Quite awhile back I started a thread about shoe help. To briefly summarize, I wanted help with shoes going to DL. I have a problem walking on concrete for long periods of time. After several days of DL my lower back is in agony. My two favorite althetic brands of shoes are Nike and Skechers, although I can't find a style in either that will take care of my problem.

As far as my back goes, I don't have back problems, just walking on concrete problems (I am fine when we are at Tom Sawyer Island, that soft dirt!) but I do have an ankle problem that was never fixed, I will be sure to wear my brace. That may be part of the problem.

Anyhow, I tried the Z Coil shoes, and they are good for the back problem but make my feet hurt. After wearing them all day my feet feel like they have been in high heels, I think it is because that coil is so high. I might need to get used to them, but I don't want to. They really aren't that comfortable. And they are ugly! :p

So I see those Nike Shox shoes and I am drooling. They have the spring, but aren't so high and they have 4 springs, that might absorb the shock of the hard concrete that is jarring my back.

Has anyone else tried these? Are they any good?

My trip to DL is at the end of July, if they are good I want to get a pair now and break them in before the trip.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that "House" wears them!

*winking and waving to Mukta and MartyLuvsTigger!*

Psst my friend, try the ugly shoe we have been talking about :) they are said to be very comfortable :) ( ok, so I want them ) LOL!!!

I have a pair, but I wouldn't say that they are more or less comfortable compared to my other tennis shoes. My most comfortable (also my ugliest) pair are my running shoes, which I was fitted for at a running store.

I would suggest that you do the same. Find a good running store in your area and they will evaluate the way you walk (for instance, I have flat pronated feet) and any foot problems you have (in my case, I have feet that are generally too narrow for regular widths and to wide for narrow widths; along with really narrow ankles). They will probably have you try on several shoes and then suggest that you take them home and wear them around the house (or walk on a treadmill) to make sure they are comfortable.

This can be time consuming (when they discontinued the style of running shoe I had worn for years, I took home 5 or 6 different pairs, and ran in them on my treadmill, before I found a pair that i really liked.). Another advantage to going to a running store is they will have several different widths instead of just the most popular ones.

Good luck in your search.

I have never done that wwithers. Is it very costly? Sounds like it is!

MrsPooh,

I have not tried them but a friend of mine has. I was admiring her pink and silver ones once here is what she said. She loved them for running (what she bought them for in the first place) so she got another pair for walking. But she found she did not care for them as a walking shoe. She felt off balance a lot of the time (twisted her ankle good once) and just had sore feet after a day filled with a lot of walking in them. Now she may just be weird but I do know they were made as a running shoe and running shoes are a lot different then walking most of the time.

Oh and also I just looked them up and her's had the springs from toe to heel not just the four in back. So you are looking at a different model. So you may need to try them out.

I have never done that wwithers. Is it very costly? Sounds like it is!


Nope. It's a free service. With how fast running shoes wear out, they want to make sure you come back. If you go, make sure you go to a running exclusive store where they have been trained to fit people-- and are runners/walkers themselves.

MrsPooh,

I have not tried them but a friend of mine has. I was admiring her pink and silver ones once here is what she said. She loved them for running (what she bought them for in the first place) so she got another pair for walking. But she found she did not care for them as a walking shoe. She felt off balance a lot of the time (twisted her ankle good once) and just had sore feet after a day filled with a lot of walking in them. Now she may just be weird but I do know they were made as a running shoe and running shoes are a lot different then walking most of the time.

Oh and also I just looked them up and her's had the springs from toe to heel not just the four in back. So you are looking at a different model. So you may need to try them out.


Now see, that is the problem I had with the Z Coil. I didn't run in them, but for walking they were hard on the foot. Made them hurt as if walking in heels (the ball of the foot.) I also felt off balance, and with my weak ankle it pretty much demands that I wear my ankle brace with them or I am in serious trouble.

I think I will have to go shopping (like THAT'S a chore! ;) ) and see what I can find. Thanks for the advice guys!

And Karla, NO WAY! Those are bad looking! :p

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that "House" wears them!

*winking and waving to Mukta and MartyLuvsTigger!*

*Waving back*

My feet are killing me after 3 days in the park. I wore my regular Nike sneakers, but my feet still hurt. I hope you find a good pair and when you do, let me know!

*Waving back*

My feet are killing me after 3 days in the park. I wore my regular Nike sneakers, but my feet still hurt. I hope you find a good pair and when you do, let me know!

