Lets talk about footwear for a minute

[stopgambling]

so you are walking in dress shoes? Of course you are gonna have problems! Both Rockport and Ecco sounds good , thats what i would wear .

[Aslan]

so you are walking in dress shoes? Of course you are gonna have problems! Both Rockport and Ecco sounds good , thats what i would wear .

Who is walking in dress shoes? And, BTW, Rockport and Ecco have great dress walking shoes. Also, Mephisto.

[ACFERRET]

Ill put in another vote for Ecco, Mine are very comfy and have held the test of time.

Now that the secret is out.....

"that guy sure is raising his bet a lot and playing his hands funny"
"I see well have to give this player further review, lets zoom in to that lower part there"
"Yup, They're Ecco, AP confirm.....round up the goon squad"

[Exoter175]

I'm digging the responses so far!

All feet are not created equal. Go to an athletic shoe store where the staff is trained to evaluate your specific needs. You won't believe the results which will go far beyond your feet. There's no need to suffer. Good luck.

Well, the problem with that is I'm wearing athletic shoes "most" of the time I'm in there. Its just due to the friction and moisture that I accumulate on a 18-24 hour session that things tend to take a toll, as that's where most blisters tend to spawn from, friction and moisture. I've actually got the perfect set of shoes for what I "need" the problem is I can't really wear them in the casino because they make a little bit of noise and I sound silly when I walk around in them, or somebody sees me wearing them. (They are cross trail shoes, very light, very breathable, but very noisy)

Do you walk/run/excersize on your own? It'll be worth your while if you start taking a mile or two walk every day.


Beware, if you're trying to pull off the high-roller with a suit look, don't wear tennis shoes.

Steve Jobs would disagree with you hehe. When I'm not at the casino, which is very rare, I usually get in a 2 mile jog whenever I can, but beyond that, Like I said, I have to be doing at least 5-10 a day in the casinos.

I wear Rockport on the advive of a foot doctor.

I'll have to look into Rockport since that seems to be the popular choice here, thank you Norm and everyone else!

try ecco

Too narrow the last time I tried a pair on :/

Try roller blades. That's what KJ does

That actually made me laugh quite a bit.

I have always walked marathon distances in the course of a day at a very fast pace unless I am with others. I either have to get frustrated by having to continually wait for them to catch up or just walk at the typical persons snail pace. I didn't have any issues except when I got older or walking on really bad surfaces. My shoes were never suited for the task. When I was in therapy the PT's made me wear my tennis shoes after repeatedly saying the boat shoes I always wear were not suited to the tasks they had set out for me. After switching shoes I had to admit they were right. With the tennis shoes I could do things much more effectively. I still wear boat shoes. The issue of walking on concrete and hard wood and other unpadded surfaces can be helped with padding in your shoes but I can't speak from personal experience only from advising others to do so and getting their feed back.

I developed a bone spur recently and have custom orthopedics that take care of that issue like a miracle. It was tough for the podiatrist because I had the issue during a time of the year I couldn't keep my feet dry. I was hunting the swamps and between sweating in your boots and going over them his test padding and things like that that were supposed to be on for about a week wouldn't last a day. He was not used to people as active as I am at practical physical activity. He usually had athletes that dealt with extremely specialized physical activity. Needless to say with my high threshold of pain the issue had been getting worse for a few months before I decided time would not help with the issue. I decided to just pay for the custom orthopedics and hope it helped. It worked miracles.

The podiatrist also criticized my choice of footwear. Spending to get proper footwear is probably worth it to frugal people. I just like boat shoes because they grip on wet slippery surfaces and last a long time. They are not by any means cheap. I have not working on boats as a waterman in decades like I did when I developed the affection for boat shoes so I probably shouldn't cling to the tradition. I used to be a hook and line commercial fisherman and worked swamps for mussels and did some crabbing. The crabbing was the least lucrative. The hook and line fishing was spotty as there were high maintenance costs to the boat. We made some great money when we hit runs of fish and okay money at other times. The musselling was the best money. I just need a canoe and paddle power and I knew exactly were the mussels were and at what tide my efforts would be easiest and take the least amount of time. In those days I made about $60/hr when the minimum wage was $2 and change per hour. I didn't work much to supply my clients but at that wage I didn't have to. By the time I worked the entire swamp the small mussels I passed up at the beginning were now perfect size to start the rotation over again.

Now that my interests are different I should probably make a new choice for a favorite shoe but I like the ones I have. My feet are not typical. I have extremely wide feet and not much of an arch. I have been told I have flat feet but they are not actually flat. Finding shoes that both fit and are comfortable is not an easy task. Most shoe stores don't even have any shoes that fit. The ones that do are not comfortable. Anyway most people that make a living on their feet and work on hard floors get a pair of work shoes appropriate to what they do. I would recommend anyone with a foot issues do the same as a starting point. Consulting a podiatrist first never hurts if you have no idea what to get. The problem may be structural anyway. Athletes (Especially track and basketball. Many sports are played on grass which is more forgiving to feet) and other active people are prime targets for foot issues.

