quote:

Originally posted by llee:
Brenda, I just ordered those Privos, I am glad you say they are comfortable.

Laurie

I can vouch - they are comfortable. I had a pair of blue ones last year for a September/October trip to Umbria and Tuscany. I also bought a "sand" coloured one. No need to "break them". They are just one of the best pairs of shoes I have had - no blisters.

You know I've just learned what the real problem is with finding really cool shoes....there are usually at least one OTHER pair sitting right there next to them! And then if you have to take them back, there are THREE more where they came from. I bought a pair of Anti-Stress Reikers and a pair of very solid Merrill loafers to take to Italy but I was just thinking that maybe I really needed a pair of sandals instead of the Reikers...so I checked out the store and I saw FIVE pairs of shoes I would like - (I did get the Privos and I wore them all day today and I have happy feet) -- that would be like 700.00 worth of shoes.

I usually have ONE pair of shoes and ONE pair of sandals, but, because of this shoe thread and ALL you people who contributed...I'm afraid I have a habit and it's alot more expensive than chocolate! Geesh...who would have thought there were so many really cool shoes out there and who would have know they are sooooo expensive!

Brenda:
Is it troublefree to buy shoes from Zappo's
and have them sent up here?

Lynne

Lynne, I have to admit I did not get them from Zappos. I looked into it but it seemed to be a bit of a hassle. I then researched some Canadian sites which allow you to order on line, but I'm cautious as I know I am a troublesome customer.......everything feels great at first and then the blisters start. So, I had seen these Privo's at a store called "Walking on a Cloud" and was entranced by all the different colours. I talked myself out of them as I still have 2 other pairs of "supposed" Italy shoes languishing in my closet that I should really give more of a try. But we were driving by the store over the weekend and I insisted to my husband that it was a matter of my mental health that we stop and I immediately buy these shoes which had been haunting me for a week. This was quite a conversation as we were on our way back from 5 days in Vegas, had gambled and upgraded ourselves more than we had planned..... considering this was meant to be a quick break before our big trip in September AND how the heck could I have a pair of shoes haunt me while I was partying in Vegas???

However, since I got whiplash going on the New York,New York rollercoaster, I tried the pity me route and it worked!!

Anyway, my mental health won out and I have now worn the shoes for two days and so far, NO blisters, NO rubbing spots. I'm really not sure if they can be called cute... they're quite fat at the toe end, kinda makes me feel a little bit like I'm wearing snowshoes. But, if they remain as comfortable as they are so far, I'm going for the "cute" label and ignoring the nagging feeling that they may just be a tad ugly??

Brenda, so far almost everyone that I have asked has admitted that my new privos are "so ugly they're cute"...well, the less travelled amongst my friends thought they were...."different..." But I find the more sophisticated a person is, the more they really like them!! I LOVE THEM!!

I've had the same comment - they are so ugly they are cute . You just gotta be confident in your stride. Besides, who cares what anyone thinks about your shoes? It is your feet which are comfortable - and that is the most important fact. We all know about walking with blisters, etc. If your feet hurt when you walk, nothing else matters - you just have to get some relief. OH feet!!

As a matter of fact - I have three pairs of the Joyner Privos. Cost, cheaper than one pair of Mephistos. Go figure!

I just received the pair of Naot "Paris" sandals that I ordered from Magellans. They are probably the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn! And I think they are cute too - definitely taking them on my almost 3 week trip to Italy next month as they'll work for dressing up or just walking around. I can't figure out how to insert the picture here :confused: but you can find them on Zappos website also. However, on Zappos the Naot Paris sandals are $123.95, but on Magellans they are $57.97 (go to Magellans Web Specials, Women's Shoes). That's less than half the price on Zappos! I got the black ones but I am seriously thinking about getting a brown pair also because they are so comfortable, I want to use them for work too (in fact, I am at work now wearing my new Naot sandals). Magellans also has some goods deals in their Web Specials shoe section on some other Soft Walk shoes that are on Zappos at $90 - $100 for the same thing. Tery

quote:

However, on Zappos the Naot Paris sandals are $123.95, but on Magellans they are $57.97 (go to Magellans Web Specials, Women's Shoes). That's less than half the price on Zappos!

Oh, darn! I bought the Naot Paris sandals, too, a couple of weeks ago and have been wearing them around the house, very pleased with their fit and comfort, so today I decided to wear them outside, to work, for the first time. If I hadn't worn them, I could've returned them to Zappo's for a refund and ordered them from Magellan's for half-price. What timing! Still, I'm very happy with them, and also with the Keens Sydney II shoes that I also bought for my "enclosed" shoes.

Naot makes a clog called "Palma", but it doesn't work for me, as I wear sandals year round in the desert. The "Paris" is much cuter too!

Thanks, Brenda! I may be forced to take my
passport and go to Bellingham in my search
for Chaco's "Isabella" sandal......I'd go
anywhere for shoes!

