Two summers ago I found a pair of New Balance flip flops at a discount shoe store. They had the best arch support of any summer shoes I've ever worn, and I slid them on whenever the weather was warm enough to go sockless.
This spring I noticed that the flip flops weren't as comfortable as they used to be. When I took a good look at them, I realized that the soles had deep foot indentations and the outside edges of the heels were showing a lot of wear. It was time to find another pair.
I browsed at all the big box shoe stores around my house looked for pair of comfortable flip flops or sandals, but couldn't find anything just right. Last Friday I found myself within five miles of a dedicated New Balance store. It was worth a slight detour to see if they had what I was looking for.
I walked into the store, briefly pursued their selection of warm-weather shoes, and selected a Renew Thong to try on. Except for a couple of cosmetic differences they looked just like the ones I was replacing. The clerk brought out my size, along with a pair of sanitary socks. I tried them on (a little difficult, because the socks didn't have a toe split), and ten minutes later I left the store with my new summer house shoes.
When I opened up the box at home I noticed a tag hanging from the right shoe strap that touted all the benefits of this style-good arch support, a flexible forefoot, heel cup, and gender specific foot bed. The tag also said that since the foot bed fit like an orthotic there should be a break-in period. (It suggested two hours the first day, and then 1-2 additional hours each day.) I figured that since I was used to the shoe I could ignore their suggestion.
I thought wrong.
I had greatly underestimated just how much the old pair had lost their support. At the end of two hours the both the ball and arch of my feet ached and I couldn't wait to take the new shoes off. But the instructions were spot on. Yesterday I wore the shoes all morning. Today the only time I took them off was when I put on shoes to go for a walk. They were that comfortable
Based on my past experience, I'm looking forward to a long period of happy feet.
New Balance, heh? I don't think we have a New Balance store in Fresno, just a Skechers. I'll have to look into this as they sound like a great shoe.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you could find the shoes on a store's website and have it ordered in? I'd highly recommend them.
DeleteGlad it worked out!
ReplyDeleteI love New Balance. Found a dedicated store near me, and will live happily every after.
ReplyDeleteIt's SO important to have comfortable shoes!
DeleteThey sound wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThey are. And every day they get more comfortable :-)
DeleteI used to have high arches, and now I don't. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy feet have changed over the years, too. If anything, my arches are more sensitive than they used to be.
DeleteI know we can get these in England, but I've always been a bit wary of them. They have such high, thick soles, and my ankles are stupid things that sometimes forget which way is 'up'. I feel happiest barefoot, and prefer flat, 'barefoot' type shoes - I've always had high arches, too, but as Silver Willow says, your feet do change over the years. Maybe I should go and try a pair of these? Do they come in wide fit?
ReplyDeleteI don't enjoy going barefoot in the house. No matter how often I sweep the kitchen floor there's always SOME crumb lurking for me to step on.
Delete(I don't know if these shoes come in wide.)