So I ordered some custom orthotics, but I was told I need to find some shoes first so they can cut the orthotics to fit the shoe (they are full-length orthotics and they are made super long & wide so you can trim them to fit).

However, I am having a horrible time finding shoes with removeable insoles and enough depth to accomodate an orthotic AND that fits my oddly shaped foot. I need a fairly wide toe box but a narrow heel, and most shoes marketed as "comfort" or "orthopedic" with removeable insoles are all way too wide in the heel and my foot just slides around. I tried on about every shoe I could find with removeable insoles in the local mall and several comfort shoe stores and only found one that I thought would work for me: Allrounder by Mephisto's "Niro" style. Since the store only had ugly colors, I ordered a different color online and it just came in today (Klog's Quest style also fit because it seems almost identical to the Nimbo -- just a hair less wide in the ball-of-foot area.)

However, I don't have my orthotics yet and I don't want to trim the orthotics to fit these shoes until I'm confident that these shoes will work -- I don't want to be stuck with expensive orthotics that were trimmed to fit shoes that don't fit! Since I have very high arches, I have to try on the shoes without arch support (OTC supports never fully support my arch). My problem is that the arch on my right foot noticeably flattens out when I put weight on my foot. If I adjust the strap so that it's loose enough to be comfortable when I'm sitting down, then the shoe feels too big and slips around when I walk. But if I tighten the strap for walking, then when I sit down my foot will get tingly and sore after a few minutes -- I assume my arch is trying to spring back to its neutral position but the strap is cutting off the circulation! (Actually, I've had that problem all my life -- if I lace up tennis shoes too tightly, my foot gets tingly!) The left shoe seems to fit much better since I don't think that arch flattens as much.

I ordered rigid orthotics that were created by making a mold of my foot in the neutral position. Is it safe to assume that my arch won't flatten out with the orthotics? If I can make the strap comfy when I'm not putting weight on my foot (and my arch is presumably in the neutral position) do you think these shoes will work for me?

Also, I'd love recommendations if you know of any other brands/styles with wider toe boxes but narrow heels. (I'm not sure exactly how wide my feet are, but I've always worn Average widths in fashion and athletic shoes. Maybe my toes are just a bit wide, like a C? But my heels are super narrow -- I have NEVER found a slip-on shoe that didn't fall off the first step I took!)

I am just frustrated right now -- when I ordered the orthotics they made it sound so easy, they said "just buy any shoes with removeable insoles and we'll cut the orthotic to fit!" but it hasn't been so easy for me

It is standard for me to tell someone to just find a shoe with a removable inserts. Most of the the Orthotics inserts that I provide have some sort of heel cup that will prevent the heel from sliding around.

Wide at the toes narrow at the heel is common for a woman's feet not for their shoe's.

What your looking for is a shoe that come in a combination last. I am not familiar with all brands most Ryka and some New Balance shoes which includes Aravon have combination last.

If your prescription devices no matter the construction allows your arch to fully collapse then they are in my opinion not working. To me in most situations the foot should be encourage to function normally and includes arch motion.

Hope this helps

Thank you, delavo!

I do not have my orthotics yet (they kept them until I found some shoes) so I'm not 100% sure how much they will allow my arch to flex or how thick they are. (But i am pretty sure they are not the low-profile orthotics for dress shoes -- when I told them I would be wearing the orthotics with more casual shoes, they said they wouldn't order the low-profile for me since the low profile is not as supportive. Or so they said.)

At the shoe stores I went to where the salespeople were actually familiar with orthotics, they told me that most custom orthotics are pretty thick. A lot of the more fashionable shoes I tried on with removable insoles (brands like Ecco, Unstructured by Clarks, etc.) had rather thin removable insoles. The salesperson gave me an OTC orthotic that he said was about the same thickness as most custom orthotics just to try on with the shoes, and with that thicker orthotic most shoes I tried on were much too tight in the toes. Many of the shoes would fit fine without orthotics though.

At another shoe store they confirmed I needed a shoe with extra depth for orthotics, and told me that most dressier shoes with removable insoles still wouldn't have enough depth for me. (This is the store where I tried on the Allrounder per the salesperson's recommendation.)

But all the shoes I see with extra depth are sooo ugly ... I know I won't be able to find really cute shoes that work with orthotics, but I was hoping to find something that was just a hair nicer than a regular tennis shoe so I could wear it to work (I can wear jeans to work but most of the girls wear shoes much nicer than tennis shoes), but also not really orthopedic or prescription looking since I am only 27!

I also think part of the problem with these Allrounders I bought (and with most other orthotic-friendly shoes I"ve seen online) is that the strap goes across the highest part of my arch which is where my foot flexes the most. All of my regular shoes (that don't work with orthotics) have straps just a bit closer to the toe, over a part of my arch that flexes a lot less so it's easier to make the shoe fit! Mary Jane straps that are closer to my legs (like the Allrounders) and any sort of lace-up shoe are always hard to get to fit, at least without orthotics...

Finally, does a heel cup actually prevent the foot from sliding UP out of the shoe? That is normally my problem -- the shoe falls off my foot with each step! That's why I was hoping a Mary Jane strap or laces would be helpful, but then I have a hard time getting the strap to work with the arch .... I just have too many issues

The cup works for side to side not slipping out.

What are you going to be using these shoes for? If your feet bother you from standing and walking and you spend most of your time sitting then concentrate on your standing and walking shoe. You might need to swap your shoes during the day.

Have you looked at Aravon from new balance. For a flexible high arch a OTC that might help you for limited standing and walking would be thermo moldable such as SOLE they come in varieties that are thin.

Since these device are your first they need to go in shoe that your most active in to allow for the maximum device to help you then after you have a working device then you can cut it down for fashion.

All in all what could happen to your foot?

Even with these device are you doing exercises to strengthen and control your arch?

Your problem in finding shoes that works is unfortunately normal and their is no easy answer.

Keep trying and learning