waterproof or not?

I guess it depends when you are there. I have worn sandals (ala Teva, Keen, Chaco..) in rainy weather and my feet just get wet. The nice thing is that the shoes dry fast and don't get waterlogged and I can dry my feet easily when the rain stops and still have them be warm despite the sandals being still wet. I was in Paris and Amsterdam in 2016 when the Louvre flooded bc of all the rain. Worked well for me, but I am more rugged/low maintenance than average, from what I hear ;)

Jessica

I would take both pair of shoes. I appreciate you trying to pack light, but if I had issues with my feet, I would take every precaution to make sure my feet were comfortable. I find my feet are happiest when I alternate shoes every other day. For some reason, I think there are different pressure points on the shoes, and it helps to change them up a bit.

If my feet aren't happy - I'm not happy.

If only your right foot is a little larger and the left is still your 'normal' size, why not buy 2 pair of the shoes you like, one in a size larger so you can be comfortable walking?

If only your right foot is a little larger and the left is still your
'normal' size, why not buy 2 pair of the shoes you like, one in a size
larger so you can be comfortable walking?

I agree with this as well. I know it's an expensive option, but the feet need to be happy. :)

After gobs of miles hiking, trekking, walking....I've never used nor felt the need for waterproof shoes save for walking in a rain forest, then I use Xtratufs. But hey, go buy waterproof shoes if that's what works for your feet. Whatever you decide upon, make sure you've broken in your footwear and merge them with quality socks. Happy feet always when traveling.

I’m with Bruce on this one. First off, comfort rules so take the shoes that feel good. That OK feeling pair? Won’t be so OK after repeated long walks. As for waterproof shoes, never saw the need. We spray Scotchguard or the like, knowing that in a deluge the shoes will get wet. Overnight most of the moisture is gone, and if not, we wear sandals the next day.

Have you tried Ahnu waterproof hiking shoes? I love mine. People who don't walk in wet conditions won't understand how nice a waterproof shoe is.

it is very obvious that plantar fasciitis is very painful. My wife had mid foot arthritis hit her in a 2 month period last year, and she was referred to a orthopedic surgeon specializing in feet and ankles. She went through the standard protocol of being fitted with orthodontic shoe inserts. She has severe pain of anything touches the tops of her feet even.
The only brand of show she can wear is Alegria which has very stiff rocker soles. Everywhere we look, we find doctors, nurses and other professions doing mega walking wearing only Alegria shoes.
My wife's feet continue to get worse and she is going to have a fusion May 15th on one foot that stabilizes her foot with plates and screws. It will take her off that foot for 7 weeks.
We are catching a repositioning cruise to England in April and are touring Ireland by car. We are hoping it is not our last hoorah, but foot problems can easily slow down the perpetual travel we have been experiencing in recent years.
I say this because many travelers may be experiencing mobility problems from sore feet. Sometimes finding a special pair of shoes helps. Sometimes a great doctor helps. But maintaining mobility is so important to maintain quality life and vitality throughout one's retirement years.

I have awful feet as well and I would go for the New Balance. I did a UK walking tour a couple of years ago and had broken in but less than comfortable waterproof boots. I knew they were not really comfortable because I'd had them a couple of years but took them anyway. I finally wound up wearing my non-waterproof Altra athletic shoes. My feet got soaked but they were more comfortable than the boots in the long run. I brought the boots back home..not sure why...I should have left them at a charity shop!

For what it's worth my feet got a lot wetter walking thru the long damp grass rather than from actual downpours in cities.

For low cut shoes, like you I've never found waterproof ones that really fit. I've tried multiple sizes of Ahnus (bless Zappos!) and they are just not wide enough for my foot.

If your shoes get wet, at night take out the insoles, open them as wide as possible and if you need to, use the fan you will probably have in your room to blow on them for a couple of hours.

Where are you going?

Ruth, it really does depend on when and where you are going. I always take waterproof hiking shoes, but we tend to do a lot of hiking. I have had them get very wet in Germany in late spring and hiking in Switzerland. Other than that I don't believe I've needed my shoes to be waterproof.

Take the most comfortable ones for sure. We have used Cadillac (brand) Shield water repellent spray for years and it does a good job unless you're actually slogging through puddles day after day.

Hi Ruth, here's a link to a sale at Campsaver too

https://www.campsaver.com/salomon-xa-pro-3d-cs-wp-trail-running-shoe-womens.html?_iv_code=1SL-FW6-SLM0171-271066&gclid=CjwKCAiAtorUBRBnEiwAfcp_YzpP5YB4fBHbqGSEV01NU2_DDy_9l9U43pA9HlQxkYQwTEKqrQtuzhoCMRAQAvD_BwE

or you can just Google
Salomon women xa pro WP
or
Salomon women XA Comp WP

Good luck!

I like the idea that one poster had with taking both pair, I did my last trip while packing light and so thankful I did. The pair I thought would be perfect wasn’t and my spare worked out better. The thought of shoe shopping in Europe out of necessity did not sound like fun.

