Shoes for Walking around Europe

I found a good selection of shoes at a store called "The Walking Company. I settled on a pair of Clarke's shoes, which were about $100.00. http://www.thewalkingcompany.com/

Everyone has an opinion on shoes. I like Finn Comforts, which are higher priced, but others have different favorites. Did you check out the shoes section on the Graffiti Wall? Pam

Skecher Shape-ups. Have 4 pairs, have never gotten a single blister, even when wearing them the 1st day for 6 hours walking around the city. Even after 12 hours on my feet, they still feel great. It has been bitter cold this past week and it was bitter cold last year, and I have never even gotten cold feet in these. I wear them in the rain and in the snow, and have also never gotten wet feet. I walk a lot on a daily basis on all kinds of cobblestones, pavement and even in the countryside hiking. (like up to Marksburg Castle) Have asked a podiatrist and my orthopedic Dr. what they thought. Both said they were outstanding shoes to wear. Considering I have arthritis in my big toe, these are the only shoes I have ever worn that relieved the pain. In fact, my foot feels better with the shoes on rather than off.

ECCO is the only thing we both wear. But price is closer to $200

Everyone has a different shoe that works for them. My suggestion: go to REI (or perhaps there is another similar store in Tennessee) and tell them you need a shoe good for walking on pavement all day. They should be able to give you several suggestions, try on their recommendations, and choose something you find comfortable. We have done this for four years and their recommended shoes have kept out feet happy during vacations walking on London and Paris pavements about six miles each day as well as two miles of daily dog walking at home.

No matter what you buy, look into s at The Walking Company. They made our good shoes (Clarks, Eccos, Keens) into GREAT shoes. Terrific difference on all day comfort.

I wear the same shoes in Europe that I use for walking and kicking around at home. Currently they're a pair of Nikes I bought at the local Finish Line store for $90. Whatever you get, be sure you've worn them a lot before your trip so you know they won't give you problems.

Before I traveled to Europe for the first time in September, 2009 I was obsessing about having the right shoes (earlier in the year I develped plantar facsitis and two heel spurs). I underwent therapy for months 3x times a week and had cortizone shots. In preparation for the trip ordered at least a dozoen pairs of shoes (expensive name brand shoes that many posters recommend) from Zappos and tested them out around the house before returning all of them either because my ortho s did not fit properly or they just were not comfortable. A couple of weeks before I left I ordered a pair of Skeecher Biker shoes. They felt great the first time I wore them. I walked around Europe for over 2 weeks (wearing these shoes 99% of the time) without any problems with my feet. I recommend ordering from Zappos--shipping is free both ways. Test them out indoors and find a pair that is good for your feet. Good luck.

You should try several pair as the feel of many of the shoes are quite different. I have always thought of Rockport as being very stiff and Ecco as being quite flexible. I prefer Keen, Mephisto and Salomon shoes. But there are many options so unless you can get to a store that has a good ion order online from a place that has free shipping both ways is your best bet.

Clarks work well for me even before I had a hip replacement. Let me know if you need help planning your trip. I've been to all those places except Vienna. What an awesome trip! A lot of places in only 2 weeks though!

A couple of important issues for lots of walking that are often overlooked and can cause lots of problems -- socks. Equally important to select the correct sock and all socks are the same and used those socks for the shoe fitting and break in. I prefer a medium weight wool sock year around. Second make sure the shoe has a removable innersole so that it can be removed each night for drying and better, yet, buy a second set of innersoles and change them every night. Dry shoes and proper socks will go a long way in preventing problems.

Frank's right about socks being important. Get good socks. I find that getting "fitted" socks that are for only one or two shoe sizes make a difference. No rubbing, slouching or pinching to make even the most comfortable shoe suddenly uncomfortable. And I love the Clarks un.structured line. Very comfortable, lightweight and breathable. No matter what shoes you select, they shouldn't require you to break them in. If they don't feel right at first, don't get them!

Which would be better or would it matter. hiking socks or dry socks (that dry quicker for being on the go)? thanks!

one thing i think alot of people overlook is the large increase in the amount of walking you will be doing compared to your normal life. you don't need special vacation shoes for walking around in. also, there is no magic shoe that will keep your feet and legs from getting tired after being on them all day and walking for miles when your normal level of activity is sitting in a chair all day with trips to the fridge sprinkled throughout. i assume most people already have a fairly comfortable pair of shoes. (we're not all italian women) my suggestion is that you start walking several miles every day leading up to your trip. you get your body used to walking long distances, and you won't need high dollar shoes to keep comfortable. plus there's the added health benefit... but that's just my two cents.

I don't think they mean "dry socks" as a type of sock. There are "dry socks" like that but it is for when your feet will definitely be in water like when fishing and wading, not for general walking and hiking. Good hiking sock from thorlo, smartwool, bridgedale, keen, wigmam, etc.

The choice of shoe brand/style is really personal. My husband prefers Eccos & Clarks. Clarks are often on sale at good prices. I currently favor Mephisto (especially All-Rounders), Rieker & Aetrex. Mephistos are expensive, but usually cheaper in the European Union. I like Merrills (Their light hiking shoes for men & women are so comfortable) and Keens (We love their various closed toe, waterproof sandals for men & women). Dr. Martens are good, but tend to be heavy, & maybe not so practical for packing light. We travel to Europe for six or seven weeks at a time with only carry on luggage. I often take a pair of Crocs as a back-up (to use as slippers, if my feet are really tired, or for a muddy day). Despite what some people say, Europeans wear Crocs, so you should not feel out of place. However, I would leave white sneakers at home. My husband & I like socks from Smartwool and Tilley's. Smartwool feels padded & cozy. Tilley's offers more sleek, solid color travel socks. Women with small feet will appreciate both brands, as they come in smaller sizes too. Have fun on your trip! We love all of the places you will visit.

