Walking shoes suggestions

My brooks ghosts are so much more comfortable than the allbirds I have. I do like the allbirds for running errands though. But, it’s my brooks that I comfortably walked all over Switzerland with.

I must have tried 12-15 different shoes before settling on the brooks ghosts as my travel shoes. While recommendations are helpful, it's so important to try out different shoes to see what is most comfortable for your feet. I have always valued comfort over style when it comes to shoes.

I travel will one or two pairs of Allbirds Tree Skippers for when I want to look a little more put-together (with jeans or a casual dress) and then an old pair of Brooks for hiking or strenous walking days. Then, at the end of the trip, I throw the Brooks away. More room to bring back souvenirs!

I am a fan of Allbirds. Tree Runners are comfortable for when I am not walking a lot. I have multiple pairs in different colors. The cushioning is not the best in the ball of foot area. I could never recommend them for walking shoes!! I like the Tree Dashers much more for when I walk long distances or am going to be on my feet for hours. They have more cushioning in the ball of the foot area and better arch support.

I like Adidas Puremotion. I walked all over a zoo with them today. But I'm forever searching/trying more shoes. I feel like they wear out so fast.

arch support

I'm weird in that arch support tends to hurt.

I have allbirds Mizzles and can’t beat them for rain. Otherwise, I like my New Balance running shoes

Another fan of Brooks Ghost shoes for those long walking tour days. Switched from Hoka One Ones and haven’t regretted.

They make returns very easy, so I wouldn't hesitate to try them if you want.

Thanks. I love when companies do this.

Keens.

Have 8 different pairs. 3 pair sandals ( uniex in blue and lime green and 1 pair of red whisper)
1 pair Lo cut Targhee which I always take to London.

Depending on where I am going, time of year and what I’m doing also pack my venerable Keen Presidios or Keen Kaci slip ons.

Had horrible plantar fasciitis from being on my feet 16-18 hours a day after 30 years in the film and television industry. Put on my first pair of Keen sandals (the red whisper which I still wear) at an REI store and immediately noticed lack of pain.

Have worn Keens ever since. All still in great shape.
They are expensive but worth every penny because they are durable. They are also lightweight.

I got a pair of Merrell hiking shoes which have lasted me over three years of near-daily use. As well as normal city-living, I've gone on a few extensive hillwalks with them.

The only problem I had with them was that the (vibram, so very comfortable and durable) sole came away slightly from the shoe a few months back. I used superglue and it seems good as new.

Merrell aren't a cheap brand and no shoe of this sort is truly BIFL (unless you go for an old-school sole and upper connection which may not be as comfortable as more modern shoes). I was lucky when I got these in that I had vouchers to spend for my work and I stumbled across them in the January sales. I managed to get a pair of £80.00 shoes while only laying down £20.00 of my own hard-earned.

I am a Hoka One One fan. Their Bondi model is a great walking shoe.

I love Allbirds for lounging or running errands, but I prefer something sturdier and more supportive for serious walking. I usually take Allbirds as a second/backup when I travel.

I have had good luck with Merrill Jungle Mocs and an assortment of Salomon shoes. Keen's (Terra Doras) are super comfortable while they last, but I have never had a pair last more than a few months. Brooks Ghosts made my knees hurt, and so they are off my list.

If you have a running shoe store or an REI close to home, I would strongly recommend going to the store and trying a number of brands to see what works with your feet.

I wrote a post about my Obox Low Leather shoes, which I love! They're especially good for me because they're wide in from but have a narrower heel, plus a higher arch. I bought one pair and now I'm thinking about getting another in black.

I was reading through this thread again and it's hitting home about shoes being so individual. I have a pair of Brooks Ghost shoes that I bought about a year ago. They were fine in the beginning, but since I moved to Duluth, all I've worn are boots all winter. I broke them out this spring to get them in shape for my upcoming Germany trip (I planned to take them and my Oboz shoes), but they started hurting my feet after an hour or so. It's weird - they fit on my feet fine, but seem to push on tender areas and after 3-4 hours of walking around (errands, etc.), I have pains all over.

So now I'm thinking of leaving them behind and taking a pair of Rykas instead. Not sure what's going on, but I'm glad that I decided to start walking in them early.

I tried Brooks Ghost in a store tonight and they felt amazing. I would've bought them but they didn't have my size in a color I liked, so I'm going to look online. I only tried them because I remembered them mentioned in this thread (kind of a memorable name).

