Hi. I'm currently PAing on a 25 day shoot, all bluescreen, and the studio has a concrete floor. My feets hurt like hell after a few hours, and I was wondering what you people do about similar situations.

I got some New Balance sneakers from Academy a while back, 'cause they seemed like a good choice in the store, but alas, they do not do the job after a while.

I've tried on an assload of different things, bought four different pairs that I've subsequently returned to their respective places of purchase, and am pretty much out of ideas.

It's my heels where I really feel it, and it's not the walking around; it's the standing that does it after a while.

I have wider feet than my size would normally be, so I need wider toes, and I need a goodly amount of up and down room in the toe as well.

The ideal thing would seem to be something that's just super soft in the heel area, both on the sole, and inside. Also, not really looking for a sandal, or anything similar. Shoe or boot, if you please. Thanks in advance.

Rockports - go to any hospital, you'll see most of the nurses wearing them.

Otherwise, I'd try a pair of shoes with real heels to take some of the weight off, maybe a pair of Doc Martens or something like that.

Try the Future Cat Low by Puma. best fit, comfort, best everything! but best of all, it would be great for your DVD crew since people would press pause on their DVD players to see what shoes he were wearing, assuming you have a DVD crew.

reviews below:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/5289580.html

Tip: buy a bigger than normal size and thinner socks

or, get a office chair.

JOsh.

Time to start 'gellin'. Get some Dr. Shoals gel inserts.

I agree on the Rockports. You need real work shoes. Sneakers are terrible to stand around in all day. I don't know why.

So, let me ask you guys this: are you supposed to just "know it's the one" when you first try 'em on in the store, or what? Most places won't let you give 'em a real test run, so it's either decide and buy then and there, or forget it.

I figure if I try 'em on in the store, and my feet start to hurt worse than they do when I'm wearing my New Balances, then that's no good, but I could be missing something.

Yeah, I'm thinking maybe I should gel. I tried these Super Feet, and they hurt like bastards.

Earth shoes - http://www.earth.us/comfort.asp

They have a negative heel technology. Will help with leg muscle strain and lower back pain and should help evenly distribute the pressure on the bottoms of your feet.They also have one of the widest toeboxes. They take some getting used to though when you first put them on.

I also like the Clarks Air Movers and also the Wallabees that have a crepe sole.

Go to a really high end shoe store (maybe that fancy mall in Houston Galleria area?) that sells Allen Edmunds or other expensive mens dress shoes (Johnson Murphy also good, but my feet like AE better) . Try on a few pairs different styles and brands, and you will know what a good shoe is supposed to feel like.

THEN, ask them what they have for standing around all day. They may even suggest Rockports if they sell them. Consider spending up to $200. One good pair of shoes like this will last you decade or more, and you just put a new sole on them as needed (AE and JM used to have "refurbish" programs, but I have never worn out a pair of either one. Now that I think about it, my J&M are getting a little thin in the sole, they are my "go to" shoes that get beat up pretty bad).

If $200 is just out of the question, go do it anyway just to learn what good shoes feel like. Then go buy some Rockports ($100-$125?). But REALLY think about it, I never spent more than $50 on a pair until someone talked me into my first pair, Now I never spend less than $150 on dress shoes (casual are about $$80-100 for me). And it is worth every penny, they last longer too. FWIW, I am 310 pounds and wear a 12WW, so my feet do some serious work.

If you need these shoes more than one day in a row, get two pairs (maybe different styles). You should never wear the same pair two days in a row.

Change your socks a couple of times during the day. If you can, take a few minutes to wash your feet and let them dry at lunch.

If you really have a heel/bone issue, get some orthotic inserts (about $125, but you can put them in different shoes). I have seen them made by computer and they are pretty cool. You could also go to a foot doctor, but they will cost more, plus the doctor appointments). Forget about $5 shoals. But I doubt you need orthotics, so save that for last resort.

In fact, I didn't see much good advice here except Rockports (sorry gang, no insults intended). Rockports have some models that are excellent on concrete, just make sure they fit right and get two pairs.

HTH

I just wanted to add that IMHO Rockports are "low-end" shoes, and they are as cheap (cost, construction) as I would consider for this kind of work shoe. Forget about those cheaper knockoffs, and don't ever shop in a department store for shoes again. SOMETIMES you can find top-quality shoes at a "warehouse" store, but stick with top brands and they will still be expensive. Rockports are often available at a shoe warehouse, where they are considered high-end.

i second the clarks. wallabees, or the version with the same sole but a plain oxford top. something trekker maybe?

i know some folks who swear by the earth shoes too.

I believe I tried some Wallabees, at Clarks. The sole is some weird soft rubber type thing, right? They sorta felt good, but there didn't seem to be much cushion on the ball/toe part of the foot, and I could feel it in every step.

Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row? How come? Do they need to time decompress or something?

My wife and her mom are nurses and swear by Dansko shoes. I don't know much about them, and they may be women's only for all I know. Just wanted to contribute here. The clogs that she wears were about 100-120.

I had a pair. Those have some hard ass soles. Is that what I'm supposed to like?

Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row? How come? Do they need to time decompress or something?
If you buy $5 all-synthetic shoes, it does not matter. But with any kind of natural material (especially leather), it needs to breathe and dry out well. (Not with a blow dryer or in the oven!!! SLOWLY!!) If not, the material will stiffen up (or sometimes loosen up) and start to be uncomfortable long before it causes blisters. It also seriously degrades the life of the shoe.

Example: If you wear one pair of shoes every day, they might last two months. If you buy two pairs and swap every day, they might last 1-2 years. Remember that "last" is subjective, but they will get shabby looking, stiff, and uncomfortable more quickly even if there are no holes in them.

Ah. Didn't know all that. Thanks.

Regarding Danskos, I heard the same things about 'em, and I tried 'em, found 'em real hard (I guess that's the idea), and being that I wasn't able to try 'em out on set, and had to go by first impressions, returned 'em.

So. . .are your feet supposed to get used a shoe? I don't know if I like that idea, especially with the no-return policy many places have (if you've worn them, of course). I can envision dropping $200 on a shoe, but not unless I either know from first feel that it's perfect, or getting to try it out in the real world.

To you who suggested the dress shoes: are dress shoes really what I want for being in dirty, nasty environments? Seems like I'd want something that wouldn't look to shabby if it got beat up. Unless we're not on the same page with the definition of dress shoes.

Someone else recommended military boots (Marauder II). It's funny: I got some of you guys saying sneakers are horrible, and an electrician on the set I'm working on telling me that's the way to go.

Go buy some skateboarding shoes:
Reson why: Mold to your feet in a couple days, have great pading, will last for ever if you do not skateboard, low ankle allows for good movement, gives total control to your feet with maximum protection.
Just think about all the crazy older skateboarding althlete guys you see on t.v., they've been doing that stuff their hole life, standing on concrete, jumping, landing hard, and running/walking. Go get some D.C., Audio, Circa, DVS, Globes (probably the most confy shoes you could ever own; almost like a slipper if you get the chet thomas ones). Find them at pac sun, or a local skate/snow shop. will run around 80 bucks

When you put on the right pair of shoes, you will know it in the first five seocnds. That is why I said to go shop at the $200 place. And there are only a few categories of shoes: dress, casual, work, boot, athletic. Dress shoes are not always fancy, and I would not suggest a pair of Italian leather shoes or snakeskin cowboy boots for this (although they are dressy shoes).

Go try some on, and then aska competent salesperson to help you pick one once you know what a good shoe feels like.

My theory on sneakers is that they're designed for motion. A shoe made for running and a shoe made for standing around all day in one place are two different things. I don't know that softer necessarily means more comfortable for long-term standing either. I used to have a pair of Red Wing mail man shoes that were quite stiff, but with cork in the soles. I could stand in those things all day. I agree that you want to avoid shoes that are too dressy. They'll just get all scuffed up. Next time you're in an autoparts store, check out what shoes they're wearing.

Well, I took someone's advice. I got me some rockports. I think shoequest is over after this--if I don't return these, they're mine forever, and I ain't a-buyin' any more. I'll just have hurty feet.

Where are the $200 stores? I was at Clarks and the Walking Company the other day, didn't find anything there, and at Foley's today, where everything was 50% off. . .so nothing was even close to $200. I asked the guy if there were higher end Rockports than the ones I was getting, and he said the ones I had had all the features, and everything pricier was a dress shoe.

At the risk of being laughed at....military issue combat boots. They are designed for extensive periods of use each day (standing or walking). Get 2 pair and swap them everyday (mark one pair with a white dot at the top of the shank so you can tell them apart.) Do not get what they call 'jump boots'. These are popular among soldiers because they shine up really well( spit shine) but almost never last as long or as comfortable. I still have a pair that are almost 20 years old and are still wearable.

If you can't find them from a good military suplus store, consider looking at Timberland boots. I have a 10 year old pair I use for motorcycling and hiking. Great boots, usually run about 110 to 150 US.

I mentioned the military boots in a previous post. Someone on another forum recommended them. I've tried on Timberlands, didn't find them to be "the one".

I can go to one of these pricey stores, if someone tells me which ones they are (already been to Clarks, Walking Company, Foleys, and REI).

Josh, do you need me to try on the shoes for you too?

Go to www.AllendEdmunds.com (SPecific brand mentioned as my favorites) or JohnstonMurphy.com and use their store locator.

Josh if you decide on the combat boot , make sure they are genuine. Some of the surplus stores sell knockoffs. If you know someone in the military, near a base or post, ask them to get you a pair from the base clothing store (not the same as a px/bx). Good luck.

Har har, Bob.

Thanks guys. I'll look into these places.

Try a pair of Redwing ankle-high boots, all leather with crepe soles. They're the most comfortable things I've ever worn, that had solid support. They were so flexible and light, that I could even play basketball in them.

Another suggestion is a pair of ankle-high, lightweight hiking boots, that are built like heavy-duty running shoes. I've got a pair by Nevados, that give me great all-around support and comfort. I get all my shoes at Big 5, where you can find $50. models for $15. to $20. This makes it less painful, if you buy a pair that turn out to be dogs.

As last resorts, try losing weight, exercising hard on a daily basis, going barefoot or getting a new pair of feet.

I was just gonna pipe in with a Redwings suggestion.
I have worn both the steel toe ankle the full boot.
I alway wore steel toes when I shot news.
Never knew where you were gonna be next.
The ankle boots are more comfortable.

In my corporate gig now i wear sneakers or
casual shoes in the $80- $100 range.

I have a $200 pair of dress shoes.
I will never work in a pair of $200 shoes.
It would kill me to see them get beat up!

Yeah--I didn't really get where the $200 Allen Edmunds thing was coming from (no offense). If I wasn't clear, I need shoes that can get nastied up, as I could be outdoors, in dusty areas, etc. I'm not working in a predictable or fixed environment.

I tried to get to a place that had redwings today--no luck. I'll have to go on a weekend or something.

I took back the rockports. Too narrow. Yes, I do have tiny little girl feet, but they are also wide.

Yeah--I didn't really get where the $200 Allen Edmunds thing was coming from (no offense).

I suggested that because you seemed to not know what shoes should feel like when they fit properly. Explaining it is like describing RED to ablind person. You have to FEEL it. For me, my first pair of AE shoes was an epiphany of footwear. :) I won't go into why.

Ah. Gotcha. Guess it's redwings or military boots for me. What's wrong with cheap Shoals inserts?

Do shoe stores carry Redwing? I thought they were only sold in an actual Redwing store.

Here's the store locator page — http://www.redwingshoe.com/

Their stores are cool by the way. Those people are serious about feet.

According to that link, there are stores that carry Redwing. Try and find an actual Redwing store though, if you can.