Need some proper walking shoes

[Singh400]

Yesterday, I decided to walk home from work (30 min journey) – bad idea.

Of course I walked home in my “work” shoes, and as a result my [right] foot is now swollen and very painful to walk on.

So, any recommendations? Just need something that will provide good support to my feet and the arches of my feet. Don’t mind spending a good bit for a good pair.

[smallclanger]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Yesterday, I decided to walk home from work (30 min journey) – bad idea.

Of course I walked home in my “work” shoes, and as a result my [right] foot is now swollen and very painful to walk on.

So, any recommendations? Just need something that will provide good support to my feet and the arches of my feet. Don’t mind spending a good bit for a good pair.

After 30 minutes your work shoes did that!? What do you wear to work ? High heels?

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by smallclanger

After 30 minutes your work shoes did that!? What do you wear to work ? High heels?

LOL Nah. The work shoes I wear are very flat and I tend to walk quite fast. By the end my feet were very hot, friction I assume.

[Iccz]

Generally any shoe or trainer with a good fit, that is a little bit worn in will be perfectly comfortable for a 30 minute walk at fast pace, I always walk about fast and all my shoes and trainers that I own are perfectly comfortable for it, even my work shoes, both the ones I wear in the office and the steel toe capped ones for wearing on site.

I'd just go to any shoe/sport shop and pick yourself up a nice comfortable pair of cheap(ish) trainers that fit well, usually i'll go to a sports shop and pick up a pair of Reebok or Adidas that are in the sales.


Depending on where your feet are hurting/swollen will depend on what kind of shoe you need or if you need something different with it. Some people need insoles etc because of the size/shape of their feet, some people require better ankle support, some people require a looser shoe etc. Generally anyone working in a shoe shop or department will be able to help you out with the fit, if not there should be someone there who can, though it's half term in a lot of places so the students might be working more shifts, generally they're not taught how to fit a shoe properly

[LFC_SL]

Take your trainers with you to work and then switch when you need to get home

Or walk slower and take in the Spring time

Incidentally my Mizuno Wave Rider 12's are incredibly comfortable for walking, as well they should be, but if you know your gait (wet footprint test), you could always pick up cheap running shoes and be done with it

P.S. Could also be because your shoes are halve size too small, or your laces are too tight

[krish]

Clarks shoes are extremely comfy to walk long distances in, and come in all sorts including smart and trendy looking black/tan laced/slip-on types
- okay for me on foot a lot in central London

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by Iccz

Generally any shoe or trainer with a good fit, that is a little bit worn in will be perfectly comfortable for a 30 minute walk at fast pace, I always walk about fast and all my shoes and trainers that I own are perfectly comfortable for it, even my work shoes, both the ones I wear in the office and the steel toe capped ones for wearing on site.

Well I’m wearing my trainers to work today, but I’ve walked 30mins+ in these and my feet “burn” too. Can’t say they’ve ever swollen up like this though.

Originally Posted by Iccz

Depending on where your feet are hurting/swollen will depend on what kind of shoe you need or if you need something different with it. Some people need insoles etc because of the size/shape of their feet, some people require better ankle support, some people require a looser shoe etc. Generally anyone working in a shoe shop or department will be able to help you out with the fit, if not there should be someone there who can, though it's half term in a lot of places so the students might be working more shifts, generally they're not taught how to fit a shoe properly

My foot is swollen towards the back of my heel and the area under my toes, the “pad” bit of your feet.

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Take your trainers with you to work and then switch when you need to get home

Think that’s what I’m going to do in the mean time.

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Or walk slower and take in the Spring time

I’ve tried to walk at a slower pace, but it just doesn’t work for me. I think it’s because I don’t have an iPod/MP3 Player to listen to some music to walk with.

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Incidentally my Mizuno Wave Rider 12's are incredibly comfortable for walking, as well they should be, but if you know your gait (wet footprint test), you could always pick up cheap running shoes and be done with it

P.S. Could also be because your shoes are halve size too small, or your laces are too tight

The shoes fit me perfect and I always ensure I have wiggle room in the toe area. Work shoes don’t have laces, just slip on shoes.

Originally Posted by krish

Clarks shoes are extremely comfy to walk long distances in, and come in all sorts including smart and trendy looking black/tan laced/slip-on types
- okay for me on foot a lot in central London

Thanks, will check out Clarks

If my foot has gone down by the end of the day I'm going to walk home in my trainers to see if they swell up again. Hopefully not *ouch*.

[Iccz]

Personally i'd give your foot a bit more of a rest before walking home, at least this afternoon off.

Usually the pain in the areas you mentioned is either a bad fit or a bad walking style, you might be too heavy with your feet, or your shoe might be new and not worn in, or it could be old and a bit worn out, you might need a soft thin insole to soften the shoe.

