No heel Counter 2019

Champion Gusto CT. No heel counter at all and wide enough for my flippers.

Just rip out the cheap memory foam insole it comes with.

Only 30 bucks or so too.

Nike team sponsored college runner looking for something similar. The last shoe that worked well was the Lunar tempo.

Nike hopeful wrote:

Nike team sponsored college runner looking for something similar. The last shoe that worked well was the Lunar tempo.

You can make a duct tape swoosh to cover the C on the side.

I also have what it sounds like you have (Haglund's deformity). Had a nasty case of Achilles pain two years ago that resolved with some time off - since then I have switched to Nike Streaks as my primary training shoe and have actually had my heel bumps start to decrease a bit in size. The newer Pegs, although heavier, look like they also have no counter.

Nike LT4 or Streak 6.

You could try the Adidas Solar Boost, or the Supernova if you can still find them in your size. The heel counter is split in half, with a gap in the middle, and it should give you no issues. Both allow for custom orthotics.

A shoe that doesn't have a heel counter and seems to help with PF (in my experience) is the Saucony Freedom ISO. Not sure about using orthotics with these, but they eased my PF pains.

Other than that, try to find out the source of your PF. The book Anatomy for Runners (Jay Dicharry) has a chapter of self-assessment tests that help you detect imbalances and tight spots, and then teaches you how to fix them.

I’d recommend the Peg 35 or Vomero 14. Both have the sweeping heel design so they won’t agrivate the achilles and they are on the firmer side which is also good for achilles recovery.

I’ve had a history of achilles issues popping up every year but have been injury free this year after training in these models.

wrote:

I’d recommend the Peg 35 or Vomero 14. Both have the sweeping heel design so they won’t agrivate the achilles and they are on the firmer side which is also good for achilles recovery.

I’ve had a history of achilles issues popping up every year but have been injury free this year after training in these models.

No to Peg 35. First, they don't last. The ZoomX foam lasts maybe 85 miles before losing "the pop". Second, they destroy your Achilles. The heel is very soft. You sink down and it hurts.

You probably mean the Pegasus Turbo. The regular Pegasus 35 doesn't have ZoomX but Cushlon.

I don't actually see the point of a heel counter.

I have one heel on each foot, how hard can it be to count them?

Do this:

Get a real sharp knife, then poke it through the back of the shoe where the heel counter goes into the midsole foam. Saw all the way from one end of the counter to the other. Now you have a slit at the base of the back of the shoe. Most counters are glued to the upper with a bunch of foam in there. You can rip the plastic out - be patient, and eventually get the whole heel counter out. Now you have a heel counter-less shoe, but a big rough edge. I've just left it like that and been fine, or you can use some silicone caulk and glue the upper back down along where you cut. It's going to look a little messy either way, but the counter is gone.

Also, you could buy a roll of adhesive foam rubber and cut out a little pad and stick it on the inside of the back of the shoe. The counter is still there, but your achilles is quite a ways from it.

I've had both of these work pretty well

Or you can just buy a pair of Champion Gusto CT and save yourself all the bother. I swear you guys are slaves to the big brands that you also hate.

I am experimenting with a pair of Zoom Pegasus 35 Flyease. They have no heel counter. The flywire is a little funky to fine tune the fit, but they are very promising for insertional achilles pain.