What shoes do you wear for walking? Or: The Slow... - Active 10

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What shoes do you wear for walking? Or: The Slow-as-a-Snailshoe Epiphany

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministrator
10 Replies

Long-rambling-post warning!

And … shoe-bling alert!!!! I bought a new pair of shoes for walking and everyday casual. And I just have been out for some walking today. I love them.

So have you ever had a shoe epiphany? Well I have had one, but it was a very long, slow one that lasted over the last 6 years!

Ca 6 years ago, I was not running, not rowing, really struggled with my energy levels (due to also being under-medicated for my hypothyroid condition), and thought that the two pairs of running shoes of my husband owned, sitting in our shoe cupboard, were overkill and a waste of space. Who needs two pairs for running anyway? Right?

I had one pair of hardened-leather tennis shoes, hidden away deep in a cupboard!

That was me ca 6 years ago.

So how about now? Well! I have to admit it’s me, who takes up most of the space in the shoe rack. We bought a new high capacity one, recently. I have to admit, I take up most of the space now! And it’s not due to any fancy formal-wear, high-heel shoes! Rather a lively diversity of active-living-shoes.

So what happened through the last 5 years?

Ca 5 years ago I started on my Couch25k journey, increasing my active walking, as I went along. Within half a year, I threw my ancient, sole-loosened, cracked tennis shoes away. Well actually I couldn’t let go of my old C25k graduating shoes until I took enough pictures to remember them by! See picture on this post from 4 years ago! healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... )

But having let go of the old, and experiencing my first gait analysis, I became a proud owner of a new pair of New Balance Hierro all terrain running/walking shoes. Walking on clouds!

My tally was back at a respectable 1 pair.

However, my increased pressure of being on my feet caused Norton’s Neuroma to flair up, so halfway through the lifespan of my New Balance Hierros (ca 8mm drop), I switched to 0-drop, wide-toe box Altra Lone Peak 5s from a sale. I used these mostly for running.

Tally: 2 pairs. But ok, so I had the same number of running shoes as hubby!

In my move towards ensuring I’d never have an issue with Morton’s Neuroma again, I made a plan to slowly switch out all my shoes to wide-toebox, 0-drop shoes. For everyday walks and casual work attire, I got myself the high ankle versions of the 0-drop Altra Lone Peaks, great for hiking, but also urban walks!

So that made 3 pairs of active shoes. I was a happy satisfied shoe owner for at least 2 years.

Ok, admittedly during those two years got sucked into an Aldi’s running special, which had a 10-er deal on some fairly ugly no-brand running trail shoes, but they were so comfortable, and felt like low-drops. And they have been used quite considerable, especially when my Altras started to develop a hole in its toe box. I eventually fixed that hole, but in between the Aldi shoes were great, and I still use them when my other running shoes are wet.

So that made 4 pairs. Was my shoe habit getting out of control?

Of course, having nipped Morton’s Neuroma in the butt, I recently then started to develop reoccurring calf strains. The strain on my calves was relieved when donning higher drop shoes, specifically when walking. So my physio suggested for me to get heel wedges to put into my 0-drop shoes! Sigh.

My Altra boots got some heel wedges, but it made them feel wobbly, and I was fearing that that wobble put a strain somewhere else in my posterior chain, so I decided to look out for another pair of shoes, with ca 9mm drop, for walking, hiking and casual everyday wear.

And that’s where we are today! My 5th pair of a walking/running shoe! Three pairs of shoes are now dedicated for running, two for walking, hiking and everyday casual.

So today was my first day in my New Balance Hierro Mid Cut hiker boots!

They are light, have nice padding, ankle height for everyday terrain, but flexible enough to just do a joggle in, if I feel like that on a walk.

Oh, and we added a modular extension to increase our shoe rack!

Very happy with all my shoes! How did I ever live without at least 3 pairs!

My epiphany? Over the last 5 years of running and active walking, I realised that just as my body changed, adapts to different strains and stresses, gets stronger first here than other parts of your body catch up, I realised that my footwear benefits from being able to adjust to those shifts. So 5 pairs is surely not a luxury, but a supportive necessity, right?

Happy shoe day, everyone!

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10 Replies
grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl

I'm looking for something exactly like those! I've got low drop walking shoes by Lowa which I bought after I broke my ankle, but now I find them too stiff and heavy for everyday walks. Still great for squelchy walks though. I think my feet must have spread because everything I wore before now feels too tight. It's a slow process replacing all those expensive shoes and boots. But if I've learned one thing, it's that everything starts from the feet up. If they are happy, secure and protected, it makes everything else function so much better.

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministrator in reply togrumpyoldgirl

Yes, I used to have quite stiff hiking boots but have moved over to boots that are so flexible that it feels like I could run in them as well.

They are increasingly on the market, as boot flexibility is in demand.

Hope you find some good ones!

Folkylass profile image
Folkylass

Well I only have two pairs of running shoes one pair of trails and the other pair are road both Brooks. I did try asics however I couldn’t get on with them at all. I found that they were not comfy. Anway I wear my trails for walking aswell as running. Now I don’t know if I should be doing that but they seem to be ok😂xx

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministrator in reply toFolkylass

Perfect! I think that’s just fine. And you save on shoe space! 👍🏽👣👣

Doris8 profile image
Doris81000miles per year

I wear Brooks ghost for walking in and Altras, but find I can feel all the bumps and pebbles on roads with them so prefer brooks , they are cushioned. Altras ok on a grassy walk.

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministrator in reply toDoris8

That’s interesting. My Altras seem ok on pebbly roads, but they do get holes on the top of the toe box. I’ll be mending the second shoe this weekend, and I’ll have two fancy red patches on my blue shoes! 🤣🤣🔴🔵

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMe in reply toCBDB

I used to get those holes in several different brands but hasn't happened for a good while now... musing on this!

DerbyshireLad profile image
DerbyshireLadA120min a day

Hi,

I approach my shoe choice by assessing the terrain I am intending to traverse and of course the weather.

Tarmac / hardened paths and any weather = I use my trainers

Country lanes / footpaths / national trails (not so hilly) = I use a light mid boot

Hills / peak trails / mountain trails = hard leather walking boots

Trainers= Soloman XA Pro 3D

Mid boots = Meindl Respond Mid boots

High Peaks = Han Wag Banks GTX boots

Trainers don't last very long as the soles wear through quite quickly so I am constantly researching / searching a better, longer lasting shoe. Any recommendations?

CBDB profile image
CBDBAdministrator in reply toDerbyshireLad

I used to have Meindl hiking boots. But somehow at my age I have found I need much more ankle flexibility nowadays. So I’ve completely reverted to flexible trail/hike/running shoes.

You are probably right in terms of longevity, though. My old stuff walking boots lasted decades. My new, more flexible ones don’t.

So I don’t have any advice on that. It sounds like you are getting quite a good mileage there, so your shoe collection looks great to me!

grumpyoldgirl profile image
grumpyoldgirl in reply toCBDB

My boots that no longer fit me are meindl. Great boots until they weren't! (And it wasn't the boots that changed, it was my ankle)

The trick for me is finding something that still provides ankle support without constricting. I suspect it will mean trying on lots of boots!

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