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Shoes for orthotics
A prescribed orthotic is only as good as the shoe you put it in. Most trainers have a glued-in footbed and no spare depth, so the device lifts your heel out of the shoe. This one is built to take it.
The depth problem, explained
A custom orthotic is typically 4–8 mm thick under the arch and heel. Drop that into a shoe with a 3 mm glued footbed and you have raised the whole foot inside a space that was already full. The heel now sits higher than the collar was designed for, so it slips; the toes now sit closer to the roof of the toe box, so they press.
The fix is not a bigger shoe. It is a shoe with a removable insole of similar thickness to the device going in, and enough vertical room in the toe box that the swap is neutral. The Everyday's insole is 8 mm and lifts out whole, which for most devices is a straight exchange.
What else the shoe has to do
A firm heel counter. An orthotic controls the foot from underneath; the shoe has to hold the heel steady above it. A collapsible heel undoes the device's work.
A flat, wide footbed. Contoured shoe footbeds fight a contoured orthotic. The base under the device should be flat and full width.
Adjustment over the instep. Adding a device changes instep volume, and straps let you take that back up.
Torsional stiffness. If you can wring the shoe out like a cloth, the orthotic cannot do much.
Which fitting to start with
| Fitting | Roughly equals | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| EE (Wide) | About one fitting above a standard high-street trainer | Standard trainers feel tight across the ball of the foot but you can wear them |
| EEEE (Extra Wide) | Two to three fittings above standard | Bunions, a spreading forefoot, or you wear a custom orthotic |
| 6E (Ultra Wide) | The widest fitting sold in UK retail | Oedema, lymphoedema, bandaging, or feet that change size through the day |
With a device going in, start one fitting wider than you would otherwise. Most orthotic wearers land on EEEE. There is a step-by-step fitting check in the guide to fitting an orthotic into a trainer.
Checking the fit once the device is in
Put the orthotic in, put the shoe on, and stand up. Your heel should not lift when you walk. There should be a thumb's width beyond the longest toe — which is not always the big toe. The device should sit flat with no rocking and no gap at the front edge, and the arch of the device should sit under the arch of your foot rather than behind it. Walk for five minutes indoors before you commit.
If the device is too long for the shoe, do not trim it yourself. Take it back to the person who made it.
Common questions
Will my NHS orthotic fit in these?
Do I need to size up when using an orthotic?
Can I use over-the-counter insoles too?
Is the footbed flat?
Are the shoes stiff enough for a rigid device?
Where to go next
One trainer, three fittings, sixty days to get it right
The Everyday is £89 in EE, EEEE and 6E on every size from UK 3 to 13. Free UK delivery, and if the width is wrong we post the replacement before the first pair comes back.