Uh oh, packing plan upset by new health issue

Portugal did a job on my feet. Plantar Fasciitis reared its ugliness. Once home my doctor checked my feet and recommended a specific insole for my foot that wasn’t one commonly used. It took awhile but my feet are good. Have you seen a foot doc? If not, it might be a good idea to do so.

I hate to say it but the pain dampened my enjoyment. I found myself retiring early and missed out on some evening fun.
I hope you do well!

Yes ditch the backpack for a roller. The extra weight on your feet from the backpack does no good. And just bite the bullet and check your bag. Spending a lot of time standing around hurts my knee and back too, and I found using a walking stick to lean on was very helpful. Now, when I walk into a building, I'm always scouting places to sit if I need to.

I traveled to Europe after having plantar fasciitis. I took three pairs of shoes. Being able to change shoes was critical to my being able to enjoy myself.

I no longer have plantar fasciitis but have different foot issues. I still travel with three pairs of shoes. I most recently have taken hiking shoes (which are great for those cobble stones), white sneakers with lots of support, and flat Astrex sandals which take up almost no room. I still only do carryon. But I don’t do 13 pounds. More like 20 (and I am sure that is not all shoes). And I use a rolling suitcase but I never did use a back pack so no change.

I'm having to make the change from a backpack to a rolling bag myself. I will leave on Saturday. Over half my luggage will be non-clothing items to help me manage Long Covid. Worried regarding my foot that has been damaged. My long walking days are over :( I'm carry-on only and have yet to pack. It will be interesting being within the weight limit. But then, there are pockets. And anyways, only my husband will see me wear the same outfit multiple times. I'll be bringing very little clothing and plan to take over some of his carry-on for my stuff. I don't mind seeing him wear the same outfits too.

Had plantar fasciitis for years. Didn’t help I was on film and tv sets 15 to 17 hours a day

Over a decade ago was at an REI and tried on a pair of Keen sandals.

Within a day the plantar fasciitis was gone. Great relief!

Own over 6 pairs of Keens. Not cheap but durable.
Low cut hikers, slip ons, lace ups, boots and their Uneek sandals.

Have hiked and strolled and ambled through out Ireland, London, Belfast and Cuba in them. Not to mention around Washington D.C., Alabama Foothills in CA, Bisti Badlands, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, Reno, Venice beach boardwalk and in LA’s Griffith Park.

Just a thought.

Diane, Beth and Gail,
I’m sorry you have had this trouble, or other foot trouble, too😥.
The doc I just saw said that plantar fasciitis tends to go away in three months if you can stay off your feet and if you use inserts for your shoes. He also recommended I bring a prescription for stronger than usual NSAID, which I will do, so if I need to get through those painful moments, I won’t miss out on the fun.

I got inserts for my Oboz hiking shoes and got the new running shoes today, with an in-depth analysis of my gait by the store clerk at Fleet Feet running store. I got Brooks Ghost sneakers, which are soft and lightweight, which will be the second pair of shoes.

Stan, I don’t check bags. I’m not so lucky and my luggage has gotten lost or damaged when I’ve done that. But I like your idea of keeping an eye out for places to sit. I’m like that about shade-I avoid the sun.

I have a small rolling carry-on for domestic flights and it can fit under the seat if needed. One wrinkle is our planned Easy Jet flight from Paris to Glasgow-not sure if the bag size will fit and it would need to be checked. I will confirm dimensions. Maybe it would be liberating to “roll” instead of slinging my pack on.

I've traveled with PF and it has been an issue and hasn't.

One time, I had lousy shoes and the every step was excrutiating pain. Then I spoke to a specialist. I changed my shoes which proved amazingly helpful. I found a pair with good, sturdy support. I added a thick pair of insoles for more cushioning that helped. If they didn't work, the doc was going to give me orthotics.

If you havent already seen one, make an appointment with an orthopedist or a podiatrist as soon as possible. They're experts, not us.

Take care of your feet first. You have time to worry about packing.

Thanks Claudia, your job sounds fascinating. A lifetime of standing for work has done a number on my feet, I think.

Frank II, the doc I saw said that getting me in to see a podiatrist would be July at the soonest, unless I had an actual emergency. Our state is notorious lately for not having enough caregivers, since COVID this has been the case. But you are right that it should not be ignored. I will do all I can to rest my feet and do the inserts.

BTW, the computerized gait analysis was really cool. It helped determine what footwear best suited me. I would have totally chosen the wrong ones.

