Boat Shoes with Arch Support

G

gardnersf

Member
Member
Joined
May 12, 2004
RO Number
13607
Messages
813
This is a different sort of question. I have recurrent platar facitis (heel spurs) I need good arch support. Last summer, after wearing my boat shoes and cheap water shoes with no support, my feet flared up visiously. It has taken the whole winter to get them right again. I wear orthotic supports in my shoes but they don't work well without socks. I'm looking for boat shoes that have good arch support to minimize the flare ups. If I wear good supporting shoes the rest of the week and good boat shoes on weekends I should be fine.

Not sure if anyone else has the same needs but since this is such a large community...
 
I heard from a podiatrist that "CROCS" have excellent arch support. I also saw a pair that had tops that looked identical to traditional style boat shoes. The last I saw they retailed $50. I plan on getting some the next time I see them.
 
I purchased the Bass brand and replaced the flimsy liner with Spenco full length insole. I have been using them for years for the very reason you suggest. You can turn any decent shoe into great footwear with them.
 
Scott - If you live in RI it's OK to wear socks, except in Newport any time of the year.

I usually wear double socks and in-shoe heel-only gel shock absorbers ( Dr. Scholl??) and all that cushioning seems to help the PF immensely so that I hardly ever notice it any more when wearing shoes. Sperry/New Balance NB870's are my boating preference.

I don't wear Crocs as my brain is allergic to them.
 
Birkenstock shoes/sandals with the cork foot bed work real well. My orthotics broke for one foot and I wound up in pain and happened to be looking at Web MD and they had a article on Birkenstock, since I had some I started wearing them and got much relief.
 
I have a similar problem and have a pair of Sperry Barracudas that are very comfortable. They have a "Removable and Full Length Molded Footbed with Wave-Comfort System for All Day Under Foot Comfort". You can get details on the Sperry website.
 
Power & Motoryacht magazine had a feature on a new pair in this month's issue (June 2008). The shoes are by Over The Beach (OTB) that has previously made footwear for the Navy Seals. The writer tested them out during the Miami Boat show and gave a very good review...good comfort with supportive arch....their website is www dot otbboots dot com. Not sure I care much for the overall styling (they look okay in my opinion), but the performance sounds worth checking out, so I may try out a pair...
 
I use my orthotics in Topsiders, with no socks. Felt a little weird at first but after 10 years, it doesn't. Works fine.
 
Shep beat me to it .. I just ordered a pair of OTB'S....

Rob
 
I just saw the article for OTB's as well. Thanks for all the replies. I wear New Balance 892's almost all the time when not at work, but would rather have boat shoes.

I really don't like wearing socks in the summer, but hate having the feet hurt as well.

I have really high arches and short feet so the arches get a pounding. Let me knwo how the OTB's work out. I may order a pair myself.
 
I too suffer from platar facitis. While i like my Birkenstocks, they aren't good for the boat - soles don't grip well and I found out the hard way that they don't float. Have been wearing Crocs for the past 2 boating seasons and they are great!!

Also, not sure if you are "large" but I recently dropped about 25 pounds and found that my feet feel much better....
 
Rockport boat shoe with the Reebok DMX system. Most comfortable boat shoe I've owned...
 
Crocs are great for arch support. Cool colors also. The new "boat shoe" styles give you more of the traditional look.
 
Thansk Sandy, I am "large" (6'3" 265) but have dropped about 10 pounds lately. The feet feel fine now, but Once on the boat, especially in swimming season, I did a lot of barefoot on the boat, etc, which I thik really caused the PF to flare up.

How do Crocs handle wet surfaces? Are they slippery or do they grip well. I have rockport boat shoes now, but they were the kind with the narrow sole. NOT good for the feet.
 
I too suffer from the heel spurs and had a pair of arch supports made from casts of my feet by my foot doc. They are two thirds the length of my foot and I put them in Topsiders with no real problems. Took a little time to get used to it but not long, I have tried different shoe brands without the supports and have heel pain quickly. I stretch my left foot while driving putting the ball of the foot on the edge of the kick panel and that seems to help. My wife is a Physical Therapist and taught me the stretch trick for Plantar Facitis and it has helped more than I can describe. The custom supports were just over $300 but you know they will fit properly when it is from a mold of your own foot.
 
The new Rockports with the Reebok DMX system blow the old Rockports away. The new ones feel like comfortable walking shoes...give them a try...
 
I wore my new OTBS all day today..... very comfortable shoe... Feet feel fine....

Rob
 
quote:
Originally posted by bfay007

The new Rockports with the Reebok DMX system blow the old Rockports away. The new ones feel like comfortable walking shoes...give them a try...
Click to expand...


Where did you buy these? Online or a brick n mortar store?

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top