Shoe Recommendations (UK)

weeblex

Hi all, I've been walking to lose some weight (Down from 265lbs to 245lbs so far) and I seem to be killing shoes. My first pair were Air Nike's and I wore them all the time for about 6 months, then they lasted 2 months with my added walking. I then bought a pair of Sketchers GoWalk and it took 4 weeks and 100 miles before the padding failed and the sole tore. That's 8000 steps a day on average.

Sketchers deemed the damage "Excessive wear" so I think Sketchers GoWalk is not designed for sustained walking, at least not for me.

Can I get some recommendations from UK people about shoes that can survive a 245lbs man walking 8000+ steps a day and maybe some running? I can't afford a new pair of trainers every 4 weeks.

Thanks

claireychn074

I think you might need some slightly harder shoes rather than the soft squishy ones. Have a look at lower profile road running shoes, as they’re designed to last a bit longer. But even they have a limit, and it’s recommended you change them every few hundred miles. Have you tried actual walking shoes or boots? Merrell do some great ones (although not cheap) and my walking shoes have lasted years. I have fabric walking shoes and leather walking boots. The boots are new but I reckon they will also last years. Can you get to a Go Outdoors or Mountain Warehouse to try some on?

weeblex

I've been trying out the "barefoot" shoes and strangely I have no more muscle or joint aggregation than I get from shoes so I've started running with those. I still have to work out some walking trainers but if I can run "barefoot" perhaps walking that way is good too.

Creamtea42

Hi OP … I was going to suggest a walking boot / shoe too that is harder than a trainer type. I’m heavy and need ankle support to get my daily walking in … I have some light (weight) Brasher boots that I swear by & they last years … & years! Ithink they do shoes? They are a bit pricey, but good value IMO. Good luck in your search & congrats on your weight loss so far!

karfay3

The best shoes my husband and I have found are New Balance.

spiriteagle99

Brooks Adrenalines used to be recommended for heavier runners. I have always had good luck with Brooks shoes.

age_is_just_a_number

I’m Canadian. Sorry I don’t know if they are available in the UK. But I suspect they would be. I like:
Grisport https://www.grisport.ca/ made in Italy
Oboz https://obozfootwear.com/en-ca

Congratulations on your health journey so far.
Good luck!

springlering62

If running shoe stores are a thing in the UK, go get professionally fitted. They’ll check your gait and make recommendations. One of the things they suggested for me was going up a size, because of the shape of my feet, and I’ve been very grateful. Foot pain gone, no repeat of plantar fasciitis.

If you’re pleased with the shoes purchased, but concerned about price, here in the US, Amazon often carries last season’s colors for about 1/3 - 1/2 off.

Kate_UK

I buy hiking shoes for regular walking and boots for hiking. You can pick them up reasonably from Sports Direct, my favourite brand are Karrimore, they last at least a year, usually much longer and I wear them to work too, so almost every day. There's no need to buy the expensive names.

Rockmama1111

Hoka. Hands down. I’m an avid walker and had plantar fasciitis. They are expensive, and took a minute to get used to (they have arch “bumps”) but I’ve had this pair for 5 months and they fit like a glove. I will buy more.

springlering62

Rockmama1111 wrote: »

Hoka. Hands down. I’m an avid walker and had plantar fasciitis. They are expensive, and took a minute to get used to (they have arch “bumps”) but I’ve had this pair for 5 months and they fit like a glove. I will buy more.

Shoes are so personal, aren’t they? I had a pair of Hokas and loathed them. I called them my “clown shoes”. The toe box was so wide long and stiff, I kept tripping in them.

The running store had a money back guarantee but I was too embarrassed to take them back. I dunno why. 🤦🏻‍♀️. Donated them with probably less than ten wears on them. Couldn’t walk in them , couldn’t run in them. That was the nice thing about a running store (they also sold walking shoes). Super generous return policy if I’d had the nads to use it.

Wynterbourne

springlering62 wrote: »

Rockmama1111 wrote: »

Hoka. Hands down. I’m an avid walker and had plantar fasciitis. They are expensive, and took a minute to get used to (they have arch “bumps”) but I’ve had this pair for 5 months and they fit like a glove. I will buy more.