I rarely wore shoes for the first decades of my life so that may be half my problem. I had pads on my feet similar to a dog's then. I took a stalk of swamp grass into my heal in my early twenties. After 3 days I decided there was foreign matter in my heal and had a friend operate. He was trained as an EMT. He tunneled an inch or so into my foot and could believe I wasn't in pain. He was still cutting out the pad I hadn't even felt anything. Right after that I informed him I felt that. He said he had just found the object and hit it with his exacto knife. He pulled it out. It was about 2-3 inches long stalk of swamp reed that typically stands 6 feet or more. I still didn't wear shoes much but wore them in the swamps after that. I usually did anyway but I wasn't trusting my pads to protect my feet after that even on rare occasions.

Ironically enough, I think we have the same feet T3. I have very wide, "flat" feet, though they are not flat. I have an arch and its very prominent, they are just wide enough that they kind of "hide" the arch in a way. I don't exactly have "large" feet, but its difficult at times to get me in the right size as I am technically a 12.5W

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9099/...-barefoot.html

I can't exactly hustle my way through the casino barefoot, that's kind of a no-no.

Companies that make outdoor gear and hiking boots such as Vasque, Merrill, and North Face also make "trail shoes" that are kind of a hybrid between actual boots and tennis shoes that have Vibram soles, thick tread, ankle support. They're light and look pretty similar to sneakers so you can not really stand out while wearing them, but your feet can feel good while walking around and standing all day. This is what I wear:

http://www.vasque.com/USD/product/me...uga-gold-07068

I'll have to look into a few of those just for my regular "use" outside of the casinos. like I had just mentioned above I have a pair of shoes that would otherwise be perfect for me for the length of time I'm on my feet and moving (especially while vux'ing) they are just too noisy. I kid you not guys, its like a large woman wearing skin tight corduroys.

so you are walking in dress shoes? Of course you are gonna have problems! Both Rockport and Ecco sounds good , thats what i would wear .

I did that Once before since it was a "special" night ended up vux'ing for like 13 hours, worst mistake of my life. I had blisters so painful I had to stay off my feet for a few days, and I have an exceptionally high threshold for pain, we're talking like Superman threshold here. I once got into a fight in my younger years and had a guy hit me in the face skateboard, shattering my aviator sunglasses and sending part of the metal frame into my skull above my eyebrow. I kicked his ass and turned around back to my friends where were in morbid disbelief at the sight of me while blood was gushing out of my face in ways one would have to see to believe. I ended up needing 38 stitches and had to go into surgery to remove the frame from my skull. Needless to say, I had one hell of a story to tell the nurses

Who is walking in dress shoes? And, BTW, Rockport and Ecco have great dress walking shoes. Also, Mephisto.

I think he was talking about me with the whole "high roller" thing.

Which by the way guys, high roller doesn't exactly mean "suit and tie" when you aren't in vegas haha. Most days I'm just in a polo, jeans, and sneakers.

[Aslan]

Exoter: My foot doctor advised me to wear a size larger, so the last Ecco's I bought I did just that. They are loafers and give my toes plenty of room (tighter shoes were causing calluses) and I was surprised that they do not slide as you might expect from most shoes a size larger. My feet tend to spread out more since I have gotten older and that's the reason he suggested larger shoes.

Rockports are lighter shoes, but lighter does not mean better, except in quality shoes like Rockport. A heavier shoe can be better for someone who is on their feet a lot, giving better support than most light shoes, again, Rockport being an exception. I have never had a blister from these quality brands mentioned, but the heel spur is another story. That came with the strain of the muscle that crosses the bottom of the foot. Keeping that muscle stretched out is important when doing a lot of walking. It's the same muscle that runs up the leg-- you see jogger stretching out that leg muscle all the time and for good reason.

[Norm]

My doc also suggested a larger size. That and the Rockports have done wonders for my arthritis in one foot and neuroma in the other. Both are irritated by compression. And I have had no problem with the shoes slipping even though they are slip-ons. I wore Bally boots for 40 years. Great lookiing, but probably damaged my feet.

You know the crowd here is getting older when so many people know about orthopedic shoes.

[Aslan]

laugh1.giflaugh1.gif For sure!

[Exoter175]

Exoter: My foot doctor advised me to wear a size larger, so the last Ecco's I bought I did just that. They are loafers and give my toes plenty of room (tighter shoes were causing calluses) and I was surprised that they do not slide as you might expect from most shoes a size larger. My feet tend to spread out more since I have gotten older and that's the reason he suggested larger shoes.

