Orthotics and fell shoes

Well thats true Dom but Paulo makes 2 good points.
1. Its worked for him
2. You shouldn't generalise from your own experience (that applies to him too!)

There is probably no 'one size fits all' solution to this. If you experiment and find orthotics allow you to run without injury on the fells, as Paolo has, then keep going with it. In those circumstances, I wouldn't get hung up on trying to get orthotics to fit into Walshes. If you have even a road shoe that works with your orthotics then you could always get a studded outsole fitted...probably better than hacking around the inside of a fell shoe to accommodate an orthotic.

Intuitively, I'd agree with you Dom but Paulo's experience is very instructive! We need an Evidence Based Double Blind Trial!!:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Wheeze

Intuitively, I'd agree with you Dom but Paulo's experience is very instructive! We need an Evidence Based Double Blind Trial!!:rolleyes:

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You want me to run up an downhill blindfolded?? :eek:

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Originally Posted by Wheeze

Well thats true Dom but Paulo makes 2 good points.
1. Its worked for him
2. You shouldn't generalise from your own experience (that applies to him too!)

There is probably no 'one size fits all' solution to this. If you experiment and find orthotics allow you to run without injury on the fells, as Paolo has, then keep going with it. In those circumstances, I wouldn't get hung up on trying to get orthotics to fit into Walshes. If you have even a road shoe that works with your orthotics then you could always get a studded outsole fitted...probably better than hacking around the inside of a fell shoe to accommodate an orthotic.

Intuitively, I'd agree with you Dom but Paulo's experience is very instructive! We need an Evidence Based Double Blind Trial!!:rolleyes:

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this is true - orthotics probably for instance stop your arch collapsing whatever sort of terrain you're running on.

Main drawback could be the greater likelihood of rolling ankles because of the raised profile.

The risk of rolling ankles is why I use the superfeet which are very thin. My understanding is that a lot of the support is down to the heel being "cupped".

Superfeet look very unimpressive but quite expensive - however they work for me. Like Paolo I can't run without something.

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Originally Posted by wycoller

The risk of rolling ankles is why I use the superfeet which are very thin. My understanding is that a lot of the support is down to the heel being "cupped".

Superfeet look very unimpressive but quite expensive - however they work for me. Like Paolo I can't run without something.

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wycoller, I have the orange ones in my road shoes and I think they might have helped me avoid shin splints - the physio said they can be caused by the arch collapsing as you plant your foot.

so what's the score with the green ones then - are they special running ones?

have you thought about buying a size or two up?
i have custom made orthotics too but for comfort put them under the insole
my fell shoes are highlanders which are quite wide so i dont have any width issues

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Originally Posted by wycoller

The risk of rolling ankles is why I use the superfeet which are very thin. My understanding is that a lot of the support is down to the heel being "cupped".

Superfeet look very unimpressive but quite expensive - however they work for me. Like Paolo I can't run without something.

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I have a couple of pairs of the green superfeet too - cracking insoles in either my running or normal everyday trainers. I even stick a pair in my Hunters when out for a ramble with the dog and they are comfy for miles.

I would always be wary of putting Orthotics in your fell shoes.
As previously mentioned your feet are moving all over the place so "wedging" them in a particular position is pointless.

I know this from personal experience having for many years being told by a "specialist" that I needed a pair for my road shoes and another pair for my fell shoes.....hhhhmmm funny they never did sort my knee, achilles and IT band problems.
Now I use low profile nuetral shoes.

But hey if you find that they work for you then enjoy your running.

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Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo

so what's the score with the green ones then - are they special running ones?

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I used to sell Super feet. they are really good when applied/fitted correctly. if you search Superfeet on the Forum I'm sure there was a long thread on the subject


Green ones have more volume/Arch support and a higher heel cup
Blue ones are for lower volumes/ more flat footed.

They also do leather ones and custom molded ones.

I personally wouldn'y use them in fell shoes but they are great in walking boots, ski boots, work shoes etc

Not only for pronaters but also for the stable high arched/instep foot. if you get pins and needles in your foot or suffer from cold feet when walking then a green superfeet will almost certainly help
what you must NOT do is buy them off the shelf with out trying them on.

If you are for eg a size 7 but with an high arch you may need some size 10 and then trim for size. They are designed to do this. take the shoe/boot you want to put them in with you. it may be you need a green but only the blue will fit due to your shoe not having a removable footbed.

go to a major stockist and ask for the boot fitter. if they just hand you one in your size leave.

Snow and rock are the major outlet in the England.

http://www.snowandrock.com/search?keywords=superfeet

Just to add I havent worked for Either company for a number of years.

Ian

I wear my orthotics in my Inov8 shoes. I have yet to run a fell race without some relatively flat sections and as I am more inclined towards the longer distances I would not dare run without them. Although on the advice of my pod I am now more convinced that the most important factor is whether your shoes bends double when compressing the toe to heel. My previous pair (Harriers) did and I had a serious injury after running 18 miles in them. I did 20 in the Inov8 (non-bendy in the middle) on Sunday with not even a smidge of pain at the injury site. My orthotics are getting wrecked by off-road running though so I might try some of these superfeet things for shorter/muddier distances*.

*after reading DP reply above I think I already have a pair in my ski boots. Maybe I'll just revert back to my VFF which have been gathering dust since August.