Help with shoes and insoles -- for arch support

ndhUW

New User
Hi,

I'm trying to help a friend with foot problem. He's currently using adidas Barricade V, and according to him, after 2-3 hours of hitting, his feet hurt really bad right around the arch.

Does this mean the Barricade V's that he's using are not giving him enough arch support? It seems that his feet have medium to high arch. Or is it that his Barricades give him too much arch support?

Or are these shoes not wide enough for his feet? His feet are about the same size as mine, Size 9-9.5 Nike. I did try his Barricade V's, which I thought were a lot roomier than the Nike Ballistec 2.3 that I'm currently using. I did let him try my Ballistec 2.3's, but they hurt his feet even more. He could only wear them for 10 minutes or so.

What means can he use to help his foot problem? I've recommended him to try Superfeet insoles. But we're currently living in Saigon, Vietnam, so I haven't found a store that carries Superfeet products. Also, what other shoe models and/or brands should he try?

Thank you for all of your help.
 

Carolina Racquet

Professional
I had a similar problem and found the ASICs GR2s took care of the pain. I too have a high arch, but my pain was in the balls of my feet.

For high arches WITHOUT feeling like your heel gets lifted too high off the ground, I would try the SofSole Custom "moldable" inserts. Not sure if you can obtain them overseas, but I found that combined with the ASICs, they are awesome.
 

hcb0804

Hall of Fame
Hi,

I'm trying to help a friend with foot problem. He's currently using adidas Barricade V, and according to him, after 2-3 hours of hitting, his feet hurt really bad right around the arch.

Does this mean the Barricade V's that he's using are not giving him enough arch support? It seems that his feet have medium to high arch. Or is it that his Barricades give him too much arch support?

Or are these shoes not wide enough for his feet? His feet are about the same size as mine, Size 9-9.5 Nike. I did try his Barricade V's, which I thought were a lot roomier than the Nike Ballistec 2.3 that I'm currently using. I did let him try my Ballistec 2.3's, but they hurt his feet even more. He could only wear them for 10 minutes or so.

What means can he use to help his foot problem? I've recommended him to try Superfeet insoles. But we're currently living in Saigon, Vietnam, so I haven't found a store that carries Superfeet products. Also, what other shoe models and/or brands should he try?

Thank you for all of your help.



SUPERFEET..........like Porsche (as in Tom Cruise's immortal line from Risky Business) There is no substitute.
 

GPB

Professional
If you get ahold of Superfeet, go with the GREEN. I have a high arch and it's perfect for it.
 

JT_2eighty

Hall of Fame
I agree. Have used BV's and with Green Superfeet. Will need to take out the adidas insole and cut the Green SF to the same shape. Only issue you may have is the insert will squeak for a bit as it settles into the shoe. It may also feel stiff at first, but it can take your feet up to 2 weeks to get acclimated to the new arch support. The stiffness is what provides long-term arch support and heel comfort.

In the long run, it is a foot saver in so many ways.
 

goober

Legend
The insoles in most shoes, even high end ones, I find are cheap and thin. Barricades are no different.

Superfeet are great. If you want a cheaper alternative, the Spenco arch support insoles they sell at TW for $19 are fine for me. Of course you have to try them to get the one that will work for your feet.
 

Carolina Racquet

Professional
I have to recommend a heat moldable insert to those who haven't tried them. There are a number of providers like SofSole and Sole.

You warm them in the oven at 225 degrees and slide them in your shoes (original inserts removed) and stand in them for 5 mins.... repeat if you want a better fit.

They provide great support regardless of arch type and arch location and in terms of performance, you still have the low-to-the-ground feel.

I also believe I'm faster with them because it eliminates any sliding you may feel inside the shoe.

I bought mine at a local sporting goods shop for less than $30.

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SOFADPT-1.JPG
 

Gasolina

Professional
It's not a sure thing. I have the same problems on the outside my arch. Even more so when running. I looked at my foot and thought I had a high arch and my shoes weren't giving me the support I needed.

I went to a podiatrist and to my surprise, I didn't have have high arches. I had pretty flat feet. Apparently my arches collapse inwards everytime I took a step. Also she found out that my right leg was somewhat shorter than my left and that's whats causing the pain in the outside arch.

She gave me a lift to put underneath the right shoe insole and the pain went away. I've just received my orthotics but needed to trim them off a bit to make them fit my shoes.

Bottom line you can't just assume that your feet problems are this and that. If the pain won't go away I would suggest seeking professional help.
 

GPB

Professional
It's not a sure thing. I have the same problems on the outside my arch. Even more so when running. I looked at my foot and thought I had a high arch and my shoes weren't giving me the support I needed.

I went to a podiatrist and to my surprise, I didn't have have high arches. I had pretty flat feet. Apparently my arches collapse inwards everytime I took a step. Also she found out that my right leg was somewhat shorter than my left and that's whats causing the pain in the outside arch.

She gave me a lift to put underneath the right shoe insole and the pain went away. I've just received my orthotics but needed to trim them off a bit to make them fit my shoes.

Bottom line you can't just assume that your feet problems are this and that. If the pain won't go away I would suggest seeking professional help.

