Men's Walking Shoes Recommendations

My husband swears by Propet wash and wear slipons in black. Zappos stocks all sizes and widths. In our experience, having the right size shoe is as important as having the right type of shoe.

If you go to some of the dotcom shoe sellers you'll find consumer ratings not only for men but for specific shoe styles as well. Good luck!

My criteria for men's shoes - lightweight, comfortable, sturdy, waterproof and able to walk in all day and dressy enough for dinner or a show at night.

My favorite at this point are Eccos. So far they have taken a lot of walking and aren't looking at all worn. You can see the exact ones I pack here:

http://www.polyvore.com/mens_travel_pack_list/set?id=1440268

Depending on when and where you are going. You might not need waterproof or want something with more traction that's less dressy. I used to pack a pair of Docker's oxfords with lug soles and stain resistence, but the Eccos dress up a little nicer.

When you are in the shoe store, pick up the shoes to compare weight. It's amazing how some shoes are feather weight and some are really heavy.

A word about Eccos. Several long time Eccos customers have complained that this product does not hold up nearly as well as they used to. The shoe might be comfortable for the first couple/three months before the linings become uncomfortable and the stitching begins to fray. Someone went as far as to call the manufacturer - and the manufacturer did confirm that they have switched suppliers. I've seen similiar complaints about some of the old tried & true L.L. Bean items. Finding LASTING value today is becoming elusive.

One of my favorite shoes for wearing here is a loafer, Comfortech by Florsheim, Clarks carries what appears to be the identical shoe. I've not worn mine in Europe as they are leather and require occasional polish. However they are extremely comfortable, lightweight and I can walk all day in them with no problem.

My "Europe" shoes are Dr. Scholl's brand lace work shoes, made for those who are on their feet all day. I tried on a pair at a DSW and was amazed at the comfort. Two weeks in Europe, walking as we only walk there, and I wasn't disappointed. Stylish, not, but black lace shoes on men tend to all look alike anyway.

Slightly off topic, but since he has back issues you might want to:

1) work on strengthening his back by doing specific exercises

2) get some orthotics made

I have found the Dexter line to be a good combination of comfort combined with a look than can be casual but "dress up" well, such that they will be the only shoe you need to pack, except maybe something for a beach. Less available, but due to my wide feet, I have shifted to Red Wings. Very well built, available in clown width size, and a few styles that are very comfortable and dress up well.

I've been a fan of New Balance walking shoes. The New Balance Country Walker, model 748, gave me many, many miles in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland a couple years ago. They have been updated to model 749. There is also a model 955 and a 966 which are similar. I just purchased a pair of NB model 977 which is a mid-height shoe. What I like about NB shoes are that they are one of the few brands available in various widths. A lot of shoes branded as walking shoes I have found to not stand up to the strenuous walking I do when traveling. I also put in my own footbed inserts to give me the arch support and cushioning I need.

Caution about adding footbeds. The last I heard the gel inserts will be confiscated by TSA. If the shoe comes with some form of gel built in, it's okay.

No matter what, your husband should try shoes before packing them. If they aren't really comfortable in the store, they won't become more comfortable during a day of walking. I still wouldn't pack them without at least trying a day of shopping at the mall. That will give you a good idea whether you can stand and walk for long periods comfortably.

It's good advice to do some exercises to strengthen the lower back. Also work on strengthening the abs, out of shape abs put more strain on your back muscles. Stretching helps too. Changing positions often, putting one leg up on a bench, wall or step stool also help keep those nagging back pains at bay.

Each of our feet are unique. I can't wear New Balance because they are built a little slender for my feet. I've tried some wide-width New Balance that were too wide. I know I could order some online that would probably be the right size but I prefer to try on the shoes I'll be buying.

I can't make any specific recommendations for shoes, other than to state that the best shoes for walking on vacation are those that have been well broken-in. Other than that, the choice of shoe makes little difference for back problems, other than certain impractical designs that you would never consider for walking anyway.

About ten years ago I badly messed up my lower back doing some yard work. I was able to move around but was in almost constant pain for about a year. My doctor recommended I wear work boots "full-time" until my back healed itself. The high heels on the boot did provide relief from the pain when walking around vs wearing regular low-heel shoes...something to consider.

I only wear Ecco's. I have gone through two pairs with no complaints and they are the only shoes I now take with me. They clean up good for going out at night and I have walked all over the cliffs of Britainy with them, towers in Italy, the Cinque Terre, Rome, Paris, London - you name it. I also have a very bad back and it aches like the dickens occasionally. But strenghening exercises at home helps a lot for this issue.

Keens Venice H2. My husband only wore aescis before our last trip to Europe. We each got a pair of the Keens, broke them in and they were great! good support you can wear with or without socks depending on the weather and we walked all day every day for 3 weeks.

