Friday Findings and Feet
I finally saw a physical therapist about my shin pain and it turns out I don’t have what is technically referred to as shin splints. I have Tibialis anterior tendinopathy which is an inflammation of the anterior tibialis tendon. It’s from overuse in lousy shoes, just like shin splints would be but I don’t have the microscopic bone injury that shin splints have. I guess this is preferable but it still hurts a lot so shoes are top of mind for me.
Shoes and sandals that require me to grip my toes while walking are out of the question, for now, so I hobbled down to Nordstrom and bought these sandals. They have a cushioned insole and since they buckle on, are much better than any other sandal I brought. I have lots of comfortable, supportive sandals…just not with me. These aren’t something I’ll wear with a knee-length dress or skirt, but probably under a maxi dress.
I’m sort of crazy about how comfy my new Tulip shoes are. I’ve eyed them for years but always thought they were sort of goofy looking. Well, in the hunt for comfy shoes, goofy takes on a whole new meaning and I now choose to see these as creative. I love the colors this Flex style comes in and think the raspberry or fuschia will be perfect for fall. They come in 6 colors. I was told to size up, then warned they stretch so I bought ones that fit but are not loose. How fun are these leopard print ones?
MORE TULIPS
On the hunt for comfy shoes, I came across this company which has amazing reviews! Their shoes are light and airy, machine washable, and made with Eucalyptus Tree which is a renewable resource. This is the Tree Runner style which comes in 12 color combinations and is their everyday sneaker. They also make a boat shoe style here.
I will be hunting down more comfortable shoes going forward. This injury isn’t permanent, but it reminds me that my body isn’t nearly as resilient as it once was.
What sneakers do you like?
At this point in my life comfortable shoes are a must. I wear Brooks sneakers, but I’ve been considering the Hoka brand. They are not really attractive, but I’ve heard they are wonderful for walking. I have also had great luck with Naot or Birkenstock sandals as well as the Ecco and OluKai slip on sneakers.
Thank you for all the information you give us!
Thank you for sharing your resources and experience with us
I have tendon and arthritis issues in my left foot and I’ve had issues for years. If I don’t wear the right shoes, look out!
I absolutely love BZees brand sandals!! Also some of the ones mentioned already are great too. Vionic, Clark’s, some Skechers, ASICS and new balance for tennis shoes.
Vionic’s!!!!!!!! Great support
ASICS Nimbus for walking/exercise tennis shoe
I agree with others , shoes with good arch support are what will work for most feet , leg, back, and hip problems. The ladies have given some good suggestions. Shoes that are flat with no good arch support are not going to work for walking, just sitting .
Athletic shoes for lots of walking on concrete , etc. I wear cute sandals if I am going in somewhere to sit. There are comfort sandals out there that look good and feel good , just have to see what works. I hope you find good shoes that help your feet. Vionic, Clarks,Ecco, and others have some nice styles.
Those Ilse Jaacobsen tulip shoes are fantastic and getting more popular every season. They make a slightly different style that I prefer and it comes in so many colors: https://www.softsurroundings.com/p/chic-sneakers/40/?gclid=CjwKCAjwsNiIBhBdEiwAJK4khgOcpKH5f244LQKG-zj1LC0A0fpq8jZlQQlSbPvcBHV0T4w2Ya1OIRoCRIwQAvD_BwE
After successful bunion surgery in my 40’s, I realized I would always have sensitive feet and I would be buying comfort shoes. I went to one of those shoe stores that look like it’s all orthopedic – and their salespeople are trained to know which shoes work for your foot issues. I don’t mean places like The Walking Store – I mean those dusty looking shops in a strip mall. They told me what to look for in a shoe and brought me the right ones to try on. Wow. What a difference! I didn’t like the ones they brought and didn’t buy them, but I learned what to look for.
Rainsong Shoes in Mendocino and Healdsburg have an especially good collection of very fashionable looking comfort shoes – better than anywhere I’ve been to in Northern CA. I bought my first pair of Tulip Shoes there the first year they had them!
