Yes, I'm on my second box of blister pads, using the big heel ones, cut in half. They work well. I'm not in total misery, it mostly hurts at night, but the vino helps a lot!
I need to thank you all. I felt the need this trip to kick the Birkenstock image and read pretty much every post in this thread in the quest for the perfect walking shoe that is a) comfortable; b) not too dressy but dressy enough to work with a skirt. I wound up with the Ecco primo 3-straps. They did really well on the cobbles, lanes, etc. and I loved how adjustable they were. They survived Pompeii, too.
Well, I've read every post on this thread, too, in my quest for comfortable, yet "stunning" shoes. I finally decided on this pair of Naots. They seem amazingly comfortable. We leave in less than two weeks, so I'm going to try to wear them a lot between now and then, just to make sure.
My "Privo-Tip Mary Jane's" just arrived today and I LOVE them! They actually make my size 9 1/2 feet look, well, (almost) dainty! As soon as I put them on I said "oh yeah, happy feet". I can wear them with jeans or with skirts to "step" it up a notch. Thank you to everyone who posted in this thread! Italy, here I come!!
Posted 23 September 2007 06:16 AM Hide Post What about Ugg Boots? I have a pair and I just love wearing them. Very comfortable.
Ugg boots are not a pretty thing. Some call them fuggly. However, I plan to wear them in Prague in December myself. I would not wear them when except in cold. This last winter I wore them in Holland and had a lot of young girls (teens, twenties) admiring them.
Mindy, those do look great! I was also wondering if you've had a chance to try them and are they comfortable (and do they come in size 11.5!) ......
I've decided definitely that I'm going to Rome for two weeks in January, so I'm seriously beginning to fret about footwear. I've always travelled to Italy in spring or fall so I've been able to get away with sandals. And I hate the idea of packing boots, cuz they're so heavy, but I guess I'll need them since I imagine even Rome can get pretty cold when it rains.
They are comfortable. You don't wear sock with them....it says so somewhere. I remember reading it somewhere. And I never wear socks with mine. Never sweats....at least for me, it doesn't and really comfy too. Planning to wear them on my trip.
Posts: 3 | Location: Hawaii | Registered: 12 September 2007
I wore them all day yesterday and they are very comfortable! I wore them with opaque stockings, so a little thicker than sheer stockings. I suppose you could wear them with socks although maybe not a real heavy "winter" type sock. I got a lot of compliments on them. I wore a skirt, but I'm sure they'll look cute with jeans or slacks. I am very happy with my new shoes! Look at me, stylin'!!
Mindy
P.S. Sandra, Nordstrom's sells them in size 11 or 12. You might be able to size down to the 11. Do you live near a Nordy's? I bought mine online figuring if they didn't fit I could return them to their new store about 30 min. from my house.
Sandra and Bugalu, I found the Privo-Tip Mary Jane's at Zappos. I think they ship to Canada but am not certain. The good thing about Zappos is that you can return them (free shipping also -again I think this included Canada) if you don't like them. Happy Shoe Shopping!
Has anyone seen the new Skins shoes www.skinsfootwear.com? This week's NYTimes mentioned them as great for packing because they fold up -- and the design has won a few awards. Don't know the price, but they look interesting.
I personally have worn Dansko Professional's on my past three trips and not gotten one blister (even when I was pregnant and had swollen feet)and walked countless miles in them. I was quite hesitant to purchase them at first because they are quite clunky looking and not very "fashiony". In the end comfort wins out over stilettos and impractical shoes. After my first three week trip wearing them I swore I would never wear them again, but now I wear them whenever I don't wear sandals pretty much. They are a great shoe for running around in especially with kids.
My philosophy is if the rest of your outfit is well put together you can get away with functional and comfortable shoes. I try to wear black or dark pants so that they blend in with my black leather Dansko's. Also a few styling tricks such as wearing scarves or accessories to draw your eye up instead of towards your feet helps me feel better about wearing them because, trust me, you won't see European women wearing them.
After 5 years of wearing my Dansko's I've had to retire them and get a new pair for my upcoming trip-I leave next week!!-I found the Professional style on Ebay and I decided to get them in black patent to add a little shine to my look. I also found some Cole Haan "Bria" ballet flats with Nike Air (found them on sale at Nordstrom Rack) that I'm considering getting just to test them out.
Privo update! I just returned from 2 deliriously wonderful days in Jasper, smack in the middle of the Rockies, at my annual watercolour workshop, and we hiked into the back country, up mountain sides and around lakes and rivers, every single afternoon. I wore my Privo Tequinis every single day, sometimes with socks and sometimes without socks. NO sore feet, no blisters, nothing but total and complete comfort. I truly didn't know I was wearing shoes at all. They are soooo lightweight, so soft and comfy, with a super-soft and squooshy insole that does not make my feet hot or sweaty, unlike Crocs, which felt like wet, slick plastic when I tried wearing them. After a full day and evening barefoot in my Privos...no sweaty feet at all!
Oh, by the way, the workshop was stellar! We painted our brains out...I actually came home with a few good pieces, mostly of the gorgeous fall colours on the larches, poplars, white paper birches...I feel like I completed a series of paintings that I'm happy with!
"I buy women shoes and they use them to walk away from me." ~ Mickey Rooney Brenda
The Privos are cute, Brenda, but please tell me you didn't get the white ones!
Spurred on by the rising Canadian dollar, I just ordered a pair of Trail Trekkersfrom Lands End in the U.S. I hope they fit. They look like they would be a great all-around daytime shoe; I ordered them in black. My dressier but super-comfortable shoes for Italy are Joseph Seibel.They are absolutely the most comfortable "city" type shoe I have ever owned. - Marie
Oops!! I didn't mean to diss your white shoes! I always seem to choose black or brown shoes for myself. I guess I am not a white shoe kind of person... probably says something about my personality... not outgoing, maybe. - Marie
Found a neat pair of walking shoes at DSW the other day, for 30 dollars less than Zappo's and good thing I went, as I would have ordered the wrong size. Sofft/ Stockholm
Got another pair, too, a Liz Claiborne Flex flat for a dressier shoe with nice slacks, but i couldn't find them online. I don't know about you, but I was fitting into all different sizes, so I'd never know what to order online. 99% of all shoes I try on are uncomfortable.
DSW also had some Privos, but Clark's seems to have done away with arches in their products. I need a little support to make my feet happy.
Pat
Posts: 1097 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
No worries, Marie...I have been told several times that they "look like goofy golf shoes!" Likely, those people are just jealous that THEY aren't wearing my jazzy white Privos!
When I was in Jasper last week, I went into the shop where I bought my white Privos and they had one pair left...white, I mean...and on sale for 1/2 price! They were size 7, so I felt a little better after seeing that...they're not going to fit my size 10AA's. BUT, there are a few new colour combos in this style and they are dee-licious. They now have a moss green pair that has teeny coral trim. YUM!
They actually make my size 9 1/2 feet look, well, (almost) dainty! 
As soon as I put them on I said "oh yeah, happy feet". I can wear them with jeans or with skirts to "step" it up a notch. Thank you to everyone who posted in this thread! Italy, here I come!!
I wore a skirt, but I'm sure they'll look cute with jeans or slacks.
...yeppers!