Hi Diane, I'm a UPS driver there is only one shoe I like to wear for alot of walking! Keens. Well worth the money! Hope this helps you. Take care, Monte

I always take two pairs overseas; one for casual/semi-dressup/standard in-city walking - Ecco

The second pair for on the plane, doing walkabout -including some countryside treks, and just down to the pub in the evening -New Balance 621's.

Both brands have many choices of style, purpose and price -you decide your preference and you won't be disappointed.

BTW; I have fairly wide feet and you get a choice with both brands, not the standard "D" width only.

Am doing the Pyrenees/Basque country in September and my only shoe decision is whether to buy a pair of 'Crocs' to wade the streams. I may add them to my Eccos and New Balance that I won't travel without. BTW, my New Balance preference is a combination brown suede/ballistic nylon type material; not the flourescent white trainers, nor hiking boots, somewhere in between but without the hightop effect.

I, too, have a wonky back from time to time and a good Ecco/New Balance retailer will advise whether inserts are needed (and they should have the Ecco/New Balance 'accessories' on hand) or provide other shoe advice on mitigating the back issues.

Whatever he does, make sure the shoes are broken in. don't wear new shoes on a trip! They need to be comfortable, and fit; and brand new shoes do not fit that descrption.

I usually take only one pair of shoes. This time my podiatrist limited me to a pair of Dansko clogs, that I walked everywhere in. They cleaned up great for dining.

I have had good luck with SAS shoes. The style is called 'bout time'. Don't confuse it with 'time out' which they also make. They are hand made in San Antonio.

I always walk in running shoes. I have worn Nike Pegasus shoes for years and use them for both walking and running. I run on them a couple of months and then they become walking shoes. I even did the Cinque Terre hike in Italy with a pair and they did OK. My logic is that if they are made for running then they must be better for walking. I have worn them to all kinds of restaurants and did not have a problem. Good Luck - Bill

Have you checked out the "Best Walking Shoes" topic on RS Graffiti Wall?

I work in the shoe industry, and although some words have been spoken about ECCO changing suppliers hence the quality is lessor, I still highly recommend their shoes. I very rarely see them returned and not work out for customers and have several friends who wear their shoes and sandals. Other brands I recommend would fall under New Balance, Keen and Cole Haan, who use Nike Air technology for comfort. A shoe specialist can help you with specific styles as well (and the Men's Half-Yearly for Men is going on at Nordstrom right now, fyi, with a lot of shoes on sale).

One other thing about gel inserts (as someone mentioned them): Not only does the TSA not allow them on planes, they're worthless when it comes to "good support". When you need good arch support in shoes, having something soft and collapsible isn't a good idea - and for example, is why cheap flip flops aren't good for feet, either. To help his back problems, try Superfeet inserts if he doesn't yet have a custom orthotic. Superfeet have a half-insole arch support system for non-removable insoles, as well as a full-insole for removable insole shoes. I love Superfeet and literally cannot wear any of my shoes without them.

Hi Diane, I wear Rockport World Tour Classic walking shoes to work (I teach machine shop so I'm on my feet all day on cement), camping, ATV riding, traveling, walking. They are available online from Cabellas and others, and can be found at under $90. And they are available in wide sizes and several colors. You may find that you want to upgrade the insoles to something better than the ones that come with the shoes.

Diane,

Finding the best footwear for travel has been an ongoing project for me over the last few years. I prefer to travel with only one pair of shoes (the ones I'm wearing), so it's important that I don't have any problems with them during the trip. I also suffer back problems, and I've found these are sometimes partially related to inappropriate footwear.

After a long European trip in the fall of 2006, I learned that I was suffering from Plantar Fasciitis. After trying some "over the counter" solutions (which were useless!), I eventually went to a Podiatrist and was properly fitted for custom Orthotics.

I travelled with Rockport European tour shoes for several years and while these were comfortable, they weren't as robust as I had hoped and started to wear a bit prematurely. It should be noted that these were used only for trips and not for daily wear.

I've been using New Balance walking shoes for daily use, and have found these very comfortable (they were recommended by my Podiatrist).

The current travel shoes I'm using are ECCO Track II (with the Orthotics) and so far these have been fantastic! They're well built, have a Goretex lining and can handle both city walking as well as light trail use. They're also a bit "dressy" if shined up.

I did have a minor issue with the ECCO shoes at first, which I discovered on a trip in January. The left shoe fit too tightly across the top of the foot, and was irritating a nerve as I walked. It was VERY painful! My exceptional local shoe maker "adjusted" them for me, and no further problems since then.

On my last trip to Europe (which I just returned from) I took both the ECCO and New Balance shoes, but I'll probably only take the ECCO in future. I like to travel light, so the extra pair of shoes was a bit cumbersome.

As Charlie (Honolulu/Seattle) mentioned, you might want to check the "Best Walking Shoes" section.

Good luck and happy travels

I'd second the Ecco shoes. I bought a pair last year that were gortex (waterproof) and boot like (not really a boot but the sides were just a bit higher than normal).

