[prunenoveggie]

In scouring the forum and reading through all the old Topy debate threads, I saw the idea of shoe "balance" being discussed many times, though hardly ever at length. It was usually used to describe the balance between the heel and the toe. I read that the heel should sit flat, not on the front edge, when the shoe is set flat on the ground.

If this is the case, I believe all of my shoes are unbalanced, including a few pairs of new Allen Edmonds that I've worn under 5 times. ALL of my shoes sit on the front edge of the heel when I set them on the floor. The back of the heel is not resting on the ground, and if I push the back of the shoe down so the heel sits flush on the floor, the front of the shoe comes up (albeit slightly). This is true of the aforementioned almost-new AE's as well as a shoe my cobbler recently re-heeled (he is a custom bootmaker and seems to do great work).

Here's a video of the heel. You can see I can press it down.
https://i.imgur.com/ebTEhTq.mp4

If the heels are supposed to rest flat when set on the floor, it seems a topy would actually help make the shoe more balanced. When the heel is flat on the floor, there is space between the floor and the lowest point on the sole. It seems to me a topy could help fill in (some of) that space.

So can anyone explain this concept of shoe balance to me? Are all of my shoes unbalanced, and if so, what does that mean to me and my shoes? What can I do about it? Or did I just read a misinformed explanation of shoe balance, as I suspect? Either way, I'm interested to learn more about the concept. Shoes are fascinating things!

I apologize for the long-winded, inarticulate post. Please let me know if you need my to clarify any of my thoughts. And I promise I won't keep posting so many threads...I'm up to five, and it's only been a week since I started posting. I'll try to cool it down a bit after this one

 

[SG_67]

When you walk, your foot hits the ground in a particular way. There is a particular angle at which your foot hits the ground. There is a normal distribution of load and a transference of that load as your foot moves through a normal gait pattern.

Your shoe is designed to absorb and distribute that load so as to protect your foot, complement your natural biomechanics and spare the shoe. Adding something to the bottom of that shoe will alter the normal function of the shoe vis a vis your natural gait pattern.

I don't have any shoes with topies. I wear shoes with synthetic (dainite, crepe, etc.) in fowl weather or I wear galoshes.

 

[prunenoveggie]

When you walk, your foot hits the ground in a particular way. There is a particular angle at which your foot hits the ground. There is a normal distribution of load and a transference of that load as your foot moves through a normal gait pattern.

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. To be clear, it doesn't matter if the heel is resting flat when set on the ground, correct? This is not a proper test of anything?

 

[SG_67]

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. To be clear, it doesn't matter if the heel is resting flat when set on the ground, correct? This is not a proper test of anything?

Couldn't help you with that. Sorry. I suppose it depends to some degree on the shoe.

 

[Charles Dana]

Prunenoveggie:

Are your shoes comfortable?

Do your feet hurt when you walk? How about while you are standing? What about after you've been walking for a good while?

Do your shoes pinch or rub your ankles?

Do you have any blisters from wearing your shoes?

How do your knees feel after a fairly long walk? OK? Sore? What about your lower back?

******

You don't really need to give me the answers to the above questions; tell yourself the answers. Your responses, once you assess them in their totality, should help you determine for yourself whether you have a shoe problem or an overthinking problem.
If it turns out that you have the latter, then I have the solution: spend less time reading about shoes and more time watching old "What's My Line" shows on You Tube. Especially the episode where one of the panelists is Groucho Marx and one of the contestants is a blonde-haired young woman who is a professional wrestler. Good stuff.

More shows; fewer shoes.

 

[prunenoveggie]

Prunenoveggie:

Are your shoes comfortable?

Do your feet hurt when you walk? How about while you are standing? What about after you've been walking for a good while?

Do your shoes pinch or rub your ankles?

Do you have any blisters from wearing your shoes?

How do your knees feel after a fairly long walk? OK? Sore? What about your lower back?

My shoes cause no ill effects, and to be honest I'm not the least bit worried about them. Even if there is some sort of problem with the balance, I'm sure they're much better than the shoes I used to wear. My question stems more from curiosity. I have trouble believing that all of my shoes are "unbalanced" in roughly the same way. I want to know more about the balance of a shoe, as it sounds fascinating.

 

[Charles Dana]

^ OK, then, as long as you're not stressed out. I hope someone can answer your question. By the way, John Lobbs don't seem to have this quirk, based on the very small sample that I just put through the "balance" test. The heels are absolutely flat on the floor.

Maybe there's something wrong with your floor? You don't live in that gravity-defying house at Knott's Berry Farm, do you? I guess it would be hard to drink coffee in that house. Every time you tried to take a sip, the coffee would dribble sideways across your face and into your ear. And I don't even want to think about how messy it would be to pee. Assuming I'm allowed to use the restroom. I think I'm getting my discussion threads mixed up. Howard! Help! Put down that can of whipped cream and get me out of here!

Just watch "What's My Line" episodes until someone answers you.

 

[prunenoveggie]

Just watch "What's My Line" episodes until someone answers you.

Believe it or not, I've seen most of the episodes. I think most people my age (under 40) have never heard of the show (or even Groucho Marx, sadly). But my father taught me well...at least when it comes to television. Fashion, on the other hand...well, he has his own unique sense of fashion, I suppose...