Rockports are lighter shoes, but lighter does not mean better, except in quality shoes like Rockport. A heavier shoe can be better for someone who is on their feet a lot, giving better support than most light shoes, again, Rockport being an exception. I have never had a blister from these quality brands mentioned, but the heel spur is another story. That came with the strain of the muscle that crosses the bottom of the foot. Keeping that muscle stretched out is important when doing a lot of walking. It's the same muscle that runs up the leg-- you see jogger stretching out that leg muscle all the time and for good reason.

Yeah, I usually go up half a size and get them in (W) depending on the brand. I've always been an "on the go" guy so I'm not shy about investing into very high quality footwear, I've just never needed to have a shoe for something so "specific" before. With cleats for baseball and football, basketball shoes, work boots, and dress shoes I've always had the "right pair" for me, but something like this is an area where absolutely none of those will work. The "work boots" are too heavy, though supportive enough for being on my feet all day, but they don't breath well and cause a lot of friction due to the weight, the dress shoes would kill my baby arches having to walk around that much, the basketball shoes don't have enough "all day" support in them. Its a nightmare haha.

But my little cross-trail guys that I use when I'm jogging are perfect, but too noisy. I don't want to be that guy who walks at the speed most people jog making that "rip, rip, rip, rip" sound because of the tread hehe.

My doc also suggested a larger size. That and the Rockports have done wonders for my arthritis in one foot and neuroma in the other. Both are irritated by compression. And I have had no problem with the shoes slipping even though they are slip-ons. I wore Bally boots for 40 years. Great lookiing, but probably damaged my feet.

You know the crowd here is getting older when so many people know about orthopedic shoes.

I guess I'll have to have a look and see if they have any "stylish" shoes that would fit my below-retirement-age lifestyle

I mean really, I don't want the prostitutes that swarm these casinos to stop harassing me haha j/k

[Aslan]

Yeah, I usually go up half a size and get them in (W) depending on the brand. I've always been an "on the go" guy so I'm not shy about investing into very high quality footwear, I've just never needed to have a shoe for something so "specific" before. With cleats for baseball and football, basketball shoes, work boots, and dress shoes I've always had the "right pair" for me, but something like this is an area where absolutely none of those will work. The "work boots" are too heavy, though supportive enough for being on my feet all day, but they don't breath well and cause a lot of friction due to the weight, the dress shoes would kill my baby arches having to walk around that much, the basketball shoes don't have enough "all day" support in them. Its a nightmare haha.

But my little cross-trail guys that I use when I'm jogging are perfect, but too noisy. I don't want to be that guy who walks at the speed most people jog making that "rip, rip, rip, rip" sound because of the tread hehe.



I guess I'll have to have a look and see if they have any "stylish" shoes that would fit my below-retirement-age lifestyle

I mean really, I don't want the prostitutes that swarm these casinos to stop harassing me haha j/k

I think we've had this discussion before, but after the heel spur my solution was to drive to each location, either to the Valet, or to the self-parking if it wasn't too long a walk.

As for the prostitutes, I run into them at times if I happen to be playing VP in the wee hours of the morning when the "trade hours" are over. Usually, they take a seat at the slot machine next to me and begin playing. You might see her "guy" lurking about at a distance. One way or another, a conversation begins. I usually tell her I was not looking for company that night, but thanks for asking. I had the good fortune, or bad, depending on how you choose to look at it, of having a girl friend when I was young and stupid and in heat, who was on the tail end of a stint of prostitution and then embarking on an exotic dancer career. I am telling you this to demonstrate that I have no stereotypical view of prostitutes. They are just other people, sometimes hooked on drugs, sometimes just trying to escape a humdrum existence that is driving them crazy, sometimes just like us, just looking for a way to enjoy life, make a comfortable income, and make life meet them on their terms. Of course, prostitution tends to drag a woman down rather than lift her up, and those who escape that life are the lucky ones IMO. My ex-gf escaped, got married, and last I heard she was driving an 18-wheeler You can't make this stuff up. LOL Anyway, I always try to treat a prostitute with respect, because we're all just human beings, and there but for the grace of God (and a sex change) go I. LOL

[Exoter175]

I think we've had this discussion before, but after the heel spur my solution was to drive to each location, either to the Valet, or to the self-parking if it wasn't too long a walk.