Mardee it's lucky you thought to try them at home before traveling. I wonder if feet get used to shoes so if you don't wear them for awhile they hurt. My husband has an awful time with shoes (Plantar Fasciitis) but everything designed for PF doesn't feel good.

Brooks has a great return policy so you can try them for a few months and if you're not happy you can return for a refund.

I knew as soon as i tried the ghosts on that they were the shoe for me. So comfortable from the very first step. My sister, bro in law and I all wore our ghosts in Switzerland last Sept and had zero foot issues. And we walked a lot!!!!! I hope you like them.

I ordered them 😀

In addition to what aimee said about feet growing, you can also have one longer than the other as I found out when I was looking for shoes before my last trip. Turns out my left foot is bigger than my right and I should be making sure the shoe fits the “big” foot. So, it’s very important to get your feet measured. I found the employees at my new balance store to be very knowledgeable and helpful, even though I didn’t end up getting shoes from them.

Roubrat, did you get a crazy color, like my sister likes? 😊 I’ve got black/gold, black/white, light grey, dark/grey, and lighter light grey.

And Aimee has me thinking maybe it's time for new pair. I'm not sure how many miles i've put on mine.

Our feet elongate as we age

Interesting. I thought that was only our noses lol

Carrie I got the Black/Ebony/Rose Gold Ghost 14. If they work out I'll get at least another pair.

"My husband has an awful time with shoes (Plantar Fasciitis) but everything designed for PF doesn't feel good."

I also found this to be the case.

Not recommending this just prior to a trip but if he is one to do some research, he might try looking at some of the youtube videos from Dr Ray McClanahan who is a Sports Podiatrist in the Portland area. I've used his suggestions since 2016 to strengthen my feet and prevent recurrence of PF using a combination of CorrectToes and Altra Zero Drop shoes to strengthen my feet. This does not work for everyone but to my mind we're all an experiment of one and have to find out what works for our feet.

It looks like you are going in Sept? He might also take a look at Sue Hitzman's MELT balls. I have her foot and hand kit and pack these on every trip. My mileage often spikes up for vacation so I use her balls and the pattern she suggests to prevent any issues. Her theory is that rolling/pressing/shearing with her balls rehydrates the fascia. I am not sure I believe that BUT it has taken away pain and has prevented my feet from hurting as well along with Dr. McC's devices. It's not just rolling with a tennis ball!

Best of luck to him for finding out what will work for and strengthen his feet! Honestly having PF on a trip or even just at home is pretty awful!

I have my Brooks sneakers for most of the time , but I am still struggling for a cute shoe that I can wear with my dresses and skirts in France. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Pam. I'll show him that info.

He's tried a lot over the years - podiatrist, custom orthotics, physical therapy, acupuncture (oww!), exercises with a ball and stretches with bands, etc. Often shoes like Vionics are the worst for him. He randomly found a pair of Saucony shoes that worked ok, then of course that model was discontinued before he could buy up a bunch. He tried on a few Brooks and ASICS last night but after 2-3 shoes it all starts to feel the same. We go in September and he MUST find something workable soon.

Aimee, you convinced me to take 2 pairs of my ghosts when I go to Switzerland in June. I’m traveling solo this time and was planning on a smaller suitcase and was considering just 1 pair to save on space. But, I guess I should bring 2.

How many more days to go, Carrie?!

roubrat, Swiss Air says I have 56 til I take off to Switzerland and 154 long days til I take off to Austria.

I just ordered another pair of the ghosts. I went with the black/nightlife/spa blue. I blame aimee. 😊 and roubrat for starting this post. 😊

@Aimee, I'll bet that's it. I was wearing my Dansko clogs around the house and my boots also have a higher arch. My daughter's going to try them and see if they fit (she's a runner, like you) but if they're too big I might try them around town but for smaller periods of time.

@MNAnnie, do the shoes need to be for walking or are you just looking for some shoes that are dressy enough to wear out to dinner?

56 days will go by so fast!

It really sounds like he's tried a bunch of stuff. For myself, the custom orthotics worked to help alleviate pain during a bad, bad flare but then after reading/watching a lot of information from Dr McClanahan and others I understood that while the orthotics support your foot they don't allow your foot to strengthen on it's own. The CorrectToes do that as well as some other exercise modalities. At this point I wear the CorrectToes all day every day to maintain.

I also have Foot Wakers from Yamuna which helps a lot with stretching and strengthening every part of your foot. I don't reach for them as often as I probably should. I don't have the pattern down as well with these so still need to follow along with a DVD as opposed to the MELT balls which I can do in about 6 or 7 minutes. And yes...I'm headed upstairs to do a run thru with them right now, lolol!! I'm so susceptible to suggestions!

I love the Danner Camp Sherman. Extremely comfortable & great for hiking. They are low rise & wear into the office as well. Try the Danner & you will love these.

https://www.danner.com/men/hike/camp-sherman-3-gray-green.html

I had just tried the Oboz Men's Bozeman Low Leather based on recommendations in this forum. They didin't fit nearly as well as the Danner.

If you are interested in a minimal shoe, I suggest the Cassie from Xero. It's super comfortable, lightweight and can be dressy(ish) too!

roubrat, my new ghosts are coming tomorrow!! I can't wait to hear how you like yours. and the new socks too.

Mine are arriving tomorrow too! I'll take them straight out for a walk around the park.

My ghosts are here! It's raining so I'm wearing them while sitting here working. I think I'll try them on the treadmill later. So far they are comfy right out of the box. I LOVE the color.

My husband ordered 2 Brooks which are arriving tomorrow. The return policy takes so much of the stress out of ordering and trying.

Roubrat, got mine on too. Not sure how I feel about them yet. All my old ghosts are 12s and these 14s do feel a bit different. Not bad different. Just different. They do for sure have that ghost comfort right out of the box.

My left heel (my bigger foot) started to ache slightly while I was sitting, but not while walking. Odd. I've been wearing squishy memory foam shoes basically since Covid started (skechers ballet flats, adidas, etc.), so I bet my feet are just confused by the structure of the ghosts.

I just ordered a second pair--the navy. I have a couple of pairs that i only wear indoors to exercise and those are coming up on 3 years. So, probably long over due to be replaced. How many ghosts can one girl have? This latest pair will put me at 7 But i guess i need to get rid of all the old ones once i'm sure the new ones will work

I just did a long walk on the treadmill with them (and the Darn Toughs) and my left heel feels about halfway better than yesterday. My right foot feels perfect. If they work out after my Colorado trip next month I'll order another pair or two.

I got the Adrenaline GTS 22 for our Best of our Eastern France tour because I wanted a model with more support to hike in Chamonix. I have been struggling to find another loafer style shoe that will go with my casual dresses/skirts and still be something I will wear when I get home. Yesterday I thought of Minnetonka moccasins which I have worn off and on for over 50 years. I raced to the local shoe store where they have always carried them, and they had one pair in a color that wouldn't work, but the size was good. I came home and ordered them in black. They probably aren't for a lot of people, but I love them! https://www.minnetonkamoccasin.com/women/styles/moccasins/moosehide-kilty

😊 Thank you to those who recommended Brooks Ghost - after a couple of weeks of breaking them in I think they're going to work for me! I never would have tried them if they weren't mentioned here.

Glad you like em roubrat. I recently convinced my 83-year old aunt to order a pair. They really are super comfortable.

I also ordered the Brooks Ghost shoes based on the reviews in this forum and I think they are becoming my favorites. I have plantar fasciitis and the cushioning in the heel is better than all the (many, many) other shoes I've bought. I'm breaking them in for my RS Portugal trip in June, and if they pass that test, I'll be getting another pair.

I feel the same way, SueH. They are so comfortable right out of the box.

Is the Ghost suitable for just walking in Europe? I don't run, or hike. I broke my kneecap in half in November. I usually wear Sketchers Go Walk shoes to the zoo or for a walk.

Redsd1, I just got back from a trip where I didn't run or hike, but I walked a lot. They worked out well for me to walk in all day in cities and towns. I had walked in the Ghosts for a few days around my neighborhood and on the treadmill before the trip, and they seemed like they'd work (though my left foot hurt a bit for some reason), but they were well and truly broken in during this trip and halfway through I knew they would work out for Europe. In fact, I'm going to buy at least one more pair because I'm not going to Europe until September and I don't want to wear them out, but still want them broken in. It's a fine balance lol

Redsd1, I concur with roubrat. I wore my ghosts in Switzerland for just walking and they were great. Me sister and brother in law had the ghosts too. Not a single blister and we walked all day long. I’ve been wearing the ghosts for about 3 years now and they are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I wear them solely for walking. I suggest giving them a try as Brooks has a very favorable return policy if you are not happy with them.

