Help me find the holy grail of trainers

[AnalLysis]

I am SO FED UP of sore feet. I used to walk everywhere and struggling now, which has led to weight gain, which makes it even more difficult. I have very wide feet, bunions and tailors bunions, plantar fasciitis and have had capsulitis. I need arch support and a sole that is relatively inflexible, but the shoes themselves need to be soft. They also need to be low cut at the back as I find lots are too high and rub my heels. I just want an everyday trainer I can wear with jeans/dresses etc.

I have brooks ghost and these work but I alway feel a bit short in the toe area even though I’ve gone up a size so they slip at the back if I don’t lace them tightly. Allbirds are good, but too high at the back. Skechers are comfy but not supportive enough so I get ankle pain. Asics are too narrow and cause me pain across the instep.

can anyone suggest anything, please??

Have you tried fitflop trainers?

Hi allthewoes no, I haven’t but I did try their boots and they were too narrow for me 🫤

Could you wear Sketchers with a custom made insole from your podiatrist?

You have my sympathy, I've only had plantar fasciitis, which is how I know about the insoles, and that's painful enough.

@cheapskatemum possibly? I don’t have a podiatrist currently, I went to a private one about two years ago when I had the capsulitis but haven’t been back (I know the issues I have!). It’s a thought though. It would just be nice to find a brand I could wear off the shelf as it were.

I have literally just ordered these Birkenstock trainers https://www.birkenstock.com/gb/bend-natural-leather/bendlow-smoothleather-naturalleather-0-rubber-u109.html?utmm_source=onsitesharing&utmmmedium=referral&utmcampaign=product

I live in their sandals but have to to have covered in shoes for work.
Haven't tried their trainers before
Pricey but their sandals last me 3 +years so hopeful

I get that. I wear Reebok Classics, with my insoles in, as I find them the most comfortable, but I don't know whether they'd suit your feet.

@cheapskatemum I haven’t owned a pair of reebok classics since I was 16 (first thing I bought with my first wages!) - maybe I need to revisit!!

@toomanybooksnotenoughtime hmm that’s a thought. I do find Birkenstocks a bit hard though -for around the house/garden I find them great, but I can’t walk any distance in them. I’ll take a look though

vionics offer good arch support. They did change the sizes recently though which has made it harder to be confident at getting a good fit .

I find sketchers awful for PF. But normally
pF needs a flexible sole. Why do you want rigid?

@Asparename haven’t tried those, will take a look

@Beautyhoard the podiatrist I saw recommended rigid as I have pre-arthritic points on my feet (ie the bunions etc) so I need ‘scaffolding’ (his word, not mine). I have found I do best with a rigid sole with something soft inside. And to be fair with the right support the PF tends to go. His recommendation was timberland boots - but they are too narrow 🙄

Nike Air Max 90s

I have prescription insoles and shoes and NOTHING is as good as Air Max - try them

If you find a shoe you like other than it being too narrow then you could try the men's shoe in the same size as they are usually a wider last. Some of the "sports brands" also do wider fit women's shoes eg New Balance and Hoka- the only downside is that the range of colours is usually more limited in a wide fit.

I can only wear shoes comfortably that have a removeable insole so that I can put in orthotic insoles due to achillies tendonitis, and pronation (or whatever its called)

Its a real nuisance and leaves me with very little choice

Try Merrell trainers

@littleripper they look good - Will they make me down with the kids?? 😁

@londonmummy1966 Ive had that suggested before but I’m only a 4/5 (feet are almost as wide as they are long!)

@BeeBB I’ll look at those, I have meindl walking shoes which are actually great (I added an insole for arch support which lifted my heel up enough to avoid the heel rub).

APL, their slides are great too!

Mine are a 6 and annoyingly most mens start at a 6.5 so I sympathise. Have a look at New Balance as some women's styles come in a wide and an extra wide fit.

Have you tried going to a runners' shop (you don't have to be a runner!) and being properly fitted? Buying trainers that actually fit my ridiculous duck feet (narrow heels, broad at the front) saves me wasting money and time.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow no, to be fair I haven’t done that. I think I’d find it a bit intimidating (I’m not in great shape) but maybe I need to get over that

Oofos are the only thing that help my utterly crap feet. I have many of the problems you have mentioned. Plantar insoles in anything that isn’t Oofos.

On runners come in a wide fit and have quite a few different styles. They look nice and are comfortable

I have wide toes and narrow heels, and a tendency to PF. I find New Balance suit my feet (women's fit is usually OK, men’s fit is better as the toe box is wider).

When my PF plays up I try and do a lot of calf stretching to relieve it. I really must remember to keep doing the stretching even when it’s not playing up.