<p>I am so glad I found this thread today! I am going to visit DS in the UK, and then he and I are going on to Spain for 10 days. He has asked me a couple of times about what shoes I am going to wear. So it isn’t just daughters…</p>
<p>I had major foot surgery nearly 3 years ago, so I just ignore style and wear my running shoes whenever I have significant walking to do. When I get to my meeting I quickly change my shoes and all is well. I’ve shown my European colleagues the 2 ‘zippers’ on my foot to preempt any comments about footwear.</p>
<p>Many shoes, even pumps with heels up to 3 inches can be made very comfortable by adding a pair of these:</p>
<p>[Superfeet</a> Premium Insoles](<a href=“http://www.superfeet.com/]Superfeet”>http://www.superfeet.com/)</p>
<p>For pumps, this insert works great:</p>
<p>[Superfeet</a> Premium Insoles : Women’s ¾ High Heel : Insoles for all of your footwear and activities. Skiing, hiking, running, soccer and work.](<a href=“http://www.superfeet.com/products/Women_s_3_4_High_Heel.aspx]Superfeet”>http://www.superfeet.com/products/Women_s_3_4_High_Heel.aspx)</p>
<p>I keep going back to my Ecco Breeze sandals for warm weather walking in Europe etc. like Tevas almost but more stylish.
My lady doctor friends all swear by their Merrills. Find they are a bit narrow for my feet, like Easy Spirits better.
Any closed shoe is a bunch more comfortable by putting in Dr. Scholls All Day standing Inserts for women. (look for grey and lilac color) (fit easily into shoes and really help)</p>
<p>I walk several miles daily and would not go out the front door without my Superfeet in my running shoes. I have also used them in Merrells.</p>
<p>I too am going out of the country but I’m going to Africa. I am also trying to get the shoe thing sorted out. I like those Munro shoes…but I’m really not thinking I’ll spend almost $200 for a nice loafer…to walk on dirt and mud roads (it will be rainy season). </p>
<p>So I need help with shoes I can wear in urban Cape Town…then shoes I can wear in very UN urban eastern Africa. I’m thinking closed toes is best.</p>
<p>I have a pair of very comfortable sneakers that are lightweight. Those might be one pair. But I do need a second pair of shoes.</p>
<p>Since we approaching the boot season… These inserts will make ANY boot feel like the inside of an Ugg boot (without the Ugg-liness) - with a great arch support:</p>
<p>[Superfeet</a> Premium Insoles : woolyWHITE](<a href=“http://www.superfeet.com/products/woolyWHITE.aspx]Superfeet”>http://www.superfeet.com/products/woolyWHITE.aspx)</p>
<p>I already modified my boots with Woolywhites.</p>
<p>These are AMAZING walking shoes (I’m not kidding):</p>
<p>[Munro</a> ‘Leann’ Mary Jane Pump | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/munro-leann-mary-jane-pump/3114428?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1048]Munro”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/munro-leann-mary-jane-pump/3114428?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1048)</p>
<p>The bad reviews come from folks who ordered them online - in wrong width.</p>
<p>I guess I should make a trip to Nordstrom…since my clothes have all been bargains (to be left there) I guess getting a good nice pair of shoes is a good idea.</p>
<p>thumper, the Munro shoes are made in the US, and the current selection at Nordstrom is excellent. They come in N-WW widths. Oops, I saw your post - I would not spend $200 for shoes for walking on muddy roads either. You might want to take a look at Clarks or Eccos.</p>
<p>Thumper, for the rain and mud, and no guilt about leaving behind, I suggest these Land’s End shoes. [Women’s</a> All Weather Mocs from Lands’ End](<a href=“http://www.landsend.com/pp/AllWeatherMocs~130683_253.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::ZME&CM_MERCH=IDX_Shoes-_-Women&origin=index]Women’s”>http://www.landsend.com/pp/AllWeatherMocs~130683_253.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::ZME&CM_MERCH=IDX_Shoes-_-Women&origin=index)
I have a pair in every color, they fit true to size, and I can walk in them all day, day after day. You can remove the insole and put in your own if you want. If I’m going to be on my feet all day I sometimes add an arch support or a gel heel thing, but its really not necessary.<br>
