@Lemonlee Check and see if your insurance will cover part of the cost since they are prescription. Mine does and that really helps reduce my out of pocket when I have two wearing them.
When we went out west to the Grand Canyon and Vegas last fall I brought my Vionic sandals and also a pair of sneakers because I generally end up with sore feet after walking in sandals for too long. I was shocked that I never once broke out the sneakers!
Fast forward through the winter and I have been having some foot pain (Dr says plantar fasciitis) so I bought another pair of Vionics and a nice pair of Rockports to get me through this summer. I may invest in the inserts as well as I am currently using some Dr. Scholls inserts which are ok but not great (they really work only when paired with the insoles of my sneakers). IMO Vionics are well worth the money!
@lemonlee, you may think the custom insoles are expensive, but mine were covered on my medical insurance. My out of pocket was $75 and they have made a huge difference with my foot pain.
I have orthotics, but I have a few pairs of shoes that I can wear w/o them. Dansko (think clogs), Mephisto, Munro, and Spenco. All but the last are pricey. However, not being in pain is worth the price!!
My custom orthotics were a waste of money. I get more relief with the soft birkenstocks and the alegrias.
Dansko have been fantastic for me and they have more than just clogs now. I have also had good luck with Merrell, and my sneakers are Brooks. In the house I wear Superfeet insoles in my slippers. (I hate wearing shoes in the house). I’ve had good luck finding Dansko and Merrells at Nordstrom Rack.
@GloriaVaughn and @sly123 - Thanks for the advice. I will definitely consider custom-made orthotics if my condition worsens and I’ll be sure to check with my insurance to see if they cover it. But of course, I am hoping that it never gets to that point! Thanks to all for the recommendations! In addition to the Vionic sandals, I also ordered some super cute Munro Alicia Mary Jane pumps that were only $49 at Nordstrom Rack - 75% off the $200 list price! They arrived today and are very comfortable. And the good news is that they are still available online if anyone is interested.
@Lemonlee …these types of sandals and shoes will change your life. I find I don’t even wear my totally flat sandals anymore, I might as well get rid of them. Shoes are another story. I can put these inside my shoes and they give me plenty of arch support. Not as good as the real thing, but it wards off issues. I wish they would make something for flat sandals that actually work. Anyway, you have to place the piece not flat in your shoes, but sort of half way up the side of the shoes. I have to play with it to find the perfect placement, then stick them well. They don’t slip around at all.
https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Arches-Dr-Rosenbergs/dp/B000MSHICS
They aren’t expensive, so with a try.
Thanks @conmama! I’ll check those out. Are they removable (i.e. can they be switched between different shoes) or would I need a pair for each shoe?
The best shoes I have had are by Finn Comfort. The innersole is leather and molds to your foot in such a way that orthotics are not needed.
@Lemonlee , you need a pair for each shoe. They adhere very well.
I have been very impressed with the Dr. Scholl’s inserts - you’ve probably seen the kiosk where you stand on it, answer some questions and they tell you what ones to buy.
I was skeptical. I have every “itis” you can think of, including plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and arthritis. These are so helpful! I spent years and hundreds of dollars on professional inserts, and these are better. They fit into my sneakers, but I’ve not tried them in any kind of dress shoe.
They are about $50, which for me was worth the experiment. They usually have a $10 off coupon on their website, and a money back guarantee. I find I need to replace them yearly, but it doesn’t break the bank.
It’s worth a shot, in addition to anything else you try.
And I never, ever, ever go barefoot. I grew up a barefoot kid, so it was a huge adjustment when I started to have problems. 