Discussion: O Shoe Recommendation?

My current O shoes (VJ Integrators with spikes) totally beat up my feet and was wondering if anyone had recommendations for O shoes, with and without spikes, that I can fit a prescription orthotic into as well?

I know, I know I need to HTFU but it's at a point where I'm willing to try a new pair to supplement my current pair. Thanks!

No recommendation from me but surely Marie-Catherine Bruno is the pre-eminent expert on orthotics frequenting AttackPoint - she used to and, as far as I know presumably still does, make them herself for a number of orienteers. Hopefully she'll weigh in with some wisdom.

I wear my orthotics inside my Jalas X-trainers without any problems. They have spikes and ankle support. They may be too heavy if you have steel ankles.

Your orthotics don't fit in your O shoes? Did you just get them? When I shop for shoes (of any type) I always start by putting my orthotics in before trying the shoes on. If they don't fit I move on to something else.

When you talk about fit there are various points of concern. The first is that you have to remove the sockliners. I expect your orthotic fitter already told you that. (Didn't they?) Another is the width (or narrowness) of the toebox. The orthotics that I've seen are made extra wide and have to be trimmed to fit into your shoes. I have numerous shoes for different purposes and normally trim my orthotics to fit the narrowest shoes they have to fit in. That leaves them a bit loose in some of the wider shoes but that hasn't seemed to cause any problems.

Another possible fit problem could be the height of the heel if your orthotics have raised heels. I imagine this could cause the heel of an O shoe to rub a bit lower on your heel that it was supposed to.

You might try describing more specifically what problem you're trying to solve. I don't think you'll find a shoe that's designed specifically for orthotic users, but on the other hand I would expect that most shoes will work with orthotics. You do probably have to try them on first, so you need to either get to a vendor's shop, or if you have to work mailorder work with someone who will ship you a few pairs and let you return the ones you don't want.

Yeah, it's not an Orthotics fit problem. Mine fit just fine in my O and running shoes.

My O shoes currently give me plenty of blisters, don't fit too well at the heel, and my feet are totally in pain from the impact and lack of cushioning in the O shoes. In theory the soft surfaces wouldn't need a cushioning O shoe but, I guess my feet haven't HdTFU yet... ;-) I'm also wondering if anyone's noticed a difference between O shoes with spikes in the cleats and those without? Thanks!

The one pair of O shoes I've had had essentially no cushioning, which I found to be rather uncomfortable. So I just use trail shoes now. I think the Bermans used to carry some O shoes that were more like regular trail runners but with spikes inserted into the sole. Not sure if they still carry those.

You might want to check out the new Icebug Pytho shoes, if you want a bit more cushioning than regular O-shoes but also want the studs and so on. Fugly color (IMHO), but they are remarkably inexpensive on Amazon.com at the moment - less than $80 USD, which is a steal compared to the prices in Europe (currently over 1000 SEK or NOK). I tried Holger's briefly over Christmas and they were fine for me on a short run - waiting for my own pair to arrive so can't tell you what happens with longer runs on my feet.

You might also want to look at Inov-8 Mudclaw which are available in some spots in North America. There's versions with and without studs and I'm looking forward to getting a pair this spring.

Sweet! Thanks Will, those look great. I also looked at my sisters shoe sponsor Inov8 and saw these shoes too: http://www.inov-8.com/Products-Detail.asp?AID=33&P... Anyone have an opinion...?

Edit: Thanks Nevin. We must've pushed "Submit" at about the same time...

Hey Ratlaf, the inov8 shoes are getting popular with some BAOC runners. The Scarboroughs have reviewed several models on their blog. http://o-gear.blogspot.com/

Tundra/Desert seemed unhappy with them at the Tucson meet; maybe he will post why (iirc it was because the support eroded too quickly).

Be warned, mudclaws are low around the back and if you are adding an extra insole in, you may have problems. Innov8 shoes are reknowned for being love em or hate em.
I hated mine to start with, but have finally worked out how to make them comfortable to the point of being able to do the OMM A class in.
This involved steaming the heel cups many times, dropping the footbed a little by removing some cushioning and also employing a loop lock lacing low down to keep them tight over the front, but looser round the back.
Seems to work and the grip is unparalelled.
They do a metal studded version, the 340'O' but there have been reports of the studs getting ripped out.

