Orienteering in Football or Rugby shoes

[SeanC]

I'm always telling newcomers that they shouldn't orienteer in running shoes or even trail shoes once they start going off paths as this increases the risk of ankle injury. However many are reluctant to shell out £60 for a pair of orienteering shoes until they are more committed to the sport, a particular problem for juniors with rapidly growing feet. What about football or rugby shoes for these people? Half the price of O shoes and people are more likely to have them in their cupboard. Would these be safe to wear (to the orienteer, I know the shoes might get trashed ).

[geomorph]

We did just that for the kids cos so many paths are mud-traps, and this seemed a good way to get a lot of use out of an item.

However, football shoes can be really uncomfortable on hard packed forest roads and less stable than orienteering shoes. They seem ok on general off-track terrain, but not as grippy on rock as the stud configuration is wrong.

I've done it the other way round and used non-metal o-shoes for football and found them great.

My ankle injuries in orienteering have come from bad foot placement not the shoe. All but one time I've been wearing the correct orienteering shoe for the terrain, but I've misjudged or not looked at placement.

[andypat]

Totally agree with geomorph re this being a suitable use for footie boots (if you already have them) but with the exact same problem that it really hurts your feet if you use them for prolonged periods on hard paths. I remember this from my school days when it wasnt even that clear to me whether you had to go to Sweden to buy a pair of 'O' shoes. They certainly werent stocked anywhere in Dumfries that i was aware of.

I wouldnt go out of your way to buy a cheap pair of football boots for a beginnner for that reason - the discomfort may put them off. If its your own child I'd maybe look to borrow an old pair or just shell out in the hope they'll take to the sport with your encouragement.

[andypat]

Totally agree with geomorph re this being a suitable use for footie boots (if you already have them) but with the exact same problem that it really hurts your feet if you use them for prolonged periods on hard paths. I remember this from my school days when it wasnt even that clear to me whether you had to go to Sweden to buy a pair of 'O' shoes. They certainly werent stocked anywhere in Dumfries that i was aware of.

I wouldnt go out of your way to buy a cheap pair of football boots for a beginnner for that reason - the discomfort may put them off. If its your own child I'd maybe look to borrow an old pair or just shell out in the hope they'll take to the sport with your encouragement.

[mappingmum]

I started in astro boots - I already had them and they had a better grip than walking shoes and were more robust than trainers. Yes they were heavier than O shoes with an iffy grip at times but that just increases the benefit when you buy the real thing!

I don't think there's any hard and fast rule. People should just try out different footwear they aleady have and see what works for them. I think the risk of injury is slight and person-specific.

[mharky]

I'm confused, how do trainer/trail shoes increase the risk of ankle injury off path? If anything, they reduce it. To do you're ankle your foot needs to stay relatively still as your body weight and leg move over, too far, in the wrong direction. Far more chance of this happening in grippy o-shoes than slippy trainers.

[SeanC]

A podiatrist gave me this advice a few years ago...

On paths and roads you need trail shoes or running shoes to absorb the shock and reduce the effect of all that jarring on the body. Off paths, because you can't always see what your treading on, your feet must make last second adjustments as it hits the ground, or rocks or tree roots or whatever so that when you put your weight on the foot its at the correct angle to avoid twisting it. Those last second adjustments are hindered by the big block of foam on the bottom of running and many trail shoes.

[Dave]

I didn't get my first pair of o shoes until I was 14 (or maybe 15..) and however many years that leaves before then I ran in blade-studed footy boots and found them great

[AndyC]

Coincidentally after years of using training shoes (and suffering an increasing speed of their demise through the sole dropping off after travelling off path coupled with a regular inability to make it up/down slippy slopes) I bought a proper pair of O Shoes at the October Oddyssey and debuted them at the weekend.
No faster(yet) but I did feel more secure on the slopes and muddy areas and I can see that they will resist damage better so maybe I should have taken the plunge a long time ago

[Miner]

I have the problem of a rapidly growing son - size 7 1/2 feet at age 10. He has now progressed to orange and needs something more grippy for leaving the paths. He started out with astroturf boots which worked quite well but tended to rub on longer courses. He has since gone through my cast off Walshes but now finds them too narrow, a pair of my old Ron Hill shoes (no longer available and disintegrated due to being 20 years old!) and is now happy in a pair of Mizuno Wave Harriers which double up as cross-country shoes for school cross-country and junior triathlon. We bought them after reading all the rave reviews by fell runners on various forums. RRP is £65 but you can get them for £40 from The Running Shop - quite a bit cheaper than O shoes.
They also seem fine running on trails and tarmac paths.

I still love my Walshes which Sportsshoes Unlimited occasionally do for £40 - £45. If only I could get good enough to win some at the JK...

[Mrs H]

a lot of clubs have their own shops which sell on second hand shoes for a couple of quid for junior funds or some such - we do- keep an eye out at events you go to. you donate them back when your kids have grown out of them.

[LostAgain]

I still love my Walshes which Sportsshoes Unlimited occasionally do for £40 - £45. If only I could get good enough to win some at the JK...

Check Ebay, I've just bought 3 pairs of New Walshes size 4, 5.5 and 7 at £4.99 to £8. Obviously previous models but still the same quality.

Came NEw in Box from Bolton!