It's my first trip to Europe. My husband and I will be taking a River Cruise in the South of France with walking tours. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13905 posts
You'll get dozens of recommendations but what it comes down to is what fits your feet and what will be comfortable to you for walking longer distances than you might at home, climbing WAY more stairs and navigating across cobblestones. Whatever you decide on get them soon and start putting some miles in on them.
Some people like sandals in the summer but my feet won't tolerate them. I wear Altra Zero Drop athletic shoes which work very well for my feet as they have a wide toe box to accommodate my CorrectToes toe spaces to prevent a Plantar Fasciitis flare up. They aren't cute but they allowed my old feet to do 13,000 to 23,000 steps every day for 5.5 weeks last Fall with no blisters, pain or fatigue.
BTW, if you are not a Zappos shopper, this is the time to start. They have free shipping and free returns which will allow you to try on LOTS of pairs, lol!!
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8340 posts
I love my Ahnu waterproof hiking shoes. They worked very well for me last summer. If you are looking for something with a little more "style" component, I'd look at Clarks.
Posted by
Edmonton, Alberta
796 posts
I recommend Ecco Biom walking shoes. It is the socks that save the day; Wright Socks are the best. They have a double layer, so wick away sweat from the feet. I find a shoe is best on uneven cobbled streets. I just bought a second pair as I have taken a pair to Europe for the last 4 years and wear them to all the summer festivals here at home. A black shoe is my preference. The Ecco Bioms have a thick sole; I find that is necessary for walking on hard surfaces.
If you have a sandal that is easy to walk in on uneven ground, and is light to pack, consider bringing that. I just purchased a pair of very light Saucony running shoes (sneakers), that are light. There are many very light sneakers/running shoes out there.
A few years ago, I took an Avalon River cruise. Some people dressed up for dinner; I went to Europe carry on only, so I wore my walking shoes on the plane and packed a lighter shoe by Tsubo, which I wore mainly when I was on the boat and not on long walks. I travelled in fall.
if you are buying new shoes, buy them now and wear them a lot to ensure they are comfortable when worn all day with a lot of walking and standing. Our feet and the fit of shoes is so individual that it is difficult to know what will fit you best.
Have a great holiday.
Posted by
Land of La
8645 posts
Firm believer in the Keen Brand of shoes. Expensive but worth every dime. Have 5 different types of their shoes. Sandals to hiking boots. Bought another pair that were on sale last week at REI. Never a blister, good support, good looking, suprisely light weight and most impotantly alleviated very painful plantar fasciitis. Each pair still in excellent condition despite having been worn on 5 overseas treks and daily use here in the States. www.keenfootwear.com. Happy shopping.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2181 posts
I do a Merrell Mary Jane, or sometimes their walking sandal. We did a Viking river cruise down the Rhone in 2011. There wasn't nearly the walking that you get on a RS tour. If you walk at home, then whatever you use should work on the cruise. Other people like Eccos, Clarks, Keens, Munros, Borns. I think one of the ladies in our group wore Toms. Until I figured out that Merrell was going to be my go-to brand, I ordered several different ones from companies that offered free shipping and then wore them around the house until I figured out what was most comfortable.
Posted by
Montreux, Switzerland
262 posts
No matter which type of shoe you decide on, I recommend buying a package of moleskin and toss in your bag. Even when shoes are broken in, if you haven't walked the distances in them like you might on vacation, moleskin is great if you have a sore spot and are not able to change shoes.
Posted by
66 posts
These Ecco sandals are great, super comfortable shoes. Try them, you can't go wrong.
http://www.zappos.com/ecco-sport-yucatan-sandal-black-mole-black~2
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16178 posts
I always take a pair of sandals, but I like them dressier than the Ecco hiking sandals shown above. I can wear them during the day with capris and to dinner in the evening with a skirt or casual dress.
I bought these for our May trip that includes Paris. Wore them for three days with lots of walking in Southern California last week and they are great. They will be going on the trip for sure.