New Balance 1060

I've worn New Balance 854's for years and I think they are a great shoe. Last year I had some orthotics made to help with an ankle problem. They have helped a bit, but they haven't completely cured the problem. The orthotics make my feet sit much higher up in the 854's resulting in my heel almost coming out of the shoe when I run.

Anyone know of any shoes that will accept orthotics that may be worth a try?

Posted: 30/05/2006 16:27

I'm a really bad overpronator (I don't mean naughty!) and have orthotics made specifically for me and wear them with Brooks Ariel (the male version is Brooks Beast). Have had this model of shoe and these orthotics for years with no problems. They're v sturdy and quite heavy compared to racing shoes, but then I'm v sturdy and quite heavy compared to people who wear racing shoes...

Posted: 30/05/2006 19:42

Ta for that Emsie.

Anymore recommendations please?

Posted: 31/05/2006 08:51

Hi FF!

This is an age old question and the answer seems to be different for everybody and every posible solution is obviously subject to your own assessment!
However there are certain shoes which are well known for being good with orthotics. As I've worn orthotics for four years now I feel that I can at least offer some small advice here as can many others on these forums, many with more knowledge than me!
First thing is of course to understand that there is a divide between people who believe that orthotics should be ued in "Neutral" shoes only as they will not interfere with the orthotics and allow the orthotic to do its job. There are others who believe that the orthotic is useless if the platform it sits upon is also not stable! i.e liken it to a strong brick house built on sand! What this means is that if the orthotic can move around in the shoe then how can it support or guide your foot? !
As I say people all have different opinions on this and to be honest I don't think there is a right or wrong answer! We are all different.
I have used support (not Motion control) shoes with my orthotics for years as I seem to need that extra bit of support, others have quiet happily used orthotics in Neutral shoes with good results! Some even use Motion control shoes such as Emsie B.
The best way is to take your orthotics and a pair of running socks to your local running shop and try a few pairs on and ask for advice on how you seem to run (on a treadmill if they have one!)with different shoes on. Any shop worth its salt will be able to tell you if you are ok with or without extra support in the shoe. If they don't want to give you the time and advice find one who will!
Otherwise its just a xase of asking on these forums and doing a bit of homework. I have yet to find the "holy Grail" known as the perfect shoe, theres always something not quiet right i.e a certain blister etc. All you can do is find one that ticks the most boxes and if you stumble on one that ticks them all then lucky you!
Anyway a few that come to mind are....

Asics Gel "Cumulus" Has a good reputation for being a generous fit and good for orthotics. Not as plush or cushioned as others though.

Asics "Nimbus" is a very neutral shoe with great cushioning and will take an otho'

Asics "Kayano" "2110" etc are both good shoes and will take orthotics.

Brooks "Adreneline GTS 6" Very good shoe, offering some support and good cushioning and will take orthotics.

Of course there are many more and i'm sure other forumites will happily advise.

Your foot will of course be sitting higher in all these shoes with orthotics, all you can do is find the shoe that accomodates them the best FOR YOU. Try to ensure that the shoe has a roomy toe box as sometime the higher heel position caused by orthotics can sometimes make your foot slide forward and rub on the toes etc. It is often said that you should allow a 1/2 or even sometimes a full size over your usual "non orthotic" size to allow for the orthotic etc. Again this is a general guidline and may/may not apply to you or your orthotics.
Are your orthotics full length or 3/4 length? If they are full length then remove in insole befoer inserting the orthotic, this may give that extra bit of room.
If you have particuarly thick orthotics then that may explain why they sit so high but otherwise happy hunting and good luck!

Mac.

Posted: 31/05/2006 10:09

Wow - excellent reply. Cheers Mac.

Nice one ;-)

Posted: 31/05/2006 12:25

UR Welcome, I know how difficult it is to find the right shoe! I'm currently embarking upon the usual annual shoe search and as usual it's very frustrating! I'm considering trying the new Asics "Kinsei" when they come out . although expensive £130!!! they may offer the correct mix of mild support (to stablise the orthotic) and great cushioning (as I need it at 13st) Not sure yet tho'

Good luck!!!

By the way there is a forumite who goes by the name "Annajo" She works for Sweatshop and is very knowledgable on shoes. Despite her link to Sweatshop she will give unbiased advice and is very nice too!

Posted: 31/05/2006 12:34

I strip the insole out of my shoes so that there is more room for the orthotics. Have found the Asics Nimbus really good, but they are heavier than many other brands.

Posted: 31/05/2006 12:38

Cumulus.

Posted: 31/05/2006 13:25

I'm about 13 stone as well so I want a shoe with plenty of cushioning.

Also, my orthotics are 3/4 length.

