Comfortable walking sandals for women

Keens.

I can't speak for all of the models, but I bought a pair of Jambu sandals last year for my trip to Italy and they were not only the most comfortable pair of sandals I have ever purchased, they are so cute! I feel like I have worn them out but I still get compliments on them when I wear them. (I have them on today in fact)

I looked it up and my Jambu sandals are the Acapulco model.

Love my Naots ( Paris model name by coincidence!) .. They are dressy enough for skirts and sundresses( which I prefer in heat) but I can and have walked all day in them. They are not for everyones feet though, so you really have to take everyones ideas and try try try to find the ones for you. I cannot wear brands that are heavy, wide or clunky in any way( skinny feet and ankles) so while some swear by other brands, I can't tolerate them( Birkenstocks and Eccos are torture for me, but I know people who could climb Everest in them, lol )

Pat, thanks for the heads up about Naots. I took a look at some on the internet, cute! I will have to try a pair.

Oh goodness - Naot lover here as well (I worked in a shoe store for 12 yrs before my current job) and I have....ummmm...like 6-7 pr of Naot sandals (I even have the Paris!). And they are dressy enough but can still wear with casual...Faso style is nice with a backstrap and little heel (and a little bling), my fav ones are Valeria - flat, with a backstrap...and the metallic colours are nice - especially the pewter - will go with ANY colour - grey, black, white, navy, brown...but they are a little pricy (in Canada anyway) and not really good for hiking, but great for city. Prob more rugged, North Face and Columbia's were always popular where I worked. And Keen sandals as well.

My favorites are Birkenstock (they have a few cute styles) which you can find on Zappos.com for under $100 and Mephisto (Helen) but they're over $100 (same for Jambu and Naot).

I have a pair of Merrell sandals that I've worn for 3 summers. Walked all over paris in them without any issues. Was wanting to replace them this year, but haven't found that style. Intrigued by Naots, will have to try them.

I love my Ecco Yucatan sandals. Five trips and no blisters ever. They aren't the most attractive, but they are really comfortable. However, with any shoes, you really need to try them on. For example, Naot and Birkenstock don't work at all for me. If you like Merrell trail shoes, maybe you'd prefer Merrell sandals. Go to an outdoor store in Austin and try some on.

I have a pair of SAS sandals (San Antonio Shoe Company) that are extremely comfortable for all-day wear. They're expensive and not terribly good-looking; however, the comfort level is worth taking them to Europe, I tried on several styles before finding the best pair for my feet. Every few years a get a new pair; they last a long time. They were a blessing during an unexpected heat wave in France. They probably have several stores in Austin.....

Thanks Laura, I forgot about Ecco, I love them too. And you're so right about making sure any sandal is comfortable before going. I bought two pair of Chaco sandals for my last trip to Paris. I wore them for a month before going - but not all day and not the kind of walking I do in Paris. After a week wearing them in Paris, my feet were destroyed. Blisters everywhere. I wasted a lot of time looking for something else I could wear and finally found a pair of Ecco sandals in Paris. They saved me.

I have Eccos and got blisters on both big toes at the same location..suggest you take some mole skin adhesive just in case. I also love Naots but I don't have the sandals. I have several pairs of Merrell Mary Jane's in different styles. Very comfortable. You may want to take into consideration the straps on sandals in case
your feet swell.

IMHO, the only shoes or sandals that don't cause blisters are those that 1) are completely broken in BEFORE you leave (so yes, you have to wear them a lot before you go); and 2) fit your own feet comfortably. For me personally, that is Keens (with orthotic inserts) and Chaco sandals. And for what it's worth, Naot shoes are great, but they are rarely in your under $100 category unless you find a splendid sale. I'd suggest a visit to REI in downtown Austin and try on a variety of sandals to see what works for you.

Another Naot lover here. Absolutely LOVE this brand. They're the cutest comfortable shoes out there. Have also worn Ecco all over Europe and also great, but more clunky than cute. Yes, agree that Naots are pricey; I spent $160 CAD for mine here last month, but it's worth every penny to have happy feet for a month in Italy; and compared to the total cost of my trip, a justifiable expense for such comfort.

