Do you wear orthoses? If you’ve had foot problems and now wear braces, you can change your life. Changed mine! I have totally flat feet and also suffer from plantar fasciitis, and when I was prescribed orthotics at age 15 I couldn’t believe what a difference it made. Suddenly I could walk for more than 20 minutes and feel no pain ~ I was very grateful. The only problem was that I could only fit the orthoses in my athletic shoes and school shoes. They are not good choices for a night out when you are a woman, and during the summer my feet were always so hot and sweaty!
Then I discovered the most amazing sandals that have a contoured insole like an orthosis. They are from the German brand Birkenstock. The insole is made with a combination of cork, jute and latex and has a nice deep heel, a fairly strong and long arch and metatarsal support, a toe grip so the toes have something to grab onto naturally (rather than from scratching), and there is a lip around the edge of the shoe to protect it from bumping the toes. Instantly, I had sandals that were almost the same profile as my brace, which were comfortable and actually looked pretty cool.
Birkenstock sandals are available in two widths and most styles can be adjusted with buckles so you can always get the perfect fit. Some retailers can even further modify the contours of the insole to match your orthotic exactly, and it’s not expensive. Birkenstock now offers over 500 styles and colors to choose from, from Boys’ Size 6 ($24) to Men’s Size 17 ($50), so there’s always something to fit.
If you wear braces and haven’t tried Birkenstock yet, you really should, and your feet will thank you! You don’t have to stop at sandals either. Birkenstock also makes beautiful winter shoes and boots for men and women, all with contoured insoles that can be removed if you want to use your own orthotics.