Posted: 31/05/2006 13:37

FF, mine are also 3/4 which to be honest I wish they wern't!
Trouble is if you remove the insole and use a 3/4 ortho the toe box can be a little hard and uncomfortable . Some peolpe glue or tape a cutting of old insole to the front of their ortho but I found this to be no use. It kept coming off and the tape dug into my foot! Gave up on that in the end!
Now I simply place them on top of the insole and stick to shoes that will accomodate the orthotic.
Trouble is that then the back of the foot / heel sits higher than the forefoot and can cause the foot to slip foreward and this in turn can rub the toes on the front of the shoe!
Thats the thing with orthotics, they can solve many problems (providing that they are correct, which one should not take forgranted!) but can also create a whole new set of problems!!!

Why don't RW include an "orthotic friendly" rating in their reviews as this is a commonly asked and old dilemma?

Posted: 31/05/2006 13:56

Good point Mac.

Sean. SEAN......................

Posted: 31/05/2006 14:39

Mizuno Wave Riders if you need a neutral shoe

I had trouble with finding shoes and in the end tried on with feet slipping out 27 different pairs (thankyou Alexandra sports)
until I found these,so far no worries 2 half marathons,a trail race and FLM and most importantly super lightweght 250gms without orthotic insert at size 7.5

Posted: 31/05/2006 14:45

Agree full length orthotics are the only way forward. Have tried 3/4 and would never recommend them to runners. If you have to, buy two pairs - 3/4 for your every day shoes and full length for your running shoes...

Can fit mine in Wave Riders and Wave Aeros OK, but am looking to get different trainers for longer distance running next time...

Posted: 31/05/2006 16:20

The podiatrist I used knew I'm a runner (he is too). I've had no problem at all with the 3/4 length orthotics. What problems did you have DB?

Anyway, paid a trip to my "local" Sweatshop yesterday. The lady who dealt with we immediately saw that wearing NB854's with orthotics was no good for me because they pushed my feet to far over, so the problem was then finding a shoe that would take my orthotic. Quite a lot of pairs later and quite a few miles on the treadmill and the Asics Nimbus felt really rather good. So sorry New Balance but it's Asics Nimbus for me.

Anyone know of an Asics Factory shop like the New Balance ones in Cumbria?

Anyone wanna buy 2 pairs of brand new (still in the box) NB854's - UK8.5/2E?

Posted: 01/06/2006 09:23

Hi FF, Glad you're sorted!
The Nimbus is a lovely shoe and superbly comfy! I nearly bought a pair to use with my ortho's but stupidly went for the Nike Cesiums instead as I thought they may offer an alternative to orthotics WRONG! well for anyway.
I still may get the Nimbus soon, it's between them, the Kayano's or the new Kinsei's.
I've just spoken to Asics UK and they tell me that the Kinsei is a adaptive shoe that will do the job of any shoe from Nimbus neutrality up to the support of say a 2110. The support is less than the Kayano though and does not have such an aggressive medial / arch support. It's there but more subtle and only "activates" when required rather than being there 100% of the time.
It is equal to the Nimbus for cushioning and according to Asics UK they have had the OK from their Podiatrists for use with orthotics! i.e it's suitable for them. It's not as deep a shoe as the Nimbus and not as wide but is a generous fit, so should be no problem. As always one has to try them on with the orthotic to be sure (Part Irish there!)
Despite the price they certainly seem worth a try on, however I may wait until after my re-assessment by the Pod before doing so? After all I may have to have different orthotics so would need to wait and get them 1st.
Good luck with the Nimbus they are a great shoe. Make sure you keep me posted on how they feel with the orthotics. The one reason I was not sure about them myself was that I did not know if they would offer a stable enough foundation to allow the ortho's to do their job as well as they should. I hope you prove that wrong, let me know>

Mac.

Posted: 01/06/2006 10:08

Tried the Kinsei on the treddie in the shop. Horrible shoe, felt very large and clumpy. The Nimbus was a much nicer feel.

Posted: 01/06/2006 11:01

I dont think anyone has mentioned Nike Pegasus - work v well with orthotics. I used to use Nimbus but Pegs are seem just as good & lighter.

Posted: 01/06/2006 16:15

Tried some Nike ones but didn't like the fit. It might have been the Pegasus but I can't remember.

Posted: 01/06/2006 17:20

an ongoing problem for me this one. I found saucony grid triumph to be almost perfect (mens due to wide feet and they had deep toe box). Then they brought out a new version and its totally different (narrower, not such a deep toe box etc)
I am now wearing nb 1060 and they seem good so far. Good luck FF!

Posted: 01/06/2006 17:26

The problem I found with every pair (except the Asics Nimbus and Kinsei) was that with they were to narrow in the heel to take my orthotic.

Posted: 01/06/2006 17:33

Tried the Nimbus & Kinsei's on the Brierley Hill Sweatshop yesterday.

Both felt realy nice!

The Nimbus was perhaps a little more comfy but not to any serious amount.

The Nimbus took my ortho's very well and I did not feel unstable.

