Can orthotics truly work in a pair of Rock n Roll Shoes without going up two sizes? YES!
There is one specific pair of Bop Jonnys Shoes that ticked all of the boxes for me!
After long two years of dealing with chronic foot pain and a long list of foot ailments, I could no longer get by in just any pair of dancing shoes that I thought looked good with my outfit. Not only was it painful to put weight on my feet while I was dancing, the pain that followed after I had danced, and the next day was taking too much of a toll on my day-to-day life.
A Plantar fascia rupture, bursitis and a Mortons neuroma have me now using Orthotics all of the time. Big chunky Orthotics at that!
I first tried them in my Bleyer Jitterbugs, my favourite Shoes to wear with a dress. There was no chance they were going to fit in those shoes. So, I tried a size bigger than I would normally wear. They did fit in.... just!!! but there was no room for my foot in that shoe! So, I tried a size bigger again, everything fit, but the heel cup felt too low on my heel, and they felt far too long in the toe. Time to try something else.
Next, I tried my go-to Shoe for Class nights, the Bleyer Casual White. Made from such soft leather, and with minimal seams, I thought they were going to be perfect. I pulled out my usual pair, size 38 (I'm an Australian size 6.5), the orthotics did fit straight in, but no room for my foot. Once again, went for the next size up, size 39. The orthotic slid straight in, and my foot did fit! They felt comfortable enough that I wore them for a full week of trading at Cooly Rocks On. Did they look good with my outfits? Yes. Were they completely comfortable? No. Underneath my foot felt fully supported, but the heel of the shoe felt too shallow for my chunky innersole, like I was going to slip out, and the top of my foot did feel squashed like the shoe wasn't quite high enough in the laced area.
Time to try a different style.
The Dance fever Saddle. The ONLY Shoes I have worn dancing for a very long time now. the Shoes that changed everything for me!
Dance Fever Saddles are available in Women's and Men's sizing. I wear a Women's size 38 in Dance Fever styles. They come with a removeable cushion innersole. I first removed the innersoles that came with the shoes and replaced them with my orthotics. From the moment I put my foot in, I knew they were perfect!!! The heel cup of the shoe is much higher, so my heel instantly felt secure and comfortable. No movement! The front of the shoe is higher than the Bleyer styles, so there was room for the orthotic and my foot without being squashed. The inner is also padded, which meant nothing was digging in anywhere!
Since the discovery of how well they worked for me, I have recommended them to all of our customers who wear an orthotic. I get so much joy seeing the relief that dancers get, finding a Rock n Roll shoe that doesn't the sacrifice support that they need to look after their body.
The Spin Spot sole of the Dance Fever range is great on so many different dance surfaces - a good all-rounder! Plus being suitable to wear outside is a bonus.
Zoe x