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jvlittell 
Administrator
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When I wear "light hiking" boots my feet are often really sore at the end of the day. I've thought about buying a product like Smartfeet, but they all seem to assume your feet hurt at the heel, whereas mine hurt at the ball of my foot, and around my big toe. Does anyone else have this problem, and have you found any products that help your feet feel more perky?
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Total Posts: 26 | Joined July 2001 | Posted on: 7:49 am on July 22, 2001 | IP
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HappyHiker
Member
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I use either a light hiking boot or a good pair of running shoes. Soft hiking boots are great for rock crossing and the running shoes do a good job for me when on dirt roads and simple dirt trails. The only problem that I have found with running shoes is that they get dirty(Boots do too) and that the sole wears out faster than hiking boots. They also don't last as long if you use them for really long hikes(10+ miles). They are really comfy though and don't require breaking in like boots do, so I still use them for small hikes.
I am currently breaking in a pair of light weight Nike hiking boots. My 10 year old Merrell's have no sole left! Althouth they are still very comfy! I tried a pair of Vasque's boot's but never managed to break them in, alas after many blisters I have come to the conclusions that they are just a 1/2 size too small for me.
My new nike's gave me a blister on one foot but after a 12 mile hike today they seem to be doing just fine.
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Total Posts: 21 | Joined July 2001 | Posted on: 1:25 am on July 27, 2001 | IP
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Tom C
Member
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you might try dr. scholl's double pillow cushion inserts
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Total Posts: 152 | Joined July 2001 | Posted on: 12:53 pm on July 27, 2001 | IP
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TonyF
Member
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I have a problem with the sesamoid bones under the ball of my foot. I build up the area AROUND the ball of the foot with moleskin or molefoam which relieves the pressure on the ball of the foot.
I have used Superfeet and everything else under the sun as insoles. I long ago settled on the insoles for Vasque boots (available at REI - ask in the boot dept). They come in Narrow, Medium, and Wide which translates to Thick, Medium and Thin - take your choice. They come in actual shoe sizes so they fit exactly in the boot. They are also cheaper than most of the others.
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Total Posts: 4 | Joined July 2001 | Posted on: 1:30 pm on July 27, 2001 | IP
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grant
Member
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If you mean sore, as in rubbed raw, you might want to try 1,000 mile socks. http://www.1000Mile.co.uk/1000mile/
I swear by them. Unfortunately, you have to order them via email and they will send them to you. No one in the USA carries these socks. They have a money back guarantee for no blisters and I've found them very helpful in preventing soreness on the balls of my feet.
I use the acrylic/nylon socks, not the wool ones. Don't use the atheletic socks for hiking; the tencel/cotton combo isn't as good. The socks I ordered were not cheap: about 8 British Pounds a pair.
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Total Posts: 12 | Joined Sep. 2001 | Posted on: 3:27 pm on Sep. 17, 2001 | IP
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camelback
Member
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I have been using Superfeet for almost a year and I swear by them for relieving foot pain. Also, I bit the bullet an bought a good pair of hiking boots. I purchased a pair of Lowa boots. Getting the proper fit, along with the right socks and some type of orthotics works. But it takes time to get the right combination. Keep experimenting.
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Please, lets all to our part to keep our parks and trails clean and pristine.
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Total Posts: 1 | Joined Nov. 2001 | Posted on: 7:33 pm on Nov. 17, 2001 | IP
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asteffes
Member
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I usually wear a pair of hefty Raichle all-leather boots, intended for long-distance backpacking. I wear them because I have flat feet and find that I need the support a hefty boot provides to keep from injuring my ankles. Books like these have fairly stiff cushioning, which is annoying at best.
I found some neoprene-based insoles made by Spenco which offer a lot of cushioning and some shock absorption. They cost under $20 for a pair and might do the trick for you.
Some things to keep in mind: these insoles are thick and take up a bit of space in your boots. If your boots already fit snugly you may find them too tight with these, unless you can adjust your sock choice (but I won't go there.) They also feel very springy - maybe too springy, and I don't know what, if anything, that might do to your other joints as you walk.
Boot fit, sock choice, and insole preference are all pretty personal things. These worked for me. YMMV.
