Walking with PowerStep - Review

Exercise trends come and go, but walking never goes out of style. In fact, it seems like walking gets more and more credit as being one of the best sources of exercise. All you need is your feet and a place to walk. Now, I'm sure there are people who go for walks barefoot, but that would not be me! I need shoes for sure and even more, I need good arch support solutions for my low arches and pronating feet. Although I have custom orthotics I got from my podiatrist, they are pricey. I'm always on the lookout for other arch support options and the most recent stop on my quest brought me to the PowerStep website and their Slenderfit 3/4 Insoles. I wanted to try insoles that would allow me to fit them into non-athletic shoes. My reality is, sometimes I need to spend time on my feet and I can't be in casual footwear. The tricky thing is that most sneakers allow you to remove the insoles. That is not always true for "nicer" shoes. These Slenderfit 3/4 inserts are thinner (about 1/4 in at the thickest point)  and don't take up the whole insole space. They go just past the arch area of the shoe. 

I tried the arch support inserts in three different shoes. My first were these Ann Klein flats. The insoles fit in easily and I was able to wear the shoes comfortably. I think the fact that the shoes are bit stretchy helped accommodate the inserts. I next tried them in these Ecco Short Boots. These boots have a removable insole that I needed to remove. And I will say it was really important that I could remove the insoles as I would not have had enough room for my foot otherwise. That said, my sports insoles absolutely would not allow my foot to fit, so this proves the benefits of thinner "dress shoe" arch support inserts. I wore both the flats and the boots for several hours over two days and was very comfortable and felt the extra support. 

Another thing I'd like to mention is that we can also be proactive in battling our flat feet. There are excercises that are useful for strengthening muscles. I like the examples shown in this Healthline article. I am fortunate to live near the beach and am able to walk barefoot on the sand. I know many people don't have regular beach or sand access, but, if you are able to, consider the information and research shared in this article from PromHealth. It's always empowering when you can be proactive about your health.

I definitely recommend these PowerStep Slenderfit 3/4 Insoles. I'm also impressed that their website offers a variety of products, including footwear. I wear flip flops and slides quite a bit and I'm interested in trying theirs next. I also want to try their clog slippers. Ordering without trying isn't something to worry about as PowerStep has a 90-day guarantee. Check them out!

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Tennis Favorites: Tennis Bracelets, Sun Sleeves & Cooling Towels

 

I’ve been playing tennis since I was very young. It’s my main sport and one of my main sources of exercise. I play a few times a week and really love it. So, I thought it would be fun to write a post about some of my favorite tennis things.

Tennis Bracelets: You know when you hear about something and you wonder to yourself: “Why is it called that?” The tennis bracelet is definitely one of those things. It’s typically a thin, simple, yet elegant diamond bracelet. Looking at it doesn’t make you think of tennis. So where did the name come from? There is actually a pivotal moment in sports history that launched the name. American tennis player, Chris Evert, whom I’ve had the opportunity to meet and is one of my favorite players of all time, was wearing her diamond bracelet while playing at the 1978 US Open. During a match, her bracelet broke and fell and she asked to stop the match to pick it up. After the match, she was asked about it during an interview and she called it her “tennis bracelet.” And with that, the diamond bracelet started to be called a tennis bracelet. I’m not really a jewelry person, but I love tennis bracelets. They are so classic and go with everything. You can wear it playing tennis and wear it for a dressy occasion. Just the perfect accessory and a great gift for someone who plays tennis!

Sun Sleeves: The reality is that in Southern California, I spend a lot of time in the sun while playing tennis. I grew up in New England playing a decent amount of indoor tennis. Indoor tennis really doesn’t exist in Southern California. So, if I’m playing, I’m outside often during the strongest sun exposure times. Wearing sunblock can be so annoying. You need to reapply it and considering it gets on your hands, doing it on the court when you are about to hold a racquet, isn’t the most ideal situation. About ten years ago, I was in a sporting goods store when I noticed  Nike UV Protection Sun Sleeves. I decided to try them out and was immediately hooked. They are lightweight and the white color reflects the sunlight, helping to keep me cooler. They fit perfectly with good stretch and stay in place. I wear them from my wrist on up to just under the beginning of my short sleeve. So, my arms are totally covered. I've tried other sleeves and the Nike ones remain my favorite. I can’t recommend these sleeves enough!

Cooling Towel: Playing tennis in the hot sun can really take a toll on me. I’ve found that using a cooling towel, makes a big difference in how I feel. I discovered the Arctic Cool instant cooling towel a couple of years ago and really recommend it. I just soak it and take it to the court with me in a plastic container or bag. Then when I need it, I pull it out, snap it in the air and put it around the back of my neck. I feel so much cooler and refreshed. I never head to the courts without it! This is also a really practical gift for really anyone who participates in outdoor activities.

There you have it. Three of my favorite tennis things!

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Currex Acepro Insoles - Review

 

My name is Elizabeth and I have flat feet. When I get out of the pool and walk along the pool deck, my kids tease me that my wet footprints look like they belong to a duck. My feet have been through a lot over the years. I’ve participated in sports my whole life, on all kids of surfaces: ice, snow, grass, dirt, clay, wood, cement. In school, I earned varsity letters in field hockey, cross country and tennis. As I got into my twenties, I started to really notice foot pain, especially in my arches. Or should I say in my non-existent arches? I went to a podiatrist who fit me for custom orthotics. I also found out that as well as having flat feet, my feet over pronate (see image). [For an overview of pronation vs supination, click here]Custom orthotics help a lot, but they are expensive and don’t fit well in every type of sports shoe. I’ve constantly kept my eye on innovations in the “sports insoles” category and was really intrigued when I was offered the opportunity to try out CURREX ACEPRO Insoles. The CURREX site is really informative and includes tools to help you figure out which of their sports insoles is best for you. Nowadays, I play a lot of tennis and I want sports insoles that are designed to help me on the court. CURREX ACEPRO Insoles were developed to handle extreme loads of force and abrupt changes in movement during sports like tennis, pickleball, and basketball. I put my order in and waited for them to arrive. Shipping is free on orders over $49.95 and my sports insoles arrived in four days.

They are sized in a range of shoe sizes so it will be likely you need to trim them down. I had to trim mine and it was really easy. Once I had them fitting perfectly in my tennis shoes, I went for a walk. The first thing I noticed was the heel cup gave me extra stability that I don’t have with my orthotics. I also appreciated that the ACEPRO Insoles aren’t as thick as my orthotics so they didn’t crowd my foot as much and allowed me to tie my shoe tighter. I felt the arch support but it wasn’t as aggressive feeling as my orthotics. Next I went to play tennis with my son. We played a set and I was very comfortable. I think one of the biggest things I felt was extra stability which I attribute to the heel cup and the overall structure of the sports insoles. Next I tried them in some of my other “sports footwear” and was especially happy that they fit in my spin shoes. My orthotics are too thick to work in my spin shoes. I have included photos of the ACEPRO Insoles and my custom orthotics (as you can see, they've gotten a lot of use) below so you can see a side by side comparison. Overall, I appreciate the versatility of this size/design of sports insoles. The biggest thing I appreciate is the price. At $59.95 for the ACEPRO Insoles as opposed to over $500 for orthotics at a podiatrist, there is no contest. I look forward to getting lots of use out of my new sports insoles! 

Because I get asked: My favorite brand of tennis shoes are K-Swiss. They make great shoes for all types of court sports. (I don't earn anything from referring to products linked in this post)

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