Quote Originally Posted by singletrackmind View Post
Guess I'll just hop on your question wagon and see what the girl wonders have to say...
Hop away... I love a good party. Let's have a help the feet party. I'm game.

OK, to ME, the thingy sticking out on the foot near the big toe bone on the inside of the arch side is a "bunion" maybe? I have that too. It seems like early stages. Some pics I googled of BAD bunions that were getting operated on reaaally stuck out. The big toe was crossed over icky. Those folks needed surg big time. I don't do impactive exercise anymore per docs orders. But I also had years of not great support doing high impact aerobics. Years of wearing very pointy high heeled shoes at work. Big "no no" for the best foot health. Hind sight 20/20.

It has taken me a while to finally realize I should seek help from the pod doc as I have hx of neurological disease. I have peripheral neuropathy in my extremites (including my feet). Diabetics get this too. It makes it hard to sort out where your sensations of discomfort are coming from. Nerve damage, or lack of footwear support... your bike pedals, etc. I now know it a combo for me.

The unsupported arch causes plantar fashiitis (sp?). For my arch and that, the doc did suggest New Balance as one of his brands for street wear. He said he likes them cuz them come in widths A to EE.

For me, he said to look for NB running shoe 858, walking 926 843. To also get professionally measured again at a certain store. Other brands he liked were: Birkenstock, Mephisto for sandles... Boots (hikers): Asolo, Merrell, Wolverine, Redwing, Hi-Tec, Dunham (shoes & boots). He said those are pretty sturdy stuff for support.

I have one pair of New Balance. They probably fit the best of any of my non-cycle stuff (pre-doc appt.).

I aksed my lbs about shoes today too. They didn't have these to see, but Bontragers new shoe is suppose to be pretty supportive. The lbs owner said he tried them on at a show. They fit ok. But he couldn't give an honest op on how they really performed for the long haul outside. They "look" less pointy than Sidis in a pic. But hard to tell without wearing it.

I tried some Specialized foot beds. Green +++ high arches. Didn't touch mine. The BG shoes I have now are for sure too small over all (mens and womens). I need to re-order. I think I will get a wide mens sent for kicks.

I also tried Superfeet insoles in yellow (cycling). My foot layed the same as in the Sidis pic. Fair arch support, but didn't touch it all (tried two diff sizes). I also tried green Superfeet (high arches). Not high enough for me.

All of those, I spill over on the squareness...

Last... Northwaves (?) was a brand one TE memeber suggested to me as being wider. Haven't ordered yet. Wish I would stick my foot through my pc to try them on through cyberspace (our lbs has really notta).