Foot wear

I have that video. He's wearing shorts and sandals. I remember thinking at the time that the sandals sure looked like chisel magnets.

Steel toed Birkys?! I thought the whole idea was Not to work.

Maybe not justice, but definitely odd. I got my service connected knee in England and so far the buggers haven't sent me any shoes. :o)

Butt Ugly! And picture Chevy Chase in 'European Vacation'.

Agree totally. I can't believe that these obese posters think that what they put *under* their feet will fix the problems they've caused by what they put *over* them.

Go for a decent *fast* walk for an hour, 4-5 miles, a couple of times a week, your hammies and glutes will gain so much tone they'll hold your pelvis upright and suck your gut in, stop it hanging forward and dragging your back further out of line. You might even lose some of that excess weight. I wasn't overweight, but when I started walking *hard* for one hour a week, I lost a Kg (2.2lb) *each week* for the first 8 weeks.

I had to buy mine from the actual Rockport store also, the one that was in First Colony mall. That was my last pair and that store closed about 4 or 5 years ago. I am about ready to buy another pair and no one had these on line. You may have to buy them direct from Rockport. Actually when comparing the online Rockport store to the other on line shoe stores, they were cheaper. I'll have to look at the Galleria store also. Like most all Rockport's, these shoes feel broke in 10 minutes and you can wear them all day long immediately. Oddly and another testament that the Chinese can build quality if instructed to do so, these 4 year old shoes were made in China.

I've spent 34 years standing and walking on concrete and have found Rockports or Red Wing Boots to be about the only footwear that will allow me to walk away at the end of the shift without some form of pain or discomfort. I've tried most shoes, boots and even water filled insoles but Red Wings or Rockports have served me well.

There you go. Just the thing for everyone. Unfortunately, after three knee surgeries, none caused by obesity, and arthritis in my feet, a fast walk is something I watch other people do. I'd guess some more of us fat slobs who put too much "over" our feet are in the same boat, whether from injury or illness.

What you can or can't believe has no relevance outside your own family.

I just ordered a pair from the Galleria store. They did not have them in the store, but they'll ship them to you by, dog sled? (5-10 days) for $5.50 ... which still beats the hell out of _me_ having to go to the &%^& Galleria, which I only do with a figurative gun held to my head.

Time will tell if you're right about the comfort ... if not, wanna buy a pair of 11W's in brown? ;)

Ohhhh.. I am a 11.5 M kinda guy. Besides did you not say that they would ship them to you "meaning me"? LOL

Was the store cheaper than ordering on line?

$5.50 beats a trip to just about anywhere.

Amen, Charlie.

Lots of things are righteously correct until you get a bullet through an ankle, or pelvis broken in half, or emphyzema from smoking too many years - and a new wife who cooks great food.

TomNie

Oh, man. No bullet strikes, just too much time falling off of off-road motorcycles, sometimes with the bike on top. Do that for 10-15 years, and zing. Add in a genetic predisposition to arthritis, COPD (I quit smoking nearly 17 years ago, about a decade later than was really helpful), and a second wife, who, while not new, is one helluva country cook.

I haven't hit 300 yet, but I've come much too close at times, though I'm now slowly--ever so slowly--backing off. But until I quit smoking, I still only weighed about 210 or 215 at the most, and could still drop a pound or two by missing a meal. These days, I gain weight at the thought of food.

From my own experience with foot and back aches I've found that I am most comfortable on concrete when I wear a good pair of running shoes or a good pair of sneakers that have some arch support and good thick rubber soles. I sometimes find that foam or gel inserts also help.

The footwear industry seem to make a lot of worthless junk IMO and what works for many don't always work for me. Some of the most expensive and highly rated have not been any better for me than cheaper brands or different kinds of shoes . I've only found them by continued trial and error.

Although they aren't safety shoes , when standing at the lathe for long periods of time I now wear a pair of New Balance tennis shoes but I've had other brands that worked just as well. For me, my shoes have be comfortable first for general walking then hopefully they'll continue to support and be comfortable after extended standing or work on concrete or steel. I also have foam type pad that's made to stand on in front of my lathe and my band saw. And I learned from a lady that used to post regularly in this newsgroup about sweeping the shavings pile up in front of my lathe to stand on. The only problem with that idea was my dogs likes those shavings piles and I'd have to be constantly jousting with them or just work with them underfoot. :)

It may also be more than just shoes involved. Notwithstanding any medical condition, age seems to make a difference also, more than one's weight IMO. After becoming a wood turner I had terrible back aches from bending over on the lathe. But after I learned about raising the lathe high enough so the center line between the spur and tail stock was about as high as my elbow or a little higher there are no more back aches. That tip gleaned here also prompted me to also raise many other things in my life such as band saws, bench grinders, work benches, tables, etc.. even my fish cleaning bench is now much higher and I'm more comfortable for sure! I also know a teacher that is on her feet all day on concrete or tiled floors. She is a larger lady and has had trouble with her feet hurting over the years. She now wears and swear's by Birkenstocks. But she only wears the "sandal" types, not safety shoes.

Bertie

I hear you Charlie. There is something about reading a cook book that puts on 10 pounds these days. I can not even blame it on my wife (first and only, I hope), I do the cooking. The old hair seems a bit grayer too. Funny, it does not appear to have anything to do with footwear. I am a little envious over folks who have enough time in a work shop to worry about it hurting a back, but not envious enough to have back pain.

Same price.

You can get ECCOs a lot cheaper than that. I've got a pair of ECCO running shoes on my feet right now. Cost about $70.00 on line. Can't recall who had them (one of these days I'll organize my bookmarks), but Sierra Trading Post has ECCO Flexor Walking Shoes for $80 right now. You may have to dig around a few places to get the size you want. Other than the runners, I've got hiking boots, three pair of shoes, and a pair of sandals from ECCO. Bought my first pair in a mall. Guy says 'try these - go walk in the mall for ten minutes'. I did. Came back and bought two pair. One of the things I really like is being able to buy online because their sizes ar consistent.

After 30 years as an electronic engineer and technical writer (read: desk jockey), industry changes, downsizing, outsourcing, etc. forced me into a career change which involves long hours walking and standing on concrete. Foot pain and the associated complications led me to try quite a few different shoes, some of which are mentioned in this thread, until I discovered On the Clock II walking shoes by Reebok. I have a wide foot, and find the 4E width most comfortable. In addition, I use Dr. Scholl's gel insoles - after experimenting, I found two in each shoe yielded the best results. I go through two or three sets of insoles over the life of the shoe. Yeah, that's right - I'm gellin' like a felon - you want some melon?

I should also mention I've used orthotics for many years. I'm convinced I'd be a cripple by now without them.

B.

I wish my shop time was invested in building things more often than cleaning and shooting photos.

Right now, I'm wearing a pair of slip-on $30 LL Bean shoes, with VA prescribed orthotic inserts. My back has never been a shop problem, but my feet and knees can make up for that with any other footwear. I'm supposed to be getting some orthotic shoes in a week or 10 days. Probably combine those with the inserts and see what happens.

Wow, Thanks Lobby. Please try to remember me if you find that other bookmark.

TomNie