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Your Favorite Brand of Shoes - For Comfort

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Posted 7/19/2010 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
In another post, I think Sherrine mentioned a brand of shoes she finds comfy and helpful. That started me thinking, I bet a lot of us have certain favorite brands. Maybe we should all share this info - and it could help other members on the search for comfy shoes?

I'll start ....

My brand: Klogs USA - their NewPort collection. (I'm told their other collections of leather shoes may not have these same benefits.)
Price: about $90 per pair. I got steals online for $60 and $42 though.
What do I like? They work for my very high arches, and very high insteps. Greatest underfoot support that I've ever felt due to their removable inserts. You can put your own orthotics in instead. The toe box is wide and roomy, I can wiggle my toes. Nice deep heel cup, yet it feels like gel under my heels. I'm on my second pair. I wear them round the clock, except for sleeping of course. :) Couldn't live without these. They look dressier than my new balance walking shoes, by far.


What's your recommendation for others?
Posted 7/19/2010 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have a Wal-Mart pair of clogs and Natures Earth Sandals these are the only 2 pairs of shoes I can wear with comfort. In the winter I wear slippers around the house and only put on tennis shoes when I have to leave the house.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 7/19/2010 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have those plastic garden clogs and love them, so I went and bought another brand that is Dr Scholls and they have massaging nubs, those drive me nuts, so no good. I love barefeet, but when i need shoes do to sensitivity on my feetsies, i prefer something loose and good support withno nubs, tried a pair of the tone ups tennies shoes but they felt wierd.
Posted 7/19/2010 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Sneakers and hiking boots. I have no preference on brand, just as long as they fit comfortably the minute I put them on, I am happy.

I am being transferred to a new site and may have to dress more businesslike. The thought of having to wear shoes is giving me nightmares. I like comfortable shoes with socks and haven't found a pair of dress shoes that I can tolerate for more than 10 minutes. I'll probably just buy a nice, new, clean pair of sneakers and wear them with my business clothes. Too bad if they don't like it.

(I also always wear shorts under my skirt because I forget to sit like a lady.)

My husband says 'You can take me out but you can't dress me up.'
Posted 7/19/2010 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Adidas are GTG ...

Usually I wear my runners...you know the shoes with air or gel filling that are compressible.
Posted 7/19/2010 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
The only shoe I can wear is the "Earth" shoe. 
It takes the pressure off of the from part of your foot.

Posted 7/20/2010 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
This has turned into a great post. :) I didn't know about some of these other shoes you've named. I hope more people will add to it. I bet this will be a good help to others here.

And by the way, Fiesty, I agree about nubs: thumbs down. To me, nubs are like blister makers.
Posted 7/20/2010 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
I wear only FitFlops in the summer and Z-coils in the winter.
Posted 7/20/2010 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Clarks, definately.
Posted 7/20/2010 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Dearfoam Slippers...lol I don't go out often so I'm either in socks and/or slippers. I hate shoes and can't do flip-flops unless I want to bleed. Feet are way too tender. Something low, soft sole and leather. I go by what feels good and don't pay attention to brand names.

Chutz <---hates to shop...lol
Posted 7/20/2010 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
SAS sandals which have great arch support. Also Avia walkers which also have great arch support and heel cushion. I wear an 11 narrow--hard to find.
Posted 7/20/2010 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
In the summer, I generally am wearing comfy sandals. I have always found Rockport
walking shoes to be comfortable. In the winter (live in AR) I generally wear slides
with smartwool socks. Smartwool brand are very soft wool and keep the feet warm.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 7/20/2010 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Ariat brand paddock boots and mine zip up the front and only come a little higher than the ankle which I usually don't zip up. Summertime is flip flop time
Posted 7/20/2010 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Clarks, Easy Spirit, Rockport, Hush Puppies...a lifelong problem finding shoes here. I have strangely-shaped feet (straight across at the toes, narrow heel) so I usually have to order them. They pretty much have to tie because if they're wide enough at the toes, they'll be too loose at the heel so I have to be able to adjust them. I Will Not Wear Uncomfortable Shoes!!!

I'm trying to get used to a pair of Birkenstocks but I don't think it's going to work. The metatarsal(sp?) support in the middle makes my foot sore.
Posted 7/20/2010 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Clarks, definitely - I have 6 pairs!  I have sketchers, too, but can only wear them one day.  Born are nice and so are sofft.  The clarks are the best.

Sue

Posted 7/20/2010 7:33 PM (GMT 0)

MBTs.  I have foot problems & orthotics, but with MBTs I can go without the orthotics.  They're pricey, but I buy them on sale on the internet, after I've tried them on at a store to determine the size.  Azgram

osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gastritis, spinal stenosis, DDD,mortons neuromas, 4of them, plantar faciatis, TMJ, depression, migraines

Posted 7/20/2010 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I like Earth shoes too. When I was working, I had a pair of Dr. Scholls that had gel insoles, I really liked them. Happy shoe hunting!!!

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/21/2010 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Crocks, Birkenstocks and New Balance athletic shoes #601
Posted 7/21/2010 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, this is a subject that always gets me riled up!!!!

I have size 5 feet. With a D-E width. Not a standard B for "medium" width. I need wide. The problem? In Canada, it's almost impossible to find shoes in my size and width, and when I do...they are usually hideously expensive. Or just hideous.