-Adam
(Edited by asteffes at 10:05 pm on Aug. 9, 2002)
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Total Posts: 3 | Joined Aug. 2002 | Posted on: 10:05 pm on Aug. 9, 2002 | IP
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JaneHuber
Administrator
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I got a pair of Superfeet for my birthday, and as soon as I can get them fitted, I'll be testing them out. Stay tuned.
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Total Posts: 178 | Joined Mar. 2002 | Posted on: 10:08 am on Aug. 14, 2002 | IP
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JaneHuber
Administrator
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Feet update: My Superfeet seem pretty good so far, but the pain around the big toe area of my foot has gotten worse. I finally went to my doctor, and he had my foot x-rayed. The result: arthritis in that joint. So I'll be visiting a foot doctor soon.
Anyone else ever had arthritis in their feet?
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Total Posts: 178 | Joined Mar. 2002 | Posted on: 2:54 pm on Nov. 26, 2002 | IP
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Tom C
Member
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I've had soreness in one of my big toes for a while. It also cracks and pops when I move it. I severely sprained it playing beach volleyball about 8 years ago and also did something to hurt it at an early age. So, it may become arthritic that way. Do you remember hurting it earlier in your life? Stubbing it a few times badly might be a cause.
(Edited by Tom C at 11:28 pm on Nov. 26, 2002)
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Total Posts: 152 | Joined July 2001 | Posted on: 10:25 pm on Nov. 26, 2002 | IP
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gardener
Member
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I have feet problems (need orthotics for plantar fasciitis), and I USED to wear (good quality) heavy leather hiking boots -- unfortunately with stiff soles. The problem with them was that the bottom of my feet, including the balls of my feet (not where my foot problems are) would start hurting after 1.5 miles, and by about 3 miles I would be limping (even with ibuprofen support). This still after the boots were broken in.
The solution for me turned out to be getting lightweight cross-trainers and/or walking shoes -- ones that have flexible soles. It's made all the difference to me, and now I can hike 5 miles before foot problems start to set in.
And yes, I use good socks. I like the synthetic Thorlos (can't wear wool), though lately I have also been using the Fox River socks, which are a bit thinner but also give support.
Now if only I could find a flexible sole hiking BOOT so that I can get good ankle support. The problem is that I need a WIDE width, and these seem scarce as hen's teeth. Which is why on the last trip to REI, I ended up with New Balance walking shoes.
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Total Posts: 22 | Joined July 2002 | Posted on: 10:07 am on Dec. 2, 2002 | IP
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JaneHuber
Administrator
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Update:
My big toe joint on my left foot had arthritis, with a bone spur and calcium deposit on top. My primary doctor sent me to a podiatric physician and surgeon, and on January 15th he operated on me. It was outpatient surgery, so I went in very early and was done by noon. He cleaned out the joint, then cut the bone behind the joint (toward the ankle), shortened it, and screwed it back together. The surgery went well and I had no complications from the anesthesia. Once I was home I was immobile for about a week, and used crutches to hobble back and forth from the bed to the bathroom. The recovery has been steady, and I started hiking (walking really) after 3 weeks. Now, about 7 weeks after the surgery, my toe is still not 100%, but I have much less pain than I did before the surgery. The arthritis had gotten so bad that I could no longer walk any signficant distance without agonizing pain.
The hardest part has been restoring my feet and legs. Everything turned to mush suprisingly fast. Since I had been hiking 10 miles at a time before the operation, it was disappointing to hike 4 miles, like I did on my first real hike, and be sore the next day from my quads to my calves. But onward and upward! It feels great to be outside again, after spending nearly a month staring out the window.
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Total Posts: 178 | Joined Mar. 2002 | Posted on: 10:19 am on Mar. 9, 2003 | IP
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amit
Member
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You may have supinated feet.
