I’m sure you guys get a lot of these but wanted some feedback before I return my new pair of shoes. Here is the shoes I have bought in the past year…
- Nike Free: No support at all. Got bad Shin Splints
- Asics Gel Cumulus 15: Went to fit store and was told I needed a neutral shoe. With this shoe I got blisters below my toes on the balls of my feet. Size 11
- Hoka Bondi 3: Trained for a marathon so bought these because they were suppose to be more supportive. No blisters on the balls of my feet but I did get blisters on the sides of my feet after 8+ miles. I did buy these in my normal shoe size(10.5) and not a half size bigger.
- Brooks Ghost 7: Got these yesterday. Ran 3 miles and got a blister on the ball of my feet under my big toe. Size 11
My shoes have a 90 day return policy so I’m going to return them today but not sure what to get. Do you guys have any suggestions or should I just go with the Bondi’s but get a size 11? Thanks everyone.
No expert by any means on shoe fitment and every person is different. But, is there a specific reason you are buying shoes in a half size bigger than your “normal” size (I see some 11’s you tried out and 10.5 is what you called normal. Do you have borderline wide feet or something?
Just a guess but it seems those size 11 shoes are too big which makes your feet move around too much…hence the blisters from the movement creating all that rubbing for the balls of your feet. Why not try a wide version of the shoe in the 10.5 instead? Maybe they are too tight and creating rubbing on the width which is why you got blisters on the sides with those.
Couple queries for you:
1.) What are you wearing for socks? Similar blister location across all of the shoes would suggest a potential issue here.
2.) Outside of the blistering and the shin splints, what other discomfort are you experiencing?
Unlike the previous poster, based on location it would suggest the flex points of the shoe and your foot are not lining up, which can sometimes suggest a shoe that is too small vs too long. Arch length is more determinative for run shoe fit than physical foot length.
Couple queries for you:
1.) What are you wearing for socks? Similar blister location across all of the shoes would suggest a potential issue here.
2.) Outside of the blistering and the shin splints, what other discomfort are you experiencing?
Unlike the previous poster, based on location it would suggest the flex points of the shoe and your foot are not lining up, which can sometimes suggest a shoe that is too small vs too long. Arch length is more determinative for run shoe fit than physical foot length.
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I wear Asics performance running socks. I have tried other blister suggestions such as wearing 2 layers of socks and putting on duct tape but that has not helped.
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Those are the only two issues I have experienced really. I do get occasional blood under my toenails but that is more dependent on if I’m running a hilly course.
Reply to loxx0050, I have always read to get a half size bigger because your foot swells during running. My theory is that the asics and brooks are causing blisters due to the shoe design. I’m getting blisters on the side of my feet with the Hoka’s because my feet are swelling and my show is too small. But like I said that is just my theory. Most people I have talked with went through several pairs of shoes before they found the one that was perfect for their feet. I just want to make sure I’m not going in the wrong direction.** **
I would guess you probably are an 11.5 or so in a running shoe just based on symptoms that you have described. Curious: when you try on some of these shoes, does it ever feel like the arch is pushing up a little bit more around your heel, rather than really in your arch?
Something to check next time you try on shoes as well: make sure the ball of your foot is lined up with the end eyelets of the shoes. This is generally the widest point on the shoe. Get that spot wrong, and nothing else can be right.
I wear an 11.5 dress shoe and a 13 in running shoes (11.5 foot length, 14 arch length) so it’s not uncommon to have really large gaps in sizing.
Lastly, avoid doubling up on socks. I find the Asics socks to have too many seams and too rough of a texture to them, resulting in blistering. I really like Balega’s Enduro 2 as well as the Feetures! Light cushion (blue packaging).