I have flat feet, overpronation, and in the past I had plantar fasciitis until I started wearing anatomical footbed shoes. I love my Birkenstocks (for walking, the best shoe ever) but I can’t wear them in every situation. Aetrex and Vionic are two brands with excellent arch support. I buy Birkenstock and Lynco insoles to insert in all of my shoes. Munro American shoes have steel shanks and you can insert your own orthotic. I have found most athletic shoes to be too cushioned for comfort. I need a rigid sole to give my feet the support that my faulty bone structure does not provide. Rubbery cushiony shoes make my feet ache. Cork soles are the greatest.
Romani, since I know the “area” where you live work, I’d suggest you go one of these routes to see/feel in person what feel right for your feet:
Go to Nordstrom Rack on Washtenaw - they have women’s shoes in larger sizes and good brands at good prices. I love going there for shoe shopping!
Go to Bivouac in AA2 - they have a great selection of athletic/walking shoes of great quality - knowledgeable people to help you too! https://www.bivouacannarbor.com/
I think the nearest Clark’s store is in Twelve Oaks.
I’m actually much closer to Twelve Oaks than Ann Arbor…
@abasket this was the store people recommended: http://www.mastshoes.com/ As I’m unfamiliar with all of these, I’m wondering if you have an opinion.
There’s also a running fit in Ann Arbor and Novi http://runningfit.com. It’s a running store but they will work with you to find a pair of shoes that works for you.
I’m not familiar with Mast but their list of brands carried looks pretty impressive and their page indicates thorough customer service. Even better would be a trip that would allow you a couple of stops in one locale - so any of the above AA2 stores recommended along with Mast would be a good trip. And then a stop by a great AA2 food locale for sustenance…
@abasket I have work and classes right on State St. RIP my food budget… 
Ok, I’ll take a look at them. Classes start next week and I have plenty of time before and after when I can stop in.
@deb922 I actually saw that store for the first time the other day and took note of where it was. I’ll check it out. I didn’t realize they had a Novi location, too!
There is a New Balance Store here. Could get an opinion. My feet hurt until a got New Balance 990s with orthotics.
New Balance
Halsted Village
37606 Twelve Mile Rd
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Update: I ended up going to one of the local shoe stores suggested here and had a WONDERFUL experience. I got a pair of super comfortable (and WAYYYY more than I’ve ever spent on a shoe) Brooks tennis shoes. I also got a pair of New Balance for the gym (much more in my price range but not great for every day wear).
Here’s why I hate buying shoes though. I was a size 10 in New Balance and a size 11.5 (I have NEVER been over an 11) in Brooks. Why oh why can’t it be standardized?
Congrats. I really like my NB, and I did go up half size. I hope you got pretty ones.
Glad you found some shoes. BTW, I am a size and a half bigger in my Brooks running shoes than I am in street shoes. I usually go up a size in running shoes but went up 1.5 sizes in the last Brooks I bought. I was warned that they ran really small.
Which Brooks model did you get?
@momofwildchild Brooks Dyad 8. They’re a little clunky but they’re the first shoes I’ve ever worn where I’ve walked more than a mile and haven’t left my flat feet screaming at me.
Happy feet!!! 
Good! Brooks makes good shoes. I had a small Brooks sponsorship for a couple of years until they canned the program for amateur runners. I still wear Launch and Gycerin.
This is the New York Times article on choosing the right running shoes: http://nyti.ms/1Ip43cT
The advice boils down to: if the shoes are really comfortable, trust that.
No one has mentioned my favorite running shoes, which are the Hoka One One Cliftons. When I started running (instead of just walking), about thirty pounds ago, the Hokas allowed me to run without knee pain. I love them!
Do they work for people with flat feet? I have no idea–but they work for me, with my wide feet, my history of plantar fasciitis, with my extra pounds that I’m slowly slowly losing.
Bunsen mentioned Hokas and I have 4 pairs in my running rotation, including Clifton 2.
@MomofWildChild : totally missed Bunsen’s mention of Hokas, thank you. What other shoes are in your rotation, and why those shoes? (<>)
Dmd, hi five to a fellow Hoka fan! FYI, 6pm sells Hokas at a decent discount. I have men’s Bondi 3, women’s Bondi 4, and women’s Huaka in my personal rotation. Ran my last marathon (heat! hills! humidity!) in Bondi 4 and was super pleased with them. Many folks complain that the insoles are thin, but I personally did not need any after market insoles in mine.
Nowadays, Hoka even makes a hiking shoe is slightly less wild colors, both men’s and women’s. This is what Santa will be bringing for the Bunsens this year…
I have Brooks Launch, Brooks Glycerin, Hoka Bondi 4, Hoka Clifton 2, Hoka Huaka, Hoka Stinson Lite, Hoka Stinson Trail, Saucony Triumph ISO, Altra Paradigm 1.5. Some of these are nearing the end of their life- I don’t get many miles out of my shoes.
I like the zero drop on the Altras and the Paradigm is the most cushioned Altra. I tend to get better sole wear from the Stinson models of the Hokas. I go through the Bondi soles quickly, even with building them up with shoe goo on the outside edge that I shave through. The Sauconys aren’t thrilling and even though I used to love them, Hoka is so much better. The Glycerins are a gorgeous teal color and I had my big Brooks discount when I got them.
Some of the Hoka insoles are horrible and too thin. Others are adequate. The Huaka insole was one of the terrible ones, in my opinion.