The balls of your toes will take a lot of the weight when you walk and it's quite a common problem for a lot of people, you can get metatarsal pads which are little gel pads that go in that area to spread the weight, reduce shock and give more support, they're only a few pound and are sold in a lot of shoe shops.

If you are not getting blisters then you know that the shoe isn't rubbing, the burning feeling is usually because of weaker skin, you can help promote the strengthening of this by doing warm salty water foot soaks, it will help toughen the skin and promote the growth of skin. I used to have similar problems a few years ago, shoe shopping was a total nightmare.
You may be getting calluses, which are tougher pieces of skin in the areas you mention, it becomes thick and hard from pressure or friction.

[Mep]

I agree with Clarks.......they do these Active Air shoes........look like work shoes, feel like trainers......really comfy.

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by Iccz

Personally i'd give your foot a bit more of a rest before walking home, at least this afternoon off.

Usually the pain in the areas you mentioned is either a bad fit or a bad walking style, you might be too heavy with your feet, or your shoe might be new and not worn in, or it could be old and a bit worn out, you might need a soft thin insole to soften the shoe.

The balls of your toes will take a lot of the weight when you walk and it's quite a common problem for a lot of people, you can get metatarsal pads which are little gel pads that go in that area to spread the weight, reduce shock and give more support, they're only a few pound and are sold in a lot of shoe shops.

If you are not getting blisters then you know that the shoe isn't rubbing, the burning feeling is usually because of weaker skin, you can help promote the strengthening of this by doing warm salty water foot soaks, it will help toughen the skin and promote the growth of skin. I used to have similar problems a few years ago, shoe shopping was a total nightmare.

You may be getting calluses, which are tougher pieces of skin in the areas you mention, it becomes thick and hard from pressure or friction.

Blimey what are you a doctor? Thanks for the advice mate

Originally Posted by Mep

I agree with Clarks.......they do these Active Air shoes........look like work shoes, feel like trainers......really comfy.

Good stuff, got a Clarks near me here. Might pop down in my lunch to have a quick look-see.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Blimey what are you a doctor? Thanks for the advice mate

I have really awkward feet, while I was a kid was the worst, from a young age I had a lot of problems with support around ankles, it was almost impossible to find a shoe that was the right size and support, I used to get "elephant" shoes as they were the only ones that worked, and were soft enough, expensive though, as I got older my feet got a bit easier, but they're not very high, so sometimes I have to get insoles etc, i've learnt quite a lot about fitting shoes and all the different problems you get with feet now because of all my troubles
Fitting shoes is still something I hate doing, shopping for them takes hours, I always get hightop trainers now as there's never any problems with the ankle on them thankfully.

[Kevo]

If you want a decent pair of walking shoes then go to an 'outdoor shop' shop like Blacks, Millets, Decathlon etc and talk to a member of staff. They do more than walking boots for walking in the hills. Also look at a decent pair of 'walking socks' that include Coolmax technology for sweat management.

I've had the same pair of Columbia walking shows (light terrain) for the past three years and have used them all over the world incliding my local high st and shopping centre!
I've also recently come back from Rome where I did a LOT of walking for 4 days non stop. These along with CoolMax socks (which i've even wore in 50+ deg heat in Egypt) means I've never had a single blister or chaffing on my feet and probably never will.
Avoid 100% cotton socks unless you want blisters.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Good stuff, got a Clarks near me here. Might pop down in my lunch to have a quick look-see.

Please don't buy Clarks your street cred will disappear in a puff of smoke. Clarks are for school kids under the age of ten and OAPs who just don't care what they look like.

[Singh400]

Originally Posted by Kevo

If you want a decent pair of walking shoes then go to an 'outdoor shop' shop like Blacks, Millets, Decathlon etc and talk to a member of staff. They do more than walking boots for walking in the hills. Also look at a decent pair of 'walking socks' that include Coolmax technology for sweat management.

I've had the same pair of Columbia walking shows (light terrain) for the past three years and have used them all over the world incliding my local high st and shopping centre!
I've also recently come back from Rome where I did a LOT of walking for 4 days non stop. These along with CoolMax socks (which i've even wore in 50+ deg heat in Egypt) means I've never had a single blister or chaffing on my feet and probably never will.
Avoid 100% cotton socks unless you want blisters.

Thanks for the tip mate

Originally Posted by Razor

Please don't buy Clarks your street cred will disappear in a puff of smoke. Clarks are for school kids under the age of ten and OAPs who just don't care what they look like.

Oh gee, thanks for being concerned with my street cred

Unfortunately, your forum cred disappeared when you started the enders thread

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Singh400

Oh gee, thanks for being concerned with my street cred

Unfortunately, your forum cred disappeared when you started the enders thread

Nothing wrong with EastEnders its one of the best true stories on tv.


Anyway Singh your a young man in his prime, you should never be thinking of wearing Clarks or Hush Puppies. The shame of it.