I am having a hard time deciding what kind of shoes to buy for my one month trip through Europe. My plan is to wear one pair of shoes and bring a pair of sandals (still need to buy), and MAYBE a pair of foam flip flops for showers if my sandals aren't waterproof (I've heard of the non waterproof ones falling apart if they get wet).
I'm 22 years old and don't have foot problems really, and usually just walk into a cheap athletic store and pick up a pair of shoes for no more than 40 bucks. However, I've realized all my comfortable shoes are light colored running shoes that would not go well with slacks or for going out at night. I definitely would like to avoid bringing a pair of seperate formal shoes as I'm sure they'll get burdensome lugging around 6 different countries and 13 different cities. As such, I'd like to buy a pair that would obviously be very comfortable for walking long distances every day, casual enough to wear with jeans, yet formal enough to look passable with some black slacks. All the shoes I've seen retail for at least $100, so I'm extremely cautious about which pair I buy, and I would really appreciate any advice.
First of all, should I buy waterproof shoes?
I will be in Italy, Southern France and Spain May 28- June 8, and in Paris, Amsterdam, Prague and Bavaria June 9 - June 22. How likely is it to rain for a large portion of my trip?
I've noticed southern Europe will already be fairly hot by that time of the year, so I was thinking of buying shoes with perforated leather for my feet to breathe, but this would obviously would be catastrophic in heavy rain.
So far I very much like these shoes: http://www.zappos.com/product/7508041/color/72 as far as their style and lightness is concerned, but they seem somewhat fragile and I'm worried that they wouldn't fall apart in the month long bombardment of constant walking.
Again, any help is highly appreciated. Thank you so much!
Ignas
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/16737378/c/28108.html - I was initially considering these, but they look significantly more clunky.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Amy,

P.S. I'm a male.
I realized I probably didn't make this explicit enough, although the $40 dollar shoes probably gave it away -

I'm a fan of Keen and Merrell, but it depends on what fits your foot best. I would definitely go to a shoe store and try several different brands on before I purchased something on the internet, just to make sure they feel right. I think the style you have chosen would work great for all occasions.

There is a long discussion on comfortable walking shoes Most of the posts are from women, but you might find it helpful.

quote:

Originally posted by TrojanEE:
P.S. I'm a male.
I realized I probably didn't make this explicit enough

Trojan, don't think you are the first; because I was the one. Oh, about 5 years ago, if I recall correctly. Not that there is anything wrong with being addressed as if you were a female, you know, surely!

I like ECCO Seawalkers, but I also have some other ECCO shoes that I got on sale at an ECCO outlet store. ECCO makes lots of shoe models and all of the ones I own have been comfortable and durable.

You might want to check out a DSW store if you are looking for good comfortable shoes without paying full retail. They carry some of the good brands at lower prices. The main thing is buy them now and break them in well before you go - and on as hard a surface as you can find. Cobblestones are nothing like carpet or even asphalt for walking purposes. Several years ago following some advice on this board I bought men's (I'm a woman) Rockport loafers in black at Nordstrom that were fantastic all over Italy for 6 weeks. They were the only shoes I took. Men's shoes are made with much more support than woman's. The Rockports I got have a rubber sole too which gave good cushioning. I still wear them. Know too, that you can get away with sandals too, particularly at your age, for a hot weather and a more casual alternative.

I wouldn't count on much/any rain in Italy that time of year. Of course the way this year is going it might rain 24/7

Assuming you aren't going to a black tie dinner a pair of nice clean sneakers will pass in Italy. Pack a nice light weight blazer but you'll see plenty of sneakers. Jeans a summer weight blazer and sneakers are seen on young to old.

If you want black shoes that can pass see if you have a Bata shoe store. They aren't that expensive on sale.

You can try Rockport or Clarks or Timberland
they are all good walk semi dress shoes. RR

I'm not a guy, but whatever you choose buy them now! Seriously.

Wear them until you leave. Wear them for some short walks, then longer ones. Wear them downtown, wear them on a country road. Wear them on the hottest day. Wear them on the wettest day. Break them in (sandals, too), make sure you like them a LOT!

Do not take new shoes with you on a trip! You do not want to think about your feet during the trip; well maybe on the last day just to say "whoa, I didn't even think of my feet once during this trip".

Laura

Thanks for all the advice so far guys, I guess I need to get moving and buy a pair already so I can start breaking them in.
Just need to decide on the whole waterproof or not issue, as I'm a little worried about the weather in Germany and Prague. If it's anything like in my hometown of Vilnius, Lithuania, it can be very unpredictably and miserably wet in summer.

Unless they're made of solid rubber (like Bean's duck boots or Wellingtons) there's no such thing as waterproof shoes. Leather can be made water resistant with a wax product like Mink Oil. Warm the shoes with a hair dryer so the oil liquefies and soaks in. Then slob the oil on the seams and just let it sit there. Do not do this to good dress shoes! And, oiling leather reduces its ability to let moisture out.

Don't think you're going to be able to wear the same pair of shoes every day. That's heck on your feet and your shoes. You really should be able to switch off. A pair of "dress" shoes for some days, sneakers/trainers for bad weather and more casual days, because they at least will dry quickly. On really bad days, just stay in the pub. There's just no way, short of rubber boots, you can keep your feet truly dry if you're out slogging around in rainy weather. It's a hard realization we have to live with!

Every shoe manufacturer uses a different set of lasts, or foot models. Some brands are going to be closer to the shape of your feet than are others. Finding the ones that come closest to fitting you is a crap shoot, or a lot of shopping. Of course if we were ladies that would not be so onerous. The facts of different lasts is most of the reason you hear people so vehemently disagree about brands. A brand that fits you and is comfortable won't fit your pal, and he'll never understand how you could wear those shoes. You should ask around and find a local(ish) outlet mall with a lot of shoe shops. Try on different brands and find one that comes reasonably close to fitting and feeling comfortable in the store. You'll be surprised at the difference of different brands.

Johnston & Murphy seem to be closest to my foot shape.

I'd recommend New Balance 811 walkers, in black. They're the most comfortable I've ever had; they're available in both men's and women's sizes, including narrow widths. The uppers are not leather, but some extremely durable, breathable, lookalike man-made material

I bought a pair just prior to a trip to Paris in 2004, did a prodigious amount of walking in that city, and then continued to wear them practically every day, year-round, in snow and rain and sunshine, until the present time. They show virtually no wear. They're light in weight, have a thick sole, and comfortable cushioning. My Rockports and SAS are gathering dust. I've bought a spare pair, but I don't know when I'll need them! http://www.newbalance.com/fitness/walking/MW811/

-- Ron

One pair running shoes, another pair leather shoes as I described above clarks, timberland, rockport etc. RR

My husband thinks this is the best shoe ever for walking in dry or wet weather either in Montreal or Rome.

http://www.zappos.com/product/7460781/color/2939