HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Ladies - Sneakers

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/3/2022 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have a pair of New Balance shoes that have been comfortable, are very lightweight, and have fresh foam insoles and moderate arch support. Unfortunately, they seem to be discontinued and my size is no longer available.

I am looking for another pair, as these have gotten a little dirty. I absentmindedly wore them a couple times while doing yard work 😔. I’d like to have one pair to wear and go walk in and one pair to get dirty.

I know many of you also have foot problems with sore soles and other things. It’s really hard to find comfortable shoes anymore. I have bunions and need arch support and softer insoles. Most athletic shoes these days have little to no arch support, stiff insoles, and stiff or flat soles. Anyone have a brand and style they recommend?

These are the ones I have. There’s still a few sizes left, but not mine.
https://www.amazon.com/new-balance-womens-fresh-sneaker/dp/b075r7jncz/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=15otacp6u0lvh&keywords=new%2bbalance%2bwomen%27s%2bfresh%2bfoam%2bsport%2bv1%2brunning%2bshoe&qid=1670071651&sprefix=new%2bbalance%2bwomen%27s%2bfresh%2bfoam%2bsport%2bv1%2brunning%2bshoe%2caps%2c285&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1
Posted 12/3/2022 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
At first I thought this was a post just for the ladies here?


(But it’s about women’s shoes , Or anyone shoes for that matter)

(I have had to unfortunately become a foot and shoe scientist lol)

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/3/2022 11:41:07 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/3/2022 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Sketchers makes a wide variety of shoe styles with a feature called ArchFit that might work for you. The soles are soft and very supportive, and they offer many types of shoe with the ArchFit sole - sneakers, loafers, etc.
Posted 12/3/2022 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
One of my good college buddies was a middle distance runner in the Big Ten. She wears the brand Brooks.she says it’s a well built shoe.
Posted 12/3/2022 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
The new balance brand is literally falling apart the last five years. Their quality is unfortunately now garbage. And it’s still over priced. This is all happening before Covid.

Some of the new balance shoes are purposely flat inside with the assumption that the user will install orthotics. That is more of the case with what I call their industrial health shoes. Their average fitness shoes used to have somewhat of a arch support.

I have noticed a lot of casual athletic shoes no longer have an arch in them. I wonder if this is for ease of manufacturing and lower costs? My most comfortable shoes I’ve had in the last 10 years or some cheap Avias from Walmart. They were a low heel casual athletic shoe with decent arch support and they just fit me well. Unfortunately the new ones they have I just looked a couple days ago are completely flat inside!

The more body and foot work I do the less I need orthotics. I have not used my prescription orthotics in over a year. I do have some lower ones that were just a general semi flexible semi rigid orthotic I got online that will fit in any shoes. I had two pair and the heel area was worn out down to the plastic so I think I’ll bring them to a sports gear Taylor to put a new top cushion on them. There were 3/4 orthotics so there’s plenty of toe room.

One thing I have found is the flat or the shoe, the better. The harder sold and higher heeled hiker athletic shoes hurt the front of my foot because you’re leaning forward. I prefer flat bottom athletic shoes that don’t actually have a protruding heel.

There are actually specific shoes that have a negative angle as well I forget the name of who made those, maybe it was KEEN.?
Posted 12/3/2022 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
I second the Brooks recommendation. They are pricey, but I loved them. Also helped avoid knee pain. I was working on concrete when I had them. Unfortunately I worked them to death over a year- worked at target and the Home Depot garden center approximately full time. They saved my feet from so much pain though!
Posted 12/4/2022 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
The book Born to Run set off a serious trend about 15 years ago, making people believe that minimalist soles (zero rise, very flexible, "barefoot" shoes) were best for the feet. For some people, this does seem to be accurate. So all the big brands started making some minimalist or minimalist-adjacent shoes. They work wonderfully for my partner.

My child and I, however, have very different feet, and need more support because of the natural structure of our feet, ankles, and knees. For the 20% of the population that pronates, barefoot shoes are very bad! Unfortunately feet vary so much, and what works for one foot shape might not work for another!

Kalso Earth shoes used to make "negative heel" shoes (which did also have arch support) which I loved, but they seem to have gone out of business. You can find some on eBay.
Posted 12/4/2022 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Interesting thing about bad feet for those who have not actually injured their feet from some form of impact, bad feet are from walking on man-made surfaces. There is a study I read years ago on what native peoples there are left in the world who walk barefoot On natural land,do not have feet problems like pronation. Of course they have skin injuries from what they’re walking on though.
Posted 12/4/2022 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Something odd I've noticed is that over the last year or two of treatment my shoes suddenly feel loose. I recently bought new shoes a whole size smaller than before.

