Since we're on footwear...an optimistic question about running shoes

misanthropist

misanthropist

Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
1,236
I know I am still getting over a broken ankle but I have been thinking about getting some trail running shoes.

I have always been a heavy boot guy (GO VIBERGS) and that is probably not going to change except for light hikes...but then I do some light hikes here and there and maybe once the ankle is better I will do them very fast! I don't own any good running shoes and I don't know much about them.

One thing I do know is that I have had to do some work to correct excessive pronation which has in the past led to shin splints. In fact, I once kept beating on shin splints so hard that I ended up with severe stress fractures all the way down both tibias or fibias or whichever the shin one is. (I am better at putting up with pain than making good decisions about when to quit.)

Anyway I have been fixing this but I guess arch support would be helpful to me, if that means anything to you guys who know. Also, my feet are wide, except my heel, which is skinny. I believe this is called triangle feet syndrome.

So what say? A wilderness running shoe, for guys with skinny heels and big balls...can I say that?
 
New balance makes some reasonably priced trail running shoes I believe it's the 500 series ....I had a pair I ran in for acouple of years and they worked out real well.
 
I have switched to trail-runners for all my trips now and have abandoned heavy hiking boots entirely. I don't think I'm the only one either, over the last hiking season, I saw plenty of people with >3500ci packs wearing trail running shoes. I know there are varied opinions on this, but I haven't heard any complaints from anyone else yet and it is definitely more comfortable for me.

I don't know about skinny heels and big balls, but I overpronate pretty bad and I found that my Salomon XA Comp's are great. Before that I had a pair of Vasque Pingora and these were great as well.
 
i wear trail running shoes a lot while hiking.... just about most outdoor shoe companies these days, make a trail running shoe of some kind...

all these ultra-light guys sport trail runners as well...
 
I only wear Trail Runners and once you get used to them you will really feel the trail, not like mocasins but it will be very different at first. The ankles will strengthen after a while. I have never had a blister hiking in runners they wet out fast but dry even faster. They are easy to take off on rest stops and massage your feet. I used them doing the grand canyon, mt whitney, lytle creek ca, san gorgonio ca, san jacinto ca, mt baldy and any deserts I hike in. New Balance 809 is the best good for about 400-500 miles.

IMG_1222.JPG


IMG_1180.JPG
 
Misanthropist,
I pretty much have the same type feet as you (wide forefoot, skinny heel), and I do overpronate slightly. I recommend the trail runner idea heartily. My last pair of full-grain clunkers were Lowa Sareks. I swore never again after I tried to break those bad boys in. I'd say check out Montrail. I love the Hardrock. Been putting them through the paces for over 3 years, and almost 1000 miles, and they're still hanging in there pretty good. I have a pair of heat-molded insoles in them, they're called Soles, and you can get them at REI and heat them in your oven. They provide great arch support, and some cushioning as well. Just my $.02...
 
If you have overpronation to the point that you have given yourself stress fractures in the past, do yourself a favor and get some professionally made orthotics. They are arch supports that you put in your shoes. You have to have them with you when you try on shoes that you intend to wear with them.

They will prevent the pain in your shins, overpronation, and may help stabilize the bases of your feet to help prevent future rolled ankles.

The only bad thing about them is that they tend to be somewhat expensive. There are things that you can acquire that approximate them, but you have to be careful. Some supports that sound good, aren't. If they are just soft gel arch supports, or not really fitted correctly, or molded correctly, they give an illusion of doing something helpful. They may help someone with mild problems, but stress fractures are far beyond mild problems. Especially soft gels supports, will not do you much to any good at all.

10+ years of running, flat feet, corrective surgery, and several sets of professionally made arch supports, along with trying several types of commercially available materials, go into the above opinions... not to mention some physical therapy to correct problems I caused myself through overuse and trying to run through the pain.
 
So what say? A wilderness running shoe, for guys with skinny heels and big balls...
Click to expand...
So... wait... your balls are so large that you need special shoes so that it doesn't hurt when you step on them? Damn, you do have a problem.

A friend of mine got plastic orthotic inserts specially made and put them in whatever shoe he was wearing at the time. It wasn't cheap, but he was a lot happier afterwards.
 
Dude I picked up a pair of merrell trail runners this past weekend and they are phenomanal, I have flat feet, and shin splints and wore them all weekend, which included a 5 mi hike yesterday w/ no pain whatsoever. Check em out!

If you have a hush puppy outlet near you they stock merrells at amazing prices. I think wolverine makes Merrells, or are affiliated w/ them and hush puppy. I paid 50.00 for mine, and got my wife and boy some for 20.00 each! They also sell tevas, I ordered a pair of chacos, and will be getting a pair of tevas as well, cause they are on clearance for 18.99. Just my input.....
 
After suffering for 25 years and going through the whole orthotics, support, more cushion, more support, etc. nightmare and getting relief for only a few years each time, I've switched to trail runners/approach shoes for big(>25lb) packs, and moccasins for day hiking. I glue a thin piece of rubber on the moccasin sole so they don't wear out so fast. Virtually all of my day hiking is off trail in rough terrain. My feet feel great and the nagging plantar fascitis is gone. The only caveat I have is to go slowly. Stress fractures are likely if you're too impatient and/or pain-tolerant. If you think that your feet may not be up to the hike, throw a pair of trail runners in the pack. After wearing shoes for fifty years, the muscles in my feet were really weak. Plan on nine months to a year for retraining, so you might want to do the trail runners this summer and start going with no support at all next fall, which is how I did it. Barefoot running or running in moccasins if it's snowy where you live is super exercise for the feet. Do a web search on barefoot running if you want more info.