I've also traveled and hiked with PF. Keens are great. I recently tried OC - oncloud and they are really helpful for it. When I was first diagnosed with it the Dr. told me to wear crocks all the time which I did and it really helped - along with stretching.

I agree that you should consider a rolling bag as extra weight on your back will not help.

I ordered a pair of orthofeet shoes for my trip later this year. Came with inserts, but actually made my PF worse. Just received yesterday a pair of Columbia boots which I've been wearing since receiving and my feet are doing great. You'll just have to find what works for you.

Even with PF I've always only traveled with one pair of shoes and pack a small carryon.

We did a 6 week hiking trip when I was having a fair amount of trouble. What got me through was an icepack that I could strap to my foot at night for at least 20 minutes. You won't be able to do that while traveling in Europe, but it may help you heal pre-trip.

If you do need nightly ice packs, hotels I stayed in last year were kind enough to keep my frozen 5” round freezer packs in the bar freezer during the day, and I asked for them before bedtime. They were all very accommodating, and the packs were a relief to my feet after hiking each day.
-Someone suggested taking a tennis ball and rolling each foot across it on the floor to massage your foot muscles.
Best wishes!

Have you heard of Oofos? Designed for runners with PF, initially they made just recovery sandals and slides, and now they have expanded to athletic shoes. The rubber sandals and slides have remarkable arch support , and it's hard to imagine how much relief they can offer for foot pain. Your local comfort shoes store should carry them, or just order from the website. When traveling, they feel remarkable at the end of the day, and don't take up much room.
Good luck!

Go to The Good Feet Store. They will fit you with custom orthotic. They are guaranteed for life. I just replaced my original ones after 5 years. Do not buy the three they will try to sell you (for different times during day). Buy only the primary one. I developed PF while on European trip. Went to regular podiatrist when I got home. She made it worse. Had physical therapy. Use OTC Voltaren cream, freeze plastic bottle and roll foot on it numerous times per day, soak foot in Epsom salt bath (alternate ice water foot bath with hot water foot bath for inflammation). The best overall solution for me was the Good Feet Store.

If this helps with packing at all, my husband has tied his second pair of shoes to an attachment loop on his backpack. The have to be lace-ups, of course, not slip-ons. Tie them with a double bow, so they don’t untie during transit.

I hope that insoles or another footwear strategy offer you relief, whatever luggage you choose.

The Spenco 3/4 orthotics worked for my PF but they made my feet super hot, especially after a long day.
So my foot doctor prescribed custom orthotics which really helped a lot.

Another huge relief: I wear sandals with arch support as slippers. Heavenly after a long day! Right now I'm using Joseph Seibel Tonga sandals. Very heavy to pack, but I've seen ads of flip flops with arch supports. I have a pair of Reef leather flip flops with arch support. These are lighter. Recovery sandals that athletes use look like an interesting possibility. Haven't tried them since I'm happy with my Tonga sandals.

My Keen shoes didn't work long term for my PF, but Brooks Ariel and New Balance 860 work great.

I pack some Instaflex to massage my feet and any sore muscles.
I also try to fit in a pedicure before a trip.

I really hope your PF doesn't interfere with your trip. I've been there. Have fun!

Pat, Fleet Feet has Oofos, I will check there, thanks! They seem to be ultra lightweight, if so, that’s a plus. But since everything good seems to cost $120-150, I may need to see if my current solutions will work.

Val, the nearest Goodfeet store is several hours drive away. Their concept has merit, but I just got some inserts from Fleet Feet, hoping those will work well. If I’m ever in a city with a Goodfeet store, I’d definitely check it out. Thanks for the detailed advice! Seems great for sandal wearers, nice options for many types of shoes, like dress shoes.

Shawn, I bought a small rubber ball called ProStretch Footy, which is smaller than a tennis ball, very packable option to stretch the fascia. Not sure why but when I tried icing my PF flare, nothing helped. I just had to wait it out. Several hours laying in bed helped. OTC painkillers did nothing, usually those help me.

Jill, the Oncloud shoes style with the open channels seems tricky-may I ask what situations you felt they suited you best? City streets? They seem risky in country situations such as light hiking. The open channels seem to invite pebbles or mud to lodge there.

Carole-I had no idea there was a whole category of recovery shoes for athletes. I think the Brooks Ghost sneakers I got yesterday are in that category-soft and immediately comfortable.

Another thing I’m doing is placing fatigue mats in the kitchen where I prep meals and cook. No option but to stand.

