My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

For beauty and fashion style advice, join in our Style forum chat.

Style & Beauty

If you wear orthothic insoles what sort of summer shoes do you wear?

40 replies

overwroughtowl · 16/04/2017 11:53

Got the proper firm orthotics last year and I really can't do without them. Do have trainers but don't want to wear them all the time and they are more a casual look.

Thinking ahead as it'll be time to retire the boots soon.

OP posts:
itsbetterthanabox · 16/04/2017 11:57

I wear ballet flats and trainers with my orthotics in them.

overwroughtowl · 16/04/2017 12:09

I can't wear ballet pumps either box, threw all mine out. Had steroid injection on a mortons neuroma and while it doesn't hurt anymore, ballet pumps make that area click weirdly that I don't like.

Bloody awkward feet.

OP posts:
HLBug · 16/04/2017 12:10

I feel your pain OP - I wear pretty sandals if going somewhere / doing something special without insoles as I figure a few hours without really can't make much difference. But for day-to-day wear I stick to trainers and ballet type flats.

LegoCaltrops · 16/04/2017 12:20

I can't wear ballet flats with my inserts - they just don't fit, & they raise my heel just enough so that the shoe won't stay on my foot. I wear them only at work where I'm not really on my feet much (desk job).

I mostly wear trainers if I'm walking very far. I get the very good hiking type from a proper outdoors shop for autumn, winter, & spring. In summer I wear a pair of nicer, lightweight ones. I need to buy some more actually as they do not last nearly as long as the decent hiking type - the soles wear through & they start to fall apart in a year or two, with the constant use over the summer.

I do find that if I wear my supports most of the time, I can manage the occasional day out in shoes that won't accommodate them, e.g. heeled boots. Still sore the day after though.

LegoCaltrops · 16/04/2017 12:27

If it's smarter shoes you're looking for, OP, perhaps something like brogues would suit? IME you need something that comes a little bit further up the foor, & is adjustable (to accommodate the extra room required for the support). Otherwise you can end up with them slipping a lot. I always take my supports when I go shoe shopping, even if I've just nipped into town & I'm not actually wearing them. I also find that going up half a size and/or getting a wider fit if it's available, can help. Otherwise the shoes feel far too tight & they can rub or wear out quite quickly.

endofthelinefinally · 16/04/2017 12:33

I have a bunion on one foot and morton's neuroma on the other.
I can only wear hotter boots/shoes and crocs sandals.
I have had to go up a whole size and extra wide, but it is the only way I can actually walk.
I am just at the point of ditching the boots and looking for a suitable shoe to take me through to the sandals. I use the scholl sandal orthotics and they are a good substitute for the full size ones.
The crocs have a built in arch support and are very light weight and comfortable.
It is awful having sore feet.

Brighteyes27 · 16/04/2017 12:34

I wore orthotic insoles for awhile as had terribly sore feet in the summer in switch to a Birkenstocks and don't find I need the insoles.
In winter I try to buy shoes boots with decent arch support and wear the insoles.

0live · 16/04/2017 12:41

Another vote for brogues and loafers

overwroughtowl · 16/04/2017 12:43

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm taking them all on board.

I suspect I would have the same issue with pumps Lego as my orthotics are quite raised at the back and those 'half' ones if you know what I mean.

Unfortunately not just issues with my feet, I overpronate badly and have back issues probably stemming in part from that. They definitely do make a difference to my back pain (and knees and ankles).

OP posts:
LegoCaltrops · 16/04/2017 12:46

Also, try to always go for shoes with as flat (neutral) a sole as possible, & preferably one that's removable. Then you can play about with it & see if your inserts fit better in them if you remove the insoles. You can buy cheap insoles from lots of places, once I'm sure I'm keeping a pair of shoes I'll often remove the insoles & use the front part of a replacement insoles, under the orthotic insert. It's more comfortable for the toes than not having one at all, & it gives you a little bit of extra depth so they fit better & aren't too tight over your arch.

I've been known to cut up trainer inserts once I'm really, really confident I'm keeping them. A bit scary the first time I did it!

LegoCaltrops · 16/04/2017 12:50

Ha, yes I have the same - for overpronation. I've been wearing them for about 15 years. Massively & immediately improved my life when I first got them (albeit they felt very weird & made my feet quite sore at first - I had to wear them just for an hour or two per day until I got used to them.)

