Training versus walking tennis shoes for large state flagship

Parents Forum
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<p>My son is over 6'1 and weighs over 300 pounds. He's gone to Catholic school all his life, where he's had to wear uniform shoes, military style most recently.</p>

<p>He's participated in some sports, but mostly swam, so has not worn tennis shoes very much throughout his life. His "weekend" tennis shoe wear has mostly been Dr. Scholl's, as they make wide width, have the gel pack, for his flat feet, and have worked well for his occasional tennis shoe use.</p>

<p>Now, he is at a big state flagship university, and after six weeks, has already gone through two pairs of shoes. The second pair must have been defective, as he wore a hole in those within a couple of weeks. But these were not cheap brand shoes, at least by our standards.</p>

<p>I am looking at purchasing New Balance shoes for him for when he comes home in a couple of weeks for fall break. He says he's okay with what he has for now.</p>

<p>However, there are a vast array of New Balance shoes, different numbers, and different nomenclature: walking, running, and training.</p>

<p>He is not a runner, by any means, but I don't feel a walking shoe is going to be sturdy enough for him, as he is walking a great distance just from his dorm to his classes, and from building to building all day for at least three days out of the week. He also has to walk at least three blocks to the dining hall on the weekend as well. </p>

<p>I'm considering purchasing a training shoe, rather than a walking shoe, and wonder if this is going to be too uncomfortable for someone that is not actually "training". I know I'll have to pay a good bit more than I used to for my Walmart Dr. Scholl's, but I'm willing to do that for a well made shoe. </p>

<p>I also notice that New Balance has different numbers, and wonder if there's a "rule" that the higher the number, the better made the shoe.</p>

<p>Thanks for any advice you can give!</p>

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<p>Montegut: before D left for campus, we strongly suggested (and bought) a new pair of running shoes for her. She didn’t wear sneakers very often in HS (she was a flip flop girl) but we knew that she’d be walking A LOT. She had knee surgery last Christmas so she understood why she had to make sure and take care of her feet. She ended up getting a pair of Nike running shoes; not because she’s a runner (ha!) but because she’s at UA, we knew it would be hot for a long period of time. Running shoes breathe better than a lot of other types of sneakers. She says she wears them most of the time. </p>

<p>Different sneaker brands fit differently so I’d have your S go to a big sporting goods store (Dick’s? Sports Authority? Academy? Foot Locker? even a local running shoe store) and ask one of their shoe salesmen which shoes would best fit your son.</p>

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<p>I don’t know the New Balance line that well, but your son would be fine with running shoes. He should look for what is called a “stability” shoe. Without getting too technical, this is a running shoe designned for people with wider, flatter feet. In the Brooks like, it is their Adreniline model and they are available in wide widths. New Balance also has them; I just don’t know which numbers.</p>

<p>It’s best to go to a running store and finding a pair that actually fits to get started. Once you know that, you can look for online deals in the future on last year’s styles, etc.</p>

<p>I have wide flat feet and the best thing since sliced bread is SuperFeet insert insoles. Wow. What a difference to have proper arch support. When I think of all the shoes that have caused me pain: soccer shoes in high school, ice skates, ski boots. These things would have fixed me right up.</p>

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<p>Thanks, RobD, for your input. Son is at UA, too, so good points about the breathability of a shoe. Nike’s are too narrow for him. We’ve tried them over the years and never had any luck. </p>

<p>I know Dr. Scholl’s has always fit him the best, and we’ve purchased them over other brands for years, but I’m wondering if the quality has gone down. I know son is “off” Dr. Scholl’s right now, so I need to find another brand.</p>

<p>Anyone else have any input about training versus running versus walking?</p>

<p>Also, any brands that tend to do well with big flat feet?</p>

5

<p>I always buy New Balance. They work much better for my wide feet than other brands I’ve tried (especially Nike) and I like the fact that they actually manufacture some of their shoes (and socks) in the USA. </p>

<p>I work out quite a bit and put a lot of miles on the shoe. I’m currently wearing a NB 1062 running shoe. This is a ‘neutral’ shoe - i.e. they make shoes for different styles of how one plants their foot. Different shoes, even within a particular line (like ‘running’) can have different compounds and can wear at different rates. If you have access to a knowledgable sales person (note the qualification) they can explain the differences. </p>

<p>I went to a Roadrunner Sports runner shoe store (big one with a warehouse for internet sales so they have a good stock) here that had a treadmill hooked up to a computer that would show how one’s feet hit the pavement and thus recommend different shoes - like neutral, ‘over-pronator’, different stability, etc. </p>

