Shoes for flat feet??

[kimgg]

OK I have been reading all the shoe threads but can't find a specific answer for this so thought I'd ask specifically.

I am going to WDW for a week in less than 2 weeks, and recently realized I have flat feet. They don't look flat except when I stand on them and then my arch touches the ground, so until my phys. therapist (i had hurt my knee) told me I had no idea.

Now I am worried about what shoes to wear. I have some good tennis shoes, but I have long skinny bony feet so I have terrible problems w/ blisters if I wear them for long lengths of time. Plus it will be very hot so I really hate to wear tennis shoes. I much prefer flip flops but know they are not the best for flat feet according to what I've read.

I got some skechers tone ups and they feel good when on but later after taking them off, my arches feel weird like they are getting painful and stretched out if that makes sense. I am afraid to mess up my feet further.

I also have teva mush flip flops but afraid they are a little too flat for all day, but are fine when I wear them to shop, etc.. I think I need more support.

It's too late to go get diagnosed and try to get fitted for orthotics. Anyone w/ flat feet have any recommendations?? I know I am last minute on this but getting worried.

I also am not very light and skinny so that doesn't help either ,

Thank you for ANY advice!!

 

[santadog]

I know you're avoiding Tennis shoes, but as a fellow flat footer, I recommend Chuck Taylors (AKA Converse All Stars) They are about the only casual shoe I've worn for about 20 years now.

 

[perpetualplanner]

I have pretty flat feet and have custom orthotics for my running and tennis shoes. My podiatrist has recommended birkenstocks for casual shoes. I haven't tried them yet since my feet only really bother me when running for extended periods and never with the extensive walking at WDW but I am looking into them.

 

[Mrs D]

Before I had custom orthotics made I bought a great pair on non-custom orthotics called Superfeet. They are great; they give your foot better support and cushion than what comes in any shoe.

You can pick them up at a local runner's store or at Dick's Sporting Goods. They are under $50 if I recall right.

I would really recommend trying them.

My Dr also told me to get a better quality shoe - avoid the stetchers (can't speak for the shape ups but the others. I wear Keens and have gotten lots of use of out them - 3 Disney trips plus regular daily wear. I sprayed on waterproofing to the leather and they have even lasted through a Disney downpour!

HTH!

 

[Furniture_lover]

I know you're avoiding Tennis shoes, but as a fellow flat footer, I recommend Chuck Taylors (AKA Converse All Stars) They are about the only casual shoe I've worn for about 20 years now.

yeah,,i use it too..btw,, have you heard about saucony progrid?, Ive heard they're making high quality comfortable shoes. Please check it out..

 

[kimgg]

Aren't converse flat inside?? I would not think they would give much support?

 

[pepperw23]

My niece is severly flat footed and her Dr. recommended Rainbows. I have since had other people recommend them for other things as well. They are expensive, but apparently worth it. I selected the double layer arch for the link I included, but they had more selections:

http://www.rainbowsandals.com/ColorLeathers.aspx

 

[kimgg]

Wow I went shoe shopping tonight and birkenstocks are hard! I know I would not have time to get used to them in time! I guess they are good for your feet but wow it's like walking on wood! I also can't see myself wearing them - just not my style but if they felt better I might be willing to try them. They felt very uncomfortable to me. I don't get how people say their comfy but I guess they take getting used to???

I tried on some different kinds, none really struck me as much different than my tennis shoes. I ended up buying a 3rd pair of Teva's, this time the mandolyn which is more of a wedge and less flat. I also thought the easy spirt clog type tennis shoe was comfy, but not sure about if they'd rub my heel eventually. Plus not cheap.

I will have to look for keens or the superfeet. I love the rainbows, but I don't think I would get them in time if I ordered online and the stores are no where near me. I may have to try them before my next trip! I wish I could know I'd get them in time . . . I'm still debating it. I wish I'd asked this question earlier!

Even just at the outlet mall walking around about an hour my arches were bothering me, and that is wearning the teva's. I'm really worried! My husband is very annoyed w/ me buying shoe after shoe, and I know I can't pack a million pairs! Any more advice let me know!!

 

[JillU-DVC]

I have VERY Flat feet, and always wear orthotics (over the counter, not custom).

I love my Keen sandles, but I do put in orthotics.

But check them out - they are not pretty, but really comfy and very practical! Also somewhat expensive, but I don't mind paying for quality.

Keen Sandles

FYI!

 

[tink1969]

Having flat fleet affects your whole skeletal system.
I have flat feet. I can not wear Birkenstocks as they kill me. I do not wear orthotics as they hurt me.
My solution for the parks is a good walking/tennis shoe with a wedge heel.
At home, everyday, I wear 2 inch heels. The reason a higher heel helps is that creates a natural arch in your foot.
My walking footwear of choice for the parks is a tennis shoe made by K-Swiss. LOVE them!
I did purchase a pare of mules by Skechers with a good thick rubber sole and I was so impressed by them. I just used them on our trip 2 weeks ago and they were very comfortable. I don't have the models of the shoes handy but if interested, PM me and I will get them for you.

