While I have shoes that I can wear all day in Europe, I can’t put them on the next day. I am jealous of people who can wear shoes all day, day after day.
I wear Tod’s loafers, not the driving ones, but the more structured ones that have a rubber sole as it is much more forgiving than the leather sole. They have really gotten up there in price, even at the Woodbury Commons Outlet store.
Saucony running shoes are the only ones that work for my very wide toe box. I am happiest in flip flops, but not an option for this time of year in Italy.
@deb922 – I feel your pain. I have never found Cole Haan to be comfortable, but that is probably just my own feet.
Deb- the Brooks vintage collection on Zappos or the Brooks website. Not for running. They are throw-back styles, extremely comfortable and have some neutral colors. Free returns to Zappos.
I have been loving Naturalizers the past few years. I have a nearly flat summer sandal, a riding boot and most recently a spunky sling back peep-toe “shoety” heel. They come in wide widths and wide calf on the boots so I am able to get a good fit. They have nice support as well. They are reasonably priced. I purchased all of mine at DSW but just took a quick look at the Naturalizer web site and they have some nice looking shoes that seem like they’d be good for walking around in Europe without looking too therapeutic.
They also seem to fit very true. I can just order a 9W online and it will fit
When we went to Europe last summer I took 2 pair of sandals which were reasonably comfortable. Neither would work all day so I wore one pair, took the second in my tote bag and changed in the middle of the day. I also took a small ziplock with bandaids , moleskin and bodyglide (great for places where shoes rub).
Of course the tough part is finding the 2 reasonably comfortable pair of shoes in the first place.
MOWC, I wear brooks running shoes and just got an email that my lrs carries those brooks heritage. Thanks, I think I will check them out. I could buy them at running wearhouse or rrs and I think I can return them if they don’t work out.
After I suggested them to you I went on the Brooks website and ordered a pair for me and for my husband. I got a color that will go with all my Vanderbilt stuff- sort of a gold/tan.
@deb922 ecco is sold in Europe. While my daughter studied abroad in Italy for a semester, she wore her ecco’s (casual and ankle boot) and was very happy. I own 3 pairs of shoes and a pair of sandals that I find very comfortable wearing all day long.
It is very important to try on shoes in the store after a long day of standing and walking since our feet do swell. While in Europe we did so much more walking than we normally do. Museums and general sightseeing by foot is much more enjoyable with a comfortable pair of shoes so I also suggest building up your stamina when it comes to walking now.
Nordstrom carries ecco and does have a wonderful return policy. In my opinion, it’s worth the price…
I also think socks make a difference…I love my Darn Tough socks.
deb922, while I CAN wear my Merrells, Easy Spirits or others all day, for real comfort, I prefer my Sketchers with memory foam. While mine are sneakers, they do make “career” styles, also with memory foam, and not flats, which might work for all day for Italy. I understand that people dress more formally there and the hot pink sneaks like mine might not work. I love memory foam shoes-I walked 11 miles in Vegas last year in them and my feet were tired, but not in pain.
Don’t forget: They tell you to try on shoes at the stores later in the day rather than in the morning. Feet tend to swell up during the day which makes it better to try on (when swelled) and determine the most comfortable pair.
I have my Munro’s on right now and they sure are comfortable. They are pricey but worth it if you do a lot of walking. I have gone to DSW before and had a salesperson help me with less expensive, but also quite comfortable shoes. Like I said, I have an assortment of expensive and less expensive shoes, but I try to take my time and buy the most comfortable ones.
Better to try them on at the stores unless you buy from Nordstrom or Zappos or any on-line that has free shipping in both directions. Do you have The Walking Company store there? Or Easy Spirit or Naturalizer?
Last spring when I was looking for a good pair of hiking boots, I went into an Erewhon store and was fitted with a pair of Ahnu hiking boots. There were SO comfortable than I decided to look at their casual shoes online. I bought four pair last spring, and absolutely LOVE them! I found it was difficult to find a store around here that carried more than a couple of pair, so that’s why I ordered online. I say I bought four pair, but three were a pair of sandals in different colors, then a pair of hiking sandals, that are appropriate for casual wear, too.
I can walk 10 miles a day (or more) in my Taos sandals http://taosfootwear.com/journey.html even though they are “slide” type sandals, which amazes me. The previous pair I had, now discontinued but called “tour” was even MORE comfortable.
On a recent trip to Chicago to visit daughter, we walked 10 miles (per D’s fitness tracker on her phone) two days in a row, around 7 miles another day, and I’m not sure how much on the other day. My feet were fine on the whole trip!
With the previous Tour model sandal, I walked miles and miles up and down the hills of Seattle over many days and again was totally comfortable. I was so sad when those shoes finally wore out, after hundreds of miles of walking.
I haven’t tried any of Taos’s closed-toe shoes yet, but would imagine they are very comfortable as well.
The Tour sandals felt like bedroom slippers, they were so padded and comfy. The Journeys do not seem to be quite as padded, but are still very comfy.
Thanks for this range of suggestions. I’m good with walking shoes–have Easy Spirit, SAS, both of which I easily walk miles in with no problems but would like footwear to go with dresses.
