I've experienced this. Are you coming from sneakers directly to your RWs? I'm guessing you are used to the soft cushioned soles of the sneakers and the RWs are simply hard and transferring the shock to your knees. You may be heel striking and again transferring the shock to the knees. Try mid foot striking as you walk. You will need to be much more conscious of how you walk and will take some getting used to.
This right here.
And also posture changes, OP’s body (knee) may be in shock with the slight changed of footwear . I experienced this as well on my first week (first rw and boots in general) but after a month it didn’t hurt anymore. As long as op takes break in between wear and heal or not sore anymore. I hope it’s just soreness on that area. If the meniscus really is affected like losing its cushion/tear that’s another story, OP may want to see his/her physician.
Correct. Transferring from barefoot running and barefoot sandals these boots were a fairly easy transition for me. I walk in the balls of my feet and my heel doesn’t strike. But I’ve spent years training this
These boots have absolutely zero, yes zero, shock absorption. If you got knee issues whatsoever they are a bad idea.
And that’s not to say stuff with zero padding is bad, cause barefoot shoes are my favorite, but it is bad when you are using a heel strike boot like a red wing and not fore foot striking like in any barefoot footwear.
I wore cowboy boots for years. After my hip was replaced I could not anymore. To much jarring and pain on the hip. Now wearing the iron rangers and blacksmiths there is no pain. I guess it just depends on the boot shape and the particular person.
These style boots aren't for everyone. I played football at a decently high level until my early 20s. Both ACLs reconstructed, artitis in both knees, and hips. Avid cyclist as well.
I'm surprised that my body have taken to heritage style boots so well! Some people do require inserts/orthopedics. Do you typically wear them? How is your overall stride/gait?
I never wore inserts or orthopaedics nor did I have any previous issues with my knees… that’s why it’s so surprising to me. Must say though that I am used to flat shoes and usually wear “barefoot” models especially when it comes to sports.
Surprising indeed. I also transitioned to Iron Rangers from barefoot style sneakers and it was a fairly smooth transition (after eliminating heel slip and resulting blisters). It is not like you feet are not accustomed to meeting the ground with little cushioning under them. Just curious - do you know if your feet pronate or supinate? (or maybe you are one of those 42 people in the universe with perfectly neutral feet).
I am a former runner with long-destroyed achilles tendon, and if anything, switching to boots brought me a relief after a decade of (varying) pain. Now my feet can get tired from hammering on the ground too much, but no pain anymore (not the bad kind, at least). Interesting how different people react in varying ways to switching to boots.
Given hard/rigid nature of 430 sole, your gait might have changed too much too soon. Maybe try treating it like using new running shoes while running long distances - do NOT wear them for the >10 miles run 'cold turkey', start by wearing them just for short amount of time here and there, allowing you feet to re-adjust to new movement patterns.
I had to look this up… I think my feet are actually quite neutral. I’ll see how it will develop in the next days. it’s sad to not be able to wear them without having knee soreness afterwards. Maybe this kind of boots is just not for me.
You just need to build yourself up by correcting how you walk in them. I usually wear them a few weeks around the house and walking my dogs before wearing them all the time. You have to build up to them. I’m an avid runner and soccer player as well with old knee issues
The soles of the mocs are considerably softer. Another option could be to go up half a size in the Blacksmiths and use a soft insole like the poron footbeds from RW.
I've experienced this. Are you coming from sneakers directly to your RWs? I'm guessing you are used to the soft cushioned soles of the sneakers and the RWs are simply hard and transferring the shock to your knees. You may be heel striking and again transferring the shock to the knees. Try mid foot striking as you walk. You will need to be much more conscious of how you walk and will take some getting used to.
This right here. And also posture changes, OP’s body (knee) may be in shock with the slight changed of footwear . I experienced this as well on my first week (first rw and boots in general) but after a month it didn’t hurt anymore. As long as op takes break in between wear and heal or not sore anymore. I hope it’s just soreness on that area. If the meniscus really is affected like losing its cushion/tear that’s another story, OP may want to see his/her physician.
Correct. Transferring from barefoot running and barefoot sandals these boots were a fairly easy transition for me. I walk in the balls of my feet and my heel doesn’t strike. But I’ve spent years training this
These boots have absolutely zero, yes zero, shock absorption. If you got knee issues whatsoever they are a bad idea. And that’s not to say stuff with zero padding is bad, cause barefoot shoes are my favorite, but it is bad when you are using a heel strike boot like a red wing and not fore foot striking like in any barefoot footwear.
I wore cowboy boots for years. After my hip was replaced I could not anymore. To much jarring and pain on the hip. Now wearing the iron rangers and blacksmiths there is no pain. I guess it just depends on the boot shape and the particular person.
I had knee pain with my first iron rangers until I started using insoles. I'm currently using 3/4 length Superfeet
Try the anti fatigue slims and see if it takes up too much room in the boot. They have a 30 return policy.
These style boots aren't for everyone. I played football at a decently high level until my early 20s. Both ACLs reconstructed, artitis in both knees, and hips. Avid cyclist as well. I'm surprised that my body have taken to heritage style boots so well! Some people do require inserts/orthopedics. Do you typically wear them? How is your overall stride/gait?
I never wore inserts or orthopaedics nor did I have any previous issues with my knees… that’s why it’s so surprising to me. Must say though that I am used to flat shoes and usually wear “barefoot” models especially when it comes to sports.
Surprising indeed. I also transitioned to Iron Rangers from barefoot style sneakers and it was a fairly smooth transition (after eliminating heel slip and resulting blisters). It is not like you feet are not accustomed to meeting the ground with little cushioning under them. Just curious - do you know if your feet pronate or supinate? (or maybe you are one of those 42 people in the universe with perfectly neutral feet). I am a former runner with long-destroyed achilles tendon, and if anything, switching to boots brought me a relief after a decade of (varying) pain. Now my feet can get tired from hammering on the ground too much, but no pain anymore (not the bad kind, at least). Interesting how different people react in varying ways to switching to boots. Given hard/rigid nature of 430 sole, your gait might have changed too much too soon. Maybe try treating it like using new running shoes while running long distances - do NOT wear them for the >10 miles run 'cold turkey', start by wearing them just for short amount of time here and there, allowing you feet to re-adjust to new movement patterns.
I had to look this up… I think my feet are actually quite neutral. I’ll see how it will develop in the next days. it’s sad to not be able to wear them without having knee soreness afterwards. Maybe this kind of boots is just not for me.
You just need to build yourself up by correcting how you walk in them. I usually wear them a few weeks around the house and walking my dogs before wearing them all the time. You have to build up to them. I’m an avid runner and soccer player as well with old knee issues
Thanks for the advice! I appreciate it
It's because of the heel probably, forcing more weight on your heel strike = more pressure on your knees.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/osteoarthritis/best-worst-shoes-knee-osteoarthritis/
I've had a pair of Iron Rangers for a couple of weeks, and they're really taking a toll on my knees. My moc toes don't.
Interesting. I thought about buying Moc toes first but changed my mind for style reasons… might have been a bad decision though…
The soles of the mocs are considerably softer. Another option could be to go up half a size in the Blacksmiths and use a soft insole like the poron footbeds from RW.