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Kath Forum Rookie
Joined: May 31 2007
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 11:53am | IP Logged
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I've read a lot about orthotics here, so maybe someone can help me. I recently bought my first pair due to my collapsing arches and they work great with sneakers. But, I really, really don't want to wear sneakers all summer. So how do orthotics work with sandals? Mine are 3/4 length, if that makes a difference. Are there certain brands of sandals that can accommodate orthotics? Or certain sandals that have fantastic arch support already?
Thanks!
__________________ Katherine
Mom to ds 8, ds 5, and ds 3
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 11:57am | IP Logged
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I have not been able to use orthotics, even 3/4 length in sandals. How bad are your arches?
Dansko
Mephisto
Birkenstock
Are all very good supportive arch support sandals. For the two latter, you want the firm cork beds. I usually get good screening for the right kind of shoes at The Walking Company website (and in the actual store).
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006 Location: Idaho
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 12:26pm | IP Logged
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Even when I had 3/4 orthotics, it was really difficult to find sandals. They have to have a "BACK/HEEL" to them and a pretty substantial front and sides. Like these. Aren't they attractive??? So many of them were so elderly-looking, and I was only in my 20's!!! . But, there are probably more options out there now. Something like these might work: Pachuco.
I always ended up wearing my orthotics less in the summer, for that reason.
If I HAD to wear my orthotics more in the summer, I'd probably wear a Mary Jane in a light-summery-fun color:
:: Merrell Oceania
:: Keen Mary Janes
:: Keen Ballerina
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 12:45pm | IP Logged
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The other thing I've done recently in the summers where I'm pregnant and my poor feet DO need the extra support from rapid weight gain or from my 200-lb-body, is opt for a pair of hiking boots (of which there are a lot of "cute ones" now) instead of clunky winter shoes or ugly-sneakers/tennis shoes, which I REFUSE to wear unless I'm exercising. I have an aversion to wearing tennis-shoes as an everyday-shoe. To me, tennis shoes/sneakers are for sports and athletics . But hiking boots, with a pair of cute capris, are ok...not ideal...but I'll live with it in extreme situations!
But, there really ARE other not-as-supportive-as-hiking-boots-options out there now....they just aren't light-cool-sandals and don't show your cute-painted-toenails B
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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JennGM Forum Moderator
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 12:55pm | IP Logged
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Oh, hot feet is something so hard to deal with! I don't have cute toenails, whether they are painted or not, but having my feet suffocate is definitely a sore point with me!
I'm with you on the exercise shoes, but hiking boots? Wow, I could never!
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Kath Forum Rookie
Joined: May 31 2007
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 1:05pm | IP Logged
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Jenn, my arches are pretty bad. Plus I'm pregnant right now which means neither my weight or my ligaments are working for me. My feet will hurt for days if I go barefoot or wear non-supportive shoes for even a few hours.
I'll definitely have to check out the shoe brands you mentioned.
Suzanne, I've got a pair of Merrell ballerina-style shoes, and I wear my orthotics with them, but my feet get so sweaty! I definitely need something more open. And I agree with you on the sneakers.
It seems like I'll have to sacrifice my vanity no matter what, but hopefully I can at least find something comfortable for the hotter days.
Thanks ladies!
__________________ Katherine
Mom to ds 8, ds 5, and ds 3
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 1:23pm | IP Logged
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Suzanne I think it is definitely the Northwesterner in you who can wear hiking boots in the summer. That sounds SO HOT to me
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006 Location: Idaho
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 1:46pm | IP Logged
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CrunchyMom wrote:
Suzanne I think it is definitely the Northwesterner in you who can wear hiking boots in the summer. That sounds SO HOT to me |
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Yeah, that's probably true. It's pretty normal around here to wear hiking boots on a regular basis . To me, hiking boots and tennis shoes are both the same "hotness." And, note that I only do this in EXTREME situations! Y'all know my obsession about shoe-shopping and finding the absolute PERFECT shoe
Kath wrote:
It seems like I'll have to sacrifice my vanity no matter what, but hopefully I can at least find something comfortable for the hotter days. |
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Sigh. That's really it, isn't it.... I feel for you. You can also be strategic about WHEN you wear your orthotics.....if you wear them on semi-hot days, then on really hot days, it's a sandal-day (no orthotic). Or, wear the dorky-looking-sneakers at home, and then when you go out, pull out the sandals. You'll start to know how much you can "get away with" before your feet start to hurt or whatever. And, then in the winter, I ALWAYS wear them! Of course, I know everyone's situation is different.....you've just got to find out what yours is, and how much you can get away with.
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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JennGM Forum Moderator
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 1:52pm | IP Logged
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Kath, I'd go for the Keene shoes to insert the orthotics to wear out of doors.
Not sure if you wear shoes indoors, but if you're not, START RIGHT NOW. Pregnancy is hard on the feet, your tendons stretch, and you need to have support at all times. My mother bought a pair of Birkenstocks and wears them as her "in house" shoes. Just slip them on out of bed, walk around the house, etc. For longer lengths of time, keep your orthotics on, but that should give you good support throughout pregnancy.
My feet are pretty bad, but got really worse this year. So I'm about to get the custom orthotics, as I can't handle the pain anymore. I've gotten exercises from the orthopedist which really helps, too.
But the sandals I listed (without orthotics) really, really were supportive and helpful the past few years until this past one.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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SuzanneG Forum Moderator
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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Kath wrote:
My feet will hurt for days if I go barefoot or wear non-supportive shoes for even a few hours. |
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Yikes! I missed this. Diregard my last post where I said you'll know what you can get away with. You already know.
The other thing you could do is try to find a good, professional orthotic comort shoe store in your area like this one:
Shane's Comfort Shoe Center
They are so helpful to orthotic-users. They are much more knowledgeable about what SHOES you can wear and what's out there than the podiatrists. They deal with the shoe market constantly and know everything!
They may even know of the perfect sandal for you! (Hope springs eternal!)
__________________ Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Kath Forum Rookie
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Posted: June 10 2010 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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Haha, that's what I do now -- I wear the dorky sneakers at home and cringe in pain whenever I go out so I can wear something I like. Jenn, like you said, I could never go without shoes at home, so a designated pair would be a good idea.
Suzanne, I think there is a shoe store like about a half hour from me--my podiatrist even recommended I go there, but I just hadn't made it out.
I can't remember what it's like to just go buy a pair of cute shoes at the store without all these factors -- of course, doing just that is probably what made my feet so bad in the first place!
__________________ Katherine
Mom to ds 8, ds 5, and ds 3
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