Shoes for Winter Travel in Europe

Pat, thank you for your sensitivity to the California issues. Indeed, foot problems pale in comparison to what some are dealing with, but they are real for you and appropriate for this,forum.

As for shoes or boots, you do not say what the surgery was for, but if you have one pair of winter boots that works now, that is a good place to start. Your comfortable HOKA shoes with warm socks could work as a spare pair when it is not wet. . In winter, two pairs would be enough for me, along with good socks. ( My summer shoe count is 4-5 pair, counting hiking shoes, sandlal, and city sneakers, plus dressy shoes for events).

Not sure if this would work, but have you tried getting boots a size up from what you usually wear ? Or men's hiking shoes ? (Bigger toe box)
One year I wore comfortable Clarks walking shoes, waterproof leather, with TWO pair of wool socks and that was OK.

Only downsides on workout shoes are (1) if they're not waterproof, you will be walking around in wet shoes and socks and (2) if they have thin soles, the cold goes right up to the soles of your feet. I wouldn't worry about whether people around me were wearing similar or different style foorwear.
If you have one pair of comfortable winter boots, you could bring along the others for wearing in the hotel so the boots have a chance to dry out.
P.S. the current power shutdowns should also remind you to carry a small flashlight.

Here in Minnesota, I work with a guy who wears Birkenstock sandals outdoors all winter long and says his feet are not cold because his toes are not cramped.

In winter, I wear my Altra Zero Drop sneakers (high, wide toebox and also "foot-shaped" rather than pointy-toed) with silicone overshoes and find them to be warm unless I have to be outdoors for hours. Be sure to try on larger sizes than usual, the men's Altras as well as the women's, and every style, because they are all weirdly different in how they fit. There are plain black styles.

I also sometimes wear boots called Neos that fit over my Altra sneakers and I have never been cold wearing them --- check them out, too. I used to snowshoe all day wearing those.

One more idea. My husband goes winter camping in temperatures well below zero and I believe what he wears are Keens boots. I'd ask him for you, but he's camping right now!

It’s hard because what works for one foot won’t work for another.

I have a pair of insulated, waterproof boots that are light-weight, warm but breathable, and very comfortable. I wore them all day every day for two separate 10-day trips. England and Scotland. They are Patch style by Forsake. My feet even got a bit wet when I stepped knee-deep into a bog in Scotland (I think the moisture seeped from my leggings to my socks) but my feet still stayed warm inside my boots, amazingly enough.

All birds has come out with a new water resistant cold weather tennis shoes called Mizzles. I haven’t tried them yet. I have a pair of their summer shoes that are fantastic. Super lightweight and comfortable. I wear them on our flights. They have a standard wool version that would be the in between of the other two styles. Depending on where you’re going one of those could do the trick for you.

So this is a budget busting suggestion, but may be once in a lifetime: Arche, Baryky style. Cost = @$400. Very soft leather (deer, I think) molds to your foot. