Based on the recommendations primary from this newsgroup, I went ahead and
purchased a pair of Shoespring shoes (www.shoespring.com). I'd been on
the hunt for shoes that would be good to use on flat surfaces all day, and
the Shoespring brand seemed like it might be what I needed.
The first thing I should say about Shoespring shoes is this: Whatever size
you wear, you may need to increase that by a full size (1.0 in US units).
The first pair I got from Shoespring were way too small. I've since traded
them off for a pair 0.5 US units larger, and they are still a little too
small. Specifically, they're a bit narrow. (Lengthwise, they seem to be
right on target, because I now have essentially too much length on the
interior.) Shoespring says they do not currently offer any wide models,
which is what I suppose I would need to acquire in order to counter the
narrow trend of their make.
I've decided to deal with the too-narrow shoes I currently possess (the
second pair I got from them), because the whole ship-shoes-back, wait-for-
replacement thing has gotten old. I have discovered that I can remove the
built-in insoles from the shoes, with the result that they suddenly fit
remarkably well. But obviously, this would probably prove to be a
catastrophic decision if I were to actually wear the shoes like that to
work, all day long. Springs or no springs.
Therefore, I'm needing to get some information on purchasable insoles.
The built-in insoles are too thick. I suspect there are some gel-based
solutions out there which would be not so thick, and would serve my
purposes handily. What I DON'T know is whether or not it would be a good
idea to outright replace the built-in insoles with gel substitutes. Is
that what is normally done? Or do people more typically use both insoles
simultaneously?
Further along this train of thought.. What are some good gel insoles? I
picked up some Bob's Insoles (not the actual name of the product) from
Famous Footware or somesuch, for about three bucks. They are clearly a
very minimalist product and will probably not last more than a month or
two of wear. This indicates to me that there is bound to be a wide
variety of qualities when it comes to these products. Just about anyone
out there would be more knowledgable than I am on this subject.
Recommendations would be most welcome. Particularly, I'm hoping to find
some insoles which are FLAT. The Shoespring built-in insoles are actually
a little thicker on the heels, and even my preliminary tests have indicated
that this will generate a lot of fatigue in my heels.
Thanks in advance!
Umm Leon, your just wrong on this one. My wife sells both, and many more
good shoes, and for standing and working in a localized area, the shoes
springs are hands down a better shoe. If you don't believe me, check with
the hordes of medical pro's who are switching.
Digger
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ummm get a pair of RockPort shoes...
>
>
>
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"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ummm get a pair of RockPort shoes...
>
>
>
And while I am at it, the quality of RockPort shoes has dwindled over the
last few years. Ther was a time that they kid about everyone's butt, but
not anymore. It's kind of a bum deal because that's all I USED to wear.
Digger
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I will say that if they are trying to mail order them and haven't been fit
for them locally, they might have a problem fitting several different shoe
brands. Any shoe store worth their salt that just sells you a size without
getting to try them on and check for fit, is not providing good customer
service. It never ceases to amaze me that I can go into most any shoe store
and five pair of shoes (all the same size) fit or don't fit completely
different. The OP not getting a good fit does not mean the shoes af to
blame, just that the person has not been properly fit for whatever shoe they
are trying to buy.
I also bought the higher end RockPorts because they just feel beter and last
better than their budget lines, but the quality of the shoes that I bought
in the mid 80's was far better than the same model shoes today. I think
it's probably like that in many shoes (or other products), but you just
really expect RockPort to always be a great shoe, not just a good shoe.
It's just sort of a let down.
As far as ShoeSprings, it's not my opinion, but the buying decision of those
who are making the change that I refer to. If you remember a thread a few
weeks ago, people were suggesting all kinds of athletic shoe brands for
people who work in the shop all day. It's just bad advice to suggest a shoe
made for long walking or running to a person who is standing and only
walking in a reasonably small area. It would be like suggesting baseball
shoes for a marathon runner. Both good shoes, just the wrong application.
Some of these people were also telling people to "just go buy some ortho
inserts". More bad advice if just buying off the shelf. If properly fit,
they can be a footsaver, if not they can do real damage. Onve again, it's
the right fit, right shoe, right application that makes it all work. I
still like RockPort, just not as much as their older stuff. Oh, those were
the days.... *LOL*
Digger
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Seems as though the original poster is having problems getting a good fit
> with the brand you believe to be superior..
> As for a quality drop in Rockport shoes...I keep going back and wearing
them
> but do buy a more expensive Rockport.
>
>
> "Digger" <DW> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > Umm Leon, your just wrong on this one. My wife sells both, and many
more
> > good shoes, and for standing and working in a localized area, the shoes
> > springs are hands down a better shoe. If you don't believe me, check
with
> > the hordes of medical pro's who are switching.
> >
> > Digger
> >
> > "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Ummm get a pair of RockPort shoes...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
> > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
>
>
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"Digger" <DW> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> The OP not getting a good fit does not mean the shoes af to
> blame, just that the person has not been properly fit for whatever shoe they
> are trying to buy.
