This was such a fun thread to read! I just got back from Italy last week and really struggled before I left to find the right shoes. I never wear clunky, wide shoes at all, and don't normally do the amount of walking I knew we'd be doing in Italy. Every pair I showed to my husband (we went shopping together several times for us both to find shoes) he would say were too fashionable looking to be comfortable, and that I was going to regret my decision. I ended up disregarding his advice and getting a pair by a designer called Michelle K. I haven't seen this brand mentioned here, and they're not really billed as 'walking shoes' but I have to say they were amazing! I never had a bit of discomfort, and walked each day for miles. I had considered spending about $100 for shoes and must have tried on over 100 pairs, but I ended up getting these Michelle K shoes at Marshalls for $29.99! (you can find them on line from between $65-$80)
Here's a link:
http://www.shoes.com/product.asp?p=5016540%7EWomens%7CC...ENS&variant_id=67538
By the way, my husband bought Merrell's slip-on's, which he hasn't taken off since the day he got them!

I found these at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. Of course, the were NOT on sale - isn't that always the way?!? Anyway, they are soooo very comfortable.

My husband says they are totally Rome shoes. So, I think I'll have to plan a trip just so I can wear them!

ooooh, I like those Ann! And ain't that the way it goes. They lure you in with a sale and then seed the store with not on sale stuff. I love Nordstrom's shoe department though.
This is a great thread. Totally legitimizes travel shoe angst.

quote:

I found these at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale. Of course, the were NOT on sale - isn't that always the way?!? Anyway, they are soooo very comfortable.

They're really cute. Would you wear them with bare feet or with socks?

I took my beloved GEOX to Vancouver, and walked my butt off, and I never had a sore foot problem in the 5 days I spent wandering around in the rain... (and then in the sun!)

I think I'd like one more great comfy pair of shoes, though...not just to BUY a pair, but to have a spare along with me. I found that walking in the rain left my precious gold GEOX rather crusty-looking, with the bits of mud and other junk that they picked up as I walked...so a second pair would have been welcome.

Maybe y'all have several pairs, but I'm the 'frugal Betty' who only has one good pair of walking shoes at a time.

Hmmmmmm, perhaps these funky ones? In red?
These?
These hot little black and red numbers?
Nope, I think I'll go for these little babies!

"If you pick 'em up, O Lord, I'll put 'em down."
~ Author Unknown, "Prayer of the Tired Walker"
Brenda

One sprained ankle, coming up!

Annie M,
I have worn them both barefoot and with those little peds. I think they are more comfortable with the peds. They show above the shoe just a tiny bit, but the peds are black like the shoe so you can't really see them.

You all got me thinking (especially after logging 11 miles in one day last week in not the most comfortable sandals). Anyway, Chris loves his Rockport walking shoes, so I decided to get these for London but now I'm wondering if I should get a pair of shoes too, in case it's cooler when we go.

quote:

I have worn them both barefoot and with those little peds. I think they are more comfortable with the peds. They show above the shoe just a tiny bit, but the peds are black like the shoe so you can't really see them.

Thanks, Ann M (my name mate ). I have a great pair of comfortable sandals for warm weather but if I'm wearing shoes, I have to wear socks or peds otherwise they completely lose their comfort factor for me. I hate that sweaty, sticky feeling of bare feet in shoes.

I like the cushioning of socks too. I buy black Thorlos to wear with my SAS Freetimes and that makes them really comfy.

I'll have to look for black peds, I've never seen them. Black would be nice to have.

Well my friggin back is out and I think it's because of the Earth shoes and the negative heel technology. I've been wearing them now for about a week straight instead of my Mephistos. I'm really freaking out because we leave next week for France and I want my back to be IN.

Ginger

Ginger,

I went to lots of trouble to find these Earth shoes in my size, as I really love how they look, and they'd go with many of my things. (They have a certain 'old Europe' feel, don'tcha think?) Once they got here and I wore them out, the straps were so tight, I never got to find out if they'd give me back probs. Now I have to see if I can return them.

quote:

I decided to get these for London but now I'm wondering if I should get a pair of shoes too, in case it's cooler when we go.

Exactly what I've been thinking about, Kim! I just got these Mephistos, but I think I'll need at least one pair of real shoes too, especially since we'll be out in the country our second week.

I just love how easy it is to share pictures of our shoe purchases!

Chris, let me know what you find

Okay - I don't normally ask fashion questions but I'm so bad, my daughter has to dress me. Anyway, is it appropriate (okay - I mean personally I don't care but I don't want to look like a total geek), anyway, to wear capris pants with socks and shoes? How about socks and sneakers?

I bought these great Geox "sneakers" in Montalcino last month (how often can I get that into a conversation) and they are somewhat sharper looking than my regular New Balance. Anyway, I would wear them with little socks or the little tennis socks; I saw women dressed that way in Italy (at least in the val d'Orcia).

So ---- you know what great fashion sense I have anyway, Kim.

M

Capri pants with socks and shoes.... I personally think that's ok only when hiking. Fashionably speaking, capris and cropped pants call for sandals, slides or even dressy shoes, but all without socks. That's just my little fashionista opinion, of course!

-Krista

Hmm...see this opens up another whole can of worms for the London trip.

Oh, Kim, I am sorry. I didn't mean to mess this up for you! Let's see. If you are definitely packing capris and don't want to wear them with comfortable walking sandals, how about a sleek slip on type of sneaker? You could wear some of those liner type socks that are very discreet, similiar to tennis socks that Marian was talking about. I think the thing to avoid is the sporty look of atheletic looking socks and sneakers.

-Krista

Ok, you are all talking about comfortable walking shoes but I need a really comfortable sandal for our upcoming trip to Disney World in July. I have been searching but can't seem to find something that will feel comfortable all day. We will be doing mega walking w/ our 2 grandsons.

I would like to find something that offers a bit more support than a flip flop type. It is going to be mega hot in FL so I don't want sneakers. Or do I?

I have been to all the local outlets here that sell every brand possible and can't seem to find anything likeable.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

I bought a pair of black Rockport walking sneakers for our Med cruise this past October and my feet were still killing me walking around Rome. I even broke them in b4 we left home.

Thanks a bunch!

Did you see the ones that Kim and Chris posted pictures of earlier in this thread? Both of them look cool and with alot more support than a flip flop or even a slip on.

I also like the Josef Seibel 'Adrianna' Sandal, here's a link to it from Nordstrom.

-Krista

Krista, don't sweat it but what's a 'slide'?

THe SAS Comfort Shoe store had a half dozen or more styles of ladies' sandals. Some of them looked very nice, much more styley than any of the men's shoes. (Nine tenths of the store was women's shoes.)

On the sandal side of the coin, I have had the best luck with Clark's Springers. I bought all of mine (I think I have six pair) on Ebay, but here is a little information on them:

http://www.dales-shoes.com/springers.htm

I also got a pair of Geox (they were orange, how could I resist?) and at the last minute before we left in May, I got a pair of Hush Puppies slipons from TravelSmith. They were on sale and they were purple to match my travel clothing, so it was a done deal!

http://www.travelsmith.com/ts/cookie.jsp?ContentOID=3279311

I think I wore the Hush Puppies more than anything (with Thorlo socks - I love them!).