Custom Shoes & Sandals - Review Notes

I read an article on Ken about Birkenstock footwear and it got me thinking about my current footwear. I wondered why I've bought the most basic footwear and not invested more. Somewhere long ago I read that one must not be stingy while spending on items used everyday. Items like a mattress, phones, footwear etc.

I stumbled upon customized insoles and subsequently customized shoes that are 3D printed while looking into top footwear brands. This led me to Shapecrunch, an Indian startup that makes custom footwear.

The idea of having custom footwear was quite appealing. Why buy store bought shoes that are mass produced when you can have shoes that are customized to the shape of your feet? Also, why not have ortho footwear that can mitigate potential feet problems? But I'm not quite sure what exactly is customized besides the length and width of the footwear.

Once you place an order, they come over to take measurements (or you can upload pictures). He did quite a comprehensive analysis. Besides taking measurements of my feet, he took an hour covering the way I walk, my daily routine, foot problems, pressure points etc. Two weeks later I got a custom pair of slippers and shoes.

Slippers ->

• They are comfortable, after wearing it a few times. The arch support and the width of the slippers is what I liked the most. I have wider feet that usual and these slippers don't make my feet fall out
• The material beneath the feet was not very comfortable but gradually i was ok with it
• By the end of the day, it gets a bit hot and its not very breathable but gradually i was ok with it
• It can be more visually appealing and stylish than it is.
• The grip at the lower part of the slippers is not very strong. I don't think its safe to trek in these as you may slip.
• It gets dirty very easily
• Its comfortable and i find myself wanting to wear it more

Shoes ->

• They are sturdy and there's great balance. Much more stability while walking or exercising.
• Aesthetics wise it can be better but its not as bad as the slippers
• They are comfortable but it takes time to get used to as the arch support is larger
• It gets dirty sooner

I see myself wearing these for years. But what had changed the most with this experience is the arch support. I will buy footwear that has arch support as they are more comfortable. The only reason I will stop wearing these are for Aesthetic reasons or if my feet start hurting eventually.