Hi Ruth, sorry to hear your feet are giving you problems. Do consider getting good socks, for instance
https://www.sockwellsocks.com/Sockwell-Socks-Therapeutic-Style-for-Women-s/279.htm
They have socks for Plantar fasciitis. I bought a pair of compression socks for the long travel day. They come highly recommended.

Take the shoes that are more comfortable. Do pack a second pair to switch off, even if it is a few hours in the evening (for instance returning to the hotel in the late afternoon, change shoes to go out for supper and a walk in the evening). I love my Ecco Biom shoes for comfort.

Have a great trip

One thing we've found is that regardless of the "waterproofness" of shoes they will (under the right conditions) get wet and soggy. When that happens having an extra pair of dry socks in the day bag is like heaven. In really wet conditions we will have two extra pair. So it may be that regular comfortable shoes with extra dry socks is the way to go. Just something to consider.

I agree that the Ecco Biom (with Goretex) is a great, waterproof shoe. I wore a pair on a 21BOE tour in September. They kept my feet dry in all types of weather, including heavy rain and light snow. They were comfortable all day long, whether I was hiking in the Alps, exploring castles and ruins, walking on cobblestone streets, or visiting museums. I also took a pair of Teva leather (all terrain) sandals that worked well in warmer climates.

Wool socks -- your feet stay warm even when wet, and you can wring them out to make things better. If you're carrying spare socks in your daybag, carry them in a Ziploc bag to keep them dry (very disappointing to find out your daybag leaks in a downpour.)

This is a long response, but I have similar foot problems, so I hope it gives you some ideas.

I had plantar fasciitis several years ago. It was so bad that I could barely stand after sitting for awhile. I also managed to break both little toes within a few months of each other. Both of them now sort of lay on their sides, but at least they're even.

My doctor gave me some exercises to do, told me to stop wearing hard soled shoes, stop going barefoot, always wear supportive house shoes, get outside shoes with good support, put decent orthotics in them and wear compression socks with them. This is obviously a multi-pronged approach to the problem, but now I rarely have any foot issues at all.

In spite of that, my feet still get plenty tired when I'm walking or standing for hours. I agree with others that you need a 2nd pair of shoes to switch into after a long day of being a tourist.

I do not take sandals on my trips. It's too easy to stub a big toe on cobblestones and those little toes are very vulnerable in sandals. One mistake I made on my trip to Italy last summer was to wear some Saucony sneakers as my major walking shoes. They were not stable enough on the rough terrain I encountered.

These are the boots I usually wear. Teva bought out Ahnu, so they're now called Teva Montara boots. The lace ups pull my foot to the back of the boot, seating my heels into the best position for comfort. They are breathable and waterproof. They are only medium width, but the toe box is wide enough for my matching broken little toes. They've kept me stable and my feet warm and dry through deep puddles, driving sideways rain, mud and wet grass. They are 14 oz per boot.

I also wear Sockwell Circulator moderate compression socks. The striped ones are the best for me. There are lots of cute designs, but I discovered that many of them have loose threads inside the sock which my little toenails catch on when putting them on or taking them off. Big ouch! The socks are pricey, so I hope that tip will save you some money if you get some. BTW, the link says they are wool. They are actually a combination of Merino wool, bamboo rayon, stretch nylon and spandex.

My second pair of shoes are these Abeo flats. They are 7 oz per shoe. My orthotics are ones I got at the Walking Company, but most places that sell Abeo shoes have a machine. You do have to go in and walk across a pad to get the impressions of your feet.

Finally, I may wear these Teva Delavina boots on my next trip. They are 16 oz per boot. Even when folded down, they are higher than the Montaras. I actually prefer them all the way up. They are waterproof, a bit heavier, fit best with the orthotics and need a bit of breaking in. The width is fine for me, but might be an issue for you. The toe box is slightly narrower than the Montaras.

Recently went to our local New Balance store and both (my wife and I) found great options for our trip. My wife found a waterproof/water resistant sneaker look (Fresh Foam Hierro v - $135.00). I found a walking shoe (1300 - $130.00) that is without a doubt one of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. It is worthwhile to invest in good shoes.

I always travel with both shoes, waterproof walking shoes for urban walks in the rain
and water shoes that I can wear when traveling on beaches and rivers.

Hello. Here’s a lightweight and frugal tip. Before you leave, pull out your quality wool socks and the New Balance shoes. Locate 2 (4 is better so you have a spare “pair”) thin plastic grocery bags or similar. Place your socked feet into the grocery bags and then into the shoes. Trim the excess bag neatly near the top of the shoe. Repeat. You now have plastic liners for IF your shoes get soaked. Not recommending that you start out this way, but for later in a day after a soaking if you bring the ‘bags’ and dry socks or the next day if your shoes are still wet, you can feel dry. BTW wool feels drier, quicker than other fibers, if you don’t know.

Former teacher of less advantaged students. This works even in cold, snowy weather outside all day with preteens.