This forum is so great, thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I’m sorry that so many travelers experience pain-that’s difficult enough at home. But it’s great that there are options to help us adapt.

Hoping for the best, but some planning for the worst is needed…darn it. What’s your favorite lightest rolling carry-on (to fit international carry-on size)?

I am so sorry you are having this difficulty. I have been through this as well. For me the key was finding shoes with good arch support. I am not going to recommend any to you as what works for one does not work for another. You have to find one that works for you. One thing that did help me a lot besides good shoes was a foot compression sleeve. You can buy these at Walmart, etc. They are less than $20 so worth a try. This foot compression sleeve was recommended to me by a former assistant coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. I will never go back to wearing shoes without good arch support.

I really, really hope your inserts, exercises, etc will help you get through this trip --- I don't even know how many trips I've taken that involved a lot of walking with plantar fasciitis and I had to skip things I wanted to do, hobble up and down cobblestones streets with a cane, and once even needed a wheelchair to get through an airport. So, I have some thoughts for you.

Everybody's feet are different, so of course different things work. For instance, crocs, cushioned shoes, and soft surfaces make my PF worse. I've tried all sorts of shoes and inserts and taping and even custom orthotics made by standing on crushable foam at the podiatrist's office. None of these things did a bit of good. The only two orthotics that finally did the trick were made from (years ago) plaster casts of my feet and (a few years ago after a relapse that was my fault) 3D models of my feet made by taking digital photos (very cool!). In Italy in December, I was walking 16,000 steps a day with no problem So, please do see a podiatrist and don't give up until you get relief.

My husband's been pulling my roller bag on trips for years, but now his bone-on-bone ankle arthritis has put the shoe on the other foot, so to speak, and I needed to handle my own bag last year. He convinced me to get a spinner, despite my protests that they look silly and have flimsy wheels and couldn't be as good on cobblestones or stairs as a regular roller bag. Guess what? It was great! See if you can borrow a lightweight one. If you have to check a bag, there are many ways you can reverse your luck and have your bag arrive safely at your destination. I understand totally the weird embarrassment mixed with anxiety you will feel checking a bag, and even LOOKING at such a "huge" bag, but it might be worth it on this next trip.

Best wishes!

Sorry to hear that you’re needing to make changes last minute for a trip which adds a level of stress.

People have given great advice on shoes, etc. My two cents as an ultralight packer is to first remember that your personal requirements come before any packing requirements or decisions are made - not the other way around. Figure out everything you need to take and then figure out what size suitcase you need for this trip. It doesn’t make sense to pack in a way that hinders your health or enjoyment. : )

Hope you have a great time!

As you can see PF takes on many forms, and what works for relief varies for different people.

My wife has had foot and PF problems for years, since she cracked a bone in her foot almost impossible to do so to. For her, inserts and very good shoes is what work. Still some pain, but she manages. She has tried nearly every shoe around, and for her, Hoka athletic shoes work, nothing else. She has some sandal type shoes that she can tolerate for around the house, but for any duration, it is the Hokas, with inserts, and the shoes only last her about a year before she has to replace them. But basically, she can not walk barefoot, at all, and the rest of her shoes and boots in the closet just had to go. She can tolerate a backpack type bag, but alternates between that and a roller bag.

After her struggles, I was really bummed when I cam down with PF. However, I was able to get arch supports and stick to good shoes, and the flare-up subsided. I now can do most things, but stick to decent shoes with arch supports, even the commercially available ones (Dr. Scholl's and others) work for me, changed out every 6 months or so. I basically do not suffer any pain on a daily basis, but if I start abusing my feet, it creeps back. I switched to an Osprey wheeled backpack, 36L, good large wheels, then when it makes sense, can wear as a decent backpack

As you know you can't walk around barefooted any more. Are your feet okay with wearing your sneakers after walking all day? I need to get out of structured shoes and wear sandals. Personally, I would spring for some sandals with arch support. If you can't walk well, it will cost you a lot in enjoyment.

I like Aestrex Jillian sandals. They have arch support and adjustable straps which are important for me as my feet tend wide and swell over the day. But others swear by Keens or Oofos. Consider ordering several types from Amazon or Zappos with free returns and see what works best for you. I bought the Aestrex Jillian sandals before a trip to Crete after it was clear that my SAS ones which I had loved did not offer enough support. I could walk all day in them out of the box. I used them more like slippers last year in Sicily when we had unseasonably cold weather not appropriate for sandals.

