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A Good Shoe Can Make a Difference
If you, like myself, are dealing with Plantar Fasciitis, you most likely already know how important it is to have good shoes. It is something that can make all the difference in the world.
Your foot needs to have the correct amount of support in all the right places to alleviate the pain and create the perfect set of circumstances for the little tears in your ligament (that cause Plantar Fasciitis) start healing.
If you ended up on my website reading my articles, then I’m assuming want to make the pain go away. So you can wake up, and instead of wondering in how much pain you’ll be, afraid of getting out of bed, you can think about your favorite breakfast, a nice hot cup of coffee and the amazing day that you’ll have. Doesn’t this just sound perfect? It does to me.
There are many companies there that apparently agree with me too, and gave us many high-quality, high-support, made specifically to alleviate foot or heel pain shoes to choose from.
One of these companies is also New Balance, and their Men’s M1540V2 Optimum Control Run shoe will give your foot everything it needs to get to its old healthy self, thanks to New Balance’s trademark technology, years of expertise and (what I feel is) genuine interest in helping you with your pain.
A Shoe Like Not Many Others
There are many features worth mentioning when it comes to this shoe. And there is plenty that can be said about each of them. For this product review, I prepared a short list of the most important ones. Interested? Keep on reading.
1. Motion Control
The main benefit of this shoe is the control it offers to the runner. We’re talking about New Balance Motion Control. This is the feature of the shoe you can praise and adore for keeping your foot in the correct position throughout every inch of your gait.
If you have overpronation, this shoe is perfect for you since your foot will not get the opportunity to roll inwards. And since feet rolling inwards can have negative effects on your Plantar Fasciitis, having your foot in a neutral position will help alleviate the pain and also improve your running technique.
2. Support and Stability
Rollbar Technology is what makes this shoe stand out when it comes to support and stability. It was designed to work together with Motion Control in correcting your foot’s position and keeping it in place, so your foot doesn’t dance around in your shoe while you’re running.
If the word “correcting” scares you and makes you feel like the shoe will hurt, squish and painfully re-shape your foot when placing it in its anatomically correct position, don’t worry!
This shoe is firm, yet gentle and flexible, and New Balance took special care in making it extremely comfortable.
3. Amazing Fit
When you sit down or bend to put your shoes on, you shouldn’t have to struggle to get your foot into the shoe. Or feel like you’re having your toes re-sized.
New Balance understands the importance of a great fit and uses only the best material, such as leather and mesh, to make sure your shoe will feel like it was made especially for you every time you put it on.
And what’s even more important is that these materials are flexible to adapt to your foot, but also firm enough, so the shoe doesn’t lose its shape and form.
4. Cushioning
Of course, I have to mention cushioning as well. It’s of the key features that you should look in a shoe if you suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, and you should never compromise when it comes to it.
The signature technology New Balance uses to assure the best cushioning possible is called Encap, and it’s basically a combination of shock absorbing EVA material in the midsole that provides the cushioning, with a harder plastics around it that makes sure it’s kept in place, while it also gives additional support to the foot at the same time.
But that’s not the only cushioning. There’s also the Dual-density Collar Foam, a combination of soft and firm foam, placed in a way that you get support and cushioning exactly where you need them.
Both Sides of the Coin: The Pros and the Cons
Yes, another great option if you struggle with Plantar Fasciitis and that much more so if you also have overpronation. But, as always, there are pros (let’s go over them again and add some new ones) and there are also cons.
Pros:
- Provides amazing arch support.
- Great for men with overpronation.
- Amazing stability. The shoe keeps your foot in place every step of the way.
- The shoe will last many miles, thanks to the combination of high-quality materials.
- The breathable upper part adapts perfectly to the foot.
- Amazing cushioning that protects your foot and absorbs all impacts.
- Can be found online and in stores.
- The shoe has blown rubber outsole to improve traction.
Cons:
- The shoe can be expensive for many runners. If you’re a US citizen and have access to Medicare, check if these are eligible for reimbursement.
- It’s available only in black and silver/blue. It would be nice to have a couple of choices more to choose from.
New Balance Men’s M1540V2: Yay or Nay?
Yay!
There’s not doubt that this is an amazing a fantastic most likely do wonders for you and really alleviate your Plantar Fasciitis pain.
This shoe will give you the support you need and the comfort you want while keeping your foot stable and letting it breathe. It’s great for long distance running and it performs well on hard surfaces.
Now, you might be thinking that this shoe is just for runners. That’s not exactly right. It’s for people with Plantar Fasciitis or any other kind of foot pain who want, need and are willing to pay for one of the best available shoes out there. So, if you don’t run every day, but do spend 10h per day on your feet, this shoe is as much meant for you as it is for all the runners.
A word, if you’ll allow me, about the price. Unfortunately, the best shoes for Plantar Fasciitis are expensive. And, make no mistake, this is one of the best shoes for Plantar Fasciitis. It has all features that you need to deal with your heel pain and more. The only downside is that your wallet might not be as appreciative of your purchase as your foot. The high cost can definitely make this decision much more difficult.
But you don’t have to decide now. Take a few hours and go to the store, try them on, take a few steps, compare it to other shoes, and then choose what works best for you. If these shoes impress you as much as they do most people, and you can afford them, go for it! However, if buying them means you’ll have to cut back on important things you can’t live without, don’t worry, there are more affordable options out there.
At the end of the day, what matters is your health and happiness!
Brandon R. Katz is a registered professional nurse who has been instrumental in providing us with an informed opinion on the medical aspects of footwear. He graduated from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and currently provides his services at a non-federal long-term care hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
Brandon proves to be the champion in the group of expert writers with his in-depth knowledge in foot health, how to take care of it adequately, and what shoes, socks, or insoles will be supreme for you. He has previously worked with hospitals where he has foreseen both inpatient and outpatient departments and has been a practicing nurse since 2009.
Brandon hails from Jersey City, NY, and has a loving family of four with a small popper called Rozo. His decision to become a nurse arises from the desire to be in the position of helping and rehabilitating people.
