Since it's been determined a super shoe isn't a good idea for someone walking with a cane, this thread has been closed to new posts. If you want to help Rojo find Aunt Betty the best walking shoe, chime in here:
I think it's a terrible idea, unless maybe you don't like her. The farther off the ground a shoe takes you the less stable it is. The less stable a shoe is the easier it is to lose your balance when you're wearing it and that increases the risk of falling. And the idea behind all those shoes is they bring improved performance. So she'll finally get under fifteen minutes around the block and achieve a dream she's had since she was 75? Get her a gift card from Famous Footwear and let her find something she likes.
Super shoes could be a morale booster for Aunt Betty if she was a 1960s flower child who lived by the words "Don't trust anybody over 30". That cohort valued youth above all else. Rojo could explain to her that the shoes are the latest and greatest and will make her feel like she's 21 again.
"Walks with a cane" is a huge red flag NOT to get super shoes as well as any shoe with a high stack height. Even before super shoes, I have had some of my older patients complain of tripping using the classic Hoka shoes especially if they have to step up on a curb/sidewalk.
I do have 80+ year old senior athletes as patients who I do recommend supershoes with a wide last under the heel such as the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, or the super shoe trainers like the New Balance SC Fuelcell trainer and Puma Deviate Nitro. Interestingly, that New Balance shoe is becoming a popular casual shoe as quite a few of the reviews on YouTube are by non runners raving about the bouncy cushiony feel with walking.
So would the Fuelcell trainer be good for her or not? Or is the stackheight too big? She likes the orange:
I've barely worn a super shoe. I think my pair was lost when I moved house. I assumed the stack height would make them dangerous but have long thought it would be amazing if they could make that bounch available for seniors. But I"m hesitant to get a regular pair of Hokas for the same reason.
I drew my Aunt Betty for Secret Santa. It's not really a secret as she told me what she wants - a walking shoe. She is a bit unstable however and walks with a cane so I"m afraid to get her a super tall shoe for stability reas...