Pastelholic, The oncloud shoes I got are basically tennis shoes which I've only worn in town on sidewalks etc. I believe they do make a hiking boot version. Got mine at nordstrom rack. I would never pay full price:)

As for bag recommendations - I just bought a Rick Steves rolling bag for myself and the Ravenna bag for my husband. They seem great and I can't wait to use them! I've had many rollers in the past including a spinner, but my very favorite bag was my old Rick Steves rolling bag which has finally worn out after 20 years of much use!

I had 2 long trips in 2022, one 6 weeks and one 10 weeks. On the 6 week trip my plantar fasciitis reared its ugly head pretty quickly. I had two pair of very comfortable shoes, but it wasn’t enough. I had a good trip but it was definitely affected by the PF and I had to stop much more often than usual to get off my feet. On the other trip I didn’t feel it at all. What changed? Trip #1 I brought a pair of Clarks walking shoes and a pair of Skechers arch fit shoes. Trip #2 I brought the Clarks and a pair of Ecco Soft 7 shoes. I have since bought 2 other styles of the Ecco Soft 7’s and they have also been great. One pair, waterproof and insulated booties, were the only pair of shoes I actually wore on my 2 week Christmas Market trip in December. I never took the Clarks out of my suitcase. That said, I will always travel with a spare pair of shoes. I hope you find what works for you. Enjoy your trip.

I don't mean to be rude, but I don't get why someone would be proud of their packing-light badge to such the extent that they "can't" bring with them the things (shoes) that they need to avoid literal physical misery on their trip.

Take what you need so you can walk. There is no crime in taking a little bigger bag or even in checking a bag. There is no one handing out merit badges at your home airport upon your return for packing light.

Kim makes a good point. You need to relax about the “packing light” and take what you need, including that extra pair of shoes. And switching to a roller bag is important—-it will help a lot to take that amount of weight (20 lbs?) off your feet.

So many people have given such good advice, and I thank you all.

In my initial post, I was trying to kid around a bit about my packing method. I do like to bring as little as needed, but I definitely always bring what I need. I wouldn’t shortchange myself to make a point. Who would that serve?

I want to assure Jean, Kim and Lola that I’m definitely flexible, that’s why I came to this forum-for good ideas about something we all face-our changing needs and the wonderful products made to serve those needs.

It’s just weird to have one thing come up that throws off your entire plan, I guess it doesn’t matter what that “something” is, it’s more about pivoting to meet that challenge.

I’m heartened that so many of you with foot problems wanted to do your trips anyway. You found ways to do it. How wonderful is that?! I’m sorry for those of you who had pain while traveling. Someone on our Italy tour several years ago had a broken foot and he had a hard time. We all felt for him. He had huge bags he couldn’t manage while on his crutches. Someone on our tour had to do it for him, he was a solo traveler. He could manage his day pack, but not the two enormous rolling bags. These were not the carry-on size. He couldn’t drive because of his foot. But there is always a way-he got a taxi and got home safe.

Thanks for telling me your preferences for spinners and rolling bags- I use them domestically, just not overseas yet, and I appreciate your input.

My usual travel shoes are from On; I love the squishy soles, because I average 6 miles a day and sometimes hit 10 or more. The one year I used different shoes (another expensive brand, but with stiffer soles), I developed PF after a day on which I walked 12 miles in a rather hilly town.

Upon returning home I wore shoes and a compression sock until the PF cleared up. It took months. I will forever stick to On shoes in the future.

The cut-outs in the On soles are what make the shoes super-comfortable for me, but they are an obvious point of failure. I stick almost exclusively to walking on pavement these days, but I learned on earlier trips that rural walking would eventually cause rips in the cut-outs. The shoes remained usable, though. Yes, the soles pick up pebbles from time to time. I don't find them hard to remove.

Another issue is that the models I buy (not sure it's true of all) have a lot of fabric rather than being all-leather. The fabric can get ripped if you take rural walks.

Order today....MELT Method hand and foot kit with the instructional DVD. THis took away my PF pain in 3 days after spending $400 on custom orthotics which did not really help.

I then transitioned to using Correct Toes toe spacers but I'd not recommend that before your April 7 trip because that means different shoes.

With the Melt balls, I did the DVD until I learned her pattern and now I can do the treatment on both feet in about 7 minutes. If I think I am having a flare I'll do it morning and night. If I am traveling and have just ramped up my walking (hello Paris, I'm looking at you, lol!!) I will do it every night before bed without fail.