This seems to be the case. I've gotten a size 9, returned it, got a 9.5.
The 9's were way too narrow and I couldn't wear them for very long. They
were the same length as the 9D's I was wearing beforehand. The 9.5's were
a bit longer than my old 9D's but were STILL too narrow by a bit. I would
have to occasionally situate my toes atop one another to relieve some of
the strain.
> As far as ShoeSprings, it's not my opinion, but the buying decision of those
> who are making the change that I refer to. If you remember a thread a few
> weeks ago, people were suggesting all kinds of athletic shoe brands for
> people who work in the shop all day. It's just bad advice to suggest a shoe
> made for long walking or running to a person who is standing and only
> walking in a reasonably small area.
I have to wonder if this is what's going on with me. Ignoring the front
of the shoes, they otherwise fit reasonably well. So I was really
mystefied by the fact that my feet would already generate excruciating
pain after only a couple of hours wearing the shoes. My old shoes had
been missing their INTERIOR SOLES for a while (they disintegrated) and
they didn't generate that kind of pain that quickly (though I did buy $3
gel insoles to help with that). The size 9.5 Shoespring shoes are a
walking model. They don't have a "standing" model and I've never really
heard of such a beast. I can't buy gel insoles for my 9.5's because I
can barely wear them with socks as it is. (Even though they are actually
a little long for my feet.)
For now, I have to grit my teeth and keep wearing the Shoesprings until
I can afford a cheap replacement so I can send them back to Shoespring.
> I
> still like RockPort, just not as much as their older stuff. Oh, those were
> the days.... *LOL*
So.. WHAT the heck is good these days, that I have a chance in hell of
being able to test at the local shoe place? I was almost ready to start
looking into Rockports until I read the replies to my thread here...
Shoespring says their casual shoe line will have wide models available.
I'll give them another run then, I suspect. Mainly because the shoes ARE
comfortable for the first hour or so. (Though my right shoe squeaks.)
Marc Brown notes:
>were
>a bit longer than my old 9D's but were STILL too narrow by a bit. I would
>have to occasionally situate my toes atop one another to relieve some of
>the strain.
>
Good grief.
>I have to wonder if this is what's going on with me. Ignoring the front
>of the shoes, they otherwise fit reasonably well. So I was really
>mystefied by the fact that my feet would already generate excruciating
>pain after only a couple of hours wearing the shoes. My old shoes had
>been missing their INTERIOR SOLES for a while (they disintegrated) and
>they didn't generate that kind of pain that quickly (though I did buy $3
>gel insoles to help with that). The size 9.5 Shoespring shoes are a
>walking model. They don't have a "standing" model and I've never really
>heard of such a beast.
These things are worthless, at least for you.
>For now, I have to grit my teeth and keep wearing the Shoesprings until
>I can afford a cheap replacement so I can send them back to Shoespring.
>
Got to WalMart. For 25 bucks, they've got all kinds of cheap work shoes. Try
them on until you get a pair that FITS, but don't expect them to last. Then
check out the Rockports and Red Wings and other brands.
>Shoespring says their casual shoe line will have wide models available.
>I'll give them another run then, I suspect. Mainly because the shoes ARE
>comfortable for the first hour or so. (Though my right shoe squeaks.)
Marvelous. A whole hour. Wide models are going to slip up on your heels and
create blisters if they current narrow models fit well at the back.
A friend of mine gets his shoes from Mason's (mail order house). He used to
work in furniture factories, on concrete floors all day, and bought the USGPO
versions because they lasted well and were comfortable almost from the git go.
Just checked: www.bamason.com.
And got reminded that they are NOT cheap.
Charlie Self
"The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf."
Will Rogers
On 08 Oct 2003 10:08:13 GMT, [email protected] (Charlie Self)
pixelated:
>A friend of mine gets his shoes from Mason's (mail order house). He used to
>work in furniture factories, on concrete floors all day, and bought the USGPO
>versions because they lasted well and were comfortable almost from the git go.
>
>Just checked: www.bamason.com.
>
>And got reminded that they are NOT cheap.
Remember that dealers get discounts, and anyone can (could)
become a Mason Shoe Dealer. DAMHIKT (in the late 70's)
Larry Jaques responds:
>>A friend of mine gets his shoes from Mason's (mail order house). He used to
>>work in furniture factories, on concrete floors all day, and bought the
>USGPO
>>versions because they lasted well and were comfortable almost from the git
>go.
>>
>>Just checked: www.bamason.com.
>>
>>And got reminded that they are NOT cheap.
>
>Remember that dealers get discounts, and anyone can (could)
>become a Mason Shoe Dealer. DAMHIKT (in the late 70's)
I seem to recall their print catalog offering discounts that don't appear to
show up on their web site. Might be worth asking for the print version, but it
also has been awhile since I've seen the catalog.
