Need suggestions for supportive shoes!

[dsquarednz]

I've recently discovered that my feet can't handle my mary jane crocs anymore - I have insane heel pain if I wear them for more than an hour or two!

As they are the shoes I wore the most in WDW, I need to find replacements! I've gotten suggestions for Teva, Keen, and Merrell, but none of them carry wide sizes (and I have wide feet). My feet aren't SUPER wide, but I do need the C/D/wide sizing.

I will most likely bring my sneakers, but I usually don't like to wear them with capris/shorts (looking for something a bit more fashionable...).

I've found some super cute Naturalizer shoes. Does anyone have experience wearing that brand in the parks?

 

[Coloradomom]

Try Eccos especially their receptors -they come in shoes and sandals both very comfortable adn worth the money.

 

[DisTwix]

I would suggest Chacos sandals - they come in wide, and completely solved my plantar fascitis (extreme heel pain), as they have an orthodic grade footbed. They are pretty cute, have lots of colors, and dry VERY quickly if they get wet. They also last for a LONG time. Sometimes Zappos has them on sale - they are expensive (about $90 not on sale) but really, really worth it.

I also wear birkenstocks, which do come in wide.... they have lots of mary jane style clogs that are very cute. I usually find mine on ebay for a fraction of retail (discontinued colors, etc).

It's impossible to function when your feet hurt! Good luck finding something that works!

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

Sounds like you may have Plantar Fasciitis based on what you are saying about heel pain. I have this and have been to the podiatrist, had physical therapy, cortizone shots and the only thing I found to work were my MBT shoes. You can look them up online. It only takes a few days to get used to wearing them but it is like walking on cotton, or marshmallows without the stickiness. I have been wearing MBT's for a year now and have not had to see a doctor again. Hope this helps. These shoes are very expensive, but have been worth every penny for me. I can go for long walks every day now and have the stamina to do the World pain free. I wear my Disney crocs around the house, and my MBT's the rest of the time. I have two pair plus a pair of sandals too. I found one of the shoes and the sandal on clearance from a web site and I am sorry I cannot remember what it was. I found it by googling MBT and researching some of the web sites. The official site explains why the shoe is so wonderful. I will try to come back if I find the web sites.

 

[M5ward]

I also have Plantar Fasciitis and wear orthotics in my shoes. What you are describing sounds like you may have it too. It's worth a trip to a podiatrist because it usually just becomes more and more painful. I always wear sneakers at WDW (with my orthotics, of course.) I don't care about a fashion statement, I just care about comfort. I always wear cotton socks to absorb any perspiration. I make sure to break in the sneakers before we go (didn't do that one time and paid the price.) I know that New Balance sneakers run wider than others. I see people walking around the World in flip flops or high heels and can't imagine how they get through the day. My feet would pitch a fit!

 

[kimpossible]

I would suggest Chacos sandals - they come in wide, and completely solved my plantar fascitis (extreme heel pain), as they have an orthodic grade footbed. They are pretty cute, have lots of colors, and dry VERY quickly if they get wet. They also last for a LONG time. Sometimes Zappos has them on sale - they are expensive (about $90 not on sale) but really, really worth it.

I also wear birkenstocks, which do come in wide.... they have lots of mary jane style clogs that are very cute. I usually find mine on ebay for a fraction of retail (discontinued colors, etc).

It's impossible to function when your feet hurt! Good luck finding something that works!

I will second Chacos. I have bad arches and I LOVE them.

 

[cathydwin]

I had heel pain but not Plantar Fasciitis. A nurse co-worker suggested running shoes with the cantilever heels. Some running shoes are pricy but sometimes worth it.
I have the opposite problem for shoes as I have narrow heels. The Avia running shoes/sneaker are great as they hug the heel so I do not walk out of them.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Are you sure you dont have a heal spur? im not sure of how it spelled but you might wanna get it check out

 

[dsquarednz]

I probably should go to a doctor - it's not like I don't have insurance (paid for by my employer no less!). I don't have flat feet, or fallen arches that I can see, but other symptoms seem close to PF.

I do notice the pain more in the mornings, and find it lessens when I wear shoes with a bit of support (like my Brooks), and increases when I wear my Crocs (which also have been wearing down on the bottoms WAY faster than normal).

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions!