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Original poster

Is it just me or are Converse cripplingly painful?

115 replies

knowler · 04/04/2016 15:27

I literally cannot walk anywhere in Converse without getting foot pain due to hard sole and no arch support. They also rub heels and toes. Is it just me?! I have no problems with any other shoes - my feet are not an awkward shape or size. Are Superga any better for comfort?

OP posts:
PirateSmile · 04/04/2016 17:18

I have very narrow feet but I still find my Converse pretty uncomfortable. The soles are so thin and the support is non-existent.
I would recommend FitFlop sneakers. I've had a few pairs and despite the idea of them being a bit naff, I always get loads of compliments about them. I've been stopped in the street and asked about them. They are also the most comfortable shoe ever.

TheScottishPlay · 04/04/2016 17:18

Can't wear them either. I feel every stone and the heel rubbing! DH and DS love them. I prefer Superga.

PirateSmile · 04/04/2016 17:19

I also have a few pairs of Docs and whilst they do take a while to break in they are well worth it in the end as they are very comfortable and hard wearing.

Duckfacepalm · 04/04/2016 17:20

@knowler ah! :) not perceptive just getting older! (falling apart) deffo don't go near anything flat until your feet are over that! Ouchy! I had to wear my hiking boots for about a month for nearly all my walking and I daren't walk barefoot even now, old trainers LA Adidas ones have replaced my slippers indoors and touch wood all is fine again. The (horrid) Sketchers go walk are light and lovely and helping my gait recover from the month of hiking boots (god that ached my shins!) but they are ugly and crappy and not built to last. :)
Asics are fab.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/04/2016 17:26

Disagree re: Converse being poor quality. Even dd2, who is incredibly hard on shoes, can make a pair of Converse last for at least a year of pretty constant abuse.

squoosh · 04/04/2016 17:30

I think if you have Converse friendly feet they're great. The fact that they never fully go out of fashion indicates they must have a lot going for them in terms of durability.

MrsMarigold · 04/04/2016 17:31

I have narrow feet and hate them too but have some puma trainers that are sooo comfy.

TheHuntingOfTheSarky · 04/04/2016 17:32

I have v v wide size 9 feet and can't wear any kind of "trendy" trainer unless it's a man's style. Tried size 9 Converse and they were a good length but rubbed my toes to shreds. My feet have been the bane of my life for as long as I can remember, I even had to wear boys' shoes for a bit when I was little Sad

NicknameUsed · 04/04/2016 17:35

"Because Skechers is the only comfortable shoe option out there? Uh, okay then!"

They are for me. I don't really care what my feet look like when walking miles exploring a city or traipsing round theme parks in Orlando as long as they are comfortable

If I want to look stylish I just don't plan on doing a lot of walking.

I do have impractical shoes as well Smile

Cocolepew · 04/04/2016 17:35

Birkinstock three quarter soft insoles are perfect for Converse.
I have over 10 pairs and have never had to break them in.

squoosh · 04/04/2016 17:40

Stop showing off with your hardy feet Cocole Wink

My poor old trotters are envious.

LIZS · 04/04/2016 17:40

I found the lite a better fit than standard version. Dd has had Keds.

LittleRedSparke · 04/04/2016 17:40

I hammer my stiff leather boots/shoes with a rawhide mallet

Makes them worn in a lot quicker

Hulababy · 04/04/2016 17:41

I find Converse too narrow much of the time, yet don't have particularly wide feet.
Birkinstocks are fine for a while but the soles become too hard quite quickly.

I love my Sketchers and don't care. I have memory foam ones and have trainers, slip on ones, sock shoe ones and toe post ones. They are really comfortable for me. And that's all that matters!

I literally have such soft feet. When I go to Florida in the summer my feet are awful I am covered in blisters all over my feet and have been known to end up with both feet in bandages as a result I have tried so many different types of footwear. Last time I wore Sketchers memory foam, teamed with some spray foot powder I had used before, and they made a massive difference. The amount of blisters was more than halved. We were talking counting blisters on my fingers rather than have 20+

So don't care if Sketchers aren't cool enough for some - they save my feet from agony!

Cocolepew · 04/04/2016 17:42

#ironfeet.
If you have pathetic, wimpy feet, the best thing to put on your heels is a pantliner.
Its big and sticks like shit to a blanket.
I would advise wearing socks though Grin

Hulababy · 04/04/2016 17:46

My Docs took more than a fortnight of breaking in. I had to build up gradually from a few minutes in the house, then an hour, etc. until I could finally wear them for a day out. I used the wax softener stuff they sell and everything. Had them a few months now though and, whilst not the most comfortable shoe ever, they are fine and no longer hurt.

Those talking of how bad Sketchers are - try walking on feel with dozens of blisters on each foot, between your toes, under your toes, on the sides of your foot, on the top, on the heels, etc - and then compare it with a fraction of blisters with Sketchers, and I mean a small fraction of them. I am not going back, not now I have found something I can wear in heat without being in proper agony!

I reckon those saying they'd rather suffer, really haven't had to walk on the pain of so many blisters and sores.

Hulababy · 04/04/2016 17:47

coco - doesn't work I'd afraid. Believe me, I have tried almost everything!

squoosh · 04/04/2016 17:48

Ooooh pantyliner on the heel is a really good idea. Plasters always seem to migrate on me.

That's worthy of a Buzzfeed Top Tips list.

TheSpottedZebra · 04/04/2016 17:49

Joining Hula in the #ButterFeet camp. The rest of me is, er, sturdy but I have the delicate, narrow, high arch and high in stepped feet of a pampered princess. Which is odd as I did a lot of martial arts in my past and I used to soak my feet in surgical spirit to make them hard as nails. I also have dreadful chilblains.

I too mocked Skechers, but I wore my OAP mothers ones at the weekend when I took her bin out, and they were really, really comfy.

Help. Me.

TheSpottedZebra · 04/04/2016 17:51

Oh, I cannot do flop flops as they shred my feed vertically.

TheSpottedZebra · 04/04/2016 17:51

Flip flops too don't suit me Blush

Pointlessfan · 04/04/2016 17:52

Agreed, I bought some for a holiday in NYC thinking they'd be really comfy. My feet actually bled! I had to go in Footlocker and buy comfy Nikes just to be able to walk.

squoosh · 04/04/2016 17:52

Zebra you should have climbed into that bin yourself and had a long hard think about what you'd done.

TheSpottedZebra · 04/04/2016 17:53

Why, have you put Skechers in there, Squoosh? Yay!

gingercat02 · 04/04/2016 17:53

Have you tried Rocket Dogs? I think they are really comfy and they do brilliant patterns and colours