storbord t1_irmeucd wrote on October 9, 2022 at 11:22 AM

I also work on my feet, have sensitive, narrow feet with high arches, and spent a lot of time and money in search of the perfect shoe. What I’ve recently found is that most shoes are suitable if you get a good insert for them. I wore thrift store Walmart brand Chelsea’s for months just fine (recently upgraded for unrelated reasons) because I had a nice Dr. Scholl’s insert that worked for me. May not be a cure-all for others but it’s worth spending $12-15 to see whether your current shoes can be improved.

ImRealFunAtParties OP t1_irmg0yf wrote on October 9, 2022 at 11:37 AM

I've been thinking about getting those inserts off and on for some time now. If they can make cheaper shoes better, then it's something to invest in. It's looking like BIFL isn't the best option for me in my line of work. Thank you.

storbord t1_irmh0xy wrote on October 9, 2022 at 11:49 AM

I hear you! I’ll still continue to look for a more long-lasting solution but this was a way I could support my feet now without spending 100 more dollars in search of THE perfect shoe.

ImRealFunAtParties OP t1_irmhukb wrote on October 9, 2022 at 11:58 AM

Yeah. I'm looking at these shoes people are suggesting and they look good, but they're also close to $200. That's a lot to spend on a shoe that I can't inspect in person before buying. Not every company has a great return or exchange policy. I also have wide feet, so a shocking number of these great suggestions are just not an option for me. I think I'd rather give the Dr. Scholl's and cheap shoes a try before I dive into anything more expensive. I already bought expensive shoes from New Balance, which has been my family's go-to for decades for their quality, and they're already having problems just a couple months in!