Running shoes for high arch...

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I know what you all will say, you will tell me to go to the local shoe store, but you don't understand where I live! I live in the middle of nowhere and I went to the store and the little blond girl, that looked barely over 18, who worked there just looked at me when I told her I was an underpronator and said "Asics are best"

Then they didn't have my size (b/c I have huge feet, 11s seemed slightly too small, so I wanted to try an 11 1/2) and a guy walked over and suggested I wear men's shoes.

So, I'm left to research on my own! I got some Asics Kayano 16s., and they didn't have enough arch support for my high arches and hurt my feet. I'm finding it hard to find shoes that are good for high arches and cushioning for my underpronating...oh and I have wide feet as well.

Just some suggestions from those of you that have any of these issues would be great so that when I go back to the store I will know what to try on since the people out here who work in the store clearly aren't going to be any help!

 

[Swmr359]

I also have a very high arch (only my heel and the ball of my foot make a mark on the wet foot test)

Currently I have an insert in my shoe that was made for me by Road Runner Sports. As for brands ... I seem to rotate through Asics,Adidas,Nike, and Mizuno. You should probably just go the the store and try on every shoe until something feels right;maybe insets would help also.
I think the Road Runner site has a tool where you can enter what kind of foot you have and it will give suggestions. You could take that list to the store and ask to try those models.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks Maggie! I'm off to check out the Roadrunner site! I was thinking maybe I was going to have to get an insert for whatever shoe I chose. Why can't I just have "easy" feet???

 

[verticalchaos]

FWIW, I know a lot of women who wear men's shoes. Just sayin'...

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

FWIW, I know a lot of women who wear men's shoes. Just sayin'...

That's good to know! I'm not opposed to it, but the way he suggested it was after they couldn't find my size and it seemed like he just wanted to make a sale by pushing off anything on me. I wasn't sure at the time what the actual differences in men/womens shoes were and wasn't confident he would really tell me since he seemed to just want to sell my something!

 

[verticalchaos]

That's good to know! I'm not opposed to it, but the way he suggested it was after they couldn't find my size and it seemed like he just wanted to make a sale by pushing off anything on me. I wasn't sure at the time what the actual differences in men/womens shoes were and wasn't confident he would really tell me since he seemed to just want to sell my something!

Good point. They're not for everyone, but several of the women in my running club wear men's shoes and like them better.

Stories like that make me appreciate my primary LRS even more - the guy didn't try to take advantage of my taper madness with a shoe crisis and sell me something. He worked to help me get through the half in those and THEN after the half we worked with finding a new shoe. (Now, we'll disregard the fact that they STILL haven't called me about shoes that were to have been in a couple of weeks ago... I know they did get them in because I called without telling the girl my name and asked if they had any Adrenaline 11s in stock and she said "They'll be in tomorrow!" but I never got a call back from the other guy I'd dealt with who took my number. I went to another store and got some. And now with Active Advantage, I'll probably just order them online. Go to the LRS for fittings when styles change but get them elsewhere.)

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I have high arches (or, at least I still have ONE high arch - I lost my other one running through my pregnancy last year ) and I've always found Nike shoes to be very comfortable. Nike shoes are particularly "soft" and so they seem to cushion high arches pretty well. I (used to - again seeing the above point ) underpronate and I wore the Nike Max Moto's and the Nike Pegasus for years. If you have a wider toe box, you might prefer the Asics Nimbus - again, very cushioned and great for underpronators, but wider than the Nikes.

I second doing some research on neutral shoes, and then going to the running store and trying on everything you come up with as a possibility until you find a pair that feels right to you.

If you can get to a Road Runner Sports, they do custom heat-molded insoles that are awesome for "non-average" feet. I now wear a stiffer shoe, but use the heat molded insoles so that they're still comfortable on my one high arch.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

And now with Active Advantage, I'll probably just order them online. Go to the LRS for fittings when styles change but get them elsewhere.)

If you keep that up, your LRS might not be in business for very long.

 

[bunnyfoo]

FWIW, I know a lot of women who wear men's shoes. Just sayin'...

I know a guy who wears women's running shoes

 

[deleckidesign]

My husband has wide feet, high arches and under pronates. He wears Asics 2150's w/an insert and they seem to work for him. I can't say those will for sure work for you, but just a suggestion of a shoe to try Pretty sure I saw them on runningwarehouse.com and you can use the WISHD code for a % off.

 

[LadyDooley]

I have a very high arch, I went to roadrunner and tried out a good dozen shoes until I found the one that gave me enough support and felt comfortable. I ended up with Adidas Supernova Glides.
Everyone talks about Asics but I am afraid they wont have the support I need and spening all that money for shoes you don't like is such a waste!!

I'll stick with what I know, these I know do well.

 

[slp1650]

I have high arches as well and ended up with inserts in all my shoes. I switch through the brands, but always have the inserts. They have some now that you can put in the oven for a little bit of time and then mold them to your feet (those are the kind I have).

I originally went to Road Runner and bought about 3 generation worth of shoes from them. However, a local running shop (Santa Barbara Running) is a sponsor of the tri team I'm on so I get a discount there. When I went they shoed me more options and I actually found a better shoe there. Just look at different brands and models and see what you like the best. Definitely look at some insoles though!

 

[verticalchaos]

If you keep that up, your LRS might not be in business for very long.

Well, they should have better customer service, especially in NYC where they are not the only game in town. There are SEVERAL to choose from (not to mention online sources), so they should be especially aware of serving their customers well. The fact that the guy took my name and number and said they would call when the shipment came in, I verified that a shipment HAD come in without using my name OR my cell phone (I called from a work phone), and I have yet to receive a call? I'm sorry, but that's not proving they want or need my business.