Sending you lots of caring thoughts!!

Pastelholic, so sorry to hear about this. I developed PF many years ago and it was painful to walk. I was an attorney and had to wear dressier shoes, but after that, I gave up and switched to Dansko clogs for going just about everyplace. After 6-8 weeks, the PF went away and has never come back.

I still make sure that my shoes now have good arch support and I try not to go barefoot too much. I would echo what some others said and bring a spinner or roller bag, and check your bag (put an AirTag in it for peace of mind). And I would bring a second pair of shoes that have good arch support as well. I have found myself that I do best when my shoes are very supportive and have a bit more heft to them (I wear Oboz Low Leather shoes). That makes them heavier, but I think it's better for my feet.

Here's my medical dilemma and how I resolved it. Mine surfaced when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had to use a CPAP. All of a sudden, I had a 3rd bag that I had to carry and deal with. I was so annoyed. No issues getting it on as a carry on since it's a medical device, but I hated carrying that extra bag. So when I reached the age of Medicare and discovered that you can get CPAP supplies regularly at no cost (well, obviously, I pay the premiums), I changed my strategy.

First, because I had just received a new CPAP early last year, I decided to bring my old CPAP machine instead of the new one. This eliminated two problems. 1) I didn't have to worry about something happening to the machine, and 2) I didn't have to disconnect the CPAP at home. I always have my "travel" CPAP ready to go.

Then I had another idea. Instead of bringing the hated bag, I packed my CPAP supplies in my carry-on along with my clothes and so on. Then at the end of the trip, I threw away the hose, mask, and reservoir since I have new supplies at home. It frees up space for other stuff (souvenirs, anyone?) and I don't have an extra bag to carry. I'm planning the same strategy for this year. I still hate carrying all that stuff, but it beats the alternative. 😊

BethFl- I know what you mean about having sandals, but I’m not really a sandals gal. I wore them at my Mom’s in Fl, but that’s about it. I like my Dansko clogs hanging out at home, but they are too heavy to bring overseas. I may look for something very light with arch support, but everything costs $$$. Some people swear by Crocs, others can’t do the squishy.

Acraven-Thanks for the info about the Ons. I’m hoping my Brooks Ghosts will fill the need for squishy shoes, which will feel good at the end of the day and also walking the city streets. Still mulling options.

Mardee- I love my Oboz shoes too. With new inserts from Fleet feet, I’m hopeful they will be as wonderful as always. I’m sorry you have to deal with CPAP but your solution is clever. As you say, the alternative is not good. My “slippers” at home are Dansko clogs (with the backs), have been for decades. They have good arch support. I’m glad you were able to heal from PF. (BTW, love your Costco enabler posts…)😉

I think what did me in was going barefoot at my Mom’s Florida apartment on her tile floors and cooking for her. All that standing with no fatigue mat= Ouch. It’s taught me I don’t want to have tile floors, and I can’t go barefoot. I don’t go barefoot at home anyway.

Pam-I will definitely look at the info, thank you so much! I’m sorry you’ve had this problem too. So common, I’m finding. Many sufferers. Many solutions.

I’m considering the Rick Steves rolling carry on. I have the convertible backpack and though it is too large for carrying now, it’s about the same size as the rolling carry on, so I am sure I can fit all I need. I was trying to find a lighter weight bag but they all seem to cost a lot while also weighing over 5 pounds each. I’m still going to have to lift it at times. Yeah, not gonna check a bag yet. Not sure what will happen when we take Easy Jet from Paris to Glasgow. It’s an adventure, right? We won’t have a hard deadline when we reach Glasgow. In case they check the bag, I can put a few necessities and meds in my personal item bag that fits under the seat or overhead.

Thanks for the Cpap strategy, Mardee. My husband just got a new one, so he has his old one (and lots of replacement parts) available. He did break down to get a travel one last year, but it doesn't save a lot of space.

I'll just throw in that I took a pair of Crocs on one six-week European trip (as my second pair of shoes). I wore them everywhere and they were great.

I think what did me in was going barefoot at my Mom’s Florida apartment on her tile floors and cooking for her. All that standing with no fatigue mat= Ouch. It’s taught me I don’t want to have tile floors, and I can’t go barefoot. I don’t go barefoot at home anyway.

Pastelholic, that very well could be. Me, I have no problem going barefoot and do quite a bit. I got PF because I was walking to court and lunches downtown on paved sidewalks in crappy shoes with no arch support. Shoulda, woulda, coulda!

