Shoes

[sally in philly]

A few years ago I ordered the flip flop. I found the arch very hard and unforgiving. It hurt to walk in them.  Had to return. Have they changed the arch material!  I notice they don't say " you will need to get used to them" 

[2blonde]

@sally in philly  Funny you would say that.........I had the exact same experience.  I actually tried twice......a sandal and then an athletic shoe, then I gave up on them.  I couldn't even walk across the room in them they hurt my feet and knees so badly.  Felt like a rock under my foot.  I have very flat feet and definitely need arch support, but not like that.  My feeling is these work best on people who already have a decent arch to their feet.  It will be interesting to see what others say.

[aubnwa01]

I've had the same issues with Vionic, I tried a pair of the Tide Flips & another style & it's like the arch support just isn't in the right spot for my feet.  There's like a mound in the footbed that feels like I'm walking on a wadded up sock or something, so I gave up. 

I've found I have the best luck with most Merrell shoes & Mephisto Helen sandals feel like they're custom fitted to my feet.

[Moonchilde]

---

@aubnwa01 wrote:

I've had the same issues with Vionic, I tried a pair of the Tide Flips & another style & it's like the arch support just isn't in the right spot for my feet.  There's like a mound in the footbed that feels like I'm walking on a wadded up sock or something, so I gave up. 

I've found I have the best luck with most Merrell shoes & Mephisto Helen sandals feel like they're custom fitted to my feet.

---

I do find the Vionic footbed hard - in a good way, AFAIC. My feet love that support and love the arches.

But I did have an issue with their open sandals - all of them. I was simply buying the wrong size. I had to size down one entire size for the open sandals in order for everything to hit my foot “right.”

I wear a 9 in most shoes in most brands. I wear a 9 on Vionic sneaker-type shoes. I wear an 8.5 in Vionic closed shoes that aren’t sneakers, i.e. slip-ons. But I wear an 8 in their sandals - all of them. 

[Kachina624]

As we know after endless magic marker demos, Vionic shoes are designed for people with pronation  problems.   If you don't have this problem, the shoes will not be comfortable and could be damaging.

I have pronation so bad I've actually had surgery (unsucessful) to correct it but I also have flat feet and can't wear those shoes.  Never could wear Berkis either.  That lump of an arch feels like a boulder.

[aubnwa01]

@Kachina624I can't wear Birks, either.  Not only is the arch support in them wrong for whatever kind of weird foot problems i have, but that toe bar across the front hits in the middle of my toes rather than behind them.

[sally in philly]

Thank you for all your replies. You saved me from ordering again and returning 

[Moonchilde]

---

@aubnwa01 wrote:

@Kachina624I can't wear Birks, either.  Not only is the arch support in them wrong for whatever kind of weird foot problems i have, but that toe bar across the front hits in the middle of my toes rather than behind them.

---

@aubnwa01, I have the same issues with Birkies - one size is a smidge too small, the next size is a smidge too big, and the toe bar gives me blisters either way. 

[Kachina624]

@2blondeI also have flat feet as I described above.  I am very comfortable in Alegria shoes but I must have straps or some enclosure to keep my foot stable.  I've also had good luck with Nurse Mate Shoes from their Align Collection.  Both of these shoes have gentle arch supports which mold to your foot.

[2blonde]

@Kachina624@sally in philly@Moonchilde@aubnwa01  For the record, with my flat feet, Morton's Neuroma (in one foot), and bunions, my go-to shoe has been Birkenstock's for the past 15 or so years.  Recently, I've found some great cheaper knock-offs through Zulily (Real Natura and Calceo).  I also wear Alegria (hate the squeak, though), Earth Origins, Born and also boots in Naturalizer.