In my cases I wanted something that looked nice, was comfortable and could handle inclement weather (my trip was in December and included the Alps).

I'm still wearing them now, without any problems and then work well with dress clothes as well as jeans.

I believe this is the model - Berlin GTX Boot
http://www.eccousa.com/shoes/mens/dress/berlin-gtx-boot/1570/detail.aspx

The best pair of walking shoes that I've ever owned is the "Austin" model by Keen.

http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss09/shoes/men/blvd/austin/stone%20grey

I wore them on a two week European trip last year, and I've worn them almost daily since then. They've held up extremely well. Like other posters above, I have plantar fasciitis and wear custom orthotic insoles.

Monte, My husband retired in 2008 after 31 years as a package car driver with UPS. He had plantar fasciitis and morton's neuroma and had to wear custom orthotics. We tried many shoes but he preferred Avia black running shoes. We bought every pair in his size that we could find, and he also wore them on our yearly trips to Europe. Gotta love UPS's vacation allowance!

PS. Did UPS really take away safe driving awards? Every five years my husband got some great stuff, especially at 30 years! Cheryl

Hi there, Would a new one like me be welcome here?
Thanks so much in deed.

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I have loved my Crocs since I got my first pair several years ago. They have been all over Europe with me and down many miles of cobbled streets and paths. While I thankfully have no back problems, I have flat feet and Crocs have been the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. Available at sporting goods stores and online at Crocs.com. There are many rip-offs on the market which are cheaper (Crocs are $29 to $39) but I have never tried them. Good luck.

I love, love, love Naots. They make shoes for men as well as women. I have one of their catalogs & it looks as tho they have 3 different footbeds for men. All are removeable, so he can take an extra set of footbeds to alternate if he doesn't want to take 2 pairs of shoes. I had my podiatrist check mine out last week & he loved them. I know you wanted a recommendation for a specific shoe style, but I suggest he find a local store that has any Naot men's shoe in stock & try them on to see how he likes the footbed. If he does like it, he can then order a style he likes with that same footbed. Naots don't need breaking in. They feel great from the beginning.

Diane,

Your husband would be hard pressed to find a more comfortable and practical pair of walking shoes than the Ecco Yucatan. While pricey - about $130 - this sandal is well worth the investment. I'm currently breaking in my pair for an upcoming trip to France and Italy. During the previous four years - each of which included a three-week trip to Europe - I walked in a different model Ecco sandal, and I found these to be most practical and comfy. Indeed, the Ecco Yucatan will be the only shoe your husband will need on his trip. Talk about packing light!

Best of luck.

i only take one pair of shoes and i always wear a form of a hiking shoe...not hiking boots...i walk a lot anyway and most brands i have tried are fine...hiking shoes are sturdy, comfortable and versatile...columbia, avia, nike, keen, everest etc...

I may have posted this, i have work ecco track shoes for the last 10 or so yrs, must have 9 pair,i have yet to wear a pair out, very comfy, my back is fused and these shoes have reduced my paid at least 50 percent...around 200 bucks, well worth it

I'm looking for recommendations for walking shoes
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For socks I wear acrylic gold toe brand dress socks. They are comfortable, pack easily and wash easily. I bring three pairs of black so I don't worry about matching anything else or each other (and no I don't wear socks with shorts). If they matched everything I might pack three pairs of brown socks but I don't pack two colors.

If I'm doing any real hiking, I bring light hikers and wear wool blend socks from Costco. I used to pack with an eye toward more hiking but I found most of my hiking is on cobblestones and well traveled trails so I don't pack for it anymore unless I know it's coming. It's more important for me to wear clothes that work for day or night.

One thing I have't seen related to this topic is socks. I used to only wear cotton athletic socks for hiking (there, I said it.) I now only wear wool socks (year round) by SmartWool and Bean. The Merino wool blend wicks moisture away from your feet. They are also a little thicker - providing more cushion/comfort. BTW, during the winter months - cold feet is almost always an indicator of damp feet - hence the benefit of the wicking action.

Take a look at the z-coil shoe. These are great for back, knee or foot problems. www.zcoil.com

After searching high and ow for a shoe that worked for my diabetic feet, I discovered Clarks, unconstructed. They are the most fabulous shoes you wil ever own. Manym ,any friends have purchased them with the same great results. I bought my father a pair and he loves them equally as well. He suffers from some pain and numbness and had experienced foot and shoe poblems No more, Clarks, unconstructed!

Clarks, UNCONSTRUCTED!!! Best loafer for men and I wear the womens. Traveled in Europe, walked miles and NO breaking in necessary. InStep in Austin, Texas or Karavel in Austin, Texas

For me it's BROOKS, but for you it is what is comfy at home. That applies to the whole wardrobe. Never take new stuff or anything you haven't worn before and know it feels good.