Shoes that won't tear up my heels/ankles!

I'm at a loss, I can't seem to find a pair of golf shoes that doesn't destroy the skin on the back of my feet. I try on shoes constantly, I've tried going down a half size, different styles it seems like everything. I'm usually around a 7.5.-8.5 for most companies. I also made sure to buy good socks, I use kentwool golf socks most of the time, when I'm not I use footjoy socks with the bunch of fabric at the back to prevent slipping.

The adidas boost from last year slid up and down while I walked, irritated the skin and tore up the fabric in the back (ended up returning them). I've recently tried the 2015 dryjoy casuals, I can barely get through 5 holes before I'm limping to avoid breaking skin on the back of my feet. It may sound like the shoes are too big, but if I were to go smaller my toes would be cramped at the front. I've tried countless other pairs of shoes with the same issue...

Has anybody else had this issue!?!?!? I have no trouble finding normal running shoes and can run for miles without pain.

I'm hoping someone else out there has had the same experience and could suggest a pair of shoes that they've been able to walk 18 holes in without issue.

I own 3 pair of adidas tour 360 ATV's. I've never had an issue with them. I find them just as comfortable as my athletic shoes. The only problem is adidas changes their shoes lines as fast as taylormade changes clubs.

New Balance Minimus Sport. Only two cons are they are the opposite of waterproof(one of the reasons i like them for summer/hot weather), depending on how much you golf you may need a couple pairs.

Maybe look into something with sizing options like regular shoes so you can get something with a narrower heel? Alan Edmonds has some nice stuff.

I have narrow heels also and wear a B width. I usually have to order from Footjoy since they are available in narrow widths. I wear New Balance running shoes for the same reason. Ironically, I found a pair of Addidas golf shoes several years ago that ran very narrow and felt great right out of the box. I was so pleased with them, I bought a second pair in a different color. When breaking in new golf shoes, I tape my heels with athletic tape so if I do get rub, the tape will keep me from blistering. I don't understand why New Balance doesn't offer their line of golf shoes in narrow widths. I would love to try them. Good luck. I feel your pain.

Ecco Biom

You will likely laugh and completely disregard this post (and I wouldn't blame you), but I had the very same issue. I would get massive blisters on my heels and arches of my feel. I tried everything from different styles and sizes of shoes to complete custom-width orders back when foot joy offered them in the classics. None of it helped.

The ultimate solution - going sockless.

I happened across the solution quite by accident when I left my socks at home by accident. Walked an entire round and realized my feet were still intact. I've been doing it ever since when the temperatures are warmer. I will warn you that, if you use athletic-style golf shoes or any shoes with a cloth lining, the smell can become powerful! Ha Ha! As a result, I typically use a leather shoe (icons, Bioms, etc). The leather inners don't soak up sweat like cloth, and don't develop the stench as a result.

It may sound odd, but you might be surprised. I was.

What price point of shoe are you shopping?

If the price is irrelevant, I would suggest Ecco. They size on the EU scale, so they may run big in the one size, but then be perfect in the next size down. Or they may not work at all, but they will not rub your heal raw, even fresh out of the box.

A THOUSAND TIMES YES

This happens to me all the time. The problem is that I have flat feet and need 2E width. So I am constantly sliding around in the back. I had to return my new FJ Freestyles...they are so comfortable, but after 9 holes, my heels were toast.

I have a similar issue. My feet are really wide and my heel slips in most shoes. The best I have found are True Linkswear (I have the gent wingtips which also look pretty cool), and a good old Canadian brand Kikkor (I just bought brown and black saddles off eBay for like $50). These are found cheap online and they work for me and my heels.

I'd get your foot measured. you could be wearing the wrong size or width. Socks and cushioned lining can only help so much. i used to do fit and wear testing and I now some testers that would not wear socks and never had issues with blistering.

What I haven't been able to find is consensus on whether the heel blistering typically comes from shoes that are too small or too large. I recently got some blistering from Pumas with cloth-like material lining the heels (as opposed to a leather or synthetic leather), but only on my right heel, which is my LONGER foot. But then you hear folks suggest that it comes from too much slippage. Anyone know which fit is more likely the culprit?

While I'm not having any current problems with my Tour 360 Boosts, I've traditionally had very similar issues to what you describe with most shoes. My solution has always been to just put a strip of Mueller athletic tape on each heel before I start the day. Has always worked like a charm.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll just have to keep looking, and perhaps get my feet properly measured, I just wish sizes were standard but that'd be too easy wouldn't it.

Band aids.......I have very narrow, flat feet with a really bad bunion on my left foot(Thanks mom and dad for the cheap ill fitting shoes of my youth).

Playing basketball my entire life, I found 2 pair of socks to be the solution....albeit, I haven't tried that with golfing. I have the ECCO shoes and they seem to be the least irritable.