I'm not sure what changed. Is it that my joints are less swollen now? Or is it just loss of muscle or fat?
Posted 12/4/2022 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Have you searched Google Shopping for your New Balance shoe?

https://shopping.google.com

Just using regular Google search, I found other stores carrying the shoe, but I didn't know your size or color preference.

For a walking shoe, I've stuck with Brooks shoes for a long time -- more than a decade. With my current situation, I can't justify replacing my current shoes, because I can't exercise. But, their GTS Adrenaline series is the shoe that I've been buying for years. It's what I will buy again, when I can afford it.

Brooks' Guarantee and Return Policy: https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/brooks-run-happy-promise

When I was exercising, years ago, and I wasn't on rocky surfaces, I wore my Vibram FiveFingers. Those were my favorites, because of the minimal sole that allowed my feet to move like I was barefooted. Also, as the name implies, the "shoe" has separate compartments for each toe. Now, they also offer socks with individual toe compartments, but I've never tried them. That may not work for you, but I thought I'd mention them.
Posted 12/4/2022 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
I have some sketcher slip Ons from target of all places that actually have some arch support in them. Not really enough for all day but most other slip Ons like the vans I wore when I was a kid I have zero arch support. My sketcher hikers have a better arch support but the heel is high which as I noted earlier I do not like, unless I’m actually hiking On uneven surfaces.

(And now the vans are popular again they still have zero arch support. Guess that’s because they’re supposed to be able to be soft and stick and grab onto a skateboard, they’re not really for walking. When I was a kid you had to order vans from a BMX or skateboard shop they were all custom order with pretty much whatever color combinations you wanted. I think dinosaurs roamed the Earth back then too.)

I’ve never had Brooks, I remember them as a kid though, Then it’s like they disappeared for a couple decades and came back as a running shoe only as far as I know. I’ll have to Google it and see if there’s any stores that have them. I can’t buy clothing online because it never fits. I am very particular about how clothing and shoes fit me.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/4/2022 12:10:21 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/4/2022 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
“ I can’t buy clothing online because it never fits. I am very particular about how clothing and shoes fit me.“

I only buy clothes online now.
Try them on at home and send them back if I don’t like them.
Easier than driving to a store .
Posted 12/4/2022 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
Wow! Looks of mentions for Brooks. Never heard of it before. Maybe it’s a northern thing? I looked them up, but they’re pricy. I guess that’s to be expected for better quality. They also look more athletic than what I need. I basically need a comfortable shoe to wear on walks and during the day in cooler weather.

I actually have a pair of Tretorns in the back of the car that I ordered 3-4 years ago and have never worn. I should dig them out and see if they are useable. I have wore Tretorns for years until they quit making them for a while.

I learned something about feet, too. Never heard of pronation. Had to look that up. If I remember right, it’s where the feet turn to the inward side when walking. I know my right foot and knee turn in when walking, but not sure about the left.
Most athletic shoes are way too much for me. I can’t stand high backs and thick padding around the ankles.

I wear flip flops during warm weather, which is most of the year. I have some with thicker soles and arch support. I have trouble walking much in the really flat ones, but sometimes it’s so hot that is all I can stand touching my feet.
Posted 12/4/2022 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah In the past Brooks was mostly a popular running shoe - Popular among actual runners. Then they just about completely disappeared and I do see people wearing them now again.

Maybe get some more athletic type sandals with some arch support and a backstrap versus flat flip-flops for summer. Actual flip-flops are for the Beach and are bad for your feet, that could be part of your problem(!).

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/3/2022 9:35:26 PM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/4/2022 6:11 AM (GMT 0)

Girlie said...
“ I can’t buy clothing online because it never fits. I am very particular about how clothing and shoes fit me.“

I only buy clothes online now.
Try them on at home and send them back if I don’t like them.
Easier than driving to a store .


Remember,Women’s clothing not only come in different sizes but different body builds/shapes. Men unfortunately do not have that option, we should though. So our clothes are actually harder to find that fit correctly. sizes.

Well, in addition to sizes, they sometimes come Long or tall in the shirts or coats which is nice, but it stops there.

It would make way more sense if men’s clothes also came in at least three body shapes/Shapes versus just sizes: Skinny, heavy/wide and then Athletic. Note, skinny and athletic can be somewhat similar but are certainly not the same. Better fit for everyone if they did this. One average shape regardless of size is not going to fit all three.

