End of tether with endless shoe/foot problems

[Maria53]

I've had foot issues since I was 21, I'm now 29. It became a chronic problem for years and I was in what felt like endless hospital appointments with no sure diagnosis. Getting shoes that fit is next to impossible.

I've mainly been wearing Red or Dead shoes which have been so comfy for my wide feet. They now appear to have discontinued them and I need a new pair!

For hill walking I have Salomon trainers and boots. Again not perfect but close due to wider foot box. But they don't look good with summer dresses and skirts!

Last week I had my feet measured. They told me I over pronate and am quite flat footed - podiatrist told me this before. They also said I'm a size 3 - just no way!! I'm size 5 usually, sometimes 4 1/2.

After looking through some threads here I ordered 2 new pairs of shoes - a pair of rocket dogs and a pair of fit flops. The size 4 fit flops are slightly too small and i had blood on my third toe from where the pinky was rubbing today.

The size 5 rocket dogs are massive on me! So I feel I'm back to square one again. My dreams of finally wearing good looking trainers with summer dresses are fast disappearing

A few years ago I actually burst into tears in the middle of Clarks, when the woman asked if I wanted to try any more after the 4th or 5th failed pair. Many older adults have made jokes, not believing someone so young could have chronic foot problems.

I can feel it is starting to affect my mental health again. I just want some nice looking shoes that fit for a change.

For trainers, why not go to a proper running shop for a fitting - the sort where you book and they do a gait analysis? I have very wide feet, New Balance do a wide fit and so do Brooks, but it is worth getting a gait analysis.

I got a foot analysis done last week and they explained my gait. I then had custom insoles made to put in new shoes.

I don't want sporty trainers as I already have Solomons. I want trainers I can wear with my summer dresses and skirts that fit well enough and are wide enough - I'd say my foot width is about EE.

I'm not sure if they'll be good for your particular problem but Vionics have excellent instep support and a lot of styles are trendy.

I feel your pain. Your feet sound very like mine. I have wide feet and over pronate. I'm sure I need orthotics but it's so hard to find shoes wide enough I can't imagine finding a pair that fit my feet and orthotics.
Try Vionic shoes. They do a wide fit and have arch support.
I wear Birkenstock clogs in the house and live in Birkenstock sandals in the summer.

Fit flops do trainers. Do you have a John Lewis near you - they stock them. People with foot problems often find them helpful.

@WandaD glad I'm not alone! I live in my Birkenstocks and a pair of Moshulus in the house. I wear them out when it's nice enough but the weather is generally rubbish. Had a look at Vionics there, don't see a mention of wide feet though?

Yes @partyatthepalace like I said I bought fit flip trainers (from John Lewis) last week. Size 4 after measuring my feet. But they are just too small and pinching my feet. I don't know whether to go up to 4.5 and if 5 would just be too big?

I’d have a look at Skechers. They are so comfy. You need good arch support for the over pronation and wide fit - they do both.

Loads of places stock them but here is a selection of their wider fitting stuff.

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/c/shoes/f/Brand--Skechers

I feel the pain too! I have hobbit wide feet! Years ago I was measured at clarks and went off their chart! I was told I'm a 5.5 in length, but have always bought a 6.5 or 7. I wonder if your foot length is indeed a size 3, but due to the width, you have always needed to get longer/larger shoes to compensate? I can't help with shoe recommendations as almost live in garden clogs or specialist trainers, but hope you can find something suitable.

I know they are pricey, but do last. Have you considered a handmade pair of leather shoes from a cobbler?

I was going to say Vionics too - I've heard their customer service is poor so I've bought them via Simply Feet. They have always been great with returns so it might be worth trying them even if you think they might be too narrow.

here
I've added the link for the wide fit.

Just on Sketcjete

www.simplyfeet.co.uk/brands/vionic/vionic-aura-paisley.html

These say medium/wide fitting.

Sorry about that post! Was just going to say that a podiatrist told me she doesn’t rate Skechers at all.

I have wide feet and the brands I like are Altra and Keen
www.altrarunning.eu/uk/?___store=uk
www.keenfootwear.com/womens-footwear/

I completely understand how you feel - I'm another one cursed with wide feet and even so-called wide fit options often don't work for me (Clarks, for example). I do love my Bikenstocks but I'm not sure how good they are for me; I think I scrunch my toes up in them so I don't wear them for long periods outside. For trainers/sneakers I've found a German brand, Mustang, do a Converse type sneaker that is wide and comfy. Vans are also fairly wide, though it depends on the style. Boys' sizes tend to be wider than women's so those are worth a try too (try them on in TK Maxx where you don't have a sales assistant hovering over you and making you feel self-conscious if they don't fit.)

I have wide feet and collapsing transverse arches and bought Clarks Maui Wide as trainer like shoes to wear with summer dresses and they are really wide and comfortable

I wear Birkenstock sandals and Birkenstock professional shoes. Most extra wide shoes are no where near wide enough for me, but these are.

Dr Marten Voss 2 sandals and Superga trainers. They dont say wide fit but they are huge and honestly my feet are flat and square looking x

Try Hotter - 90% is really fugly but they do a couple of different trainers that look good/fashiony. I have a pair of gorgeous pony skin sandals from them from a couple of years ago, told a friend where I'd got them from and the friend came back to double check with me because everything on the website was (her words) like the lost shoe cupboard at an old folks home. You have to go in and take a look for the OK ones!

I just measured my feet and they are 4 inches/10cm across and coincidentally my Birkenstocks are about the same and so are my sketcher style shoes. But length wise the fit should technically be size 4.

But I've been wearing 5 or 4.5 for years. I really struggle to squeeze into a 4, it's like the ugly sister trying to get it on her foot. Bizarre.

Or there's always these
www.vibrams.co.uk/
Bit of a long shot but I like them although I wouldn't run in them.... too painful, I like Max cushioning for running😇

I just measured mine...also 4 inches across, from bunion to bunion to be precise🙄
How dare my feet have bunions 😲☹️ I have never ever worn high heels!

Also have wide flat feet. I now follow my aunts advice - German brands like Gabor etc are normally more suitable but generally stay away from any Italian brands as far too narrow. Complete stereotype but seems to help. I have found some Adidas that work for dresses (although the last pair I ordered, same style different colour, they had put a leather half insole in which rubbed on my flat arch).

@Anoisagusaris

Sorry about that post! Was just going to say that a podiatrist told me she doesn’t rate Skechers at all.

Why's that? When I had plantar fasciitis and could barely walk I was in such pain, the only brand universally recommended by fellow sufferers online was Skechers so I bought boots and trainers from them and they were more comfortable than anything else I had.