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amit
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Total Posts: 2 | Joined July 2004 | Posted on: 9:29 am on July 7, 2004 | IP
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rexacrouch
Member
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I don't normally recommend anything but... you should try using Transpor socks.
http://www.houtsandcrouch.com/transpor/
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Total Posts: 1 | Joined Jan. 2005 | Posted on: 4:13 pm on Jan. 5, 2005 | IP
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FastHiker
Member
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I’ve been hiking and backpacking in trail running shoes for decades. I love them. A running shoe is so much lighter than a boot. With a boot, every time I pick my foot up off the ground, I have to lift that extra weight. It makes a world of difference on a long hike, especially on uphill. I’ve never had any ankle problems when hiking cross-country with a 60-pound pack. A trail running shoe is better than a street running shoe because it normally has a knobby tread. The bottom of a street running shoe is too smooth for muddy and rocky trails.
I did have some problems when I started doing day hikes greater than 20 miles. Small problems with the shoe, that didn’t show up on shorter hikes, made themselves known by mile 21. I went through a lot of trail running shoes before I found a pair that was right for me on 20+ mile hikes. The main problem was the flexibility of the sole. A boot has a very hard sole. Rocks won’t poke the underside of you foot when you are wearing a good boot. Most running shoes have very thin, flexible, soles. You don’t really notice it at first, but mile after mile, your foot gets poked from underneath. By mile 20, by feet would be very sore. The joint of my big toe seemed to bother me a lot. I finally found a trail running shoe that had a thicker sole than normal. My feet seem okay now. I always wear a wool sock and a sock liner.
When I was going through a pair of shoes each week, trying to find the “perfect” pair, it was incredible how much difference the shoes made. One pair felt great in the store but caused a lot of pain in the heel bone. Another pair caused a lot of pain in the large joint of the big toe. Another pair seemed plenty long enough, but somehow my toes still hit the front of the shoe. Trial and error. Most of these shoes would have been good on shorter hikes. It was only the longer hikes where the problems surfaced. I don’t know why a 21+ mile hike is fundamentally different from a hike that is 20 miles of less.
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 12:20 pm on Feb. 2, 2005 | IP
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FastHiker
Member
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One more thing. One thing I noticed when I was going through a lot of running shoes. As far as I can tell, a boot is a boot is a boot. There seem to be a wide variety of running shoes though. Some are made for high arches, some for medium arches, and some for low arches. Some are cushioned. Some are for feet that turn inward or outward. I don’t know how much of this is sales hype and how much is for real. I had more luck with trail running shoes that were cushioned. It seems to save some ware and tare on the feet. I also liked the super light weight shoes that had fairly stiff soles (stiff for a running shoe).
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Total Posts: 260 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 2:06 pm on Feb. 2, 2005 | IP
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s35pilot
Member
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Fasthiker,
I've had similar foot pain hiking over rocks with trail runners on 20+ mile hikes What shoe did you finally settle with? I'm using Asics H2O's.
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s35pilot
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Total Posts: 4 | Joined Mar. 2005 | Posted on: 4:37 pm on Mar. 27, 2005 | IP
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Geoff
Member
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Most running shoes have a basic insole which offer very little support or comfort especially for intense activities. Over here in Ireland, we buy seperate insoles or orthotics to provide that support. Custom made are the best, but I get by with 3/4 length silicone insoles.
They are available all over the world (Apex in the US) but I got a pair recently from a website at http://www.foothealthcare.com
Just a suggestion!
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Total Posts: 1 | Joined Sep. 2005 | Posted on: 2:40 pm on Sep. 6, 2005 | IP
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basil
Member
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You can also try the posture control insoles. They don't have cushioning but if you tend to pronate because of flat feet they correct your posture very nicely. I wear them in my hiking boots and they are very thin which is good. for more info check out my blog:
http://www.myflatfeet.blogspot.com/
(Edited by basil at 12:13 pm on Aug. 3, 2007)
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Total Posts: 1 | Joined Aug. 2007 | Posted on: 12:12 pm on Aug. 3, 2007 | IP
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JoyceY
Member
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I wear trail runners or (for easy terrain) regular sneakers - i'm fortunate to have reliable ankles, and I don't go on overly rough terrain. I have boots which I've worn before, but unless backpacking, it's too stiff and heavy for me (and don't let my feet breathe as well).
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Joyce Y.
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Total Posts: 5 | Joined Mar. 2008 | Posted on: 12:55 pm on April 10, 2008 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
Sore feet