Because of this, I would be returning 90% of my clothing if purchased online. In my case it makes more sense to devoting half a day or more to actual brick and mortar store shopping. I hate trying to get clothes that fit correctly.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/4/2022 9:37:47 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/4/2022 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
“ Remember,Women’s clothing not only come in different sizes but different body builds/shapes. Men unfortunately do not have that option, we should though. So our clothes are actually harder to find that fit correctly. sizes.“

Lol Astroman!
Most of the clothes I buy come in S M L and XL

And it’s the same for my husband and son except except there’s also 2XL
Posted 12/4/2022 9:15 AM (GMT 0)
“ In my experience I need to try on about eight jeans of the same labeled size before I find one that actually fits good. If they’re not comfortable I’m not gonna wear them.“

Lol - you sound like my husband…

When I was younger I’d squeeze my feet into high heels with pointy toes when I dressed up… not anymore!
The older I get, the more I lean towards comfort .
Posted 12/4/2022 9:49 AM (GMT 0)
Girly -I thought I was editing and deleted my whole comment.:

My ex girlfriend was very small, she always grumbled about sizing and would get petites instead of just the letter sizing, So that’s what I was talking about woman’s body type clothing options.

I still have an athletic build = so most cloths are too tight in one area while too big in another another. The ones that fit, we’re probably made wrong lol. Nice clothes which I rarely wear anymore , I would sometimes get tailored in the past.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/4/2022 9:34:40 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/4/2022 10:02 AM (GMT 0)
WbF:

If you ever find yourself over toward Macon, you might want to visit Foot Solutions (https://footsolutions.com) to see if they might be able to help.

When I lived in Texas, a friend of mine owned two of their stores and they made some custom orthotics for me to use in my work boots. I was a field engineer in healthcare and had to wear composite toe safety boots. I was on my feet a lot and the orthotics helped. I didn't have any foot problems, but the orthotics still helped.

Foot Solutions previously carried a line of shoes called MBT -- which stands for Masai Barefoot Technology. These were the shoes that my friend and his wife started wearing, once they got into the shoe business.

While MBT is not a brand featured on the Foot Solutions website, the MBT website (https://us.mbt.com) shows two Foot Solutions stores in the Atlanta metro area that supposedly carry the brand.

You Walk Wrong
https://nymag.com/health/features/46213

7 Ways Modern Shoes Ruin Your Feet
https://www.yogabody.com/7-ways-shoes-ruin-your-feet

How Shoes Affect Your Feet (and What to Do about It)
http://www.chalktraining.com/blog/2017/7/7/how-shoes-feet

This may be more time and money than you're able or willing to invest, so feel free to ignore. Again, I'm an idea guy. I like options.
Posted 12/4/2022 10:15 AM (GMT 0)
WBF- some tips on leg /foot muscles and what orthotics work. :

A lot of foot problems can also be from lower leg tendons or muscles pulling your foot the wrong way. Tired and/or slightly injured muscles and tendons overtime do this. . I worked on that a lot,This is why I rarely have to wear my prescription orthotics from the past. But, I did need them All the time up to just a couple years ago, for many years.

The orthotics that work have a strong enough arch to hold up your body weight while still being flexible on Hard and heavier steps. If they are so stiff that your arch cannot move at all, your arch will never heal because it no longer needs to work.

Somehow my arches pronated overtime giving me flat feet. I’m guessing it was decades of tick infections combined with a lot of minor foot, Ankle and leg injuries when I was a BMX teen. A lot of standing jobs when Was a late teen early 20s didn’t help either.

As the saying goes the footbone is connected to the leg bone. It’s connected via tendon and muscle.

The tendon that controls the arch actually goes around your ankle to the outside of your calf. It’s in the opposite place of where you think it would be. Sometimes that tendon is stiff or crunchy in people who pronate. And the Achilles tendon is connected to your plantar fascia. So if that’s tight - your leg you can give you planter fasciitis on the bottom of your foot. I had that too.

Stretching your foot muscles can help too. Standing barefooted on a golf ball really stretches out the foot muscles. It can be very painful when you first start trying this. You can’t put all of your weight on it does partially increase overtime. I roughed up a golf ball with a file so it wasn’t so slippery.

Post Edited (astroman) : 12/4/2022 9:33:47 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 12/4/2022 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Former New Balance user here. I found a new brand this year that I'm in love with. Really good support for my feet - they come with 3 different inserts so you get the support and comfort level you need.

The company name is Gravity Defyer. Lots of shoes to choose from for males and females.

In case anyone is interested: https://www.gravitydefyer.com
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply