Walking shoes for Paris and London this February.

Someone on this website (I think it was Pam) talked about Altra Olympus shoes. They have very wide toe box.
I went on rei.com on their outlet and found some on sale. Worth a try.

So, the clock is running on this because one of the important things is to break-in your shoes before you actually start your travel. Also, traveling in Feb. means you'll want to get leather because of the weather.
This topic has been discussed on the board frequently, so a search of that topic will turn up lots of suggestions. From memory, Ecco, Merrell , Ahnu, Dansko, Easy Spirit are some of the brands preferred. Do you have somewhere local you can go try some of these on, like The Walking Store? An alternative is to order a few from some place like Zappos or Nordstrom that offers free shipping. Try them on, walk around, see what feels best and then return the rest.

Good luck!

Thank you Dee and Patty for your suggestions. Patty most of the shoes you mentioned are great but don't come wide enough for me and I need to add an insert. Dee I will look into the shoes you mentioned. I have been to a lot of shoe stores and they are putting me into men's running or hiking shoes which are just too bulky. Would you recommend athleltic shoes or regular shoes? Thanks again.

Performance walking and running trainers have models for over pronators such as:

http://www.asicsamerica.com/pronation-guide

http://www.newbalance.com/exp-pages/exp-pronation.html
http://www.newbalance.com/men/shoes/walking-3/

Support your feet with men's stability and motion control walking
shoes designed to help control overpronation while providing the
cushioned comfort your feet crave.

Yes, I am the advocate of Altra Zero Drop shoes. They have a wide natural toe box to accommodate my Correct Toes toe spacers but can still give me a snug enough fit in the heel. They do have a leather like shoe called the Provisioness which I wore in Sept and Oct in UK and France and stayed dry in them. They do have a break in time as they have the heel and forefoot at the same level so if you are used to wearing a heel and your achilles has shortened you need to wear them a short time each day until you're used to them.

They are available at Zappos which usually has quick shipping and a good return policy. You might go to the Altra zero Drop website to see if they are sold near you. I do wear a larger size in the Altras so if you order online take that in to account.

Before I found the Correct Toes I wore custom orthotics and they fit well in the Altras with the insole removed.

As to regular shoes or athletic shoes, it comes down to comfort. For years I have tried to find a regular shoe that
was comfortable enough for walking all day. For me it was impossible to find one with a wide enough toe box.
The Altra shoes whichever model one chooses seem to all have wide toe boxes. Read the reviews on-line. I try to find one in a darker
color (not black for me) that doesn't look quite as athletic-like. It's a challenge though. And remember to size up especially if you are inserting an orthodic. Try to find a place that has free return shipping. If you find a regular shoe that suits you, remember that a second pair could be of an athletic type for a change of pace for your feet. They will not be as warm as a leather shoe but maybe a slightly heavier wool sock could help.

Thanks for the great information. I will check out the Altra shoes and some wool socks.

If you are a Costco shopper they have some excellent merino wool crew socks. I got 2 bundles last year (6 or 8 pr of socks) and they are so good. I have worn them every day for 2 winters. Wash well, dry well. I think they were $12.99 for 3 or 4 pair and I believe they were the Kirkland house brand. 80% merino and so stretchy stuff so they don' t lose shape.

if u r looking for something leather, u can check out here http://www.palladiumboots.com/men/footwear/leather . I bought there some shoes a while, seems to be fine...I hope u will find what u need there;)

I appreciate all of your input. I will check out Costco for the socks. Leather shoes are a good idea too. I am going to check out Ziera shoes. I saw them online and I can try them on at a shoe store in my local area. They aren't athletic shoes, have widths, an insert for arch support and are women's shoes so a smaller silhouette. Thanks.

I personally like Ecco and have worn them for many years now, in fact, they're the only brand of casual shoes I buy. They are comfortable, very light weight, require nearly no break-in period (for me, anyway), well made, and come in styles that are very versatile. The last part is great for travel because sometimes you want a comfortable, durable shoe but don't want to look like you're going on a hike. In addition, some styles are Gore-tex lined so they're water proof.

Thank you KC. Great information. I will check Ecco out.

Hi,

Try Vionic shoes too, they have arch support built in. I require inserts for most shoes, I go without when I where these. Try the websites footsmart & 6pm.

When I go away, I don't follow the two shoe rule. I bring 3 or 4. Tennis shoes that I use during the day, a dressier pair for night. I either bring vionic slippers and/or flipflops with arch support. I find alternating the type of shoe helps my sore feet.

Mary

Thank you Mary. I will check Vionic shoes out. I like the idea of bringing some extra shoes to change into.

Finn Comfort boots were great during my recent 9 day stay in Paris. Only boots I found that accommodated custom orthotics but still had some style. These are made in Germany and are not cheap, but I was able to walk for several miles each day comfortably. Winners.

Thanks. I will check out Finn comfort boots. Sounds like they are worth the cost. Glad your trip was enjoyable.

Rieger is what I wear . Wide toe box and comfortable.

Finn Comfort: pricey but well worth the money. I bought two pairs directly from their online store, http://www.finncomfort.com/womens-collection.html
One pair of walking shoes and a pair of walking sandals. I wore them all through our BOE21 tour in September. And I have worn them constantly since arriving home. Love them! Plus the foot beds can be replaced when they wear out. They are the best walking shoes that I have ever worn.

A reminder that Jane went last month and has probably got her shoes.

Nigel, you are so right. I have been and I am back. Amazing trip. Exhausting too. I didn't quite get the amount of walking I would be doing, on cobblestones. I bought Ziera shoes in a double wide. They come with arch support built in. Worked great. Thanks for the replies. Always looking for good shoes, so I will be checking out all of your suggestions. Happy Traveling.