I agree, there’s a big difference in stores who really know their stuff about what are the best shoes for our unique feet
Chacos!
Ecco soft 7’s! I have them in four colors, but I wear the white leather pair more than any other shoe in my closet. I’m in my mid-sixties and still teach high school full time. It’s imperative that I have comfy footwear! Still, I’m very mindful that shoes can date a person or make an outfit, and I’m acutely aware that my 16-18 year old students are checking me out. And that’s part of how we connect, so it’s worth consideration. When my students compliment my footwear, I know I hit the mark on all counts! i wear Fryes, Eccos, Birkenstocks, Bussola, Uggs, some Everlanes, a Margaux pair I learned about from Jennifer. I rarely wear my Jack Rogers anymore. At home in addition to the above, I also wear Tevas, the occasional Danskos, Aetrex. I’m very careful about trying on footwear too, because not all styles work for me. My feet, legs, hips are very happy with my footwear!
I have been curious about the Everlane footwear.. It looks so comfy
Wow! What a fabulous forum for such useful information about our hard working feet.
I have just had jabs under both feet to relieve the searing pain of Morton’s Neuroma. Must send a letter to my podiatrist about the positive change. So relieved.
Love my Ilse Jacobsen Tulip shoes…have 4 pairs… they might run a tad small…but honestly, do stretch, so beware. Not suited for a long walk, as mentioned previously. A structured walking shoe is best for that.
I have short (7/37) wide feet with short toes so an ample foot box is very important .
So happy to see others enjoying my other favourites.
Clarks Cloud Steppers are a dream for summer , as are Vionics for a step in sneaker ( somewhat like a boater) with style.
Naot make an excellent ankle boot… light, amazing construction. Worth the price.
One caution…I tend to change my shoes throughout the day as my feet appreciate the difference in pressure points. Walking barefoot is a problem, except in my garden while watering. The lawn is so comforting.
Jennifer ,I feel your pain. Painful shins happen to me, for the same reason. Takes professional information, and patience… and good footwear!
Looks like you are doing all of those things.
I just bought a pair of Naot sandals today and eyed a few pairs of their boots. Very cute. I’m not overly patient so hopeful the right footwear will help
I don’t know how anyone can wear shoes or sandals without good arch supports and they’re hard to find. Vionic have great styles, Fitflops are great. Otherwise, it’s a desert out there. As we age, our feet require lots of TLC and an investment in quality.
Jennifer I hope the pain subsides. We need our legs and feet for everything we do so good shoes are most important. Another reader (Eve) pointed out that she buys shoes that fit from the start and she is so right. I don’t get it when people say they need to break them in. I read reviews for department store purchases and many women say ” a bit tight but they will stretch out”. That’s a NO for me.
Clarks served my problem feet well at the airport I worked at and most airline workers favored them. Sperry makes good arch support shoes too.
Your new shoe choices are not the old lady look. Take care.
I refuse to let me feet take a beating to stretch out a shoe
For years I was a big fan of Brooks sneakers but my daughter suggested I try Hoka brand sneaks which I had never heard of. So this time when I needed new sneaks I tried on both the Brooks & the Hoka’s-and I am so so glad I did! The cushioning in the Hoka is unbelievable! Yet it is still supportive. My feet and knees are so grateful!
My physical therapist suggested Hokas today, so I will be checking them out.
As a senior ballroom performance dancer, I’ve experienced a variety of foot “defuga;toes” over the last 20 years, so cushiony shoes are a must and most good manufacturers are getting the message. I just wish the ballroom shoe designers would too! I always order my dance shoes with a double padded sole but “foot abuse” happens. I’ve had good luck with Clarks for everyday shoes and sandals and New Balance for my walking shoes. With the right shoes, you won’t be thinking about your feet so much!
I do love many of the Clarks styles. Thanks, Kathleen. I love the idea of double padded insoles.
