Alright, apparently I have wide feet. And, apparently, I can't find a decently priced minimalist style shoe that is wide enough for my feet. The only pair I've had success with are the La Sportiva Crosslites. Ooh, I also have New Balance Minimus trail in 11.5, wide, but I don't run long miles in them. I have not felt any constriction problem nor had any blow outs in either them.
I've tried running in the New Balance MT 101's and loved them, but blew out the insteps on both pairs during a trail half marathon. They didn't have a lot of miles on them either. The Saucony Kinvaras were not wide enough either as I started to rip out of the sides as well. I actually had gotten both of these as my first foray away from "normal" running shoes and really had never had a decent pair of running shoes before. I thought they fit fine, but the blow outs and rips proved otherwise. I am currently running on the road (La Sportivas are trail) in Brooks Green Silence. They are not side enough either BUT, the soft cloth mesh top allows for the bit of extra expansion I need. However, I did start to blow out of the side of one of the shoes around mile 200 (I ended up with about 280 on them). I also tried running in Innov-8 shoes. The first pair were not wide enough (felt great in the store and on a few runs...but started noticing more as I ran longer in them...). I tried their widest pair, but a seam on the inside rubbed my foot wrong and gave hot spots very quickly (they actually took these back after I ran in them which was awesome of them).
So, my question is, do you know of any minimalist style shoes that do not cost a million dollars? I'd love for the NB 110's (next generation of 101's) to be in wide. I'd also love for the Pure series from Brooks to be wide enough for me, but I haven't tried them, yet...
Thanks for any help!!!
I don't know how the men's fit is in the Pure series, but if it's anything like the women's, you're bound for disappointment. I took them back, because they were too narrow and I have normal-width feet.
ReplyDeleteI do have a pair of the Saucony Hattori that I think are quite roomy, which might be worth a try. I also have a pair of the Green Silence, but I think they're going back to the store for having too much of a heel drop - I don't think 10mm is minimalist - and I have a muscle thing that flares up when I run in "normal" shoes.
Sadly I do not. My minimal shoe is the Newton and thats anything but cheap. :(
ReplyDeleteCan't believe the brands you mentioned don't make a wider model.
Good luck with your PT!
The Brooks might work for you...they generally run on the wider side. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteJoyce: Thanks for the advice about the Hattori! I had avoided Saucony because I thought they, in general, were not a "wide" shoe. I did already check it out and may give them a try! The Green Silence are 8 (and my Crosslites are 10) so the 0 will take some time getting used to (like I said I haven't run in the Minumus Trail a whole lot and avoided them completely as I picked up the miles for my Ultra training.). But, because of needing to take it slow/ low miles when I can run again, that'll be the perfect time to try them out! Plus, I have always loved Saucony's BOLD colors!
ReplyDeleteMarcia: I have thought about the Newton a lot, but I'm very ADD with my shoes- if the slightest thing is out of wack/ doesn't feel perfect, I will hate them! I don't want to spend a lot of $ because of that- having a pair for 30-40 miles then deciding they are not right for me (which I did a lot of as noted above!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rach! I may make a trip to a couple running stores to try a lot out. I was in a couple weekends ago with my wife after her 5k and the one guy there did recognize me (though a couple know me by sight). It'll give me something to do over the winter break!
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