Yeah, Mardee. For your work, you had to stand a lot, didn’t you? I did, too, for most of my life.

Janet, thanks. I have something like Crocs. Might squeeze them into my rolling bag.

I ordered compression socks for PF on Amazon. Reviewers said they helped a lot.

Pastelholic, I see, and admire your flexibility in figuring out a new solution.

I hope you will have a great time - springtime in Europe is wonderful. Pay attention to Pam - she is one smart cookie and those techniques must work really well !!

Yes, Kim, Pam is one of the gurus I trust most on the forum! Are you blushing, Pam?☺️😊

I agree, Europe is magical in spring. I’m sure it’s wonderful in every season but we love to see the new green on the trees, the cooler temperatures are refreshing, and we have our rain gear when April and May showers appear.

Mardee, what rolling bag do you like for carry on?

Air tags are on order, btw.

Pastelholic, I like the TravelPro Maxlite 5 spinner carry on (soft sided). It only weighs 5.4 lbs, is easy to maneuver, durable and reasonably priced. I've been using TravelPro luggage for years. My brother is a retired Delta pilot and he was the one who recommended them to me years ago. I had a carry on from the earlier Maxlite series for a long time, but finally gave that one to my daughter, and bought the series 5 for myself.

And fwiw, I like spinners. I find them much easier to maneuver in airports and hotels, and if you come to bumpy places or stairs, you can just lift it up easily (it also has a side handle). There are roller bag afficiendos here who love their bags, too. It all boils down to personal preference. Right now, I'm really glad I have my spinner. My shoulder injury I've talked about is healing well, but I still need to avoid undue stress on my right arm, and dragging a roller bag behind me would definitely have added stress to it. 😊

After 2 bouts of PF I wear a lot of Vionic brand flip flops and shoes….for years! Not cheap….find on sale. My second flare-up I made the mistake of walking on a beach barefoot….Now my beach walks are only done with proper footwear. Bummer tho!?
In Europe I saw most men and women wearing tennis shoes last summer. Just get good supportive ones. They now make many orthopedic designed trendy beautiful shoes! I find podiatrists say to change up your shoes with lots of walking. Which plays into my “game”….I
I love taking more shoes!! I know….more to pack and lug around….

Everyone’s experience is different, here’s mine, almost always the cheapest way:

What’s needed is stiff arch support, it solves the problem. I bought about 8 Walk Hero insoles on Amazon ($10 each) and put them in every shoe and slipper. They last years and when one a shoe wears out I move over the used insole. I have yet to discard an insole. I’ve been using the original 8 insoles for at least 8 years, 2 still unopened.

I looked up YouTube physical therapy and really like Dr Jo, for this and other issues. Concentrate on leaning forward to a wall stretches while keeping heels on floor, and heel lifts standing with front of feet (toes/balls) only touching the ends of stair treads. I think keep heels below level of tread but can’t remember. Exercises are for recovery only, then can quit them.

PF resolved in about 3 months never to recur. I wear cheap flip flops or go barefoot indoors most of the year, no recurrence.

Just pointing out that buying different shoes and visiting a foot specialist may be money wasted.

It’s unlikely for the pain to resolve before your trip however.

I disagree with Tom. I had the wrong insoles for my foot. Once I got the correct insoles, I started to heal. They cost $36.00. The office visit covered by insurance.

"Yes, Kim, Pam is one of the gurus I trust most on the forum! Are you blushing, Pam?"

Oh gosh, yes...blushing. Thank you and Kim for the kind words.

BTW, I am always on guard for PF, lol. Now I wear the Correct Toes every day, all day. I do all workouts with them on. I have found that my feet need something different since I healed from PF over what worked when I was in acute pain...as far as footwear. What works for me is the Correct Toes with a zero drop minimalist shoe for foot strengthening. In your search for what will work for you, take a look at some of the youtube videos from Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist in the Portland OR area. He developed Correct Toes.

When I up my activity level, I also add in this Yoga for Feet by Yoga with Adriene. I also try to do this weekly right before I travel to loosen things up, lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea4MF7IqILA

I had the wrong insoles

I don't know what "wrong insoles" means, they have to fit your arch, but I switched my wife from expensive fitted insoles (about $50 a pair) to the ones I bought cheap on Amazon, and she has done fine since. The expensive ones wore out and needed frequent replacement.

