Need shoe advice
 

Sorry if this message is long but I am desperate for some advice on
finding shoes that will not hurt or cause blisters. We are leaving in
about 3 weeks for a trip to Europe that will involve extensive walking
and I have been shopping for shoes for the last five weeks and am
feeling very frustrated. Right now I do not have a single pair of
shoes that I do not think will cause a problem.

Problem is a narrow heel, bunions and the little toe and one next to
it tend to blister on bottom and between them (wore pointy toes and
heels when younger and toes squished together and little toe slides
under next toe a bit and part of toe is being walked on by other toe
causing blister). I've been trying foam toe bandage or bandaid with
cotton ball to keep them apart but these seem to develop wrinkles
after part of a day and cause rubbing. Also have fairly high arch.

Have been trying several brands including SAS, New Balance, Nike Air,
Saucony, etc. Am finding the gel cushioning in the metataral area
feels wonderful when trying on the shoes but after wearing for awhile
on on one of my feet it feels like an out of place bump under the
lower toe area. Any knowledge about why this is happening? We do not
live near a larger city and have limited stores to shop in. Staff do
not seem to be well trained in fitting shoes. They will measure when
asked but that is about it so I am feeling pretty much on my own about
choosing a shoe. They also keep putting my fairly narrow feet into a
wide size to accommodate the bunions. I need advice on what to look
for in choosing the right shoe.

Help. I'm running out of time to find a comfortable pair of shoes and
am aftraid the trip of a lifetime could be ruined by sore feet.

Thanks,
Desperate Feet

Re: Need shoe advice
 

Following up to [email protected] :


I suggest you go barefoot.
That way your feet will quickly become tougher and more healthy, but mainly
because going without shoes in Europe will help you to not stand out
against all the millions of shoe-less paupers there.
--
Tim C.

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 03 May 2007 11:09:16 +0200, Tim C. <[email protected]> wrote:

>Following up to [email protected] :
>
>
>I suggest you go barefoot.
>That way your feet will quickly become tougher and more healthy, but mainly
>because going without shoes in Europe will help you to not stand out
>against all the millions of shoe-less paupers there.

LOL I thought Mixi had posted that.
--

Martin

Re: Need shoe advice
 

Following up to Martin <[email protected]> :

>LOL I thought Mixi had posted that.

Thankyou :)
--
Tim C.

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 03 May 2007 11:20:52 +0200, Martin
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 03 May 2007 11:09:16 +0200, Tim C. <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Following up to [email protected] :
>>
>>
>>I suggest you go barefoot.
>>That way your feet will quickly become tougher and more healthy, but mainly
>>because going without shoes in Europe will help you to not stand out
>>against all the millions of shoe-less paupers there.
>
>LOL I thought Mixi had posted that.

I'm waiting for a serious answer on this one myself. I have
the opposite problem; I went barefoot until I went to High
School, so my feet developed naturally and they are wider
than standard. What is called EEE over here.

Finding correctly structured boots/shoes that meet all the
wanderer's requirements of comfort, protection, lightness
and grip within a reasonable budget is not easy.


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Athens and The Adriatic
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 03 May 2007 11:29:30 +0200, Tim C. <[email protected]> wrote:

>Following up to Martin <[email protected]> :
>
>>LOL I thought Mixi had posted that.
>
>Thankyou :)

It's the sort of question he would have answered and given us days of fun.

Would he like to have been in Clarke's shoes?
--

Martin

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 03 May 2007 09:32:48 GMT, Alan S <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 03 May 2007 11:20:52 +0200, Martin
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 03 May 2007 11:09:16 +0200, Tim C. <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Following up to [email protected] :
>>>
>>>
>>>I suggest you go barefoot.
>>>That way your feet will quickly become tougher and more healthy, but mainly
>>>because going without shoes in Europe will help you to not stand out
>>>against all the millions of shoe-less paupers there.
>>
>>LOL I thought Mixi had posted that.
>
>I'm waiting for a serious answer on this one myself. I have
>the opposite problem; I went barefoot until I went to High
>School, so my feet developed naturally and they are wider
>than standard. What is called EEE over here.
>
>Finding correctly structured boots/shoes that meet all the
>wanderer's requirements of comfort, protection, lightness
>and grip within a reasonable budget is not easy.

