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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / October 2004New boots: pleasantly surprised!
Hi all, I ended up getting the wrong size when I bought new Doc Martens. It's hard to tell what the right size is with Docs sometimes, because the 8-hole classic black has rather firm leather and takes some breaking in. If you buy too large, then it breaks in and the boots become too loose. Too small, and you kill your feet breaking them in. My permanently damaged left ankle that I buy Docs for (bone fragments, tendon damage, ligament damage, talar osteonecrosis, etc) wasn't too happy with the too small size but it went okay, but my 'normal' right ankle (my right foot is a half size larger) just couldn't handle them. I am still having tendon problems in the right achiles and the achiles attachment (even after injections). I don't care how much these things cost or how good they've been in the past, I'm not going to end up unable to walk in order to break them in! So, I had to decide on getting a half size larger and trying to break those in or trying another type of boot. I went with the latter. This is a big move for me, because Docs are the only boots I've been able to walk in for half a decade now! I tried on a variety of pairs at the outdoor gear/surplus type shop and narrowed it down to two Australian boots: one by Redback and the other by Blundstone. The Blundstone ones fit better and didn't have extra padding Like the Redback ones did. Extra padding means extra movement that my damanged ankle has to stabilise, and that's not a good thing! The Redback boots had strange eyelets that were difficult for me to pull tight. So I went with the blundstone non-safety ankle lace up (6 hole) boots (style 518). I'm VERY happy that I did. The sole is slightly more cushioned in the sense that the rubber isn't hard carbon rubber, not in the running shoe squichy type of cushioning. You don't notice this type of cushioning until the end of the day when your ankles are slightly less sore than usual because they've been getting slightly less shock than usual. The leather is thinner and softer, so break-in is so far a non-issue (we'll see in a month). The forefoot flexes a bit easier than Docs, which is good for my damaged ankle. And, despite not going up quite so high (about 15mm less high) than the 8-hole Docs, my ankle gets good proprioceptive feedback support. Here're the Blundstone websites, in case anyone is interested in them: http://www.blundstone.com.au/ http://www.blundstoneusa.com/ Cheers, Ari  Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ Congratulations on finding a boot that works for you! I've seen Blundstone in a catalog I get here in the states but have never tried them. I've been doing fairly well with a Vasque boots but might look into Blundstone when I have to replace these. My isues are different, but I have to have lots of ankle support for any uneven ground because of my hypermobility (I sprain ankles *very* easily!) Do the Blundstones have fairly roomy toe boxes? That's always an issue for me. Many shoes that fit my heels decently are too tight in the toes. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare > Congratulations on finding a boot that works for you! I've seen Blundstone > in a catalog I get here in the states but have never tried them. I've been > doing fairly well with a Vasque boots but might look into Blundstone when I > have to replace these. My isues are different, but I have to have lots of > ankle support for any uneven ground because of my hypermobility (I sprain > ankles *very* easily!) Docs offer more support. The specific style of blundstones that I bought offer a little ankle support. Most shoes/boots offer only proprioceptive support. I wear a 'thermal ankle support' on my left ankle and this increases propriception, too. Combine this with a boot that covers the maleoli, and I do ok support wise, but YMMV. > Do the Blundstones have fairly roomy toe boxes? This pair is slightly roomier than average. > That's always an issue for me. Many shoes that fit my heels decently are > too tight in the toes. I know what you mean. Narrow heels? Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ >> Congratulations on finding a boot that works for you! I've seen >> Blundstone [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Docs offer more support. I wear boots for some actual hiking still - just shorter day hikes, but can still do those, mostly because I want to so much! Anyway, haven't tried Doc Martens because they just look so heavy. I tend to stick more with real hiking boots, it ya know what I mean. > I know what you mean. Narrow heels? I wish! LOL no - wide toes, medium heels. I have what my mom calls "good German walking feet". Got 'em from her side of the family. It's one reason I've fallen in love with New Balance athletic shoes - their wide width/high arch version fits me amazingly well. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare >Congratulations on finding a boot that works for you! I've seen Blundstone >in a catalog I get here in the states but have never tried them. I've been [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >That's always an issue for me. Many shoes that fit my heels decently are >too tight in the toes. Nann Have you tried Rockport? I tried many different brands and styles out in a specialist shoe store and they were the best for me: Have a look here: http://walking-shoes.com/store/customer/home.php -- "if you can see it coming, head it off at the pass, else put the wagons in a circle" -- Please reply to this ng as: -- my email adress is 100% faked to prevent proliferation of SPAM!! -- Regards -- Clarence Crow > Have you tried Rockport? > I tried many different brands and styles out in a specialist shoe > store and they were the best for me: > Have a look here: http://walking-shoes.com/store/customer/home.php Yes, I have had a pair or two and it is a fine shoe for people on their feet. I could not afford them now. Harv >> Have you tried