Thanks for all the ideas/tips! I'll do some browsing/shopping soon and I'll be sure to "break them in" a lot before our trip.

I've had amazing experience with Chaco... around town, while traveling in Europe and elsewhere, and when hiking in places where open shoes are safe (eg, no poison oak, etc). I couldn't wear sandals for a time because of need for orthotics, but I don't need them with Chaco; the arch support is great. And the continually adjusting strap allows you to shift the position of your foot on the footbed (and therefore, shift the position of the arch relative to your foot). They are the only walking sandals I've worn for 4 years, and my original pair is still in good condition after 4 years of significant use for more than 6 months of each year.

I have always worn Munro sandals (shoes too). You can buy them at Nordstrom stores, Nordstrom.com or on Zappos.com. They both offer free postage. The Munro's are very comfortable offer great suport and hold up well. I wore a new pair for three weeks straight last summer. When I returned I took them to Nordstrom. They made them look like new again.

Another Ecco Yucatan($130-Zappos) fan here. My feet are very picky and these sandals are so comfortable. They will soon be making their fourth trip to Europe. I don't usually ever wear them at home and save them for trips with lots of walking. They are looking forward to visiting the Acropolis soon!

I'm a fan of Privo by Clarks, but I've never tried their sandals. The tennis shoes and ballet flats I have from that line are sooo comfy. No blisters even when wearing them for 8 hours straight out of the box!!

I had a great pair of clarks a few years ago. Fashionable yet comfortable. Make sure you break them out before your travels, I bought mine the day before my trip and it took several days to break them in on those cobblestone streets. Worth it, though, I wore them every day in Europe for 3 months.

I'm a big jambu & j41 fan. That said, I bought a pair of Chaco sandals for my fall trip. I was kind of skeptical on the Chacos, but after wearing them ... OMG, super comfortable & I like the thin straps for wearing with dresses/skirts. I am also taking my Jambus with me.

In case you haven't left on your trip yet... Surely I missed someone's recommendation for Tevas... They're lightweight, can get completely soaked (depending on the style), highly adjustable, and they've gone with me on every European trip I've ever taken. I own styles similar to the Pretty Rugged styles - both nylon (wearing now LOL!) and leather (my 'dress' shoe). The leather is even waterproof!

I bought a pair of Jambu shoes to wear to Disney World; I wanted a shoe that is comfy, ergonomic, and would be ok to get wet. I bought the model that look like ballerina shoes with the criss-cross straps. I wore them for 12 hours straight. No blisters but by the end of the day, my heel pain was moderate. Overall, I give them a good grade.

I am a big Merrell fan. Have two pairs of thier sandals (one black, one brown, different models) and both of them are great. I have a high arch and a wide toe box so.. YMMV.

Wore Teva's Pretty Rugged (leather) for years & loved them. I'll bet I walked close to a 1000 miles in all my Tevas and never had to break them in or had any sores. In the last year, unfortunately, they seem to have changed the last, particularly for the straps, and the Pretty Rugged models now give me real problems. So, in preparation for the upcoming trip to Germany & Rome, I went on a sandal hunt and came up with Ecco's Performance Yucatan (>$100, around $130 at Zappo's). Not gorgeous or even cute but they'll work with pants & skirts, and they have the instant comfort the old Teva Pretty Rugged sandals had. After all, pain isn't cute or gorgeous either! Other suggestions for shoes: just discovered Ahnu brand flats. They are super comfortable, fairly good looking, and very light weight. Don't know how they would hold up to miles & miles of walking but they are a nice alternative for evenings out or occasions where extended walking isn't needed.

Another vote for Ecco Yucatan. Best walking sandals EVER and I've tried all the expensive brands. Will take them to Portugal this summer. Ive worn them on four trips to Europe with minimal wear.
Highly recommend. Good luck!