I also recommended that brand to a coworker and they worked well, I got feedback later on. My limited experience is that most don't need medical care for this issue.

Hey Forum enthusiasts,
I ordered my first spinner with help from Mardee and from Ronda’s
thread. Bigger luggage: will I resist the urge to pack those “just in case things?” Everything I need will fit. Thank you both!!

My friend who went to Europe last fall wore OnCloud shoes. She loves the cushiony comfort. She doesn’t have PF, but the Fleet Feet store clerk recommended them after analyzing her gait. I got a closer look at the holes in the sides of the soles. They don’t seem a problem at all. I think she mostly used them on city sidewalks and cobbles, not for hiking or running.

Hey TomMN,, who wrote:

…I looked up YouTube physical therapy and really like Dr Jo, for this and other issues. Concentrate on leaning forward to a wall stretches while keeping heels on floor, and heel lifts standing with front of feet (toes/balls) only touching the ends of stair treads. I think keep heels below level of tread but can’t remember. Exercises are for recovery only, then can quit them.
PF resolved in about 3 months never to recur. I wear cheap flip flops or go barefoot indoors most of the year, no recurrence.

Much appreciated. My husband likes Dr. Jo’s exercises for his chronic back pain, so I will definitely check these out. I will look for those arch supports too. Can’t hurt.

While I had a flare up of PF symptoms in late January and early February, my feet burned and throbbed while I was lying down. When walking it just felt like my feet were tired, mild pain like having tired feet. I made the mistake of powering through. But it’s the body’s way of telling me to rest. So I took several days to rest and not walk (that’s my main form of exercise, along with yoga). Meanwhile, I kept up seated yoga and leg stretches and foot stretches. I bought a spiky rubber ball to roll under my foot. Every morning I do the exercises and stretches. These will hold me until MELT kit arrives.

Today I tried staying off my feet in between bouts of standing (I work at the public library on our small city). Now I’m paying attention to little twinges I would have ignored before. I feel so much better than two weeks ago.

Trying to limit time without arch support(now wearing shoes most of the time).

Diane-I respect your opinion and your choice. That’s a reasonable price to pay. My doctor visit was $40, but the shoes and inserts are definitely not cheap, nor is the new suitcase, but it’s okay to spend money when you need something, luckily I can afford these.

If you ignore medical issues, sometimes they go away on their own. Or they can worsen. I had read that about PF, and I didn’t want that to be me.

BTW, TomMN,I was wearing old shoes with no wear left in the soles, and I have no idea how bad the inner supports were. This is a wake up call to check my shoes for wear more often and just get rid of the old ones. The tops looked fine but the support was gone. Not a good scenario for foot health.

All2alb-I looked at the Vionics. Also looked at Oofos and Hoka, manufacturers who also make “recovery” sandals. I think they are a great idea. I’m coming around to the idea of having something other than a structured shoe that I can use in the hotel room during down time. However, the cost for these is between $60-$80-$120. I need to mull. We have a pair of garden clogs that resemble crocs. Would they really be that different from the “recovery” sandals? Is that characterization useful for selling shoes to me (another gullible schlub desperate for comfort)? It may be time to stop for today. My skeptical side is emerging.

Pam, thanks again for the info. I will definitely check it out. You are always so thoughtful. Much appreciated!

I've had PF and it took years to resolve. Things got better much faster, though, when I found a podiatrist who told me to keep my arches supported. Mine are quite high, too.

Oboz Sawtooth Low is my hiking shoe. The basic shoe has decent arch support but I put my custom orthotic in and can walk forever in them.

Archies flip-flops have a fantastic amount of arch support, for flip-flops. I wear them around the house in warmer weather. Pricey and worth it.

Vionic sandals have decent arch support and I can wear them. I can wear their "Amber" sandal all day long. The shoes need a bit more so I put in an orthotic.

Very few off-the-shelf orthotics are enough for my arches. Only one type of custom works for me. If there is any hard plastic, my feet scream in pain. Go figure.

Everyone's PF is different. Mine gets triggered by walking barefoot in shallow water at a beach. (ugh)

A travel tip: I always wear my heaviest (hiking) shoes on the plane when we travel. That way, my orthotics are always with me. Put the lighter shoes in the luggage; helps with the weight limit, too.

Definitely do not wear a heavy backpack until you've recovered fully. After that, only when you have good orthotics that you trust. Otherwise, weight is the enemy of PF.

