Sandals with arch support

The Scholl Biomechanics Men's Sandal is one of the best sandals I've ever owned. 

The footbed is contoured to provide support that one would normally get from orthotics.

What makes the Biomechanics footbed distinctive is that it provides both longitudinal and lateral arch support. The lateral arch support is missing in so many other sandals and insoles. It makes a difference in delaying or minimising foot fatigue.

 

The midsole is a lightweight compression moulded EVA foam so it's comfortable, flexible and fairly durable.

 
The trouble is that these sandals are very hard to find in retail stores.

A deep heel cup and great arch support from the midsole! 

Review of New Balance MR1225

Currently, I go running in this pair of shoes. It's the New Balance MR1225.  It's a wonderful pair of running shoes and I'll tell you why.

As someone who has flat feet (absolutely no arches in my feet!), I'm fussy about the shoes I wear, regardless of whether the shoes are for running or just plain walking around the city.  So it really is a noteworthy event when I come across a pair of shoes that fits.  As the cliche goes, "If the shoe fits, buy it."  I found this pair at the New Balance Factory Outlet at The Comtech building, 60 Alexandra Terrace, in Singapore.

So here's why the MR1225 is great.


Let's start at the bottom. The outsole is mostly carbon rubber so it's durable. Weight is minimised with exposed portions of the midsole. The outsole seems to provide a stable feel while running.

The midsole has lots of the Abzorb cushioning material that many New Balance shoes have. This results in a delightful cushioning feel even when running over concrete pavements. I do feel as though there's a nice large cushioning pad under the forefoot area. The midsole is a multi-density one, and contains a Stabilicore device to control medial pronation. This midsole design is so good that I don't have to wear any orthotics when running in these shoes. Of course, this works for me since I don't run long distances; I run for general fitness and not for competition.  My aim is to stay injury-free and enjoy running as a way to stay fit.

The shape of the shoe last seems to be able to accommodate a wide variety of foot shapes. The toe box is not narrow and that's a plus. That, to me, helps to provide a stable toe-off during running.

The upper of the MR1225 is supportive with overlays in the right places, and the laces and lace loops enable one to employ all kinds of lacing techniques for a secure fit. I don't think sore spots or chafing on the tops and sides of the feet would occur. I also like the breathable mesh of the upper.

Finally, the insoles are made with Ortholite, so that's another plus. These insoles feel soft and airy when wearing these running shoes.


Overall evaluation: A very good blend of support, stability, overpronation control, and cushioning.

When this pair wears out, I'd like to get a similar pair.

When is a shoe not a shoe?

That's a question that we should be asking whenever we go shopping for shoes.

Just take a careful look at the merchandise available in shoe stores, department stores, and online shopping portals. There are many types of shoes offered for a wide range of purposes. To start with, there are three main categories: Women's, Men's, and Children's. Some typical functional categories of shoe types are: Fashion, Casual, Walking, Running, Training, Fitness, Tennis, Basketball, Junior, and so on.

There are sub-categories too. For example, the sub-categories of Running shoes range from Motion-control, to Cushioned, to Track. 

The variety of shoes for children is also wide! There are shoes for infants, shoes for toddlers, and shoes for children. The footwear for infants could be booties or soft shoes for "pre-walkers" or tiny sandals for tiny feet.

Interestingly, there seem to be almost as many types of toddler shoes as there are types of shoes for adults. There are shoes for toddlers that could could easily be categorised as: Fashion, Casual, Running, Training, Tennis, and so on.

Would you think all the shoes available are a result of clever marketing strategies? Or are these shoes available because they can satisfy our actual footwear needs?

My view is that our feet (which support the weight of our bodies) should be shod in suitable shoes. For instance, shoes meant for a stroll in the city shouldn't be used for a game of badminton, even if it's just a casually-played game. You might end up with a foot-related injury.

Children's shoes need to be carefully chosen too. Toddlers should wear shoes with good lateral stability and good traction over all kinds of surfaces. For instance, some toddler shoes are better off for walking on a park trail than for running about in a mall (malls have tiled floors).

So when is a shoe not a shoe?

Well my answer is, "When the shoe doesn't fit my foot, the shoe might as well be a doorstop."