I just purcahsed another pair of Merrell Q-Form. These have been incredible comfortable shoes. I purchased two pair last summer and wore them everyday.

I just bought some ASICS to replace a pair of NIKEs I wore through Italy last year. I haven't woprn them yet, but they fit very well, and have good cushioning without being too heavy. the salesperson said that although they are listed as running shoes, they are good for walking as well (including on uneven surfaces such as trails and cobblestones). Here's a ink to them on Zappo's http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/20126638/c/64910.html.

I actually bought them locally (Shortshoe Center, which is a chain) for quite a lot less, on sale for $89.95. Even the full listed price was less than Zappo's (I think $98.00).

I'll report back after I've worn them for a bit.

I followed this thread before my trip....we were in Italy from Feb.23rd to March 10th. I had foot surgery last year and my selected shoes for our trip were New Balance and a pair of Keen Mary Jane type shoes for "dress". At the last minute I decided to pack both and wear my hot pink Crocs on the plane, figuring it would be easy to take them on and off for security. Basically I put them on and didn't take them off for the first seven days of our trip! I did get stares in Florence, but there are advantages to being in the "new middle age" (translated = in my sixties)because now the stares don't bother me! Actually I saw a store window in Florence featuring Crocs, promoting them for their comfort factor...I think the price was more than double of what I paid for them in the US. As much as I would like to wear stunning shoes, I will take comfort over stunning any time.

Comfort trumps beauty - any time! Nothing worse than trying to walk when your feet are hurting!

I just received my order of NAOT's from Magellan's, the price was too good to pass up, they were on clearance. Boy oh boy are these one comfy pair of shoes....my feet are smiling

I'm so glad to find people who agree that shoe-shopping for travel is as important as I think it is!

After trying on MANY shoes and purchasing seven pairs, I've settled on Privo Carro in Stone Nubuck. They were on sale in the Clarks store for $50 - a middle-of-the-road price. Ladies, if your feet are wide, square, and short with high-arches like mine, these are worth trying on. I bought them in a 5.5.

Other shoes that are GREAT but didn't make the cut for my short, fat feet:
-Privo Comice (So cute! A little too narrow for me after a day of walking)
-Merrell Relay Tour Athletic (Might be better for someone with a low arch)
-ASICS Zavanna (Fun little shoes - not the best walking shoe)
-Salomon Karma (Looks like a tennis shoe - despite the mesh, I wanted something more like a walking sandle)
-Ecco X-Treme Jane (Input from my gal pals is that this was the cutest. Also very comfortable)
-Privo Sofrito (Someone else on this forum LOVED this shoe. So did I - it was just a little too much like a loafer for me in the summer. It was very comfortable. My best shopping buddy - my mom - liked this one the best.)

quote:

Originally posted by Travelling Heather:
Ladies, if your feet are wide, square, and short with high-arches like mine, these are worth trying on. I bought them in a 5.5.

Welcome Heather,

Your feet sound exactly like my feet. Do you also have a high instep? It's very difficult for me to find a shoe that does not cut off the circulation because they don't have enough room between the foot bed and the leather upper. I'm off to Zappo's right now to look at these.

I tried on about 20 pairs of shoes in the last month and settled on a pair of Mephisto Hannels because I could adjust the instep strap. However, when I went back to buy a couple more pair in other colors they didn't have anymore.

Ginger

Ginger - Those Hannels look cute - very birkenstock-style. You might also want to try Privo's Perro sandal (see below). I haven't tried it on, but all the straps are adjustable for us wide-footers. I can't get over how great the soles of Privos feel - very spongey, lots of give.
Good luck!

Lynne, Hilton's in Bellingham carries Chaco shoes. I have a credit to use there and might look into the Isabella of which you speak.

My all-time favorite shoe for travel and walking is the Wolky Jewel. Shoebuy.com carries them, and they often offer "20% off" emails. I call them my Herman Munster shoes but they work for me.

I wanted to provide an update on the Keen Zerraport sandals that I ordered (picture posted near the bottom of page 4). I ended up returning them. They were pretty comfortable with good arch support but my toes were sweating after 5 minutes. I guess if I am going to wear sandals, I want my toes to be able to breathe. I thought they would be ideal for train travel on those occasions when those rolling luggage wheels just barely miss my toes, but in the end, I decided to stay with my Chacos for sandals. I wish I could wear the Isabella Chacos but my feet are too narrow for them.

Well the both the Keens and the Privos went back, The Keens did squeak! The privos just didnt fit my footbed right.

But I did find my dream pair this week-ends!


I was out of town and wandered in this shoe shop that carried these Keens. I tried the Sydney everyone likes here but the leather was too stiff and thit me wrong across my instep,

Well these are alike walking on clouds. The leather is extremely soft. So less than a month to go and after many many months of shoe shopping, looks like I finally found a pair to compliment my Naots


Laurie

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I finally ordered half a dozen of the suggested shoes from Zappos, and the winner is... Naot. These have great arch support and shock absorption, and they are among the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. Also, they are beautiful!!!
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