Need Athletic Shoes for Teen with Problem Feet

E., I was afraid my son was going to break a foot, he over-pronates so badly. I met a guy in a cafe who owns an athletic foot shop (he's a runner and dresses like it every day) and he and I got to talking about it. I took my son to his shop and showed him how bad my son's 3 month old New Balance shoes looked (broken looking - and I had paid $75 for them). He recommended Nike Lunarglides for him.

I ended up ordering 3 pairs and they have lasted 2 years. I'm on the last pair now and I'll order 2 more pairs for him when I go back to this shop.

I cannot tell you how happy I have been with these shoes, not having to watch him walk in front of me, and me feeling sick to my stomach over how bad his feet look while he walks.

If you go to nikebetterworld.com, type in Lunarglide.

http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pw/running-lunarglide-shoe...

They show Lunarglide 5 now - he has Lunarglide 3. I'm looking forward to the update.

Honestly, I'm so grateful for these shoes. I think you will be too.

My son is a top runner (high school, college, now the Boston Athletic Association). All the runners we know go to a good running store - not a typical sporting goods store that sells running shoes and everything else, but a store focused primarily on running. They may do other sports shoes as well, which is fine (tennis, cross training, etc.) but their other sporting goods will be a sideline. They will look at his feet, watch him walk, watch him run (either on the sidewalk outside or on a treadmill in the store, or both). They will look at things like the pronation and the arch. Then they will recommend a shoe.

The main thing is that a specific brand (e.g. Brooks or New Balance) will have a number of shoes they manufacture - it's possible that one Brooks shoe will be better than another Brooks shoe for your son. The athletes that run these stores will understand that your son also wants to look cool, and they will help accommodate that. They can also work with the orthotics you already have. That's why it's essential that you have someone with expertise do this. Your son will probably also listen to them more than he will to his mom (LOL) or the doctor. Right now, he doesn't want to be "different" with odd feet - he wants to be cool like the other kids.

Once you find the brand you like and that he likes and that will meet your needs, you can continue to go back to this store (and they will tell you when there's no life left in those shoes, no support, etc.). Or, you can then search for the proper shoe on line, using the exact stock number of the shoe you have. We still go to our local running store, but one of us just takes the old shoe or the panel from the shoebox and picks up shoes for everyone - no one even has to be re-fitted. That might not apply to your son until he is done growing, but my point is, that's how good these stores are.

Call the track coach at the high school and ask where the athletes go. Many of these stores will offer a discount to athletes as well - our store gives 10%.

I can't tell you what a difference it makes to actually have the shoe fitted to his foot - you really can't go by recommendations that others have used. My husband wears Brooks, I wear something else, my son wears yet a third brand. It's all about the foot.

hello, before you buy any new shoes, check out this northwest podiatrist's website. I found it when I was looking for ways to help my aching feet ( I have bone spurs, neuromas and plantars faciitis) ... he gives a lot of good info on why most sneakers they offer today only add to foot problems..
https://nwfootankle.com/foot-health/drill/2-Articles

scroll thru articles and you may find it helpful... the doctor, himself has had foot issues and can relate to a persons having foot issues.. I don't think this doctor would be suggesting new balance or brooks.. because of how they are designed.. but read for yourself and see if the site is helpful.. good luck

There is a shoe store here in Austin that specializes in this exact subject.

I suggest you call them and see if it would be worth a trip here to one of their stores. Check out their website.

http://www.karavelshoes.com/

Take him to a specialty running store where they will analyze his gait and make recommendations. A good running store will have a decent selection. Asics is another brand that is known for having good support and they tend to look more like classic running shoes than clunky old man moon boot sneakers.

If none of those appeal to him, perhaps a set of Super Feet orthotics inserted into a shoe he likes could work? You take out the insole that the shoe comes with and replace it with the insert. My middle son has flat feet and over-pronates so he has Super Feet inserts that he puts in his hockey skates, lacrosse cleats, and running shoes.

Nike is a brand that is more popular with everyone, young and old. Nike shoes typically run narrower unlike New Balance (wider) so you'll probably have better luck finding him a pair of Nike's that fit best. I've worn inserts and you can fit them in just about any pair of sneakers, I've even put them in more minimalist styles.

Don't waste money on a pair of sneakers that he thinks are "ugly", he won't wear them and honestly may not even really need them. Just get him a pair that he likes, someone suggested Nike Lunarglides which are good. Nike Zoom Vomero would work too. Try going to a running shoe store, they can make good suggestions- be sure to let them know "style" is important here ;)

I agree with the suggestion to go to a running store. The generic "New Balance and Brooks" shoes suggestion is rather odd, to me, since running shoes (I assume that's what you mean instead of actual "tennis" shoes?) come in several types. It isn't that one brand works this way and another brand works that way. You can find a New Balance shoe that is made to help correct for over-pronation and another that is made for under-pronation and another for neutral gaited runners. Same with Brooks. And Mizuno. And just about any other decent quality running shoe brand.

The trick (?) is that when you buy them in a regular store, the sales clerks don't always know that much about the shoes. I've been in some that I knew more than they did, and was aware when they were giving me incorrect (or even contradictory) information. But if you go to a running shoe store (specific to runners, the type where they can put you on a treadmill and look at your gait) they can help you find the type of shoe that you need.

You already have a doctor telling you that your son needs a shoe for an over-pronater, so he needs shoes that are designed to help correct that motion. Tell them that when you arrive and they will bring you all kinds of shoes/brands to let him try on.
They may all be "ugly" to him... because teen boys can be really picky and want to wear skate shoes or whatever... But he needs what he needs to prevent future problems. What does he (and his podiatrist) think about Sperry? Some of them (not the cheaper ones usually) have very nice support inside. Some are flat and offer very little support, too. You have to really pay attention. But Sperry's are fairly popular here with a lot of kids and if his doc says they are ok, (with the inserts maybe?), then you might get better compliance with a shoe he actually sort of likes.

Good luck.
~Mom to a 15 yr old

please, please go to a good running store, preferably one that has a treadmill with a monitor that will show the professional helping you just exactly what's going on. i'm a little shocked that the podiatrist just recommended a brand with no further input. new balance and brooks both make hundreds of types of shoes, most of which won't help your son.
my older boy was so severely pronated that he was in casts as a baby, then had to wear expensive chanticleer shoes when he started walking to try and straighten them out. his right foot is STILL almost at at 45 degree angle, but he ran track in middle school.
there are a gazillion styles and colors in *good* shoes and i'll bet your son can find one he can live with. but go to the right professional and get the right kind of shoes for his feet. you can't do it without them actually looking what his feet are doing.
khairete
S.

I can sympathize, but there are limits when you need orthotics. I would go to a specialty store (the doctor should know where in your area) and get fitted for the shoes available. My DD was offered 3 different brands of walking shoe and ended up getting green and pink Sauconys, but she did have choices in her size with the orthotic inside. New Balance were one of the other brands offered. We went to a KID store, so the colors and styles were things kids might like. More $$ than some stores, but more fun, too.

I would try just buying him normal shoes or whatever he wants and pull the insole out of that shoe and use his inserts and see if that works.
I would not spend the money on new balance or brooks shoes bc he probably wont wear them. good luck!