Newsbreak! Europeans also wear white sneakers. Do a google street view of any city, check out the shoe stores. Half the shoes on sale are white. That Europeans can tell you are American by your white shoes is a myth that just will not die.

Just returned, walked 12 days, five to seven hours each day all over Rome, Pompeii and Sorrentoused my Clarks Unum slip ons and a pair of Lumberjacks which I purchased in Italy, both did very well. The reason you should bring two pair of good walking shoes is if you use one pair extensively the bottom of your feet will pick up a pressure point on each foot which can make the bottoms uncomfortable, alternating shoes changes the pressure point.

Brandon, I doubt you'll find a good quality pair of walking shoes for $100. You might have a look at New Balance walking shoes as they have different models in various price ranges. My primary travel shoes at the moment are These Shoes. So far they've been perfect! Whatever shoes you decide to buy, make sure they're well broken-in before your trip! Cheers!

Brandon, check out Cole Haan. Not sure if you have any Cole Haan stores close to you, but major department stores (Macy's, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, etc.) almost always carry them, or you can buy them on ColeHaan.com. It's owned by Nike, so even their dress shoes have "Nike Air Technology." For you, specifically, they have a line of "sneakers," but we're not talking tennis shoes here. I have a few pairs of their sneakers (some black, some brown) and they're super comfortable for walking around during the day, but b/c they're black/brown (& pretty smart looking/fashionable), you can also wear them at night to a nice restaurant (and you won't look like you're wearing the same "sneakers" you wear to the gym or to wear for a run). Look great w/ jeans, khakis, etc. I think last ones I bought cost around $150 so sounds like a bit more than you want to spend, but they'll last you a long time. Check them out here (looks like they're on sale now) : http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=357092&productGroup=357094&pwpHash=shop,pwp,c-100/f-4294966992/hf-10002%2B70016/ipp-40/pn-1

Walked up the hill to Neuschwanstein Castle with my Keen's this past summer! They have very good arch support and the soles are more like a hiking shoe, so good for trails or pavement (not heavy hiking, though). They cost around $100 on Zappos.

Hmmm, I think everyone is missing the important criteria...WEATHER.
Given what I've seen on the news lately, there is obviously only one choice of shoe that is appropriate for strolling through Europe these days...SNOWSHOES! ... lol..no need to worry about cushioned soles...snow provides ample cushion... lol

At the risk of being called a leftist, which is fine, I'll share that I don't change shoes when travelling to Europe versus living/vacationing here. I wear Eco Sneaks by Simple...made from organic cotton, hemp, recycled tires, bamboo, whatever. It's about as sustainable as you can get with a pair of shoes. The ones I'm wearing at the moment are sort of a mix between Vans and Converse. You'll be up to date and hipster stylish with a pair of these (and many folks ask about current styles in Europe...Converse shoes have been popular for quite awhile now) . And, they're extremely comfortable, even for walking days on end. If you're young and/or don't have medical problems requiring something special, check these out: http://www.simpleshoes.com/

Well, with all the snow we have had, I haven't worn boots yet, though I was tempted a bit. Still just wearing my regular Skecher Shape-ups. Haven't gotten wet feet nor cold feet yet. (I admit I am wearing heavy ski socks)

I just discovered a new shoe called MBT. They are pricier than most of the above mentioned brands ($200+) but I think well worth it. I wore Clarks (with a Superfeet for arch support from REI) yesterday walking all over San Francisco. When I got home, I was tired because my feet were tired. Then I put on the MBT shoes on and proceeded to have a pain-free evening. Their construction is quite different from other shoes. It is suppose to be good for people w/ knee or feet problems. I have plantar fasciitis. I figure the investment is worth it, because I won't be curtailing my plans just because my sore feet have thrown in the towel!

I just bought some Clark "Waverunners" for less than $100. They are lightweight and have good cushioning. Wore them for 10 days in Spain and they were the first shoes I put on the morning after I got back home.

I had good luck with Merrell shoes on my trip last month. I have developed Achilles tendonitis and was really worried. I had no pain at all.

Hi Brandon. If you want to spend $ 100., try on some Rockport walking shoes. A very comfortable pair was on sale for $ 80. at J.C. Penneys. For a lower price, the black Reebok Classic Ace shoes are good Men's shoes for travelling in Europe.

My husband thinks his Rockports are great. I tried them, and they hurt my feet. I like either New Balance or Merrell. My niece has feet problems, and I bought her New Balance, and they did not work for her at all. It is great to see all the suggestions here. I would write down the suggestions and then go try the shoes on your feet to see what works best for you. Years ago I got into Merrell when my feet hurt in England and I walked into a shoe store in England. The lady tried them on my feet. Even though I was not crazy with the look at the time, they were so very comfortable for me. A year or so later I saw them at home for the first time. Since then many stores have cheaper copies of them that I have tried, but all were not all comfortable as the real thing. My husband also swears by the insoles he buys. I tried them and they did not work for my feet. So my suggestion (to repeat) is to write down all the suggestions and have fun going shoe shopping.

I just posted a response to "Travel Shoe recommendations for woman with knee replacement" regarding New Balance 811. The shoes are available in narrow (2A), medium (B), wide (D), WW (2E) and WWW (4E). It is a tie shoe. The catalogue that I have listed the shoe for $84.99. Good luck!