Incredibly boring questions - fallen arches/foot pain - any walking boot recommendations? [help]

I'd suggest a Podiatrist. I started seeing one a few years ago after extreme pain in my feet (to the point I couldn't physically walk the 100m from the bus to my house!) and now I go once or twice a year to keep my feet "manipulated". My feet both turn inwards/over when I walk and I thought I needed insoles too - but I didn't. She just massaged my feet and sort of put pressure on them and "corrected" it. Afterwards I was literally standing completely differently - I almost felt dizzy because my centre of balance had changed so much. Oh and she banned me from ever wearing flat shoes (like ballet pumps which were all the rage at the time) because of my extremely high arches.

Might be worth a visit? My GP recommended mine.

Def. see someone. I have very high arches and have been banned from flat shoes with no support like ballet pumps.

I walk 30 miles a week at the moment (I power walk and am training for a marathon) and most of it's on roads. From the type of walking you do (roads, tracks) I'm not sure that stiff boots are really the best footwear - would you be better off with some well fitting running/walking shoes?

Thanks ladies. My left foot does fall in a bit and I am a little pigeon toed, so shall see if I can find a podiatrist.

I do walk faster than average, so perhaps a running type shoe would be better. The only problem is that getting out of our farmyard is so mucky!!!

Have a look at a decent trail shoe - Merrell, Inov-8 and Salomon do good supportive shoes suitable for tracks. The bunyon is probably caused by poor fitting footwear.

Cheers baron.

The bunion/bunyon is also hereditary - every female in my family has them sadly, but I agree - slopping around in wellington boots doesn't help either!!

Also try that compeed stuff on the bits that rub. Could just be because you're not used to the shoes. Or go and buy a new pair that feel more comfortable.

We walk a lot and i have fallen arches - wellies kill me for a walk

i have some brashers which i love and can tramp happily for hours and hours in them - but i am sure the key is getting whatever brand of boot or shoe you go for properly fitted

Thx gryfon and janey

My Dad had plantar fasciitis and we got him some insoles for his shoes, supposed to help raise the arch and correct poor weight distribution when walking. They have really helped. We got them from Boots, they were about £22. Can't remember thename right now though.....

Thx Luthien