I use Airwalk skakeboarding shoes, as they have very little arch and smooth bottoms. For commuting they work esp. well when there is a need to get into/out of the toe clips rapidly. I have not suffered any arch pain (could be I have adapted). My commute is 15 mi. each way. I have mtn. bike shoes too, with a stiff sole, which is great, but the sole is knobby. The knobby sole takes a little more time/effort to get into the toe clips and on one particularly busy intersection, the time to get into the toe clips is critical.