Clarkes Shoes. I gave the same answer to Mixi long ago. AFAIR he rejected my
answer because I didn't hike 10 miles every day.
--

Martin

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 03 May 2007 09:32:48 GMT, Alan S <[email protected]> wrote:

>Finding correctly structured boots/shoes that meet all the
>wanderer's requirements of comfort, protection, lightness
>and grip within a reasonable budget is not easy.

yes, I have wide feet and the pushed under little toe of the OP. Some
trainers are OK, in wide fitting that sometimes exists even when staff
deny it. I once pointed out the "wide" sticker on a pair of leather
trainers to incredulous assistant.

I find moccasin type shoes are pliable enough to not cause problems
even if poor fit. Other than that some sort of sandal maybe?
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On 3 May 2007 02:00:29 -0700, in rec.travel.europe, [email protected] arranged some
electrons, so they looked like this:

... Sorry if this message is long but I am desperate for some advice on
... finding shoes that will not hurt or cause blisters. We are leaving in
... about 3 weeks for a trip to Europe that will involve extensive walking
... and I have been shopping for shoes for the last five weeks and am
... feeling very frustrated. Right now I do not have a single pair of
... shoes that I do not think will cause a problem.
...
... Problem is a narrow heel, bunions and the little toe and one next to
... it tend to blister on bottom and between them (wore pointy toes and
... heels when younger and toes squished together and little toe slides
... under next toe a bit and part of toe is being walked on by other toe
... causing blister). I've been trying foam toe bandage or bandaid with
... cotton ball to keep them apart but these seem to develop wrinkles
... after part of a day and cause rubbing. Also have fairly high arch.
...
... Have been trying several brands including SAS, New Balance, Nike Air,
... Saucony, etc. Am finding the gel cushioning in the metataral area
... feels wonderful when trying on the shoes but after wearing for awhile
... on on one of my feet it feels like an out of place bump under the
... lower toe area. Any knowledge about why this is happening? We do not
... live near a larger city and have limited stores to shop in. Staff do
... not seem to be well trained in fitting shoes. They will measure when
... asked but that is about it so I am feeling pretty much on my own about
... choosing a shoe. They also keep putting my fairly narrow feet into a
... wide size to accommodate the bunions. I need advice on what to look
... for in choosing the right shoe.
...
... Help. I'm running out of time to find a comfortable pair of shoes and
... am aftraid the trip of a lifetime could be ruined by sore feet.
...
... Thanks,
... Desperate Feet

Wear socks between your delicate feet and the offending shoes.

(How some people survive into adult age, is a mystery to me!)

Re: Need shoe advice
 

I have a similar problem and just before each trip to Europe I have
purchased a pair of Dunlop KT26 sneakers. For me they are wonderfully
comfortable even though they look horrible. I once tried KT26 Walkers - shoe
also made by Dunlop but with leather uppers looking more like normal shoes.
Disaster! No where near the same.

Gerrit - Oz

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 3 May 2007 18:39:10 +0800, "gerrit" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I have a similar problem and just before each trip to Europe

this bit I don't get, why only shoes in Europe?
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Re: Need shoe advice
 