Find a good podiatrist and take your o-shoes to your appointment. My pod was able to trim down a pair of standard orthotics to a width that fit my Jalas without (so far as I can tell) ruining their effectiveness. And I think she has produced at least one replacement pair simply by replicating the measurements.

...and also employing a loop lock lacing low down to keep them tight over the front, but looser round the back....

On the other hand, I prefer a loose forefoot, where the toes have room to wriggle and grip. And a tight heel that won't slide around. So I begin my lacing pattern above the bottom set of eyelets.

Since I've been wearing narrow O shoes made on European lasts, I've found painful corns develop on toes that are squeezed together for too long. Podiatrists tell me this is from bone spurs that develop in that tight environment and must be surgically removed. So use care running in shoes that are so tight that the toes and forefoot do not lie naturally flat.

I love my mudclaw 330s. Everything that's said above about innov8's low and peculiar fit is spot on, but I like that fit, and I'm not looking back. They grip like crazy! I also liked the 340s (with metal spikes) a lot, but after only 7 hrs of use the spikes ripped out.

Inov-8 shoes are awesome. I love my mudclaw 270 and the mudclaw 330 O. I used them almost exclusively in Spain, but the terrain there was good for that type of shoe. They don't necessarily replace "O-shoes" for certain rocky or really steep terrain. The mudroc 280 are good for sprints in park, and I like my roclite 285's for cross races or trail running. I heard that the studs on the mudclaw 340 O+ fall out very quickly, so I wouldn't get them until they come out with a new version. I have tested 5 different pairs of shoes from inov-8 (the above mentioned and the terroc 308) and have been very happy with all of them.

If you love 'em (or want to try 'em), Backcountry.com currently has the Inov-8 Mudclaw 330's on sale...

for $37.98!

There are only seven pairs left total, in sizes 9.5, 10, 11, and 11.5

Here's the link.

On your mark, get set, go!

PS- You get free shipping with an order of $50.

No wonder they're on sale... They were advertising them as a "Hiking" shoe. That's about as far from the mark as you can get!

chitownclark: On the other hand, I prefer a loose forefoot, where the toes have room to wriggle and grip. And a tight heel that won't slide around. So I begin my lacing pattern above the bottom set of eyelets.

Aye, lots of people like to tighten them round the heel, but I have really really narrow feet, so I need them tight across the front, but too tight across the back and they shred my heels.

Whatever works for you I guess. They are a great shoe, but have had a few teething troubles.
FWIW, they cost about £60 over here. That's about $110 I guess?

What's the difference between the Mudclaw 270 and 330 O? Is one lighter than the other? Also, for those who've tried on a pair of Inov8, do the sizes run normal? My running shoe sizes range from US 8-9, so I'm thinking the 9.5 that's available on sale will be too big.

I've been wearing my mudclaw 330 O for over a year now during all my o races. I normally wear a women's size 7.5 and my mudclaws are a women's 7.5 and fit fine. The rubber cleats on the bottom of the shoe are big and I've been slowly ripping them off since I got the shoe. First from the back of the heal and now from the front as well. I usually never get blisters from shoes, but these will give me blisters if I don't tape my heal with duct tape before I run. Sometimes I can wear them for days in a row and have no problem, and other times after one race my heal is sore (although never horrible blisters). The outer part of the shoe has held up well - I've had them for about 20 months and worn them in almost every race in all types of terrain. I'd recommend giving them a try!

270s are 270grams and the lightweight race version with diagonal lacing and very lightweight fabric - I think the toe cup is the only reinforced place.
330s are 330grams and a heavier duty version with reinforcement all the way round
340 'O' are, you guessed it, 340grams and have a metal stud in the end of some of the rubber cleats.
FWIW, I have not lost any cleats on mine, despite a mix of peat moorland, stony track and the occasion bit of road.

Last year I went into REI to examine the Inov-8 models they had in stock, but determined they were too narrow for me. I have wide feet and had only found the Salomons suitably comfortable, but with insufficient grip for orienteering. The store had some GoLite models that I hadn't heard of before and they looked suitable and fit me well. I ended up buying the GoLite Spike Tail and have used them for orienteering and trail running since. I would say they probably don't perform as well as an orienteering shoe, but work for me as I'm not a high performance orienteer.

Any chance one of these Inov-8's would be less aggravating to my plantar fasciitis than my VJ Falcons? I don't use orthotics although I probably should.