I had that problem with my Nikes last trip, and even my Skechers. I had this one pair of Skechers, they were an older model, and they kept my feet from hurting while I was there. First time it ever happened. Now those shoes are worn out, and Skechers doesn't make them anymore. Nothing even close.

Makes me mad! :mad:

I have problems finding comfortable sneakers, or even closed shoes. My kids have been wearing Shox for a while. I didn't want to spend the big bucks on myself, but I finally tried a pair and couldn't believe how comfy they were. I'm going to try them out at WDW this week and I'll let you know if they work for me. I did buy gel soles to substitute for the Nike ones just in case.

Hi..problems with shoes- welcome to the club !!
I have been doing sports all my life and had the same problems..
Right now I have all kinds of different sneakers and I am doing fine..
Running shoes often have a very soft sole and the shape of the sole is formed for running ( a little bend to give more comfort)...but if you are walking all day this doesn´t work for me..
I have now my 3rd pair of Nike TNX ( I hope that´s the right name- I have to check ), they are great. The sole is a little harder but also air cushioned, the upper material is some kind of fabric..the shoe sits tight- like a second skin and because of the fabric you don´t have sweaty feet...
Also try to change shoes once a day, that´s a tip from my orthopaedist...works fine..
If you need extra comfort, you can by extra soles for the inside of your shoes..try the ones for the heels, because all the force from walking is transfered into the leg and from there all the way up to your behind and back...

Also try to change shoes once a day, that´s a tip from my orthopaedist...works fine..

I'm not a shoe expert (see the horrendous shoe thread :rolleyes: ) but I think littlemissgorgeous has good advice. Feet need a break from the same shoe with the constant walking we do at the parks. I try to bring a pair of good walking sandals to go with the tennies and switch-off.

Also, I found the Rockport walking shoes I normally love too heavy for the park. Someone on the Pad turned me onto New Balance and I really like them--have not had one problem since I've used them.

I also switch shoes when I'm on a long trip where I'll be walking a lot. I highly recommend it! When I don't, I can feel my feet for a week afterward.

I have the Shox with the four coils (haven't seen the other ones....they sound owie) and I love them. I've never spent all day walking around in them, though, so I can't really help you. I use them for long walks in our hilly neighborhood, and they're the only walking shoes I've had that don't make me feel like my feet are going to fall through the side of the shoe when I'm on a weird slope.

But I admit I was attracted to the Shox because they're slightly ugly. :rolleyes: Also, wwithers is right on the money about getting fitted at a specialty store! It doesn't cost that much more than a regular shoe store or a department store and they really want the shoes to FIT. My serious marathon friend swears by the running store near us. If I ever become serious about running again, I'll be going there.

Until then, I love my ugly Shox! But I don't know that they're for everyone, and I think the first time I mis-step in them, it's going to hurt like heck.....they're a little more elevated than I'm used to, and have super support around the heel, if you roll your ankle in them, you really roll your ankle.

Good luck!

Thanks, guys, for your input. Great advice. My boss loves New Balance, so I asked her about them. She told me that the store here will help you pick what you need and fit them to your foot. I think I might go try them.

I agree with the shoe changing thing, although I have always changed shoes, never wearing the same ones all the time, to allow them to breathe. Helps to keep foot odor away.

I will have to go shopping soon, like I said, before my trip so that I can break them in!

I also still want a pair of them Shox!

I am going to check out the Nike Shox shoes.

On a side note, when we were at DLR, my tennis shoes were the pits. I ended up wearing my flip flops the whole time and was so glad I brought them. I almost left them at home because we went in December.

Thanks, guys, for your input. Great advice. My boss loves New Balance, so I asked her about them. She told me that the store here will help you pick what you need and fit them to your foot. I think I might go try them.

I agree with the shoe changing thing, although I have always changed shoes, never wearing the same ones all the time, to allow them to breathe. Helps to keep foot odor away.

I will have to go shopping soon, like I said, before my trip so that I can break them in!

I also still want a pair of them Shox!

As I said before, I think this is a great idea. The problem with getting a shoe that is really comfortable for someone else is that their foot my be constructed differently from yours. For instance, Stinkerbell mentioned her foot feeling like it was rolling out of the side of other shoes. My guess would be that she has subpronated feet (i.e. tends to walk with most of her weight on the outside of her foot). Nike Shoxs are made for subpronated feet which is the reason I can't wear mine for running without a lot of foot pain (I pronate, or roll in). NBs are great shoes as long as you don't have narrow feet. My orthopedist recommended them but they didn't fit my ankles and heels snugly enough.

Good Luck!

I am going to check out the Nike Shox shoes.