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
> Sorry if this message is long but I am desperate for some advice on
> finding shoes that will not hurt or cause blisters. We are leaving in
> about 3 weeks for a trip to Europe that will involve extensive walking
> and I have been shopping for shoes for the last five weeks and am
> feeling very frustrated. Right now I do not have a single pair of
> shoes that I do not think will cause a problem.
>
> Problem is a narrow heel, bunions and the little toe and one next to
> it tend to blister on bottom and between them (wore pointy toes and
> heels when younger and toes squished together and little toe slides
> under next toe a bit and part of toe is being walked on by other toe
> causing blister). I've been trying foam toe bandage or bandaid with
> cotton ball to keep them apart but these seem to develop wrinkles
> after part of a day and cause rubbing. Also have fairly high arch.
>
> Have been trying several brands including SAS, New Balance, Nike Air,
> Saucony, etc. Am finding the gel cushioning in the metataral area
> feels wonderful when trying on the shoes but after wearing for awhile
> on on one of my feet it feels like an out of place bump under the
> lower toe area. Any knowledge about why this is happening? We do not
> live near a larger city and have limited stores to shop in. Staff do
> not seem to be well trained in fitting shoes. They will measure when
> asked but that is about it so I am feeling pretty much on my own about
> choosing a shoe. They also keep putting my fairly narrow feet into a
> wide size to accommodate the bunions. I need advice on what to look
> for in choosing the right shoe.
>
> Help. I'm running out of time to find a comfortable pair of shoes and
> am aftraid the trip of a lifetime could be ruined by sore feet.
>

I suggest trying moleskin patches between the toes and on blistered areas.
Moleskin is a very soft cotton (no cruelty to moles involved as far as I
know) and I find it is much better than bandaids etc for preventing and
protecting blisters etc. Scholl make them and they are sold in many/most
chemists/drugstores here in the UK.
Also when hiking last year a friend gave me some gel-filled pads which
possibly worked better than moleskin on damaged areas. I think Scholl and
others make these too.

I can't help much on the shoes, but I do find that the cloth linings on some
hiking shoes are quite rough and abrasive.
I prefer padded inners, ideally lined with soft (glove type) leather, though
these are not so easy to find in these days of synthetics.

I also prefer leather outers to synthetics and feel they are more
comfortable as they shape to my feet with wearing, but I may just be
old-fashioned. Also some of the leather shoes/boots have a leather layer in
the sole (below the foot, above the rubber hiking sole) which in time moulds
to your foot shape.

I prefer to get hiking shoes which are a bit bigger than my size, then use
an extra lining at the bottom, especially the gel-filled ones. Then if your
feet do swell later you can take out the liners when needed.

It may be better to buy from a hiking shop rather than a regular shoe shop -
they should have some that look like normal shoes, not just mountain and
climbing boots.

Also break the shoes in before the big trip. And have another pair of
lighter shoes for evenings etc. to give your feet a break from stronger
walking shoes.

(My walking holidays typically cover about 10-20 miles per day on flat
country to hill plus evening strolls etc. My knees can do mountains any
more, sniff.)

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 3 May 2007 11:52:19 +0100, "RAK" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I also prefer leather outers to synthetics and feel they are more
>comfortable as they shape to my feet with wearing, but I may just be
>old-fashioned.

it stretches and doesn't stink after prolonged use.
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Re: Need shoe advice
 

On Thu, 03 May 2007 12:20:50 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
<[email protected]> wrote:

>>this bit I don't get, why only shoes in Europe?
>
>Gerrit is from Oz. Ozzies don't bother with such wimpy luxuries as
>shoes except for coping with the dogshit on the pavements of Paris.

Got it

>Yesterday I was conversing with an enthusiast for MBT (Masai Barefoot
>Technology) shoes. She believes that they are the best things she has
>ever found for urban walking. They are a bit different, and one needs
>time to get accustomed to them.

Barefoot shoes, hmmmm.
--
Mike Reid
UK walking, food, photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain walking, food, tourism "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"
Beginners UK flight sim addons "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Re: Need shoe advice
 

The Reid <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Thu, 3 May 2007 18:39:10 +0800, "gerrit" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I have a similar problem and just before each trip to Europe
>
>this bit I don't get, why only shoes in Europe?

Gerrit is from Oz. Ozzies don't bother with such wimpy luxuries as
shoes except for coping with the dogshit on the pavements of Paris.

Yesterday I was conversing with an enthusiast for MBT (Masai Barefoot
Technology) shoes. She believes that they are the best things she has
ever found for urban walking. They are a bit different, and one needs
time to get accustomed to them.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
My travel writing: http://www.iol.ie/~draoi/