On the Set Gear: SHOES

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djbobbyrhodes

Well-known member
I'm currently PAing a show in town and we've been rocking 14 hour days every day so far this week, and my shoes are not cutting it for me.

What kind of shoes would you recommend for those long hard days on set?

I'm sick of feeling miserable as we get closer and closer to wrap each day because my feet are throbbing. :undecided
 
Not sure what brand/type to recommend but I can offer this advice: Make sure they actually fit your feet and don't tie/buckle/velcro them too tight. Check out some comfy gel insoles.
 
Ok, this may or may not work for you, but it sure did for me.

After the first 6 months of steadicam operating, my feet couldn't take it. I went on a steadicam forum and asked how they did it and what they wore: general consensus was Merrell's . Specifically, people liked the the lightweight hiking style boots. A few others recommended Solomon's.

I tried over 5 pair of Merrell's, and they just didn't work for me. I sent them all back and tried a pair of Salomon's, and holy cow, these shoes feel like they were MADE for my feet. Excellent arch support, lightweight, mesh top to keep you cool, and best of all, my feet never hurt again. I now swear by these shoes. Specifically the XA Pro 3D ultra. I shop at Zappos and always check for coupons, but look around for best prices
 
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I've shot Steadicam in old sneakers, sandals, whatever... My feet only seem to ache in an absolutely ill-fitting shoe or a pair that are too tight or half-size too small.
 
Much like Ryan, I found Steadicam had been killing me, leg and foot wise. However, then I switched to New Balance. I've been working with them for a while now. I get a new pair every 6 months or so, and have one pair dedicated for Steadicam days. They've always been good to me, but I still had some foot pain, especially on the longer days.

I knew I had been flatfooted for my whole life, but on a whim, I tried out the Dr. Scholl's "Custom Orthotics" ( http://www.footmapping.com/footmapping/home/index.jspa ). They're not perfect, for $50, they lessened my foot pain an insane amount. Running got a hell of a lot easier (lo and behold my foot was falling oddly), and I found myself trying to find a seat less and less. Big improvement, and from what I remember, there was a money back guarantee, so it might be worth a try.
 
Terry_Lasater said:
Hey Tom and Ryan, what rigs do you guys use? I have a Pro Vid 2.
Click to expand...

Klassen harness, Master series arm, and PRO sled, with a Marshall HD monitor on it. Quite the "Big Rig"!

Funny thing though... since I bought it, the heaviest camera I've had to fly is an EX-1. Hopefully that'll be changing soon though.
 
tomthemacman said:
Thanks! I do quite enjoy it. A bit of a step up from my last rig, don't you think? http://www.buffalosteadicam.com/photos.html#3

(sorry for totally taking your thread off topic, Rob!)
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What rig was that? Mine was built in 2002 and since discontinued. It has the old green CRT, but its a Steadicam and still works great.

Back on topic: Guess I need to check out the much-ballyhooed Merrell just so I know what they are...
 
Terry_Lasater said:
What rig was that? Mine was built in 2002 and since discontinued. It has the old green CRT, but its a Steadicam and still works great.
Click to expand...

Yeah, yours isn't too old. That was a homebuilt sled with a Merlin Arm and Vest. Topped out at a little below 10 pounds, and required constant fiddling. I actually almost bought a ProVid, but somebody else snatched it up. Ended up with the PRO for not too much more though, so it's all good. Greenscreens are solid though - better in the sunlight than almost anything else out there. My Marshall comes close, and the Cinetronic beats most greenscreens, but still, they're pretty impressive.

Similarly back on topic, does anyone have a recommended model of Merrells? They've got so many, I figure I should at least try one.
 
I have good luck with Merrells (lots of walking on steel decking/beams, and concrete). I suspect that having the shoes well broken-in is second in importance only to the particular shoes that suit your feet.
 
I don't wear anything other than Sperry Topsiders. I love them, very comfortable shoes. If I had to work 14 hour days I'd say get some Dr.Schols gel soles to go with the topsiders and it would probably feel like you're walking on a cloud
 
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