Like so many of you, I have multiple foot problems. And a ginormous shoe collection–many of which I can no longer wear but which I’ve held onto for stupid reasons (mostly because they were really expensive). It’s been on my to-do list to pull them all out, try them on or look them over and make some solid decisions. I appreciate all the recommendations of brands to investigate. A plaintive request to shoe companies: I wear a 5.5/35.5 (as measured with a Brannock device). I don’t understand why shoe ranges usually skip this size–they will be supplied as 5,6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, etc. (I know it’s true at the upper end, also, they skip 10.5). Allbirds has one style, its flat, that comes in a 5.5–for the other models, they recommend sizing up. That doesn’t work–I’ve tried both their 5 and 6, and neither fit. Vionic is the same for their shoes. For companies that pride themselves on fit, I find this baffling. I used to make shoes ‘fit’ with various bits of padding, but it’s not worth it to me any more. Instead, I wear a lot of Naot.
I totally agree that finding wuality comfortable shoes in small sizes is nearly impossible. I too wear size 5.5 ( in US sizes) and 35.5 in European sizes. A lot of site say a 5.5 equate to a 36. Not so. I walk straight out of the 36’s. Many brands just don’t make small sizes.!
So I wear Clarks sandals ( wedges in different heights) and New Balance 460’s. Hard to find, but the arch placement is perfect. For regular closed shoes I search for style first ( still!) but they have to be soft leather that will conform with mu bony feet. Does anybody else have the problem of a bone on the top of the foot that protrudes? It makes any loafer or espadrille type shoe ( with a high top part of the shoe) impossible to wear.)
I am a 9 1/2 and most brands don’t make it!!
I agree that many manufacturers do not make 9 1/2 because that’s my size. I have Vionic ballet flats I love and spent more than I wanted on a pair of their thongs when my plantar fasciitis was acting up….it was worth every penny. I also bought Vionic slippers which, though expensive, are better than a flat slipper. I like FitFlop but they also do not make 9 1/2. I have two pairs in size 9 and one fits better than the other; the size 10 is just too large. Good luck!
I wear FitFlop shoes a LOT. Love their sneakers! No, I don’t work for them or get any sort of kickback, but here are the current women’s sneakers they offer in the US: https://www.fitflop.com/us/en/shop/womens-sneakers-us
I didn’t know they made sneakers! Thanks, Barb.
I think those shoes are kind of cute. I always went for form over comfort but not anymore. I’m all about comfort now since I’ve been walking a lot. I’ve been happy with Asics and Nike lately. I have some Clarks sandals that I like too.
Ouch! Good luck on your healing journey. Have you ever heard of euroSoft by Sofft? I found a wonderful pair of sandals by this brand. I have a corn so I bought a wide in this brand and it was perfect. Another brand that seems super comfortable to me is SAS Tripad comfort. Good luck!
Those shoes are cute and cushy but are flat and still don’t have the arch support so many of us were recommending. Lots of good brands were recommended – give some a try! Lots of cute styles to choose from.
I usually don’t go by name or price when it comes to shoes. I try them on. I wear Keds and Sperry topsiders most of the time. Sometimes, just the addition of a new innersole can make an old shoe fit right again. I don’t believe in buying a shoe that isn’t comfortable right off the bat. Some do get a little looser over time and that’s where the innersole comes in. I pay attention to width in particular. If the width doesn’t feel right, they will always be uncomfortable. Cloud steppers by Clark’s is a great sandal. Cole Haan and UNI make great booties.
Cute offerings! Glad you got a good diagnosis and are on the mend. I am more focused on shoes that are comfortable. On the sneaker side, I got a pair of Vionic sneakers and love them. I also found a pair from Vince Camuto. I just got a pair from Cariuma; these have a cork footbed and are really fun. Allbirds are wonderful. I found a great pair of Mephisto sandals in the Nordstrom sale. Some Steve Madden sandals have good padding.
Thank you for such good information on good supportive and comfortable shoes. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my feet. This has been so helpful.