the right shoes

im uber prone to blisters on the bottom of my feet if i dont wear the
right shoes...and currently im integrating 2mi (walking) 3 times a week
into my life...im just wondering what some of yall wear. to gimme an
idea when i have the $$ to purchase comfy walking shoes. because if i
dont...im never gonna walk again my feet are KILLING me

I always buy New Balance because they are about the only ones I can find that come in wide.  They run about $60 or so (maybe bought them on sale)  I hate wearing running shoes though because the always make my feet feel squeezed.  I would go barefoot all the time if possible!

I'd love to buy Nike or Rebook, but it's just not in the budget, if you know what I mean!  I'm especially prone to blisters myself so here's some thoughts.

I get shoes that are mostly fabric, instead of leather (leather makes your feet sweat and can make blisters worse.)  Anything with a thick sole and something where my heel doesn't move around too much.  I have been really happy with Dr. Scholls brand shoes, but I've been looking for less leather.  I haven't had to worry about arches, but most of the shoes I've looked at had some comfortable arches in them.

And Band-Aid's Bister cushions!  These things have saved my workout life!  At the end of an old pair of shoes I will go through about a box a week.  Once I get my new shoes I don't usually have any problems unless I'm not tying them up properly or I'm not using med weight sports socks. 

Which brings me to my next piece of advice.  Get good socks!  Get the kind designed for athletics.  I've had lots of good results just switching my day socks for a pair of althletic socks.

I walk about 4-6 miles a day and religiously toss out old shoes at 500 miles or when the blisters start showing up.

Good luck!!

I think it's kind of difficult to go by what others feel are the best shoes, because our feet are kind of like snowflakes, no two are alike!

Yours are not like mine, mine are not like hers, and so on.

What I like to do is go someplace like DSW where all the shoes are out on display, and all the boxes are right there, and there are no sales people around, and you can literally try on every dang pair of shoes they have in the store!!!

I've done this, and for me brands do tend to be different, or make a difference rather.  On me, Adidas generally have too high an arch, and run narrow through the arch.  Asics are pretty nice, but the good ones are way too expensive.  Nike's tend to run narrow on me, and smaller in the toe box.  Saucony usually fits really well, and New Balance is a close second.

If you have blister problems on the sides or tops of your feet, shoes by Pearl Izumi could be a good bet for you because the uppers are completely seemless.

I bought my New Balance shoes at a small store that caters to runners.  The owners really know how to fit a shoe.  I appreciated the help, which I never got in sporting goods or big shoe stores.

It is a good idea to have your gait assessed. You can do this, as clairelaine mentioned, at a running shoe store. Do not go to a generic sports store. Also, I recommend double-layer anit-blister socks. These are available in running or outdoor stores. They are worth the investment!

I just bought New Balance at a Running Store.  My husband insisted that I buy a GOOD pair.

Paid $159.95 Canadian. (with taxes it was $180).  Boy are they comfortable!  The salesman (owner actually) even gave me a mini workshop on how to walk properly.

It's funny because the treadmill program that I used to do was HARD with my old runners and I always felt like I was going to fall off the end.  With my new runners, I am instantly an athlete and can do it no problem (and my back and shins no longer burn!!).

DJ

from people ive spoken to and the posts here i can tell that New
Balance seem to be a choice a lot of walkers and runners are making.
there is a small running store near by so when that birthday money
comes pouring in (i am turning 21 hehe) i think ill take a run over
there and see what they can do for me. about the antiblister
socks...perhaps those will do for right now. i keep the getting the
blisters on that piece of my foot right under my toes...like where u
walk when ur walking in heels. and its getting pretty bothersome but
until i have the money i dont want to stop walking so maybe some socks
might make enough of a difference till then. thanks for all the hel
everyone!