CointreauVersial · 16/04/2017 21:36

Hotter shoes (and some other brands) have removeable insoles, so you can put in your orthotics without ruining the fit.

Shame their styling is rather "old lady"....

RoganJosh · 16/04/2017 21:40

I do ok in canvas trainers like converse. They're a bit smarter than proper trainers. It's a bit trial and error to find some that fit with them in. I had some kurt Geiger ones that were pretty good. My current ones are a bit lower at the back and not so good, Superga, but I'm willing to tolerate a bit of slipping around at the back once in a while to look a tiny bit cooler.

fusspot66 · 16/04/2017 21:43

Vionics are good
www.vionicshoes.co.uk/

MountainDweller · 16/04/2017 22:34

I'm not in the UK so can't recommend a brand but I wear sandals with a Velcro fastening, which means I can effectively adjust the height inside the shoes, if you see what I mean. I also buy ones that have their own removable insoles that I can replace with my own. They are never going to be the most elegant but my ankle is in a bad state (I need a fusion or replacement) and comfort comes first! Some of the Hotter sporty styles are not too bad, though my feet have got ridiculously wide now and even their widest fit is not wide enough for me!

DramaAlpaca · 16/04/2017 22:43

I have a couple of pairs of Hotter shoes that are open sided like a sandal and a pair of mary janes. Lots of their styles are quite old, but there are usually one or two acceptable ones in their range.

I have a couple of pairs of sandals I can wear without orthotics for a short time. Even though I love them I can't get on with ballet flats, they are never deep enough for the insole so my feet slip out.

bananafish81 · 16/04/2017 23:45

Bookmarking this thread as I've now got my custom orthotics (hypermobile ankles due to Ehlers danlos syndrome) and was having this dilemma thinking about all the summer sandals I don't think I can wear now!!

Checking out recommendations - thanks to PP!

ZestyDragon · 16/04/2017 23:49

I have the half length, hard, raised orthotics. They mean I have to wear wide fit shoes and I couldn't wear ballet pumps or anything open as my feet wouldn't stay in.

Winter is fine but its impossible to find sandals - I did once find a pair of gladiator sandals that had a covered heel but they are long gone.

Last summer I wore something like these:

www.marisota.co.uk/shop/lifestyle-by-cushion-walk-bar-shoes-wide-e-fit/XU444/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=5338&promo=6200&cm_mmc=Googlebase--Marisota--Product%20Feeds-_-na&gclid=CKvdzbyHqtMCFcKfGwodXEAKjQ&dclid=CMms0ryHqtMCFesx0wodIigC-w#colour:Bronze,size:4&CAWELAID=120121220000650332

SheSparkles · 16/04/2017 23:50

This is why I had my Morton's neuroma surgically removed!
I couldn't find anything I could wear orthotics with in the warmer weather so resorted to wearing Fitflops
Without orthotics and they were great

bananafish81 · 16/04/2017 23:55

@ZestyDragon that's exactly what mine are. Also not brilliant with bare feet - so I'm sort of tempted to use some softer basic Scholl ones as a compromise to wear with summer shoes...obvs not as good as my custom ones, but bare feet on the hard plastic is really quite uncomfortable!!

Olivialoves · 16/04/2017 23:56

I wear insoles, also with a heel raise on one foot.
I only ever wear clarks shoes. I rip out/remove their insole and slide my own in.

I wear their brogues, and variations of these www.clarks.co.uk/c/Alania-Belle/p/26125857
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Taylor-Spring/p/26125994
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Taylor-Spring/p/26109179
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Griffin-Milly/p/26120148

endofthelinefinally · 16/04/2017 23:56

Every single time I have needed medical intervention for anything it has gone wrong and I have ended up with complications/further damage.
I will not be letting anyone near my morton's neuroma or bunion unless I get to the point when I cannot walk at all. Just not worth the risk.

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Olivialoves · 16/04/2017 23:57

Plus, Clarks do half sizes so you can always get a half size up for orthotics to fit if needed!

clearwinter · 17/04/2017 00:00

This is such a challenge! I have 3/4 length orthotics and can get away with some Supergas trainers and some LK Bennett and flats in a half size bigger. I have a wide foot which helps. Otherwise I think there's a greater chance the shoes will slip off.

LegoCaltrops · 17/04/2017 00:02

I've bookmarked the Vionics website for later reference... they look promising.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.