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Original poster

Is it my trainers or me? Plus where to get comfy trainers!?

64 replies

Loopylooni · 27/08/2023 06:07

Mad post here. Recently I've had a real pain in my heel and I thought it might be plantar fasciitis as seemed to get better when I walked more. Its better now but worried me for a while. I've checked my trainers and they look worn down so I want something decent for my school run (40min walk). My Converse feel like they might not be comfy enough.

Any tips on comfy, fashionable trainers?

OP posts:
stevalnamechanger · 27/08/2023 10:42

ASICS
New balance
Hokas
brooks

My foot specialist advised me these are the best, I wear Hokas daily and now have minimal pain

DelphiniumBlue · 27/08/2023 11:00

TotalOverhaul · 27/08/2023 06:58

Deeply uncool but Skechers are the most comfortable trainers ever.

Salamon do great walking shoes - very lightweight and like trainers in appearance but better on uneven slippery surfaces.

I have to disagree, I find them uncomfortable with soles that wear through too fast, and a shallow toe box. However, DH , who has very different shaped feet to me, loves Sketchers.
It depends on your feet, but I find a decent thick sole is important. I find Fitflop trainers the best for this, followed by New Balance. I have wide feet, and both are comfortable on me .

Roserunner · 27/08/2023 11:16

I found sketchers really hot and as they started to wear gave me really bad back ache so I haven't bought any since.

I run regularly in new balance trainers so have a pair just for walking as I know they suit my feet. They're black and white so aren't noticeably a running shoe.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 27/08/2023 11:17

Fellow PF gal here. My physio told me my feet are quite flat, so I need trainers with a kind of “step” to the sole. I have Adidas Sambas, Continental 80 and Stan Smiths which I can only wear for short spells because they are too flat. If I am walking a lot I have New Balance 574 and 327, Adidas Astir and Ozelia. My Adidas Spezials are flat but bouncy so they are kind of midway.

I had to stop running because of PF but walk about 15k steps a day.

LunaNorth · 27/08/2023 13:37

Skechers gave me awful blisters.

meanderingbrook · 27/08/2023 16:45

Whichever shoes you get, I would recommend some foot exercises. It really can help strengthen your feet and getting good blood circulation which I have found noticeably cuts down on any kind of foot pain.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 27/08/2023 17:59

Branleuse · 27/08/2023 09:35

Try nike air force ones, Adidas forums, or skechers .
Converse and vans are skate shoes which make them quite flat and without much support as you need to feel the ground more for skating

My air force ones wore out that much in four months I had to return them. I want some more but wouldn't do lots of walking in them ever again

jay55 · 27/08/2023 18:31

I had heel pain for ages when the lift to the tube was broken and I had to go down seven flights of steps in the morning.
I googled best trainers for heel pain and went with adidas ultraboost. Loved them and they helped a lot.

Original poster
Loopylooni · 27/08/2023 19:37

Does it matter whether you wear mens trainers by any chance? I'm just googling some of the brands recommended and there are price differences! I'm female btw

OP posts:
HorsePlatitudes · 27/08/2023 19:49

It does matter because men’s toe boxes are much wider! I made the mistake of buying men’s trainers once while living abroad

avocadotofu · 27/08/2023 20:52

I find New Balance super comfortable.

Mirabai · 27/08/2023 20:55

Trainers can often make feet ache as the arch supports tend to be in the wrong place. Everyone’s feet are a different shape.

The most comfortable I’ve found are Ara trainers because they have a flat insole.

GettingStuffed · 27/08/2023 20:57

I always come back to Reebok, I need the extra hole at the top to stop trainers from rubbing and they have them in the best place

Original poster
Loopylooni · 27/08/2023 23:38

@Mirabai I think mine must be this plantar fasciitis because it doesn't seem to be impacted by the trainer as much, its just there, but worse when I'm wearing converse or superga. I do need some good trainers to help ease it though.

OP posts:
mrsplum2015 · 27/08/2023 23:56

My friend is a podiatrist and says Skechers are terrible for feet. Converse etc even worse as they are flat with no support.

I wear various different shoes including converse and flip flops. However if im walking a decent distance i will always wear my Hoka or ASICS trainers. New balance good too.

40 minutes walk needs a decent pair of shoes. Why not put on your active wear and then the trainers don't look so frumpy?

Original poster
Loopylooni · 28/08/2023 00:05

@mrsplum2015 I'm doing research on the Asics as the pain at the moment is bad.

OP posts:
LighthouseTheme · 28/08/2023 00:08

I got some great memory foam trainers with good support in a lovely blue-grey colour, from Primark (£9, or £12 - I got two pairs on different days).

I also have Skechers, Karrimor and Reebok but these are great!

mrsplum2015 · 28/08/2023 00:10

I would definitely do your own research rather than trust Mumsnet. Skechers are fine for people with no foot issues but they will make your issues worse. This article explains why.

www.compleetfeet.co.uk/skechers-still-a-problem/#:~:text=Too%20much%20cushioning%20and%20not,corns%20and%20callouses%20get%20worse.

thinkfast · 28/08/2023 00:30

I find brook trainers the best for comfort and support. They don't look great though

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/08/2023 00:34

I wear adidas for general day to day but for running, clubbercise (cardio dance class) and long fast walks I have ASICS run faster with flytefoam. Just looked at the website and they seem to have rebranded them but they're like these www.asics.com/gb/en-gb/gel-noosa-tri-15-gs/p/1014A311-700.html

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 28/08/2023 00:34

Not the prettiest though

Speckson · 28/08/2023 00:40

DH and I both do a lot of hiking and wear Merrell trainers. He had plantar fasciitis, but hasn't since he started wearing this brand.

CallieQ · 28/08/2023 00:42

ASICS are great

smooththecat · 28/08/2023 00:43

There’s a guy on YouTube who cuts shoes in half. When he did converse it showed that there is basically a piece of cardboard and a couple of millimetres of rubber between you and the ground. The thick rubber that you see around the edge is just a decorative trim, your foot is sitting inside that area.

Ohyousillybilly · 28/08/2023 06:13

Fitflops all the time for me, they have memory sole insoles and inbuilt arch support.