My heels are narrow and the rest of my foot is medium, and these are really great. Although they’re not technically waterproof, I’ve slogged through puddles and been in very heavy rain, and my feet stay dry.</p>
<p>For muddy African roads in the rainy season, I recommend hiking boots. I have a great pair of Merrills that I got from Campmor. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___10637[/url]”>http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___10637</a></p>
<p>Until I had my foot surgery, I would never spend much money on shoes, but now the extra $100-120 is worth it. It’s just like spending more on a mattress when you consider how much of your life you spend on it.</p>
<p>What about Naot from Israel ? I walked 5 hours a day for 2 weeks in Italy and never had a problem.</p>
<p>Somehow, this thread has taken a departure from “stylish.” Those knock-off Merrill’s by Lands’ End are particularly bad, but hey, if you don’t care about looks, that’s fine.</p>
<p>Any of these should handle hours of walking on cobblestones in Italy:</p>
<p>[Paul</a> Green Dex at Zappos.com](<a href=“No results for Paul green dex | Zappos.com”>No results for Paul green dex | Zappos.com)</p>
<p>[Aquatalia</a> by Marvin K. - Weatherproof Slip-On - Bergdorf Goodman](<a href=“http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod66290004&parentId=cat10013&masterId=cat203509&index=63&cmCat=cat000000cat200648cat203509cat10013&isEditorial=false]Aquatalia”>http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod66290004&parentId=cat10013&masterId=cat203509&index=63&cmCat=cat000000cat200648cat203509cat10013&isEditorial=false)</p>
<p>[Prada</a> - Classic Toggle Loafer - Bergdorf Goodman](<a href=“http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod72890117&parentId=cat10013&masterId=cat203509&index=89&cmCat=cat000000cat200648cat203509cat10013&isEditorial=false]Prada”>http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod72890117&parentId=cat10013&masterId=cat203509&index=89&cmCat=cat000000cat200648cat203509cat10013&isEditorial=false)</p>
<p>To be fair- the OP ) who hasn’t returned) was the one who had the stylish stipulation, the lands end recommendation was directed to thumper who is going to rural Africa during the rainy season- most people probably don’t want to spend $300 on shoes that they know will get ruined.
;)</p>
<p>Those Prada loafers are $420 :eek:! Do people really spend that kind of money on shoes?</p>
<p>For the Africa trip, check an equestrian store for paddock boots. I bought a pair for a month long, very rainy, archeological dig and they were very comfortable and rugged - also nice looking in a practical sort of way.</p>
<p>D1 (the animal science major) loves these boots (she wears them in the barn & as rain boots):</p>
<p>[Tack</a> Classic®, Hi](<a href=“http://www.muckbootcompany.com/women/farm-ranch-work/Pages/TackClassicHi.aspx]Tack”>http://www.muckbootcompany.com/women/farm-ranch-work/Pages/TackClassicHi.aspx)</p>
<p>I searched online and found them for just over $100. They have a model that is lower on the calf. I wouldn’t recommend paddock boots, per se - they have zippers & can let water in, plus they are leather.</p>
<p>No one will care what shoes you wear in Africa. My advice would be to take your oldest shoes with you and leave them behind when you’re done the trip. Lots of people will be thrilled to have them.</p>
<p>For walking in wet mud and rainy conditions, I love the Inov-8 shoe line, the Goretex ones. But they’re not stylish.</p>
<p>Is it just me, or is that Prada shoe $420 dollars worth of ugly?</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ve ever seen a walking shoe that is actually good looking. I guess we just have to accept the value of comfort over style for certain things.</p>
<p>The paddock boots I bought are waterproof leather and do not have a zipper. If it’s that rainy, Wellies may be a good choice. The Prada shoes are certainly not glamorous, but they are clean-lined, practical and well made - stylish in a practical sort of way, and not dowdy, at least.</p>