole and good support we tell each other.

I'm in!

anne

Veteran

It is a hard question HL ! Apart from buying the most attractive sneakers you can, my only suggestion would be to get some comfy boots. These were what I have lived in this winter (Im in Australia)
http://www.zushoe.com.au/catal.....RILYN.aspx

They fit my orthotics in.

Apart from boot and orthotics I have to say I tend to go for sensible shoes that do not probably look stylish enough. My "Kumfs" (this is a NZ brand, but you must have equivalents in the US) are so comfy I wear them around the house almost as slippers, but are structured enough to walk in as well. Can't find them online, probably because I bought them last year. But the Kumfs page had some reasonably cute styles, like these
http://www.kumfs.co.nz/product.....8;pr=Dress

wow those are cute Kumfs and boots anne. My Dh will be in NZ in a week---i should have him bring me some! Not really....i need to try on.

I tore the insole out of my new Privo flats so that my orthotics would fit into the shoe properly. I had to scrape a bit but they came out. With my inserts in them, the Privos are comfortable. I wouldn't spend a day walking all over town in them, but I don't have foot pain at the end of a normal day. I have a pair of Merrell flats that had removable insoles.

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my new Converse sneakers. It has a thick insole but it's flat with no arch support at all. If I put my insoles in, my foot sits a bit high in the shoe. And I don't think it will be easy to tear the existing insoles out. I've tried putting little gel arch supports in the shoe and that might work just fine if I'm not doing a lot of walking. I probably won't wear them for heaving walking days.

Also I think it is easier to find stylish sturdy shoes at specialty shoe shops than at department stores. I've bought almost all my shoes at independent small shoe stores in Seattle rather than at department stores.

My smaller orthotics fit well on top of the insole in my converse AJ. I have 2 pair. One is a big orthotic and the other is smaller for shoes like COnverse.

I don't prefer having my orthotic on top of the insole but sometimes it is my only choice.

I have 2 pair because I kept the old pair when the podiatrist made my new pair.

My foot pronates to the max. I have no arch at all in fact my foot pronates inward.

AngieH

Member

Sudini makes boots with removable insoles, I just put my orthotic under the cushy insole and it works great. Also, Munro usually has some stylish shoes. They are very comfortable and I can wear their sandals without my orthotics. Nordstrom and Zappos carry these brands.

When I worked in an office, all my work shoes were Munros. They are very comfortable and I can stand in them for hours (which sometimes I had to do at events). I don't find them as comfortable for walking a lot however. I'll check out the Sudini brand - I've never heard of it.

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