I can wear kids shoes, so for casual shoes/sandals, etc. I'm generally fine. Most of the kids shoes seem to be cut wider so my feet don't squelch around. Dress shoes are the worst for me...I generally have to order online and deal with shipping and returning if they don't fit (which is 95% of the time), so it's just a really tough situation. The other drawback is that I have some deformities with my toes, and I broke bones in my right foot many years ago, but it's made things just a little bit harder.

So...that's my sad story. I'm going to look into the brands I hear being mentioned and see if I can find stuff that way. Good luck to all of you on finding comfy shoes...they truly make the difference in how the day goes, don't they??!!

hugs,
Pam
Posted 7/21/2010 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I love this brand that you can get at JCPenny called Strictly Comfort...omg it's like walking on clouds lol Not every one of their shoes are as comforitable but they make many styles including sandals (great for summer in florida) that have very cushy comfy insides (fibro fog cant think of the word im looking for lol) Also, I have wide feet and I don't have an issue with these shoes being too tight. Anyway..they can get pricey but they go on sale for like 1/2 the price quite often..and I have a JCPenny card ;) hehe

I also have a pair of awesome Brookstone slippers that I got for x-mas last year that I wear around the house. The inside is like memory foam so I slide those one anytime I am gonna be on my feet around the house. On a side note I also have one of those relief mats in my kitchen in front of the stove...it costs about $100 at Bed Bath & Beyond (Im sure you could find another brand cheeper) but I do find it is helpful.

Posted 7/21/2010 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Achey, wear the Birkenstocks for one hour a day.  When you get used to that, up the time a little.  It took me a little over a month to get used to them originally but, once you do, you don't have to go through that again with another new pair.  The shoes make you carry yourself properly.

 

When I bought my first pair they were $96.  I had problems with them so I stuck them in the closet.  But, money wasn't easy to come by and I figured I was going to learn how to wear these shoes so I started out slowly and am very glad I did. 

 

I have a friend that is a travel agent and was having great problems with her feet.  I told her about Birkenstocks and she tried them and it, too, took her about a month to get used to the form of the shoe but now she has many pairs and she has to do a lot of walking.

 

They have helped me so much that I now have 22 pairs...even black patent leather for evening!  LOL  I buy mine online direct from Germany and they are a fraction of the cost and there is no shipping and handling, either.

 

Sherrine

Posted 7/21/2010 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, I'm glad you posted about Birkenstocks - I was hoping you would after I remembered you mentioning them elsewhere.

Like you, I also took time to get used to shoes with good support. 2 full weeks of slow break in to get used to my first pair of Klogs. At first they actually felt lumpy under my arch. Then another couple weeks where they felt mostly good. After that it was bliss. Prior to that, I wore slippers with zero support - which was about like going barefoot for years. No support for years REALLY messed up the muscles, ligaments and everything else in my feet. It was very hard to get used to proper support, but I'm glad I did for the sake of my feet and body. So glad you raised this issue of break-in - it is critical. (Not to break in the shoe - but for our feet, I think.)

Post Edited (TheChickenPrincess) : 7/21/2010 11:29:34 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/21/2010 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
PS: Sherrine, where do you order yours from?
Posted 7/21/2010 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I always wore "cutsy" shoes....ballet flats, low heels with bows on the toes.  Then, when I left work to raise my children, I was in slippers and bare feet a lot.  WHAM!  I got plantar faciitis so badly that I honestly could only walk a few yards without terrible pain.  It was horrible.  When I wanted to put my feet on the ground, I almost tasted blood in my mouth. 

 

My 25th anniversary came up and my husband took me to San Francisco.  He had a speaking engagement there so I thought I'd walk around during the day....NOT!  I managed to catch the trolleys but that was about all.  I walked two blocks on my own and had to turn around and head back.  I wasn't even sure I could make it back!

 

When I got home I mentioned this to my mother.  She is the one that told me about Birkenstocks.  I'd never heard of them but Mom and Dad would go to New York City a lot and she said there were sooo many people wearing Birkenstocks so they must be comfortable.  I decided to buy a pair but, quite frankly, I thought they were the ugliest shoe I had ever seen!  But it was far more important to me to be able to walk without all of the pain.  All the doctors had to offer were cortisone shots in my heels and the possibility of surgery.

 

As I said, I bought them, had difficulty with them but then took the time to get my feet used to a shoe with good support.  The foot bed is shaped like the shape you would get if you stood in sand. 

 

I no longer have plantar faciitis and can even walk bare-footed without pain.  I've walked through Italy in these shoes and stood on glaciers with them. 

 

The site I found to get them is  http://www.jestelkg.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?

Be sure to set your correct currency in the upper left corner so you see the correct price for the items.  The prices are less than half price for what you pay here in the US.  I realized this when I visited Germany.  Shoes that were $96 here were only $40 there!  But, I haven't bought any in a while so I'm not sure how the prices are because of the value of our dollar.  But, check it out.  It definitely is cheaper than the stores and there is no tax or shipping and handling.  I have no affiliation with this site.  I just searched until I found a site that didn't charge high shipping and handling.  I've never had a problem with them, either.

 

Sherrine

Posted 7/22/2010 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I like Mizuno for athletic shoes and I practically live in my Beech Sandals.

The best resource I have found is Footsmart. They have shoes for just about every ailment.
Hapad is another company I have found very useful. They make peel and stick inserts that allow you to build your own custom insole.
Title 9 is a company that makes sporting goods specifically for women and I would definitely recommend them.
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