Any low back shoe no matter what brand shreds my ankles. The higher the back the better for me. Only shoe that didn't blister my heels from day one are the TW free inspired shoes

What price point of shoe are you shopping?

 

If the price is irrelevant, I would suggest Ecco. They size on the EU scale, so they may run big in the one size, but then be perfect in the next size down. Or they may not work at all, but they will not rub your heal raw, even fresh out of the box.

I tried on some Ecco Biom Hybrid 2s at my local Golftown today, tried size 42(8-8.5), felt some slippage so I found a 41(7-7.5) felt great on my right foot but I could feel my left heel slipping around as I walked. They did feel amazing though so maybe i could figure out some extra padding.

I own 3 pair of adidas tour 360 ATV's. I've never had an issue with them. I find them just as comfortable as my athletic shoes. The only problem is adidas changes their shoes lines as fast as taylormade changes clubs.

why is that a problem??

to OP, are they too tight? if the right size, some moleskin or tape or bandaid over the affected spot wold be the ticket

The FootJoy Versaluxe is the most comfortable golf shoe I have ever worn. Unlike the sizing range of the Ecco shoes, these are sized using American sizing, including half sizes. Also, they have a waterproof guarantee.

I have a similar issue... I have a narrow heel so reg width shoes generally fit well in the heel but are too tight up front. When I go to a wide shoe they feel perfect up front however they get loose in the heel and that leads to my heel slipping in the shoe causing blisters and eventually tearing up the back of the shoe... On a side note it does help when the shoe is very flexible... the more rigid the shoe... the more my heel slips. This year the new 360 boost Adidas shoe is working after two rounds with minimal heel slipping. The shoe seems snug up front and fairly snug in the heel with a wide width size.

I was wearing Puma Faas shoes prior to this and they felt great with no problems in the heel however there was very little traction in them. I hear good things about the New Balance shoes and may look at them if the 360 boost don't work out.

Your problem sounds like a fitting issue. You can't compare different brands sizes or even styles within the same brand, as they all use different lasts for their shoes. Another problem you may have is different sized feet. A lot of people have different sized left and right feet and in most cases it wont matter. But walking a lot on the golf course can show the issue. You can also get blisters from shoes too big or too small.

Look into a FootJoy Demo day in your area. We just had one here in San Diego and it's pretty impressive the amount of shoes they brought to try on for size. They also measure your foot on a Brannock Device to get a good starting place.

At the very least, get your feet measured again. Everyones feet change as they age. Both feet! Good luck! :-)

Try Moleskin, made for blister protection.

I own 3 pair of adidas tour 360 ATV's. I've never had an issue with them. I find them just as comfortable as my athletic shoes. The only problem is adidas changes their shoes lines as fast as taylormade changes clubs.

+1 on this. I'm not even an Adidas fan but the ATV's are the best shoes I've ever owned!

Any low back shoe no matter what brand shreds my ankles. The higher the back the better for me. Only shoe that didn't blister my heels from day one are the TW free inspired shoes

The new FI shoes are great. I normally have to get W or XW, but was able to stay with medium on these, heel area felt great. This is not normally a huge problem for me, but this is a shoe worth looking at.

I use Superfeet inserts on my ECCOs. Evens out the fit. They are kind of pricey but don't wear out fast and are shoe swappable pretty fast.

They also come in multiple densities/thickness.

Any low back shoe no matter what brand shreds my ankles. The higher the back the better for me. Only shoe that didn't blister my heels from day one are the TW free inspired shoes

Interesting, I do have a pair of TW Nike Frees from '13 I believe, they're pretty beat up now but come to think of it I managed to get through 18 wearing those a few times, still with a bit of irritation but not as bad as other brands with lower backs. I may try on the new 360 boosts, they have a lip in the back now that seems to rise up fairly high, hopefully that could help.

This happens to me when I "restart" a running program. I put athletic tape on my heels and it works great.

I have a similar issue. My feet are really wide and my heel slips in most shoes. The best I have found are True Linkswear (I have the gent wingtips which also look pretty cool), and a good old Canadian brand Kikkor (I just bought brown and black saddles off eBay for like $50). These are found cheap online and they work for me and my heels.

Any low back shoe no matter what brand shreds my ankles. The higher the back the better for me. Only shoe that didn't blister my heels from day one are the TW free inspired shoes

I've been wearing several True Linkswear models for the past couple of years without issues. I recently bought the True Linkswear LYT Dry which has a higher heel and they were blistering me. I had to tape my heels for a few rounds until I adjusted to them.

Try Moleskin, made for blister protection.

Yep

Try Moleskin, made for blister protection.

 

Yep

I've tried several things like this, all of them start sliding around and coming off after a couple holes, especially when walking up and down hills. Any personal experience with it?

Ecco Biom

Agreed.

to the OP, I miss my Mizunos!!!! :fool: