Hiya.

Just a quick question, wasn't sure where would be best. But I walk everyday.... a lot. At least 8-10km a day a lot. And whereas it doesn't hurt my lower back or shins anymore like it used to, my poor toes are taking a beating!!! Seriously! Blisters under the callouses that have bloody blisters in them.....

Sorry for the image......

But anyhow. I need some advice on shoes. Not just brand names and specialty shops, because I am very less likely to find them here anyways, but of course that helps. But does anyone have any suggestions on the "kind" or style of shoe that might work better for them? Right now I wear Timberland 1/2 height hiker type shoes that seemed a good idea at the time, but my poor little feet are killing me.....

Any suggestions?

sirant

I wear Avia walking sneakers that I got from a sports outlet for about fifty bucks. I LOVE them. I can even hike in them for trails that don't involve too much scrambling. They are lightweight and well built.

I have wide feet, too, so Nike's shoes just don't work for me. I used to wear New Balance because I liked their heel support, but now they are not as good as 20 years ago.

Hmm.. I would get walking/running shoes if that was my purpose--and if you tend to walk on the inside edge of feet or outside edge of feet, you will need a different kind of support for your arch and/or if it's high or low arch etc.

It could also be the type of sock you are wearing with your shoes or that your shoes don't fit correctly. .. If you feet are sweating and your socks are getting wet and your feet move around, that'll surely cause blisters if it happens often enough.

I wish I could help more, Sirant, but I have no idea. Just some tidbits of info that I was told in the shoe store one time.

Check your socks too - those are the number one cause of blisters - if you're feet get sweaty - and your feet are in sweaty shoes -the moisture has no where to go but rub against your feet - and causes blisters.

your socks should be of the wicking variety - that is the moisture wicks away from your feet - sockless or cotton socks are not your friends.. and powder might help.

try the shoes on in the afternoon - wearing approiate socks -thats wshen your feet are at their biggest... the heel should fit snugly and you should have wiggle room in your toes. but your foot shouldn't slide all over the place in the shoe either.

heheheh Mal, that's too funny!

i was trying to step out of character a little and try to give a helpful response - criminiey - I really do get no respect around here...

Umm.. I was referring to the fact that we went the same kinda direction with our posts that were only 1 min apart. sorry.

Oh - nevermind then


since i've got my walk coming up this summer -i'm obsessing over socks lately -socks are definitely a critical element

I swear by alpaca socks.

there are socks that have two layers, so your feet don't rub against them or something, i have no idea if they work or not, but i've heard they prevent blisters.

Well, I am going this weekend to do some serious shoe and sock buying. Since my wife and I have decided to also start running 3 times a week, it is more important than ever. Though I think perhaps I am still in trouble regardless. 1 toe on either side (the one next to the pinky toe on either side) is the biggest culprit. The callouses on those 2 toes are almost like a point sticking down and they actually curl up under the other toes when I walk. Not sure how or why that happened, but it has and it is weird. Those callouses keep getting bigger and bigger. I may have to look at regular pedicures here. I haven't been going to the sauna as much lately, but they do have a great pedicure service. I am not so interested in the toenails as the other part of the pedicure where they skillfully cut away all the callouses and dead skin from your feet. You can go in with hardened leather for soles and they will send you out with feet like a babies bottom. I have had it done before but I never really looked into it again. I may well have to start.

But in the meantime it is shoe and sock hunting I go. I am gong to see if China has an equivalent of "The Running Room" and go from there.....

Thanks again everyone, as always this group is the best for helping a man (or toe) in need....

sirant