 

[smmrfld]

I want to know more about the balance of a shoe, as it sounds fascinating.

You're really overthinking this whole shoe thing. Buy good ones that fit well, and take care of them. Pretty simple. Not worth all of your angst.

 

[eagle2250]

As one wears their shoes, heels and soles are going to cease sitting perfectly flat on the floor, when at rest. Shoes conform to our feet...it's the nature of the (good) beast! As for Topys, they can extend the life of your shoe soles and in the instances that your shoe come fitted with those very hard, very thin, glaze finished leather soles, Topys can provide stable footing as you wear such shoes. Enjoy your shoes, my friend!

 

[Searching_Best_Fit]

So can anyone explain this concept of shoe balance to me? Are all of my shoes unbalanced, and if so, what does that mean to me and my shoes? What can I do about it? Or did I just read a misinformed explanation of shoe balance, as I suspect? Either way, I'm interested to learn more about the concept. Shoes are fascinating things!
..

IIRC the balance of a shoe refers to how it sits on a flat surface. The details can include but not limits to: how much of toe spring, heel height, arch height, where it lands on the front and others. If you search more on the StyleForum, there is a lot of info from many custom bootmakers to describe these details.

Spoiler

When you walk, your foot hits the ground in a particular way. There is a particular angle at which your foot hits the ground. There is a normal distribution of load and a transference of that load as your foot moves through a normal gait pattern.

Your shoe is designed to absorb and distribute that load so as to protect your foot, complement your natural biomechanics and spare the shoe. Adding something to the bottom of that shoe will alter the normal function of the shoe vis a vis your natural gait pattern.

I don't have any shoes with topies. I wear shoes with synthetic (dainite, crepe, etc.) in fowl weather or I wear galoshes.

As @SG_67 said, when you walk to move your leg to the front and land, observe the *angle* of how your heel lands. The heel lands in a certain angle, not parallel to the ground. The angle-up (spring) at the heel is made to help your foot to absorb the impact on landing. Once you move your weight to the ball of the foot, the heel edge lifts up and ready for next step.

IIRC this was introduced by some RTW shoe manufacturer some time ago and everyone starts copying this idea. The traditional bootmakers still insists on a flat heel, but some may follow this idea.

This heel spring is just like toe spring. There are arguments on both camps about whether it should be done or not. The main reason this is done is to help to reduce the impact.

So now, if you add a thick-enough topy to the front but do nothing at the heel, you can introduce imbalance to your shoe and make it uncomfortable. Imagine if you are stepping on a step using the ball area of your foot and leave your heel down like doing a hamstring stretch. And now try to walk in this fashion. The hamstring is stretched unnecessary and thus could cause a long-term issue. Therefore, if you decide to add a thick enough topy, you should also add something to the heel to restore the balance of the shoe.

Lastly, all your shoes *are not* imbalance. They are made like that as intended so wear them in good health and stop worrying. If you decide to add a topy to preserve the life of leather sole, do that in moderation or add an exact thickness topy to the heel so that the overall balance is preserved.

 

[prunenoveggie]

IIRC the balance of a shoe refers to how it sits on a flat surface. The details can include but not limits to: how much of toe spring, heel height, arch height, where it lands on the front and others. If you search more on the StyleForum, there is a lot of info from many custom bootmakers to describe these details.


As @SG_67 said, when you walk to move your leg to the front and land, observe the *angle* of how your heel lands. The heel lands in a certain angle, not parallel to the ground. The angle-up (spring) at the heel is made to help your foot to absorb the impact on landing. Once you move your weight to the ball of the foot, the heel edge lifts up and ready for next step.

IIRC this was introduced by some RTW shoe manufacturer some time ago and everyone starts copying this idea. The traditional bootmakers still insists on a flat heel, but some may follow this idea.

This heel spring is just like toe spring. There are arguments on both camps about whether it should be done or not. The main reason this is done is to help to reduce the impact.

So now, if you add a thick-enough topy to the front but do nothing at the heel, you can introduce imbalance to your shoe and make it uncomfortable. Imagine if you are stepping on a step using the ball area of your foot and leave your heel down like doing a hamstring stretch. And now try to walk in this fashion. The hamstring is stretched unnecessary and thus could cause a long-term issue. Therefore, if you decide to add a thick enough topy, you should also add something to the heel to restore the balance of the shoe.

Lastly, all your shoes *are not* imbalance. They are made like that as intended so wear them in good health and stop worrying. If you decide to add a topy to preserve the life of leather sole, do that in moderation or add an exact thickness topy to the heel so that the overall balance is preserved.

Thanks, I think you answered all of my questions. Now I just need to read your post 5 more times until I understand it.

Also, I want to assure everyone I was never actually worried about this, merely curious. Shoes are fascinating things!

Thank you all for sharing your wisdom!

 

[Nardeant]

It seems to me that the balanced shoes are tennis shoes. And considering that it has now become fashionable to wear comfortable shoes, I started walking in my tennis shoes at work (I work as a nurse) and just during walks. Besides, I love tennis, and on weekends my friends and I meet on the tennis court to discuss recent tennis news and practice a little. And by the way, even though I lead an active lifestyle and work is a place where I have to walk and stand a lot, my legs do not get tired.