Charlie Self
"The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf."
Will Rogers
[email protected] (Charlie Self) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
> Got to WalMart. For 25 bucks, they've got all kinds of cheap work shoes. Try
> them on until you get a pair that FITS, but don't expect them to last. Then
> check out the Rockports and Red Wings and other brands.
Rockport is a brand I have heard mentioned numerous times. But this thread
has revealed that their quality (comfort?) has gone down in recent years.
Are they still worth my money? Are there certain models that are higher
quality than others? I see that there are plenty of places I could visit
to try them out, but I speak from experience when I say that a few minutes
is nowhere near enough testing for me to determine if they're going to
cause me extreme pain out of the blue, the way my current Shoespring shoes
do.
> Marvelous. A whole hour. Wide models are going to slip up on your heels and
> create blisters if they current narrow models fit well at the back.
Here's what specifically happens during the course of the day, wearing my
Shoespring shoes. In the morning I do more walking than during the day,
but just for a short while. I tighten the shoelaces a bit more during this
period. If I don't, they tend to slip off my heels a bit, and the only way
to counter this while walking is to apply some pressure with my toes. In
any event, I cannot walk with the shoes in a relaxed fashion, the way I
might if I were barefoot. Tightening the shoelaces actually only alleviates
this problem; it doesn't eliminate it. The consequence of this is increased
fatigue for the front of my feet. In fairness, I can't say for certain
whether I'd ever be able to find a pair of shoes that I could walk around in
totally relaxed.
Later in the day, I can relax the shoelaces because I won't be doing any
prolonged walking. This relieves some of the strain to the front of my
feet, which is ever-present due to the fact that my feet at the front are
wider than at the back, which the shoes do not conform to adequately. The
primary source of pain - the area which already hurts badly enough after
two hours to necessitate as much time off my feet as I can manage - is my
heels. They fit comfortably enough in the back of the shoes, but for
whatever reason, standing upright is extremely fatiguing to my heels.
Evidently moreso than doing so in a pair of shoes with no springs and no
interior soles (my old shoes). I've taken the Shoespring shoes' soles out
to examine why this might be. They are made out of some sort of foam
material, with a small layer of fabric on top. But the heels have an
additional wedge of foam of a slightly more porous variety. The result
is that the heels end up being situated higher in the shoes than the rest
of the foot. Considering the heels bear the brunt of my weight, this
design makes little sense to me. After all, when I'm barefoot, my feet
are flat on the ground. At least, I think they are. If I didn't have the
option of sending the shoes back, I'd rip those extra heel wedges out to
see if doing so would result in some sort of improvement to the comfort
level.
So, standing is very bad. Walking feels much more comfortable, even
considering the exercise my toes get (almost on a subconscious level)
trying to keep the shoes from slipping off. If I forget to tighten the
shoelaces before walking, my toes do too much work keeping the shoes on,
and this (surprisingly) causes pain to develop in my shins.
Oh well, that's what happens day by day. I'm not any sort of expert on
musculature or foot issues so I can't really offer educated opinions as
to why the pain develops in the ways it does.
Marc Brown responds:
>Rockport is a brand I have heard mentioned numerous times. But this thread
>has revealed that their quality (comfort?) has gone down in recent years.
No it hasn't. It's revealed a couple of opinions.
>but I speak from experience when I say that a few minutes
>is nowhere near enough testing for me to determine if they're going to
>cause me extreme pain out of the blue, the way my current Shoespring shoes
>do.
Huh? If the damned things fit, with a little room to spread as you're on your
feet, why should they hurt out of the blue?
>In
>any event, I cannot walk with the shoes in a relaxed fashion, the way I
>might if I were barefoot. Tightening the shoelaces actually only alleviates
>this problem; it doesn't eliminate it. The consequence of this is increased
>fatigue for the front of my feet. In fairness, I can't say for certain
>whether I'd ever be able to find a pair of shoes that I could walk around in
You may need to get handmade shoes. I feel for you if you do, because even low
end handmade shoes are high end cost.
You may need to find a local expert on shoes, though in all honesty, I can't
even think of the type of place to recommend these days. Once upon a
time....yeah, right. The sales people in top shoe stores MIGHT have been able
to help. Today, they're mall rats like too many of the rest of mall
salespeople.
Charlie Self
"The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf."
Will Rogers
Seems as though the original poster is having problems getting a good fit
with the brand you believe to be superior..
As for a quality drop in Rockport shoes...I keep going back and wearing them
but do buy a more expensive Rockport.
"Digger" <DW> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Umm Leon, your just wrong on this one. My wife sells both, and many more
> good shoes, and for standing and working in a localized area, the shoes
> springs are hands down a better shoe. If you don't believe me, check with
> the hordes of medical pro's who are switching.
>
> Digger
>
> "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Ummm get a pair of RockPort shoes...
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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