Category Archives: Shoe Review

A Cycling Shoe for Wide Feet

Posted on August 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

Cycling shoes are notoriously narrow, which is why cyclist with wide feet can have such a hard time finding cycling shoes that fit. TC came in today wearing a new pair of fi’zi:k cycling shoes whose fit he wanted me to approve, to which I immediately did. His model, R5B Uomo Boa, was a perfect fit for his wide feet.

Wide-Cycling-Shoe-1

Surprisingly, I had never heard of the fi’zi:k brand before, but their description impressed me as much as their shoes did. I found the following information on their website:

Fizik
Fizik: Born in 1996 as a brand made for high performance fi’zi:k was designed in the USA, and handmade in Italy by the world’s largest saddle manufacturer, Selle Royal. Fi’zi:k is the phonetic spelling of the word physique, referring to the form or state of the human body.
Fizik_Cycling_Shoe_2

If you have wide feet and are at a loss for a well-designed, well-made cycling shoe, check out fi’zi:k. Several specialty cycling stores carry this brand as does Amazon.com.Fizik R5B Uomo Boa, Black/Dark Grey Although this model is sized medium, it runs wide.

With an MSRP of approximately $150, this is definitely one shoe you will want to try on if you have wide feet.

Stay tuned for my next cycling post where I’ll be discussing the top 5 most common cycling foot injuries I treat. In the meantime here’s a link to some of my previous cycling posts:

Cycling Shoes And Sesamoid Pain

Spin Class and Forefoot (Sesamoid) Pain

Cycling Shoes and Bunions

Cycling Shoe Brand Review – DZR

Life happens. Don’t wait.

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Posted in Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes, Wide Feet

Non-Slip Work Shoes for Narrow Feet

Posted on November 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

If you need a non-slip shoe for restaurant or housekeeping work and you have a narrow foot, your choices are very limited. Fortunately, Skechers makes a non-slip lace shoe for men that — even though sized medium — runs narrow. The style is called Rockland-Systemic and can be purchased from Zappos.com.

First and foremost, this shoe is great because it laces (as opposed to being a slip-on style), which is always better for the narrow foot. Also terrific is the fact that there are 6 sets of eyelets: the more eyelets there are, the better the shoe fit, especially for a narrow foot.

Skechers_Rockland_Work

Finally, there is no hourglass in the waist of the shoe, which provides support in the arch where needed most. This also makes for a stable foundation if orthotics are to be worn inside the shoe.

Skechers_Rockland_Waist

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Posted in Foot Pain, Narrow Feet, Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review

Shoe Review – Adidas Supernova Sequence 6 vs. 5

Posted on July 19, 2013 | 12 comments

I am a fan of Adidas Supernova Sequence 5, and I’m an even bigger fan of Supernova Sequence 6.

Both versions have a lightweight upper with mesh over the top, and sides of forefoot to allow for expansion around bony prominences such as hammertoes and bunions.

Adidas_SuperNova_Top

Version 6 is even more structured than version 5. This is accomplished by widening the medial support structure on the outsole, as well as minimizing the amount of hourglass in the waist.

Adidas_SuperNova_Bottom

Sequence 6 also has increased pronation control. The medial midsole has enhanced rigidity to de-accelerate excessive pronation.

Adidas_SuperNova_Medial

All in all, Adidas Supernova Sequence is a great shoe. The only downside is that it’s only offered in medium width and runs narrow — so it won’t work for the wide foot.

12 Comments

Posted in Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review

Evaluating Athletic Shoes For Wear

Posted on June 30, 2013 | 4 comments

It always surprises me when an injured athlete comes into the office with excessively worn running shoes and doesn’t know how old they are. Were the shoes purchased six months ago, a year ago? Has the athlete been wearing the shoes for more than a year?

Even though many factors contribute to wear, I always instruct my patients to write the purchase date of their shoes directly on the shoe insole underneath the sock liner to at least give them an awareness of shoe age and wear.

Shoe_Purchase_Date_Inside

I then tell them to check for signs of wear every month starting at month six using the following YouTube video I produced as a guide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PL8FBD9F2021569064&v=ylgzgbzC9i4 .

Although excessive shoe wear can still occur, it is less likely to occur when using the above methods as opposed to simply replacing the shoes after an arbitrary 300 or 500 miles.

4 Comments

Posted in Foot Pain, Shoe Review

Trail Running Shoes For Narrow Feet

Posted on May 14, 2013 | 6 comments

Most brands of trail running shoes are only offered in medium widths, and this makes fitting a narrow foot extremely difficult. Asics GT-2000 and Brooks Adrenaline ASR are my current favorites in this category, offering medium width trail running shoes which run narrow.

Trail_ASR_GT2000_Top

Both brands are excellent in terms of design and support. However Asics GT-2000 takes a slight lead in the narrow-shallow department, whereas Brooks takes a slight lead in the support department.

Trail_ASR_GT2000_Bottom

An added bonus — both brands offer Gore-Tex, waterproof versions of the above models.

6 Comments

Posted in Narrow Feet, Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review

Basketball Shoe Review – Ektio Breakaway

Posted on April 2, 2013 | 1 comment

If you’re a basketball player, then you know how difficult it is to find supportive, well-designed basketball shoes.  The Nike Kobe VII has been a favorite of mine — and now I have  Ektio to add to the list.

Ektio is a unique new brand of basketball shoe that offers unparalleled ankle support. Ektio was kind enough to send me a pair to evaluate — and FDFAC staff member (and former WNBA and professional basketball player) Brooke Smith gave the shoes a rigorous court workout. The Result: Ektio passed with flying colors.

FDFAC Brooke Smith

This shoe is designed to support the ankle and prevent inversion sprains, which it accomplishes by utilizing the following features.

  • High Top Design — Supports and stabilizes excessive ankle motion

Ektio_Medial

  • Two Strap System — Secures and cinches to the ankle to provide leverage against lateral inversion motion

Ektio_Ankle_Straps

  • Lateral Forefoot Flare and Graphite Outsole — Makes the shoe torsionally stable and less prone to twist

Ektio_Top

Overall, this is a terrific shoe — especially if you have a history of ankle sprains, or if you routinely wear an ankle brace for added support. You can also wear orthotics with this shoe, making this shoe my new favorite. Best of all, this shoe is reasonably priced at $129.95.

If you play basketball and haven’t tried Ektio, you will want to check them out!

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Posted in Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes

Tennis and Bunions — Nike Zoom Vapor 9

Posted on January 8, 2013 | 1 comment

Finding a tennis/court shoe to accommodate a wide foot with a bunion, is no easy task. Fortunately, Nike Zoom Vapor 9, is just that shoe. Although sized for the male foot, it will work for women, size 7 and beyond.  If you are a woman with a size 7 foot, order size 6 men’s which is the equivalent size. Now, on to the features that make this such an outstanding shoe.

  • Mesh near the bump — Most tennis-specific shoes have an entirely leather upper with reinforced trim and/or stitching over the bunion area. Zoom Vapor 9 has mesh, which allows for a wide forefoot and expansion over the bunion area.

Vapor_Tennis_Medial

  • Not only does this feature help to decrease pressure along the bunion, it also helps for those players having hammertoes. Beyond that, mesh makes this shoe lightweight and more responsive for being on your toes.

Vapor_Tennis_Dorsal2

  • Wide waist — Tennis players with a wide forefoot, arch collapse and excessive pronation need support, especially mid-arch. Zoom Vapor 9 doesn’t hourglass in at the waist — and that provides stability and maximum support.

Vapor_Tennis_Plantar

  • Torsional stability — Tennis is a sport with lots of side-to-side motion, primarily on the forefoot. Because of this, the shoe needs to be stable lengthwise, which Zoom Vapor 9 is.

All in all, this is a terrific shoe. If you have a wide foot — with or without a bunion and/or hammertoes — then you will want to check this model out.

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Posted in Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes, Uncategorized, Wide Feet

Shoe Review – Capezio Canvas Dance Sneaker

Posted on November 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

I recently helped a modern dancer who was experiencing bunion pain whenever she danced barefoot — which was all the time. Although her bunions were significantly enlarged, she was pain free as long as she wore shoes.

The solution was to find her an appropriate shoe to dance in — finding dance shoes which can accommodate a wide foot with a bunion can be challenging, but Capezio’s Canvas Dance Sneaker does just that.

The upper is canvas, which — in addition to being lightweight and breathable — expands in the area of the bunion allowing for better fit. Lacing to the forefoot also allows for adjustments, an important feature for the wide forefoot.

This shoe also provides structure, which helps with alignment and promotes better function and less pain at the bunion site. Lastly, the thick, cushioned, forefoot and heel provide excellent shock absorption for not only the feet but the lower extremities in general.

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Posted in Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes, Wide Feet

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Altra ZeroDrop Responds to Instinct Shoe Review

Posted on October 4, 2012 | 4 comments

I previously posted a review on Altra Instinct and was contacted by AltraZeroDrop as follows:

“Interesting review. A couple of things as I consider what is being said here. First, The Instinct is a neutral shoe and is sold as such. The Brooks Adrenaline is a motion control shoe. To compare the two with a pronator is not a fair comparison. To look at an Altra shoe that offers some pronation support please check out The Provision. This runner obviously needs some medial support and thus The Instinct may not be the best option right off the bat. As they strengthen their feet over time maybe.”

My reviews are based on the shoes that runners wear in, and the Instinct is the only shoe I’ve seen from Altra. In this runner’s case, he purchased the Instinct based on it’s “wider,” more supportive appearance, only to develop forefoot pain.

Altra’s website promotes Altra zero-drop footwear as “reducing forefoot pain, excessive pronation, IT Band pain, runners knee and shin-splints.” These claims are made independent of Altra model or style, but are instead specific to the zero-drop platform. So, based on these general design claims, this particular shoe should have worked for this particular runner.

My primary goal for doing shoe reviews is to reduce injury by educating runners about their foot type and alignment, and teaching them how to apply this to their shoe purchases. I agree that runners need to match their foot type (pronated, wide, etc.) to their shoes and I’m pleased that Altra offers a stability model.

I have asked Altra to send me a pair for review. I’ll keep you posted.

 

4 Comments

Posted in Shoe Fit, Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes, Uncategorized

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Shoe Review – Altra Instinct™

Posted on September 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have had several runners in my office asking me to evaluate to evaluate their Altra™ running shoes. As much as I want to recommend this shoe, I just can’t. There are too many runners for whom the fit and structure of this shoe is incompatible, as the following video shows.

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Posted in Foot Pain, Shoe Fit, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Adidas Supernova Sequence 4

Posted on September 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Adidas Supernova Sequence 4 is essentially the same as version 3 — with features like a firm heel counter, inflexible forefoot and non-hourglass midsole/outsole that remain the same.

Good for the rectangle shaped foot, that doesn’t pronate excessively and is not too deep as the following field review video shows.

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Posted in Field Review, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Asics Gel Trabuco Trail 14

Posted on September 24, 2012 | 1 comment

One of my favorite trail running shoes for the high volume foot as the following field review video shows.

Although the Gel Trabuco is only available in a medium width, it runs wider and deeper than many other brands of trail shoes. In addition to more volume, Gel Trabuco 14 also provides a lot of support, which is important for running on irregular trail terrain.

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Posted in Field Review, Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes

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Shoe Review – Asics Gel Noosa Tri 7

Posted on September 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Asics  Gel Noosa Tri 7 is a racing flat that features a non-collapsible heel counter, an inflexible forefoot, and torsional stability. Although these features are not typically found in racing flats, they can really make a difference for the midfoot and forefoot striker.

The only issue with this shoe is the shape (last) is more C-shaped than rectangular. The last shape — coupled with a waist that hourglasses in — can cause excessive pronation in certain foot types, as the following field review video shows.

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Posted in Field Review, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Solomon XR Mission

Posted on September 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

A trail running shoe I like a lot. Features include a wide forefoot, firm heel counter, and torsional stability. Many running shoes that are wider in the forefoot are correspondingly wide in the midfoot and heel, but the Solomon XR Mission is not.

This XR Mission also has a firm, thick midsole,  which helps with shock absorption, as the following field review video shows.

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Posted in Field Review, Shoe Fit, Shoe Review, Sport Specific Shoes

Shoe Review – New Balance 813 Cross Trainer

Posted on September 13, 2012 | 1 comment

New Balance 813 is a lightweight cross training shoe, as the following field review video shows.

I generally recommend a good running shoe for cross training — however, if you do not excessively pronate and need expandable forefoot volume, then this shoe might just work for you. New Balance 813 has minimal “hourglass” in the waist, is torsionally stable and has a firm heel counter which increases overall support.

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Posted in Shoe Fit, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Mizuno Wave Creation 13

Posted on September 12, 2012 | 2 comments

Mizuno Wave Creation 13 is a stable, well-structured shoe as the following field review video shows.

This shoe is torsionally stable, has a firm heel counter and an inflexible forefoot making it a perfect choice for those runners who excessively pronate. The generous use of mesh throughout the forefoot makes this shoe lightweight and forgiving where runners need it most.

The only problem with this shoe is it runs 1/2 size long based on heel-to-ball length with a correspondingly short toe box, so you will want to be careful when evaluating size. Other than that, Wave Creation 13 is a great shoe.

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Posted in Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Fit, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Mizuno Wave Enigma

Posted on September 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Mizuno Wave Enigma is categorized as a neutral running shoe, but has much more structure than a typical neutral shoe.

Important features include torsional stability and a firm heel counter, both of which help prevent excessive pronation. The forefoot is moderately flexible, but sufficiently cushioned to aid shock absorption. The waist of the Enigma is also wide and doesn’t “hourglass” in, making this one of my favorite Mizuno’s this season, as the following field review shows.

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Posted in Field Review, Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Fit, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Mizuno Wave Inspire 8

Posted on September 10, 2012 | 6 comments

One of my least favorite shoes this season. Although Wave Inspire 8 provides great support and structure, it’s oddly narrow in the forefoot and wide in the rearfoot. This design makes Wave Inspire 8 incompatible with a normal foot type, as the following field research video highlights.

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Posted in Shoe Fit, Shoe Review

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Shoe Review – Asics Gel Foundation 10 Field Review

Posted on September 7, 2012 | 2 comments

I recently compared Asics Gel Foundation 10 to version 9.

As the following field review of Asics Gel Foundation 10 highlights, this is one of my favorite shoes this season. It’s lightweight, yet structured and although it is no longer offered in narrow — medium and wide widths still provide a great fit.

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Posted in Narrow Feet, Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Review, Wide Feet

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Shoe Review – Asics GT-2170

Posted on September 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

I previously reviewed Asics GT-2170 and compared it to Asics GT-2160. The following video is a field review of Asics GT-2170, which has changed significantly from Asics GT-2160. Although GT-2170 fits the same volume-wise as GT-2160, structure-wise, it no longer supports the excessively pronated foot.

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Posted in Narrow Feet, Orthotic Friendly Shoes, Shoe Fit, Shoe Review, Wide Feet

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