Foot pain can ruin a trip. "No hoof, no horse" applies to us humans, too. ;-)

I think that plantar fasciitis affects everyone differently, and everyone's "cure" is going to be different. I was lucky in that I just switched to wearing Dansko clogs for a several months and it went aways. It sounds like others need more time, medical care and/or supplies.

The only thing that applies to everyone is that we now all wear shoes with higher arches! 👢👡👞👠😊

Although I don't have PF, I am older and my feet need more support or they are not happy. From these posts I am seeing that it appears what kind of support depends on the individual. I have walked many miles in lightweight fly knit (Nike or New Balance) tennis shoes and also in a heavier, stiffer soled tennis shoe with arch support. For me, the softer sole feels more comfortable than the stiffer sole and I can walk many more miles in them. It is interesting to see others have experienced the same.

Pastelholic, glad you found some luggage!

Palstelholic, you've gotten some great tips here. As a fellow Vermonter, I will add one more:

I hear you on the provider wait times :-( Specialty healthcare can be a huge challenge where we live.

When I had a round of PF about 18 months ago, I visited a very good physical therapist who was able to medically assess my PF, give appropriate treatment, and help me change some things that would be triggers for recurrence. It took maybe 3 or 4 visits and a few weeks of exercises/stretching/therapy that I did at home, but I have been pain-free for over a year now and am back to all my usual activities, including 5-days-a-week running, without having had to see any other medical provider.

PTs right now do not have huge wait times in my area (Chittenden county) -- this might be an avenue to investigate if you are having difficulty getting a podiatrist appointment. A few weeks of treatment before your trip might make a huge difference.

Best of luck, and I hope you have a wonderful vacation!

DebVT, Thanks for the info, much appreciated! I’m very glad your situation resolved. I expect mine will too. Step by step, no pun intended….

Mardee, did you notice that the Travelpro Maxlite 5 21” spinner got a good review in the NYT as the best ultralight bag for a budget price? It’s from an article updated on 1/23/2024 in Wirecutter.
The Best Carry-on Luggage

Recently when I was looking at replacing my spinner / rolling carrtyon I looked at the Travelpro Maxlite 21". I have other Travelpro bags and love them, but that bag is over 22 inches when you include the wheels. If you are going on an airline that is ultra strict I'm not sure it would work. (that's why I ended up buying the new RS rolling carryon)

If your question is about packing being impacted by a health issue, I'm remembering a visit to Boston in about 2010. Minneapolis was the hub for that trip, and going out my connectioning flight was in the opposite corner of the airport than what I came in on. While in Boston I acquired a nasty sinus infection, etc, the sort of thing that you feel like you can't breathe deeply enough to get enuf oxygen. So, even though going out I was carry-on only, coming home i checked everything but my purse and a bag of menthol cough drops mostly because I was afraid of another cross airport dash. I came in on gate 11 and left on the last leg from gate 12, right next door.

Hey Jill,
I chose the compact version (38L) seen here, and because they say with the wheels it measures at 22”L x 14”W x 9”D, I’m hoping they are accurate, and it weighs 5.1 pounds. There is also a slightly larger style that is 23” with the wheels. Perhaps that is the one you noticed? I will find out soon and can measure it for myself.

I love the RS rolling carry-on, but it weighs 6.5 pounds. Definitely a factor in my decision, and the spinner cost less, since I caught a sale price. I probably missed the RS sale on that bag, since they are great with offering sales.

Doric8, we have had to run to make flights when delays on the first flight caused a tight connection. But it would definitely be no fun when you are sick. I was dragging a bag both times it happened to us in recent years, once with AA and also JetBlue. I wonder whether I would trip myself trying to run with a spinner. Learning curve? 😄 I will get practice during the six weeks, rolling over cobbles and such.

I have a 21” Travel Pro spinner and like it a lot. It’s lighter than the RS spinner (I had to buy a new bag when hubby decided he liked my spinner) and I bought and returned at least 8 bags before deciding on the Travel Pro. I purchased it at Macy’s. They have great sales on luggage.

Wow, Andrea, eight bags didn’t make the cut, but the Travelpro did! I’m glad you found one you like, and it’s even better that you’ve had it awhile and still like it. Mine is expected to arrive Wednesday. Can’t wait!

Sometimes flaws reveal themselves. My pet peeve is a bag (any type) that falls over when you set it down. The spinner should stay upright, though I’m sure it depends if you piggyback something on top of it that causes it to fall, or not…

Macys has good sales on so many things. I try not to browse too often, my wallet needs the break…