As for the prostitutes, I run into them at times if I happen to be playing VP in the wee hours of the morning when the "trade hours" are over. Usually, they take a seat at the slot machine next to me and begin playing. You might see her "guy" lurking about at a distance. One way or another, a conversation begins. I usually tell her I was not looking for company that night, but thanks for asking. I had the good fortune, or bad, depending on how you choose to look at it, of having a girl friend when I was young and stupid and in heat, who was on the tail end of a stint of prostitution and then embarking on an exotic dancer career. I am telling you this to demonstrate that I have no stereotypical view of prostitutes. They are just other people, sometimes hooked on drugs, sometimes just trying to escape a humdrum existence that is driving them crazy, sometimes just like us, just looking for a way to enjoy life, make a comfortable income, and make life meet them on their terms. Of course, prostitution tends to drag a woman down rather than lift her up, and those who escape that life are the lucky ones IMO. My ex-gf escaped, got married, and last I heard she was driving an 18-wheeler You can't make this stuff up. LOL Anyway, I always try to treat a prostitute with respect, because we're all just human beings, and there but for the grace of God (and a sex change) go I. LOL

I look at prostitutes the same way that I look at casino "hustlers". Everybody's got to make ends meet somehow, some just choose the road less traveled. I'm still very young, so most of my friends are in their 20's or 30's and its still "hard" to tell other people what I do when they ask. When I switched to "hustling" and "AP" stuff a few years back, I just kept telling people I "worked" at my old job still. Nowadays my "close" friends and extended family members "know" what I do, and now I kind of get a thrill out of meeting new people "outside" and answering their question of what I do with... "I'm a professional blackjack player". The looks and follow up questions that I get practically make my day every time.

Back to the point about "other walks of life", at the end of the day, a "healthy" life is one where you get to do what you "love". For some, that's playing blackjack 12 hours a day, or spreading your legs for 12 hours a day, or selling used cars for 12 hours a day. As long as you're doing what you "love" or at the very least "enjoying" what you do, I make no judgements on a person. Its the guys that work a cookie cutter 9-5 with an immense amount of debt and student loans hanging like a cloud above their heads that I actually take pity on. I've been there, and recently paid off my student loans (woohoo) and worked a career path that made me want to quit almost every week, and I'm glad to have spared my sanity before it was in someone else's hands!

[metronome]

OK, I admit I did not read every post , but Ex, if you are actually getting blisters then your footwear is totally ill-fitting, or flat-ass wore out. I guess the former.
When I was a surveyor, I could walk 5-10 miles in good fitting boots no prob.
Shoes are funny things, they can feel comfy and be totally wrong if pushed distance wise...

[Aslan]

OK, I admit I did not read every post , but Ex, if you are actually getting blisters then your footwear is totally ill-fitting, or flat-ass wore out. I guess the former.
When I was a surveyor, I could walk 5-10 miles in good fitting boots no prob.
Shoes are funny things, they can feel comfy and be totally wrong if pushed distance wise...

Not to gang up on you, Ex, I agree with Metro. Blisters I never get with properly fitting shoes. My problem I think is from a very high arch that is easily strained. The heel spur actually doesn't bother me until the muscle across the bottom of my foot becomes sore and inflamed from too much walking. Then it becomes crippling. I have found that compression socks that compress around the foot promote faster healing. I had the problem for two years, wearing a foot brace, using a special foot exerciser to stretch the foot muscle, and wearing special shoe inserts tailored to my foot all without avail until I discovered the socks. Tommy Copper was the brand name.

[Exoter175]

OK, I admit I did not read every post , but Ex, if you are actually getting blisters then your footwear is totally ill-fitting, or flat-ass wore out. I guess the former.
When I was a surveyor, I could walk 5-10 miles in good fitting boots no prob.
Shoes are funny things, they can feel comfy and be totally wrong if pushed distance wise...

Definitely a little wore out haha. I've never had a problem with them until recently, just due to the pace at which I need to "move" to carry out my every day "hustle" of the casino.

Not to gang up on you, Ex, I agree with Metro. Blisters I never get with properly fitting shoes. My problem I think is from a very high arch that is easily strained. The heel spur actually doesn't bother me until the muscle across the bottom of my foot becomes sore and inflamed from too much walking. Then it becomes crippling. I have found that compression socks that compress around the foot promote faster healing. I had the problem for two years, wearing a foot brace, using a special foot exerciser to stretch the foot muscle, and wearing special shoe inserts tailored to my foot all without avail until I discovered the socks. Tommy Copper was the brand name.

Its likely the case, though I'm still pretty certain my biggest issue is keeping my feet "dry" with all of my day-to-day movement, as Blisters most commonly occur to friction and moisture. This sounds weird, but I'm honestly thinking about keeping an extra pair of socks with me when I go now. After a long 16-20 hour day of being on my feet, my socks are a little damp and sometimes "stick" to my feet, and I think that's the issue. Perhaps I just need better socks? Does anybody know of an "on your feet all day" pair of socks I can try?