<p>There are also some NB stores that only sell NB around here. Maybe they have some near your S. These people will usually be more knowledgable on NB shoes.</p>

<p>My suggestion but I’m not an expert - get him some NB running shoes which IMO are fine for walking in addition to running. I don’t really get their numbering system other than the higher the number the more expensive it is but they also seem to have more ‘features’. Look for something on sale that seems reasonable. They usually have some decent deals online - I’ve ordered online from them before. Of course with shoes it’s better to try the shoe on first unless you know exactly how a particular shoe will fit (I ordered extras of the same model because I wear through them at some point). I also ordered some insoles from them because that’s the first thing I burn through and can go through the standard insole in 2-3 weeks. The other ones they have available are much better and longer lasting.</p>

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<p>My advice would be, that if you can afford it, buy 2 pairs of slightly different shoes…it’s not good for his feet to be in the same pair of shoes every day.</p>

<p>Our family also has had very good experience with New Balance, by the way.</p>

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<p>^ Rotating shoes from day to day makes them last much longer than buying consecutive pairs. My wife has wide, flat feet and uses Columbia light hiking boots - loves them.</p>

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<p>Here are the New Balance men’s models.</p>

<p>[Products</a> : New Balance](<a href=“http://www.newbalance.com/products/?sort=&page=&limit=&gender=1&productType=1&category=1_&sub_category=4&submit=Go]Products”>http://www.newbalance.com/products/?sort=&page=&limit=&gender=1&productType=1&category=1_&sub_category=4&submit=Go)</p>

<p>You want to look for descriptions that include “stability”, “motion control”, and/or “over-pronator”. These are running shoe buzzwords for shoes that provide more support for heavier guys with wider feet. You want to avoid buzzwords like “neutral”, “cushioning”, and “under-pronator” as these are shoes for gazelles and marathon runners.</p>

<p>A “trainer” is simply a running shoe that is heavier and more substantial so that it will last for more “mileage”. This would be want you son wants. He’s going to wear out a lightweight “racing” shoe in a week.</p>

<p>In the Brooks line, the Adreniline is the stability shoe, the Addiction is the motion control shoe which provides even more aggressive support. I don’t know the equivalents in the New Balance line. It’s all I could do to figure out one inscrutable brand. They had wide and extra wide in both of those models, so I could find the one that fit.</p>

<p>For the most part, “walking” shoes from runinng shoe companies are based on one of their runinng shoes, but made in leather instead of breathable mesh. For example, the Brooks walking shoe (available in white, brown, or black leather) is the same basic shoe as their Addiction running shoe in lightweight mesh. Basically walking shoes are shoes that nurses or waiters or other people working on their feet all day could wear to work. For a college kid, you might as well get the “running” version unless there’s some particular reason to get them in leather.</p>

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<p>I have two college age S’s. One is a runner. One is not. A running shoe is what you see the most kids wearing at their colleges (big state u’s). We like Asics running shoes. I wear them too and am def. not a runner. Mesh running shoes are better than leather walking shoes for college kids because they dry out quickly after hiking to class in the rain!</p>

<p>InterestedDad…love those SuperFeet insoles (wearing them in my Asics running shoes right now). They aren’t cheap but athletic shoes don’t feel right without them anymore.</p>

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<p>Montegut, You have asked for advice. You are saying your son is only 6’1" plus but over 300 pounds. If anything, weight seems to increase with age. Husband and sons are all 6’5" plus but none approaches 300 pounds. Youngest son is nowhere even 200. I am wondering if the 300 pound figure is correct? If so, I think a bigger issue for me would be an exercise/eating program . Sorry if I am misinterpreting the issues. Dick’s, Zappo’s have good shoes.</p>

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<p>One time, go to a store that is not just a self service store or a store staffed by high school/college kids. Find out where recreational runners and serious weekend athletes shop. Take your son there and get a good rec for a shoe and a good fitting. Bring old shoes and show them how he wears out a shoe. Esp if he has a flatter food, he needs a “real” fitting. One you find a shoe that works, you can then buy at places like Sports Authority or online at New Balance or Zappos. You can’t find a shoe model here. He needs to be fitted and evaluated. It is well worth the extra time. Shoes are expensive, but a good fitting shoe will last and will keep his feet healthy and out of discomfort.</p>

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<p>from the Mom of a big guy with 11 4E feet -
Anything DS is going to be wearing a lot comes from New Balance.<br>
If you look at the charts on Joe’s New Balance Outlet, they explain the “lasts” of the structure in New Balance shoes.
You want the lasts that give you the widest front, a roomy toe area.
:slight_smile:
Rotating shoes is very helpful.</p>