Redsd1, I just thought of something else. Before the Ghosts I wore Sketchers and Adidas Pure Motion, basically memory foam type shoes. They still work fine for me for light days, like going to the grocery store or something like that. I thought I didn't need something more substantial for serious walking because compared to my husband who has plantar fasciitis, my feet haven't generally given me much trouble, but when I tried on the Ghost I really liked how stable they felt. I didn't realize I even needed or wanted stability in a shoe. In the store when I put my Adidas back on I thought I could feel the floor under the soles, which I didn't notice before. The Ghosts still have some of the squishy soft feeling that Sketchers/Adidas have, but it's much more subtle and the thicker sole is better support wise.

Brooks lets you wear them for 90 days before returning https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/brooks-run-happy-promise/

Interesting. Mine aren't worn in enough to notice that yet.

The only problem that I can see with the Brooks Ghosts is that they appear to be only offered in a 'D' width which is a problem for someone like me who wears a '11W' size in dress shoes or a 3E. It's too bad because the Brooks Ghost 14 GTX looks like an excellent shoe with Gore-Tex on the upper which makes it an almost water-proof shoe for those days when you are running to escape a sudden downpour. Does anyone have a recommendation for an excellent walker for big-footed people like me? (you can call me Big Foot even though I don't live in the Pacific NW lol)

After reading such reviews on the Brooks Ghost shoes, I went to REI yesterday and bought a pair. The salesclerk talked me into buying a half size up as she said they run small (anyone concur?). So, I did and will try them out this week. REI has a policy of letting you return shoes, even after walking outside in them, as long as they aren't damaged. Fingers crossed as I need them for lots of walking for our Berlin/Prague/Vienna trip next month.

Mine are in my usual size, but there's no way to know until you try them out. I didn't realize REI lets you walk around outside in shows, that's good to know.

So I ended up taking the plunge by buying the Merrell Men's Moab Edge 2 in size 11 with the wide width for my big feet. There was a sale so I got them for $68 instead of the $105 plus there was free shipping. Putting on these shoes, as has been mentioned by others, they fit very well and were very comfortable. They are also fairly light at 1 lb., 13 oz. (808g) for the pair, a nice gripping tread for wet or loose rock surfaces and continue to be comfortable as I wear them as much as possible in order to break them in. This is my first pair of shoes from Merrell but I'm impressed by the fit and comfort. Time will tell as to how durable they are in holding up to wear. Based on the comments I've seen by some as to visiting rainy areas such as Ireland and the UK where waterproof shoes seem to be very helpful I will probable buy one of the Merrell GORE-Tex offerings to cover me for visits in such places. Thanks to everyone here for the information and insights shared, much appreciated. : )

| arch support
| I'm weird in that arch support tends to hurt.

Same! I have been trying so many of the recommendations I find here and no luck! I did go to a Fleet Feet store for analysis and ended up with ASICS GT 2000. No “arch interference”!

I just ordered a pair of the Brooks based on the reviews here. I purchased a pair of Hokas in February to wear on the Best of Poland tour in May. I ended up with blisters in places I’ve never developed them before. I most often end up with blisters on my heels but this time they developed on the side of my feet on my big toe and right below. This happened on both feet.
I’m hoping I have better luck this time.

Thanks for all the great advice! I am getting ready to order the Brooks Ghost based on the reviews here. My question is which is better, 13 or 14?

Vanessa R, how did the Brooks work for you?

pollyannapax, I don't know if one is 'better,' I think 14 is just the newer model, but I believe 15 is being released this year. There may be slight differences because shoe companies seem to like to change things. I have the 14.

Thank you roubrat. I read that the 14 has a slightly smaller toe box. I get to try on a pair tomorrow.

Just an FYI: I just got an email from REI. They currently have 20% off their Brooks 14. Sizes are limited.

Thanks for the heads up Janis! I ordered a pair of Ghost 14 from REI and a pair of Ghost 13 from our local shoe outlet for comparison shopping.

Let's us know how it works out 🙂

My favorites are the 12s, but that doesn’t help if they’re no longer available. I also have the 14s and really like them. But, there’s just something about the 12s. If the 15s are due out soon (this month I think), I might hold off a bit on ordering if you can and see what the reviews are like for the 15s.

The Ghost 14 pair came a few days ago; however the box contained 2 different sizes, lol. Customer service was really nice about replacing them. So I tried on both the 13s and the 14s - they were both really comfortable, but the Ghost 14s were slightly more so. I’m so happy to find them. Now I’ll be breaking them in to see how they’ll work on my tour.