Rockport? >> I tried many different brands and styles out in a specialist shoe [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > feet. I could not afford them now. > Harv When we were in DC Charlie realized he didn't have a pair of dark shoes to wear to the funeral so we made a quick search of stores and he found a pair of dark brown Rockports that actually fit and looked great for $35. Watch for sales. Jo Grayson used to buy Rockports at the outlet store, I think in North Carolina. He traveled on his job and was by there quite often. He couldn't afford them either when he retired! Gwen > > Have you tried Rockport? > > I tried many different brands and styles out in a specialist shoe [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > feet. I could not afford them now. > Harv > Grayson used to buy Rockports at the outlet store, I think in North > Carolina. He traveled on his job and was by there quite often. He > couldn't > afford them either when he retired! > Gwen LOL! That is how my brother in law fell in love with them. My folks lived in Hendersonville, NC and there was a big outlet store on the highway near them. Charlie got his at Marshall's which we aren't familiar with but it sure resembled an outlet. They go on sale fairly often here at Big Five which is a sporting goods store that carries a lot of shoes. Jo > Nann > Have you tried Rockport? > I tried many different brands and styles out in a specialist shoe > store and they were the best for me: > Have a look here: http://walking-shoes.com/store/customer/home.php The women's styles I've tried on have the same problem I have with other shoes. The heel and toe just don't fit in the same width. Women aren't supposed to have such broad toes! LOL and they've gotten broader with the arthritis in them. New Balance are the only shoes that are really good that way that I've found so far. Well, them and Birkenstock type clogs and sandals. (I guess I'll have to admit defeat and give away the pumps I've been holding on to the past 5 years in hopes of wearing them again. not giving up until I see my new docs though!) SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Rockport anything is way too narrow a shoe for me. Just thinking about those on my feet makes me hurt. lol > Nann > Have you tried Rockport? > I tried many different brands and styles out in a specialist shoe > store and they were the best for me: propriception: what is that? ari, your feet and ankles sound like mine. i am so glad to hear from someone else whose foot and ankle are so screwed up. (sorry). it's just nice not to feel so alone. my feet are also different sizes. finding boots is just about impossible for me, so i will look into these and the doc martens. my ankle doesn't bend much and the way the damage has occurred in my foot, i can't walk on the ball of my foot at all, rather on the outer edge. i have a very attractive gait. :-( also can't handle any kind of heel. diane > propriception: what is that? Proprioception is information about the position/angle of joints in space that the body uses to coordinate everyday actions like walking. Most people aren't aware of the precise angle of their foot and ankle during any given step. For you and I, though, we have to be more careful. So, anything that increases our body's awareness of our joint positions is usually a good thing in preventing injuries. It's like high-top shoes for basketball players: they give no real physical support, but they reduce ankle injuries by increasing proprioception. The nervous system uses it to unconsciously position joints better. > ari, your feet and ankles sound like mine. i am so glad to hear from someone > else whose foot and ankle are so screwed up. (sorry). it's just nice not to > feel so alone. my feet are also different sizes. finding boots is just about > impossible for me, so i will look into these and the doc martens. Docs worked very well for my ankle, but as I said in the original post, I have trouble determining what is the 'right size' for me in that brand. One pair of boots lasted me more than 4 years, though! > my ankle > doesn't bend much and the way the damage has occurred in my foot, The sub-talar joints in my left foot aren't doing so well, either, due to the lack of ankle stability and the ankle's reduced range of motion. > i can't walk > on the ball of my foot at all, rather on the outer edge. i have a very > attractive gait. :-( also can't handle any kind of heel. > > diane Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ ACK! I got an email back from the company: they've discontinued this model of boot! Argh! *sigh* Ari Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ Have you looked on eBay? I found discontinued NEW Nikes my son wanted for track. My 2 cents, Janet R | ACK! I got an email back from the company: they've discontinued this | model of boot! Argh! | | *sigh* | | Ari > Have you looked on eBay? I found discontinued NEW Nikes my son wanted > for track. I guess I'm getting a little ahead of myself. If I live long enough to need a new pair of boots I'll count myself as lucky! The model they replaced it with is more of a hiking type boot. This one is nice and dressy enough for occaisons as well, and a hiking type boot generally wouldn't suit in that regard. Ari > My 2 cents, > Janet R [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > | http://www.abmdr.org.au/ > | http://www.marrow.org/ Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. To jump to the end of the story, as a result of this I need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ Ari, we all hope you will live long enough to need more than one pair of boots. Gwen > > Have you looked on eBay? I found discontinued NEW Nikes my son wanted > > for track. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > | http://www.abmdr.org.au/ > > | http://www.marrow.org/ > Ari, we all hope you will live long enough to need more than one pair of > boots. > Gwen Amen! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare |
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