Once I hit 45 my legs and feet starting killing me on gigs after 4 hours of playing. Do you all have any good shoe recommendations for semi formal/formal gig shoes? I haven't found anything great!
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Double Bass Shoes?
- Thread starter dylanjohnson
- Start date
My "dress" black shoes are Clarks. Not really dress shoes. But they're comfortable.
Birkenstocks have become my go to shoes. If you have a slightly wider than foot, they’re really comfortable. I have a pair of boots and suede shoes that I’ve worn for 8 hour teaching days with very little discomfort.
Thanks for the tips, everyone. @Sean Riddle, I've been wearing Birk EVAS all through the pandemic and my feet are hating going back to my Clarks I usually wear on gigs. Do you have Birkenstock formal-ish shoes?
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Yup! They’re called Gary and it’s made of suede. Those are my go to shoes and definitely work for semi-formal dress.
Blundstone boots are my solution to a similar issue.
Believe it or not, Doc Martin's makes some stuff that's pretty comfy
Men's Shoes | Oxfords & Dress Shoes | Dr. Martens Official
Men's Shoes | Oxfords & Dress Shoes | Dr. Martens Official
I’m 48 with back and arch discomfort and the best shoes I have for anything, including playing bass are Blundstone boots. That said, my only complaint is that they get a little warm. They now make low cut shoes which I may have to try, even though they are kind of ugly. I’ve reached the age where “kind of ugly” shoes are a necessary evil.
I've been wearing Ecco leather chukkas lately. They are not cheap, but they look good and are so very comfortable.
Can we just get it over with and rename this Thread - "What Shoes are Best for Walking Bass?"
I have pretty bad feet and I need a wide shoe. I wear orthotics and mostly New Balance 4E trail runners. Dunham (the New Balance boot company) is my choice for most boots. I recently got a pair of Skechers X-wide light hikers, and they've been pretty easy on my feet while providing decent support.
When playing I always have a 3'x3' thick rubber work mat to stand on, and that makes a nice difference in my foot fatigue.
Here's trick I learned from a friend who is an auctioneer, because they spend hours on their feet at big auctions. He told me that when you can get a break, if you lay down on the floor and put both feet up (elevate them) in the seat of a chair, 15 minutes is as good as an hour's nap. It does make a big difference.
When playing I always have a 3'x3' thick rubber work mat to stand on, and that makes a nice difference in my foot fatigue.
Here's trick I learned from a friend who is an auctioneer, because they spend hours on their feet at big auctions. He told me that when you can get a break, if you lay down on the floor and put both feet up (elevate them) in the seat of a chair, 15 minutes is as good as an hour's nap. It does make a big difference.