<p>Mr. 11 4E has flat feet, too. We put Dr. Scholl’s half foot gel insoles in every pair of shoes he has (baseball cleats, running shoes, dress shoes) -to prevent a flare up of plantar fasciitis.</p>

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<p>I agree … go to the New Balance store and get some good help. I have a NB store owner as one of my customers and she seems very knowledgeable about shoes and what would work for me.</p>

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<p>I can barely stand to have a shoe on my foot without them now. I have a pair of the blue ones (fairly thin) in my Docksiders that I wear alll the time! It’s all in getting the arch support far enough back, I think. New Balance makes an arch support insole that appears to be very, very similar. Unfortunately, the price is similar, too.</p>

<p>I actually think the SuperFeet insoles are more important than the running shoe.</p>

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<p>I tried every insole Dr. Scholl’s makes. I now realize that they just don’t work for proper support.</p>

<p>Take your kid and a pair of his New Balance running shoes to a running store. They’ve got demos of all the SuperFeet models, pre-cut in all the sizes. Pull the stock inserts out of the New Balance and have him try a pair of SuperFeet blue and SuperFeet orange inserts (the orange has more cushion, but takes up a little more room). I think he’ll be amazed at what they do for 4E feet. I learned to hate running in high school because of stabbing arch pain from soccer shoes. Same thing with ice skates and ski boots. The SuperFeet would have been the answer.</p>

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<p>Can I recommend Eccos? My 16 year old son has a couple of styles and they are almost impossible to wear out. They are also very supportive, and are a good choice for a hard to fit foot or for someone with foot problems. They come in a variety of styles, most are available in wide widths, including sneakers and walking shoes which are appropriate for a younger guy.</p>

<p>[Search</a> Results for ecco men’s shoes | Nordstrom.com](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr?keyword=ecco+men’s+shoes&origin=PredictiveSearch]Search”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr?keyword=ecco+men’s+shoes&origin=PredictiveSearch)</p>

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<p>NB shoe numbers do not correlate with quality. Have him go to a shoe store that can answer questions, as already suggested. He needs to find the brand(s) that work best for his foot shape- store personnel who know shoes will know which ones run wider, etc. The old cliche “If the shoe fits, wear it” applies. Do not be married to any one brand, what works for you or someone else may not be the best fitting brand for your son. Discuss what is meant by “walking” and “training” shoes with good store salespeople. All leather versus vented materials- climate matters- heat /snow… Owning more than one pair in good condition is a good idea.</p>

<p>He is overweight. Hopefully he can continue to get more exercise on campus than he did in HS and get better eating habits. Presuming he is happy at his college now may be a good time for him to put himself on a diet. He will have to make an effort to not eat what is offered but what is good for him- will power time. Now is a good time for him to make changes.</p>

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<p>New Balance has one of the best shoes on the market. It is a personal favorite of one of my son’s cross country coaches, although he admits there are many good shoes out there. </p>

<p>I echo what others have said – he needs to go to the store and be fitted. And you may be paying a lot, but if you do a lot of walking, you need to be in good shoes. Sometimes, people think it’s all right to go on the cheap, but you can develop foot, ankle, knee, hip and back issues because of ill fitting shoes. My youngest son is a runner. He has several pairs of shoes – a couple for general use, a pair just for practice, a pair just for competition. My oldest is not a runner, but also walks a lot at college. He has at least three pairs of walking/running shoes, because it’s hot in Alabama. The shoes need a chance to dry out after one has worn them all day.</p>

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<p>If your son has gone thru 2 pairs of shoes since school has started, I’d be concerned that he’s dragging/shuffling his feet while walking (not picking each foot up) or not walking properly and putting too much weight on one part of the shoe.</p>

<p>Both of my kids are at Bama and neither has experienced such shoe wear as you’ve described, so I’m wondering if it’s how he walks. </p>

<p>However, my H who has had hip replacement surgery, doesn’t walk properly on one foot and does wear out his left shoe quickly. He doesn’t wear out the entire sole, just the corner of a heel all the way down…making the shoe unwearable rather quickly.</p>

<p>When he gets home, you might want an expert to note how he’s walking.</p>

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<p>I am not a runner or an athlete, but I think a runners foot hits the ground differently than someone walking. For comfort while walking long distances, I would go with a good fitting walking sneaker or shoe. For at least the first pair of shoes I would go to a good shoe store that carries a wide range of brands and styles. If he brings his old shoes the sales clerk can look at it and recommend a brand based on how the old ones wore.
Once your S finds something he likes then you can hit the discount stores and look for the best price for subsequent pairs. </p>

<p>I also second buying two pairs of shoes and switching.</p>