 

[v22wifey]

I'm a supinator (isn't that underpronation?) with a med to high arch and use the kayano 16's and while they're good for me, I'm wondering if I might need a better shoe since I've started having issues with my left foot. I just bought a pair of Asic's Nimbus 12's. I looked and looked for the "right" shoe. I hope this helps me! Maybe you should check them out! http://www.amazon.com/ASICS-Womens-GEL-Nimbus-Running-Titanium/dp/B0031Y6OFW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1296422660&sr=8-2

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Well, they should have better customer service, especially in NYC where they are not the only game in town. There are SEVERAL to choose from (not to mention online sources), so they should be especially aware of serving their customers well. The fact that the guy took my name and number and said they would call when the shipment came in, I verified that a shipment HAD come in without using my name OR my cell phone (I called from a work phone), and I have yet to receive a call? I'm sorry, but that's not proving they want or need my business.

I don't think there's anything wrong with ordering shoes online, but it's totally bad form to go in, try on shoes, use the expertise of the sales people (who help analyze your feet and stride and suggest shoes and help you fit them), and then walk out to order your shoes elsewhere. If the service is good enough to help you find the right shoes, then the store is good enough to buy from. If you are using the time of the "experts" and then not buying, then soon enough it won't be profitable to employ people to give this specialized personalized service.

Sorry, but your statement that you'll order online but still use the services of the store for fitting is just bad form. Ordering a pair of shoes you know will fit online is one thing, but monopolizing the salespeople with no intention to buy is a whole different game, especially for a local business.

 

[verticalchaos]

I don't think there's anything wrong with ordering shoes online, but it's totally bad form to go in, try on shoes, use the expertise of the sales people (who help analyze your feet and stride and suggest shoes and help you fit them), and then walk out to order your shoes elsewhere. If the service is good enough to help you find the right shoes, then the store is good enough to buy from. If you are using the time of the "experts" and then not buying, then soon enough it won't be profitable to employ people to give this specialized personalized service.

Sorry, but your statement that you'll order online but still use the services of the store for fitting is just bad form. Ordering a pair of shoes you know will fit online is one thing, but monopolizing the salespeople with no intention to buy is a whole different game, especially for a local business.

If they have it in stock, sure. But in this case they had one too wide. THEY opted not to call me when it came in. If they do that again, I'm out the door. It's ridiculous.

And fwiw, they're only "monopolized" during NYC marathon season and they're opening up ANOTHER store, so they're not hurting for business.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Well, in my case, the salespeople have NO expertise at all. They didn't suggest anything or help me in any way. They also didn't carry my size. I went back in today b/c I thought I might try on two different Asics that I'm waffling on and to add insult to injury, they don't even CARRY the newer model shoes! I guess we live so far out in the middle of nowhere that it takes a while to get them? I was looking to try on the Nimbus 12 and Cumulus 12 and they only had Nimbus 11s and didn't even carry Cumulus. Guess I'll just have to order and return from Amazon a bunch of times. It's that or drive 100 miles to the nearest city and hope they carry large sizes.

 

[v22wifey]

Well, in my case, the salespeople have NO expertise at all. They didn't suggest anything or help me in any way. They also didn't carry my size. I went back in today b/c I thought I might try on two different Asics that I'm waffling on and to add insult to injury, they don't even CARRY the newer model shoes! I guess we live so far out in the middle of nowhere that it takes a while to get them? I was looking to try on the Nimbus 12 and Cumulus 12 and they only had Nimbus 11s and didn't even carry Cumulus. Guess I'll just have to order and return from Amazon a bunch of times. It's that or drive 100 miles to the nearest city and hope they carry large sizes.

I have the cumulus 12's upstairs right now and really disliked them. I felt the didn't have enough arch support and were very flat. Of course I ran in them once and couldn't take them back I'm expecting miracles with the Nimbus 12's. Did you go to the asics website to see what would supposedly work for you?

 

[chimera]

You really need to go somewhere and get fitted otherwise you can waste a whole lot of time and money on shoes that don't work. Your arch is not the only part of your foot that matters. I have freakishly high arches, narrow heels and my left foot is different from my right. I started in ASICs, have tried Mizunos, but now run in Sauconys. Brooks and New Balance make good shoes, but are too wide for me and Nike never worked.

Any big towns nearby you could make a daytrip for a local running store? Maybe if you're coming to Orlando for Princess you can talk to someone at one of the expo booths or go to a local store for a gait analysis. Podiatrist can help you as well. If you have no other options, we have a WISH team discount at runningwarehouse.com. Click on team discounts at the top of the page, enter WISHD, then hit enter for 15% off.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I have the cumulus 12's upstairs right now and really disliked them. I felt the didn't have enough arch support and were very flat. Of course I ran in them once and couldn't take them back I'm expecting miracles with the Nimbus 12's. Did you go to the asics website to see what would supposedly work for you?

That was my concern with the Cumulus, but it makes no sense b/c I did go to the Asics site and it suggested for my foot either the Nimbus or the Cumulus. I'm concerned that the Nimbus will be TOO firm though and my biggest issue right now is that I'm having a lot of knee pain and want to make sure I'm getting enough cushion!

Yes, I may have to make a day trip, but funds are low and we have a huge storm headed this way (again!). I wish I were headed to the Expo, but I'm not running the 1/2 until next year, I've got so much knee pain going on, I'll be lucky to run a 5K this summer!

Thanks so much everyone for all your suggestions and advice!!