The Kinsei was very nice too, it was controling my footstrike better than tyhe Nimbus (or allowing my ortho's to should I say!) I was still running with splayed feet in the Nimbus + Ortho's but was much more "Normal" straight etc with the Kinsei's + Ortho's.

The Nimbus are heavier but to be honest at 13st I don't really care too much about a few grams here or there! I'm not serious or fast enough to notice much anyway! (It's my belly that needs to shed weight not my shoes!!!)
Verdict? Well the jury's still out but I still have to try on the new Nike Volero thingy (can't remember the name!) so no decisions yet. However the Nimbus and Kinsei are two very serious contenders for me so far. Still not sure if the Nimbus are quiet supportive enough for me, even with orthotics and the Kinsei's did seem a lot more effective in working with my orthotics to give an almost neutral footstrike. Both VERY very comfy shoes with bags of cushioning, they both look good too, which never does any harm eh?

By the way Sweatshop aer currently offering £80 off any shoes if you buy a Garmin FR305 off them! or £40 off if you buy the 205.

They do charge full retail though which is I believe £289.99, however the guy in the shop did discount the Kinsei to £117 so the deal was ££289.99 + £117 - £80 = £326.99 for the FR305 and a pair of Kinsei's ! I think thats pretty good myself and wish I had the cash now but I don't. (Still need to sell my Timex "Bodylink" 100 lap system 1st. Any takers? I'm open to sensible offers! It cost £250 new but is a couple of years old now so I'm realistic. As new condition though.

Posted: 02/06/2006 07:16

Although several people have said that you can't use 3/4 length orthotics for running, without the insole I have not found that. I've used 3/4 length orthotics for 25 years and I just take out the insoles when I get the shoe. I haven't found any discomfort in the toe region. If the orthotics are to control pronation I think that you should aim to use a minimalist shoe. If the foot is working properly (which the orthotics is designed to help), it provides all the cushioning you need.

One thing about orthotics you need to be aware of if you are thinking of taking out the insole - some insoles are glued in place. I use Nike Zoom Spectrum shoes and it was quite a task feeling off the insole. However, having done that, they work fine. Another thing to think about is that shoes with board lasting may not allow the orthotic to sit in place on the board as easily as shoes with no board.

Having said all of that, the only true test is whether you think it works for you, so it's worth trying many pairs out before you decide.

Posted: 02/06/2006 09:22

Regarding an earlier post, I thought that the Radius was the Brooks shoe made to take orthotics. Am I wrong?

Posted: 02/06/2006 18:12

I've ben wearing orthotics for about 3 years, and my podiatrist recommended a particular shoe to put the orthotics in (happened to be the ASICS 2070 at the time, now the 2110)- in other words she prescribed a combination of shoe and orthotic. To my mind this seems quite logical, as my foot would surely land and move differently if I changed the type of shoe I run in. Perhaps the answer is to ask podiatrists which shoes they would recommend for the orthotics they prescribe?

Posted: 02/06/2006 20:17

My new Asics Nimbus are reet lush.

Posted: 06/06/2006 10:51

Glad to hear your happy with the Nimbus FF!

Roger, My Pod told me when I first got orthotics (approx 4 years ago) that it did not matter whether I used them in a support or neutral shoe! never made sense to me! I would have thought much as you do, that the shoe must provide a stable "anchor" point for the orthotic. After all if the orthotic can move about within the shoe how can it possibly do its job of stablising your foot?
It would be like building a solid brick house on a foundation of sand?
But, we are all different and what works for one does not work for another so... on the debate goes! I wonder how many people have to mess about with shoes simply because the orthotics are not made correctly or need "tweaking".

Mac.

Posted: 07/06/2006 08:02

Appreciate I am coming into this conversation well after it appears to have finished but may still be people with update emails.

I've been having exactly the same problems for the whole of this year.

Custom rigid orthotics 3/4 length with substantial heel raises, a hefty arch support and forefoot varus posting.

Originally tried Nike Pegasus but my foor was so high inthe shoe there was just no support.

Then reverted to my GT 2110 - simply too much support with orthotic - apparently (I've been told by Sweatshop at Merry Hill) this is because many Asics models already have some form of arch built into the shoe - putting an orthotic on top of that throws your foot out too far the other way i.e. supinating. Other makes' models also suffer from this.

So, where to go? Got fed up and went back to GT2110's with over the counter orthotics but not quite right - support in arch fine but calves hurt because of ankle equinuus which was corrected by my comedy heel raises!!

Aaarrgh! So, now in latest Nike Air Structure Triax 9 which immediately felt good and also when on treadmill. Here's hoping!

Posted: 14/10/2006 00:18

i have also tried many shoes with orthotics, asics 2100, saucony triumph, saucony ride but have now had adidas supernova cushion for 8 months and they're fab, i also have heel cups in them too and they still are not too high. they re fairly narrow but i really cannot fault them. i managed to get a new pair on ebay for £ 16.49 brand new with tickets so figured didn't have much to lose. best choice so far.

Posted: 14/10/2006 07:39