Gordon
 
This is like an information gold mine, guys, thanks a lot! Of course I had shares in Bre-X, too...

I will look in to the orthotics for sure!
 
I wore custom orthotics from about the age of 10 until I was 24 owing to severely collapsed arches, otherwise known as flat feet. When I got my Salomons I found that they were far more comfortable to wear without orthotics, and have been without them ever since. The amazing thing is that these Salomons only cost me $130 Australian, and they really have improved my quality of life considerably as I was begining to have real trouble walking any significant distance at all. That $130 was the lowest price I'd paid for shoes in a long while, and was way lower in price than the custom made orthopedic footwear that I thought I'd end up in eventually.
 
I have used both New Balance 803's and 806's in the past. I dont know if those are made anymore but I cant say enough good things about New Balance shoes, many Ultralight Hikers swear by them.
 
Hey Misanthropist its great to see that you are already start thinking about getting out there after the accident... How long would it be before you are going to be 100%??? I too have very flat feet.. Been wearing trail runners for a long time.. Now i got some merrells and love then my feet dont hurt half as bad as they used to. I also got one size larger then i used to wear.. I guess i been wearing shoes too small for way too long..

Sasha
 
Wide fore foot. Check.
VERY skinny heel. Check.

Salomon XA Pro 3D.

Fits me better than any trail running shoe, ever. And I've run lots and lots of miles. Used to do off-road marathons and beyond.
 
Check out the Teva X-1 Racer and, in particular, the X-1 Control. http://www.teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=m&categoryID=337&productID=6922&model=X-1+Control I'm pretty heavy and prefer to trial run over other running, and have the same issues as far as pronation, shin splints, etc. I always bought Brooks Beasts and shoes like that for my weight and pronation; I was using them on the trails and quickly found they were obviously made for in-line running on straight level ground.

Last year I visited a new running shoe store here that is actually owned and operated by trail runners! They had me try about 25 pairs on and had a special treadmill setup that videos your feet in slow motion from the side and behind. They put me in a the Teva's; which I never would have even considered, as they feel too light and flimsy. They are actually some of the toughest trail runners I've ever had and by far the most comfortable. No more shin problems.

My suggestion is to try on as many as you can and find someone who really knows what they are doing to help you. That was the biggest mistake I had been making for years.
 
Last edited:
I'm wearing a pair of New Balance lately, they've been great, but next pair will be a pair of Nike ACG. They were the best, most comfortable and longest lasting trail runners I've ever had.

I have wicked wide feet too by the way....Huge balls.
 
I'm only 155 and don't have any major problems (now) but I've done A LOT of running (countless 5Ks, few dozen 10Ks, and in marathon training now). Personally, I swear by Nike. I'm a big fan of the Nike Air Pegasus 2007...in fact I have owned 8 pairs so far and have 2 in the closet ready to replace the current pair. I've always felt that Nike makes better running shoes than anyone else and they fit my feet best. Nike was founded by runners to make running shoes, a lot of heritage and experience is in that company. However, Asics, Mizuno, Brooks, and Saucony are common as well and popular with many runners. New Balance have the greatest following with the heavier runners and those who need correction of some kind. They're no joke, but you'll very rarely see them in a competition.
The real shame with running shoes is that you only figure out if they're good for you after a long run, which is after you can no longer return them. Once you find the shoe that works for you go back to wherever you got them, and buy 3 more pairs. Why? Next year they won't have that exact same model, they'll modify it, the shoe will fit differently,and now you need to go out and find another shoe that works for you. Real PITA. :mad: Also, this may seem like a no brainer BUT when you go bring your orthotics, heel cups, insoles, or whatever else you're going to put in the shoe as the fit will change when you play with it.
Addidas and UnderArmor are relative newcomers so I would steer clear of them if I was you. Pilots have a saying "Never fly the A model;" never wear the first running shoe a company makes.
 
misanthropist said:
One thing I do know is that I have had to do some work to correct excessive pronation which has in the past led to shin splints. In fact, I once kept beating on shin splints so hard that I ended up with severe stress fractures all the way down both tibias or fibias or whichever the shin one is. (I am better at putting up with pain than making good decisions about when to quit.)

Anyway I have been fixing this but I guess arch support would be helpful to me, if that means anything to you guys who know. Also, my feet are wide, except my heel, which is skinny. I believe this is called triangle feet syndrome.

So what say? A wilderness running shoe, for guys with skinny heels and big balls...can I say that?
Click to expand...

Just to continue my running/shoe-knowledge-diarrhea...
Your shin splints and stress fractures clearly came from a lot of reasons. I'd reccomend icing them a lot, and trying to change your running surface. Hard dirt trails, asphalt, and sidewalks are hell on your body. Try to get on a track every now and then, grass, etc. Anything to absorb some impact. Stretching more and strengthing the calf muscles is also a way to alleviate them.
My experience has been (and that of many runners I know) is that Asics has a lot of arch support with a slightly narrow heel. I didn't like this but it seems like you might.
Most running shoe companies produce shoes that are tailored to people with different arches, over pronators, so and so forth. Talk to the employees at the store when you go to buy. Let them know about your issues and they'll almost certainly be able to help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_type
 
Thanks man! If you made it to a hundred and fifty five years old and you're still running at all I figure you must be a serious expert!

Sorry, I have a strong tendency to sarcasm whether necessary or helpful or not! I really do appreciate the tips, though! This thread has been very helpful to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top