 

[Greyhound22]

yeah,,i use it too..btw,, have you heard about saucony progrid?, Ive heard they're making high quality comfortable shoes. Please check it out..

As a PE teacher and coach (with flat feet) I've tried just about every "tennis" shoe made. I have New Balance, Addidas, Puma, Converse, Asics, Nike, Mizuno, etc. Many of them were priced above $100. But, I have finally found Saucony. I really believe that they are the best shoe out there for flat feet. I now have 6 pair and love them all. If you checkout their website, it has very good information www.saucony.com

 

[winnapooh]

I have flat feet and when I wear shoes without orthodics, I get extreme ankle pain (to the point where I can't walk). I have custom orthodics, but I don't actually like them (they are made out of a hard material, and they rub on my heel). I now get orthodics from my podiatrist (Superfeet) that last about a year, but aren't custom.

However, I actually found an over the counter version that I really like (they only last a couple of months). I would suggest going to the store and just getting a couple of pairs of the relatively inexpensive orthodics and trying them out for a couple of days in your regular tennis shoes.

I love my keens, and have several pairs, but I've found that the typical sandal styles don't provide me quite enough support anymore, and I get the ankle pain. So I got a pair of Keen Arroyos. They are basically the same as the Newports, but with a covered heel, so they accept orthodics. I've found that the footbed that comes with it (removable) is pretty good and haven't actually needed to replace it yet. They are expensive, and I've found that this model runs a little bit big, but they are worth it to be able to wear a sandal type shoe.

 

[burberryplaid]

I have very, very flat feet and love my Teva Terra-Fi's. I'm not a flip-flop kind of girl so these work great. I've worn them on all my trips and have had not trouble with blisters and my feet are comfy all day.

 

[misled3]

I have always worn Crocs the 6 times we have went to WDW I use some stuff called "glide" runner use it to avoid blisters to apply across my toes and top of my foot to make sure the crocs don't rub. I cannot wear tennis shoes I get a blister every time. They are wonderful for all the walking but if it rains they can be a little slick on some surfaces. Tha is just my 2 cents !

 

[homeschool101]

Just saw an ad (while at Disney last week ) for Dr. Scholls (sp?). They now have a device in stores that you step on that helps you choose the proper insole. That might be an inexpensive place to start.

 

[DMGeurts]

This is probably too late for your trip... but I'm flat footed, and I love flip-flops... because of the recommendations of this board, I've purchased both Orthaheel and Chaco flip-flops. I love both of them for different reasons - The Orthaheels are great for bumming around - I love that I can get them wet and dirty and just wash them off. The Chacos I purchased a pair in leather - so I could have something a little dressier if necessary - these were very tight starting out - but broke in wonderfully and I love them. I would not hesitate to get either of these brands. I also researched the OluKai brand - they look to be equally as well made - but the price tag put me off, maybe next time.

The Orthaheels I purchased (and wrote a review) at brightlifedirect (a compression stocking company) but they stock the biggest variety of Orthaheels and free ship (no tax) on all of them - and with free ship, I had them in 2 days! An excellent deal.

The Chacos I purchased at a small online store that doesn't stock them anymore, but I do know that Zappos sells a huge stock of them - I think they have free ship - but I'm not sure.

I hope you were able to find something in time for your trip.

D~

 

[KY*Figment]

I have custom made orthotics but have cut down on using them. My dr. said to just make sure I wear tennis shoes; he prefers Nike, Reebok, and New Balance. Sketchers feel the best for me including Shape Ups. I recently bought Lands End runners and they feel pretty good so I then bought their mesh type shoes to wear to the parks. I have gave them a trial run and they seem okay. I have known I was flat footed since I was 3, I'm 36 now. There isn't a perfect shoe because every year the companies change the shoes just a little bit. I do make sure my tennis shoes are never older than 6 months old. I wear tennis shoes to work with whatever I'm wearing. I try to keep a change of shoes for court and meetings. I had a supervisor that used to complain about my shoes but I told him it's either that or I will have to call in sick when I can't stand on my feet. Funny enough he changed his toon but he did make my co-worker get a dr. statement for the exact same problem. I recently went to a conference where everyone was wearing dressy shoes but I wore my shape ups. At the end of the conference I'm probably the only one that wasn't limping out. The conference had a lot of standing. Being flat footed has stopped me from anything. It's really not a big thing like it was in the 70's when they would try to put me in the custom shoes that looked like combat boots.