Hmm, that's true. My arches collapse. I assume that's due to high arches, but it doesn't have to be, does it?

Though I suggested the superfeet green, I have to say I'm using the BMP Black now. The jury's still out, but when I compared them side-to-side with the Greens, the Blacks did a better job keeping my foot from sliding. They're almost rubbery on top. Kinda weird, but I like it.
 

JT_2eighty

Hall of Fame
I've become a SF addict, lol.

Greens in my tennis shoes, orange in my running shoe, blue in my dress shoes. Once your feet feel the arch support, it's so hard to wear shoes without them.

In the end, a professional's advice is worth more than every post on this forum, so be sure to back up our advice with someone you can trust face to face ;) (oh yea, and the copper DMP in a pair of walking shoes... heavenly!)
 

hcb0804

Hall of Fame
I've become a SF addict, lol.

Greens in my tennis shoes, orange in my running shoe, blue in my dress shoes. Once your feet feel the arch support, it's so hard to wear shoes without them.
In the end, a professional's advice is worth more than every post on this forum, so be sure to back up our advice with someone you can trust face to face ;) (oh yea, and the copper DMP in a pair of walking shoes... heavenly!)

Me too! Now that I am accustomed to wearing the Superfeet, shoes just don't feel right without them!
 
Superfeets are good but I prefer SOF Athlete over Superfeet green ones. For me, they provide better arch support for those with medium to high arches and offer better cushioning.
 
S

saigonbond

Guest
Hi,

I'm trying to help a friend with foot problem. He's currently using adidas Barricade V, and according to him, after 2-3 hours of hitting, his feet hurt really bad right around the arch.

Does this mean the Barricade V's that he's using are not giving him enough arch support? It seems that his feet have medium to high arch. Or is it that his Barricades give him too much arch support?

Or are these shoes not wide enough for his feet? His feet are about the same size as mine, Size 9-9.5 Nike. I did try his Barricade V's, which I thought were a lot roomier than the Nike Ballistec 2.3 that I'm currently using. I did let him try my Ballistec 2.3's, but they hurt his feet even more. He could only wear them for 10 minutes or so.

What means can he use to help his foot problem? I've recommended him to try Superfeet insoles. But we're currently living in Saigon, Vietnam, so I haven't found a store that carries Superfeet products. Also, what other shoe models and/or brands should he try?

Thank you for all of your help.
======================================

Barricades and Ballistecs are medium to narrow shoes, especially in the toebox. If you must have Adidas or Nike, look for Pre-IV Barricades, Lunar Vapor 7&8, Ballistec 2.2, or Max Global.
Though they don't seem to have the "cool factor" of some of their contemporaries (ie. Nike, Adidas, etc), New Balance shoes are built specifically for support and fit (also come in widths).
Prince, Wilson, and Fila are good choices for wider feet with roomier toeboxes.
Most tennis shoes only come with a basic thin sock liner insole which does absolutely nothing for arch support.

In my experience using orthotics and also havingrecovered from plantar fascia ruptures, when it comes to supportive orthotics/insoles there's no comparison to authentic Superfeet, other than a visit to your Ortho Doc for custom fits (which can be ridiculously priced).
BLUE is great because it fits in any/every shoe (thin, light, & slightly narrower) and has medium arch support. GREEN (also great) has slightly higher support and is slightly thicker. ORANGE has comparable support to GREEN (with deeper heel cup and more cushion) but significantly thicker and takes up more room.

These guys sell Superfeet and show available international shipping to Vietnam:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/superfeet/cycle/

http://search.borderless.rakuten.co...&fs=0&vm=2&sm=0&sp.st=&t=new&tl=0&k=superfeet

Một, hai, ba... dzô!
Cheers!
 
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JT_2eighty

Hall of Fame
Yea, I'll have to compare them again. I got used to the feel of the greens for tennis, and the orange just felt too cushy... but that's probably not a bad thing. Thing is, oranges are perfect for running... makes that concrete feel like memory foam! :D

Either way, whether SF or other brand orthotics... it really is a must-do for your arches and beyond. I tried going back to the factory inserts for one match just to compare and it was torture. Never again!
 

DCaicedo

Rookie
After reading a couple of threads about orthotics, I finally came to the realization that a) I'm getting older <gulp>, and b) I need them.
Didn't get the Superfeet, but if the Dr. Scholl's Tri-orthotics I bought end up being a bust, I'll buy those. Did some hitting and a set with these inside my Vapor Oreos, and they felt better than the factory inserts. Took them out, and put them in my work shoes, and they didn't quite do the trick. But my pain is usually temporary <12 hrs.
 

Carolina Racquet

Professional
What amazed me the most about my sore feet was how much the right shoe made a difference. I found relief with the Asics Gel Res 2 even without the customized insole. There's something about the stiffer sole and comfort that helped me tremendously. Previous shoes, Wilson Spin and K-Swiss didn't do it because there was more flex in the sole.

I added the customized insole recently for even more support and in my mind, I'm a bit faster with it because my feet is better formed inside the shoe and there's no slipping/sliding. As mentioned earlier in this thread, I went the route of the moldable custom insole.
 
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