When I fly to Utah for work, there is one thing that I dread. Wearing real shoes again. Working from home, most of my days are spent in slippers or the Rothy’s slides that I use as house shoes. Wearing feels, pointed-toe flats, and other “real” shoes again is just a lot for my 43-year-old, post-pregnancy feet to handle.
So how do I choose comfortable shoes and make uncomfortable shoes easier to wear? Here are some products that solve my shoe woes.
Rubber Soles // Once at a panel discussion, another fashion influencer stated that she would rather die than wear a rubber sole because “the look of a leather sole is so chic.” I rolled my eyes so hard they touched the floor. Because if you walk on marble floors, commute significant distances, or just like to be able to walk without hobbling after 5:00PM, a rubber sole might be for you.
A rubber sole provides extra cushion and shock absorption. They’re not always easy to find, but Cole Haan offers a rubber sole on many styles, including these cute slingbacks and these wood-stacked pumps. Aerosoles also offers rubber soles, these caramel-leather heels, also have traction. And don’t sleep on Naturalizer for a man-made sole.
Need a flat? These Naturalizer flats have a leather sole. These Johnston and Murphy flats have a more traditional shape. These scallop edge French Sole flats also have a rubber sole on some color ways.
Padded Footbed // Similar to a rubber sole, a padded footbed gives you extra cushion. Sometimes the padding is in the wrong place, so I recommend trying the giving them a spin around the house before you go walkabout. Otherwise you might find out the cushion isn’t a good fit for your foot. To find these shoes, just go to a department store website and search “padded footbed.”
As for specific brands that offer padding, Franco Sarto has a specific padded lining called InForma, which molds to your feet a bit. Not an orthotic, but very comfy. These silver flats have it.
Inserts and Insole // For beautiful shoes that don’t have a rubber sole or a padded footbed, there is still hope. Many companies make shoe inserts that function like an over-the-counter orthotic. They let you add a bit more support and a bit more cushion. Will they solve all that ails you? No. But we’re not looking for a cure, we’re just hoping for a little relief.
I bought these heel cup inserts from Vionic for a pair of heels that I own. Yes, I had to trim down the side a bit to get them into the shoe, but they helped the stability and comfort tremendously. Vionic also makes a full foot insert, but it may not fit in every shoe.
Also, if the balls of your feet are what hurts first/most, the instinct to pad the footbed is not correct. Instead, you need to use an insole that shifts the weight, so that more of your foot absorbs the shock. I like these ones that I found on Amazon.
Solutions for Rubbing // I hate blisters. The burning. The pain. The searing heat. They are the worst. Stopping friction burns and blisters takes layers of treatment.
First, you want to add an anti-chafe spray, like PreHeels, to your feet to reduce friction. Then, you want to cure any problem spots in your shoes with shoe dots, which attach to the shoes and not your skin. Together, the spray and the dots will prevent the need for band-aids or other after-the-fact fixes.
Stretching // If I love a pair of shoes that just pinch a bit too much, I take them in to a cobbler to be professionally stretched. A good cobbler can create more room in the toe box without warping the shape. If you can’t find a cobbler, you can buy shoe stretchers to use at home. This one comes highly recommended. Also, don’t forget the softening spray.
Don’t want to buy a fancy stretcher? Take a pair of thick wool socks, soak them in water, and then, while wearing the socks, walk around in the shoes for a few minutes. Once everything is a bit damp, spray the outside of the shoe with a blow dryer. This can help create a bit more room. See this Reddit thread for more details.
So what are your best tips for finding (or creating) shoes that don’t hurt your feet? Leave them in the comments.
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I used to be so anti anything in my shoes, but omg do they make a difference! All my heels now have ball of foot pads, and shoe grips on the bottom, because there’s nothing worse than not having traction and hobbling around.
do the inserts chant the sizing of the shoe? in other words / to i need to size up maybe half a size ?
Depends on the insert. Some are slim enough that they don’t. With my Vionics, I can wear them in my size 9 shoes, but not in my size 8.5, unless they’re a boot or sneaker.
Does anyone have a good remedy for corns? My toes curl a little and don’t lay flat (ugh – my husband calls them monkey toes) and as a result I get corns on nearly every toe at the top knuckle. It’s pretty embarrassing to wear flip flops. I also have a slight bunion. Blech. I welcome any insight!
Have you tried putting moleskin on the inside of your shoe, where you top knuckle rubs? Another trick is to wrap your toes in lambswool (Dr Scholls offers it) before you slide them into your shoe. Both of these strategies are ballerina tricks for pointe shoes.