On a side note, when we were at DLR, my tennis shoes were the pits. I ended up wearing my flip flops the whole time and was so glad I brought them. I almost left them at home because we went in December.

Same here Josie!! I went both times with great shoes but ended up wearing the thongs! I was so happy bout it as my feet Swelled and the thongs were a god send !

For instance, Stinkerbell mentioned her foot feeling like it was rolling out of the side of other shoes. My guess would be that she has subpronated feet (i.e. tends to walk with most of her weight on the outside of her foot).

Wowza! Right on the money honey! :eek: You're GOOD! And I'm sitting here with my legs crossed and the foot on the floor is, um, subpronated right now.....I've always done that. All my shoes are worn out in exactly the same way. The Shox are great for that, definitely.

I've been told I do it to protect my knees that I blew out in high school (my ACL's are DOA), so when I started wearing the Shox, I had some knee soreness, but it went away. I walk in them a few miles a day, several days a week now with no pain.

I've been told I do it to protect my knees that I blew out in high school (my ACL's are DOA), so when I started wearing the Shox, I had some knee soreness, but it went away. I walk in them a few miles a day, several days a week now with no pain.

Wow, stinkerbell, I do it to protect a messed up ankle! I always turn that foot out, and I can tell when it is at its worst when my knee starts to hurt. Then I know I have to get my ankle brace (immobilizer) out and start wearing it again.

Small world!

I'm back, and the Nike Shox worked out great, so much so that I alternated with other Nikes only to protect the Shox from rain. I actually worried that they'd get wet and I wouldn't be able to wear them, lol! Also, for the first time, one night I tried flipflops for a few hours in MK, but my rarely-worn pair has those annoying bumps on the insoles, so that was enough. Without the bumps, I could have worn them longer.

Psst my friend, try the ugly shoe we have been talking about :) they are very comfortable :) LOL!!!

Psst my friend, try the ugly shoe we have been talking about :) they are very comfortable :) LOL!!!
LOL, I saw a few people wearing them, including a child with some really big blue ones on! Now I'm curious, because if you say they're comfy, there must be something to 'em besides beauty ;) :D.

Wowza! Right on the money honey! :eek: You're GOOD! And I'm sitting here with my legs crossed and the foot on the floor is, um, subpronated right now.....I've always done that. All my shoes are worn out in exactly the same way. The Shox are great for that, definitely.

I've been told I do it to protect my knees that I blew out in high school (my ACL's are DOA), so when I started wearing the Shox, I had some knee soreness, but it went away. I walk in them a few miles a day, several days a week now with no pain.


;)

I lurve my New Balance walking shoes. I have a pair (http://www.nbwebexpress.com/detail.asp?type=WMFTWKCY&style=WW964BR) for walking the dog rain or shine (they are rain/water proof) and a pair (http://www.nbwebexpress.com/detail.asp?type=WMFTWKAT&style=WW790GP) for athletic walking.

I used to wear Nike for walking, but now only wear them to the gym. My New Balance are the only things I can wear on pavement that help protect my back. In fact, I lurve my physical therapist for suggesting them. :D

Good luck, MrsPooh!

~kisroo:)

UPDATE:

I went to the New Balance store on Friday and got a pair with the rollbar and the shock absorb. After a few hours of wear, the shoe on the left felt like it had a rope under the ball of my foot. Just the left, not the right. So I go back, and the clerk gives me another pair to try, same thing. It was minor, so I thought I would give it a try to see what happened.

I wore the shoes all day Saturday running errands, and by the end of the day my back was hurting. I thought, if they can't hold up to a day of errands and grocery shopping, there is no way they will hold up to several days at DL. :crying:

This morning, I woke up and felt like someone had beat the stuffings out of me. It felt that way when I tried the Z Coils, the next day was murder, but I got through it, it got better with each wear. I would try that with the New Balance shoes, except it wasn't taking care of the low back shock problem. No sense sticking with them.

So I will be returning them tomorrow, and I will go for the Nike Shox. I have had the best luck with Nike in my lifetime, maybe I need to stay there. If the Shox don't work I will just get myself a regular pair of Nikes and live with it. Thank GOD I tried this all out before vacation.

Oh, I bought Mr. Pooh a pair of the New Balances, and he loved the way that they fit. He also said that the knee problems that he had before are better so far with the New Balance, he subpronates too, and he has had knee surgery. Looks like they will work for him. I will be happy to update on them too, if you all want me to. I guess it takes different shoes for different people. My boss swears by the New Balance.

Again, thanks all, for the help!