Smart trainers with heel drop

[SlipperyLizard]

I’m hoping the S&B hive mind can help me!

I have a problem with my foot which restricts what shoes I can comfortably wear. Most of the time I wear running trainers with special insoles. Generally fine as I WFH. However, sometimes I need to dress a bit more smartly or just want a change.

I used to wear Adidas Stan Smiths, with insoles, but I tried that yesterday as I had an event and now have a very painful foot. Talking to the podiatrist, I wonder if it is because they are so flat, whereas running shoes have a “heel drop”.

Problem is that all of the similar styles look similarly flat. I have some FitFlop Rally on order, but I don’t think they’re going to be the answer.

So the question is, can you get white leather (real or fake) trainers with a heel drop, rather than flat as a pancake?

I do t know of any of these would work, they are really comfy - I have high arches so struggle with flat shoes

I only have the wellies but fit flops are good for various foot problems and they have a range of styles?

I don't know what a heel drop is, but it found fitflops to be good when I had plantar fascia problems.

Thanks all, sorry I should have made it clear what a heel drop is! Some shoes (converse being a prime example) are flat as a pancake, same with white trainers like adidas stan smiths. Running shoes tend to have a heel drop, so the heel is slightly higher than the toe - a bit like a low wedged sandal.

My feet are fine in my running trainers but the adidas absolutely wrecked them the other day (this is a recent thing - I wore them last summer with no issues).

I have ordered some fitflops but fear they are flat (albeit with arch support). White running trainers are the obvious answer, but I want leather not fabric so they don’t look so trainer-like/sporty.

I have a selection of colours in trainers, but all have good supportive soles / inners (some come with an additional inner you can remove if preferred), which I need being flat footed and having damaged one of my feet. I have Gabor, Caprice, Romika, plus a recent addition of a pair from John Lewis own brand (made in Portugal) in the sale. All are leather, smarter looking and allow me to wear all day without pain and may be brands worth looking at.

I know what you mean OP. I need a bit of a heel drop. I get on OK with my Fitflop Rally trainers. Could you try sizing up and getting an orthotic to create a drop and give some support?

Ps. More sports/running style shoes are considered smart now, not just plain white Stan Smith style. I find Nike Air Max 1 v comfortable, with a decent drop and smart styles.

Would using heel pads be an option for you? I have persistent tendonitis in my Achilles and my physio recommended these heel pads. They make a huge difference and I’ve been pretty much pain free ever since.

I avoid completely flat soles like Converse etc these days though. For me it’s less about them being flat and more that they provide zero cushioning/support for my feet.

https://amzn.eu/d/hAzyvkT

Alternatively, I have a pair of these white leather trainers from Lanx that I wear to work some days:

https://lanxshoes.com/collections/womens-sneakers/products/horwich-white

I have two pairs of Birkenstock Bend Low trainers. They have the normal Birkenstock footbed, which really works for me. May try those if the footbed works for you?

Thanks @HundredMilesAnHour i have custom orthotics at great expense, which I hoped would allow me to wear the stan smiths occasionally, but my foot/ankle is still sore from doing that on Tuesday. As only my trainers are ok to walk in, I’m trying to work out the secret ingredient that I might find in other smart trainers.

I ordered some from vionic which seem ok but they are too narrow at the toe for me. I have some fitflop rally on order so will try those.

Part of the problem is that I can wear shoes round the house to test & they feel fine, but as soon as I do any proper walking my foot hurts and it is too late to return them. I had great hope for fitflop wellies until I walked the dog in them 😩

@Isthiscorrect i have had success with Birkenstocks in the past, so will check those out.

@WhereAreWeNow i see people pulling off a sportier trainer but it makes me feel wrong when I try. Probably just need to get over that!

I will say that the Fitflop Rally are better than the wellies (I have both). I can’t walk that far in the wellies but only use them for gardening.

I have crap feet, and wear Sole Bliss leather trainers which my podiatrist really likes

I know what you mean about the sportier trainers OP but I think they can look smart with trousers (especially if you go for a really classic looking pair of Nike Airs with suede) but I'm still not convinced they look good with skirts or dresses.

Have a look at FitFlop’s F-Mode trainers which have a heel on them. I have Rally too and the F-Mode trainers are hands down much more comfortable.

F-Mode are a lot more expensive- but worth it- but have a look at Amazon too as they tend to be cheaper on there.

I wear my custom insoles with Adidas Bold flatforms & can actually wear them all day walking around a shopping centre. However for a proper walk I would wear Joya trainers.

I know you said white leather @SlipperyLizard but could/would you get away with something like these knitted Nobulls? I have 3 pairs (in white/black with various different sole colours) and I wear them constantly. They’re the most comfy trainers I’ve ever had! I originally bought them as they were recommended as great for walking on beaches without the sand getting in (a hatred of mine) but since then I’ve found them hard to give up. I even wear them to work (in one of the big global banks in the City) and gets lots of compliments, most frequently from men at work (I apparently “always wear really cool trainers”) but have been stopped on the street by women and asked if they can photograph my shoes. Seriously it’s quite bonkers.

edit: Duh! Would help if I included the link! (In my defence, I haven’t had my coffee yet)
https://www.nobullproject.com/products/womens-white-allday-knit