Want shoes: natural/wide toe box, laced up, sturdy sole…and non-ugly!

[Sabee]

Hello,

I have developed pain in the ball of my foot - haven’t been seen by a GP yet, but will be arranging. So far, google has suggested capsulitis if I consider my symptoms (feel like a marble in the ball of my foot, pain when i walk, second toe affected etc).

I think the shoes I have been wearing have been tight on my toes and caused these issues - Googling, suggests i need shoes that have a barefoot aesthetic (wide enough toe box for my toes to spread), a sturdy sole (almost like a walking shoe) and preferably laced I think, so there is good support.

I was resisting, so I went and bought some Ecco shoes today - so comfy and heavenly in the shop! Wore them home, and bam - pain in the feet all evening. I have just spent over £100 on what is considered to be a good brand and it still hurts.

I have some temporary insoles from shuropody which i have been wearing, and I didn’t have them on the new shoes so maybe that didn’t help.

But i think its because the soles are too soft! The rest of my feet felt sore from walking too, and when i had laced them a bit tight they felt weird, a bit pins and needly!

I have in recent weeks, tried merrell (too uncomfortable), Hoka (too springy), Scarpa Mojito (too stiff), Fly boots (too hard and impossible for me to walk in), Meindl (which were the best but I didn’t get them as they were ugly :( ), camper (most comfy so far but was unsure).

I would love any suggestions from anyone who has the same thing as me - am pretty desperate.

I don’t want to go down the ugly orthopaedic shoe route - unless i have to :(

I hate trainers, love boots, love Toast, poetry fashion etc but I guess that’s irrelevant :(

Thank you

I don't like much of the hotter stuff, but their switch trainers are quite nice!

Camper peu?

I have various sorts of stupid foot pain and wide flippers.
fitfops work for me.

barefoot don’t as the thin sole is way to flexible for stiff toes and the thin sole is so unforgiving

drchatterjee.com/galahadclark/
The case for barefoot shoes
I wear barefoot shoes which are fantastically comfortable
I have a twist on my hips
use to have leg pain etc

As a child I had orthopaedic insoles

in the past I wore sketchers and thick soles
But the barefoot shoes have really helped

Plus yoga

Birkenstocks are very comfortable too

I have big toe joint issues at the moment, and my most comfortable shoes are Hoka Clifton wide with insoles and Clarks Griffin Lane wide. I have Hotter shoes but they are too bendy I think, but at least have plenty of space. For very formal, I have a flat pair of Sargasso and Grey which are very wide at the front but normal at the back and comfortable but a bit thin soled. They look lovely though

@SudocremOnEverything that camper peu shoe looks comfy and stylish.
I'd not considered camper .

Glad you're going to the doctor.

One of the barefoot brands might be ok if you got a big enough size to put in a suitable (stiff / supportive / extra-cushioned) insole.
(I've no idea whether in the long run barefoot shoes would help your problem, but they say to ease into wearing them gently and do foot exercises to re-train the muscles you haven't used for years, not to expect the shoes to be an instant solution)

For example, the Vivobarefoot boots "Ryder" or "Gobi" have removable insoles, so you could put your own in.
www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/womens/lifestyle?product_list_order=most_popular

I know you don't like trainers, but Barebarics were recently described by a reviewer as "the perfect solution for someone who wants zero drop and a wide toe box, but doesn’t want an ultra thin sole!"
anyasreviews.com/barebarics-review-best-chunky-barefoot-sneakers/
Actually, sorry, looks like they only do returns from the EU or US. So too risky unless you could try them on in-store.

I have a pair of "nimbleToes" by Joe Nimble and they are soooooo comfy! And do half-sizes so should be easy to get orthotics to fit. They also do a range of sole thicknesses / stiffnesses.
www.joe-nimble.com/int/women/#lifestyle-160

Lastly, you mentioned some shoes that you were worried would be too loose at the heel. If you do find some shoes which are perfect apart from that, you can try a leg-warmer pulled down to cover your heel, or a thick sock with the toes cut off, to fill that space and stop your toes sliding around.
Hope your feet feel much better very soon!

@Happyhome21 I also have hip issues and suffer from back pain. Had a bout of very bad sciatica a few years ago, my right leg sometimes still feels weak on random days.

I have always wanted to try barefoot, and have taken the plunge and bought a pair, thanks for the post which gave me the push I needed!

Every thing I have read points to doing it slowly. I have also ordered some lems primal 2 which apparently are a good transition shoe as they have a slightly thicker sole but are still considered barefoot.

I hope they suit. I tried Birkenstocks today and I found them so uncomfortable 😣 the high arch bothered me, and I didn’t like the footbed; too stiff.

@Bergamotte Thank you for your comprehensive post! Together with @Happyhome21 it has pushed me to trying barefoot shoes.

Thank you for the advice, will def be easing into it. I love walking barefoot at home so let’s see 😊

@SudocremOnEverything i did see that but I need a slightly wider toe box - thanks for the suggestion!

www.birkenstock.com/gb/stalon-nubuck-leather/stalon-waxynubuck-nubuckleather-0-thermorubber-u_3974.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7JbXkY2Y-wIVCYbtCh04XQHQEAQYAyABEgKOWfD_BwE

i have a wide foot and need support. These are the best boots I’ve had in years.
i think barefoot might be too soft for what you describe.

good luck finding something

@SimonJones thank you for the link! I will try the brand if I cannot find anything as they are really not me - lots of people suggesting them .., I’ve noticed John Lewis has started to stock them too!

@Triceratopsrock thank you - I am hoping the lems I ordered might be a good fit, I’ve read they are a good barefoot style with a more cushioned sole (but not as cushioned as normal)

I tried Birkenstock today, didn’t like the sole or the arches but maybe it was the model? It had a cork sole which is the same as the one on your boot so not sure

Sabee did yiu manage to sort out your foot problem in the end and find some shoes? Im in the same situation.