Shoes are so personal, aren’t they? I had a pair of Hokas and loathed them. I called them my “clown shoes”. The toe box was so wide long and stiff, I kept tripping in them.

The running store had a money back guarantee but I was too embarrassed to take them back. I dunno why. 🤦🏻‍♀️. Donated them with probably less than ten wears on them. Couldn’t walk in them , couldn’t run in them. That was the nice thing about a running store (they also sold walking shoes). Super generous return policy if I’d had the nads to use it.

Shoes are definitely personal because I also absolutely love my Hoka shoes and will be buying more. I have wide feet and these are the first pair of walking/running shoes that I've had in years that didn't make it feel like my entire toe to arch area was being squeezed mercilessly. They are so comfortable for my feet.

Rockmama1111

springlering62 wrote: »

Rockmama1111 wrote: »

Hoka. Hands down. I’m an avid walker and had plantar fasciitis. They are expensive, and took a minute to get used to (they have arch “bumps”) but I’ve had this pair for 5 months and they fit like a glove. I will buy more.

Shoes are so personal, aren’t they? I had a pair of Hokas and loathed them. I called them my “clown shoes”. The toe box was so wide long and stiff, I kept tripping in them.

The running store had a money back guarantee but I was too embarrassed to take them back. I dunno why. 🤦🏻‍♀️. Donated them with probably less than ten wears on them. Couldn’t walk in them , couldn’t run in them. That was the nice thing about a running store (they also sold walking shoes). Super generous return policy if I’d had the nads to use it.

They ARE kind of ugly. They make my feet look giant!

jamesha100

I am a UK male of a similar weight to the OP and also find that shoes wear quickly. I have had quite a few pairs of Merell Moab trail shoes and they generally last around six months which is expensive but not as crippling as the usage the OP describes.
I have more recently started monitoring the www.hotukdeals.com web site for trainer deals and buying likely looking pairs which are available at a cheap price.
Some of these, such as Adidas Terrex, have worn quickly and others, such as Reebok, lasted longer but getting them cheap softens the blow when they wear out.
Probably not the greenest option but it has worked well for me.

JaysFan82

Rockmama1111 wrote: »

Hoka. Hands down. I’m an avid walker and had plantar fasciitis. They are expensive, and took a minute to get used to (they have arch “bumps”) but I’ve had this pair for 5 months and they fit like a glove. I will buy more.

I've got a pair of Hoka recovery slides and I'm in love with them. I put them on immediately after I'm done running.

cwolfman13

I wear day hike "sneakers". My preference is the Salomon Outpulse. I consider them to be basically "urban hikers" with some multi-terrain capability, though I don't know that I'd wear them on a serious hiking trail...easy groomed trails are fine...but they're great for urban walking.

I kind of came upon the idea by accident on a trip that had a lot of site seeing and walking and I ran into a guy wearing "hiking sneakers"...I was having some issues with my Brooks runners on this trip and I asked him how he liked his shoes.

Essentially, they are made to walk a lot of miles...they are very comfortable and have a bit more support than a typical runner would. The sole of the shoe is also much harder and firmer than a runner so I don't end up feeling every bit of the road bleeding through my shoe after a couple of miles.

I bought my Salomon Outpulse shoes just before a trip to DC...was putting in 25-30K steps per day and they still felt great and the soles and everything still look new now 3 months later. I walk everyday and between that and my day to day stuff I get 10K+ steps per day and these are my everyday, all day shoe. They also have a slightly lower heal drop compared to a runner, which I prefer for walking a lot of miles.



This is the exact pair I have.

neanderthin

I use seasonal hiking boots for walking and always have. right now 2 pair of Merrill's and a pair of Keens. If you want to get the best mileage out of a pair of shoes, then don't wear the same pair everyday. Running shoe are for running. Shoes are my weakness, and have 54 pair at the moment, yes I know.

AppleFitnessfan

spiriteagle99 wrote: »

Brooks Adrenalines used to be recommended for heavier runners. I have always had good luck with Brooks shoes.

I second these. I love my Brooks sneakers. Some are more pricey than others. But from a comfort standpoint I find they are worth every penny.