Could I have opinions on this please?

[Justkoko]

Looking for timeless comfortable penny loafers. Have got these next ones to try on and the plain Dune ones which are twice the price.
Must admit the Dune ones feel more robust but are they worth twice the price?

Comfort is important here because as they wear in and the leather softens, I need the soles to flex and so they dont just start flipping off the back of my heels and I end up gripping them with my toes. I occasionally get a pain around the ball of my foot, basically due to flexing wrongly I think.

Buy the most well made, most supportive and comfortable pair you can afford.

Whoops

Don't know about the rest of it, but I like the look of the next ones more.

Maybe I need to post on the health board. Its very difficult to explain. A sharp pain between my 1st and 2nd metatarsal occasionally when my foot has flexed 'wrong' when I am walking. I've noticed it when wearing my vans and converse. It bloody hurts. Is it just age? Or the wrong shoes?

@Justkoko
It's not your shoes.
It's a medical condition.

If you look very closely at your toes,is there a v shape forming between the toe next to your big toe.

Don't ignore it...Google v shape between toes.

Versus these that I already have.
I googled it @catandcoffee and I don't have that. I think its to do with gripping my shoes. I'm wondering if heel grips will help.

Those shoes aren't right for you. Get lace-ups instead.
Vans and Converse offer no arch support.

Feet are complicated and do a lot of work. Give them some respect and love.

The flip side of shoes with arch support is that they could potentially cause your feet to be weaker if they are being so supported all the time. That's what I wonder anyway.

You need some arch support. Ask a podiatrist if you don't believe me.

This is a link to one of many similar pages:
www.spectrumfootclinics.ie/blog/worst-types-of-shoes-for-your-feet

@Justkoko
Converse offer little support.

I have M&S loafers. Cheaper than Dune. I always buy leather and I like well made shoes. Brands like Gabor, John Lewis and Clarks make excellent loafers at different price points.

I don't think that s a concern really.

Also the Dune ones look like school shoes to me. I would keep looking

Why not see a podiatrist OP? No need to suffer and the shoes you're aiming for really won't help at all, and converse are awful for foot support. They're all very flat footed types of footwear that make the foot do a lot of work to walk in. When you add weight with things like loafers the issue is exacerbated and you adapt your gait and muscle use(clenching toes) etc to walk in the shoes.

I'd get the right insoles first and then find shoes. Stick to leather and avoid flat soles. I don't ever wear heels but my loafers and brogues have an incline from heel to toe or are raised slightly at the back for support and laced styles you can tie tighter are much better.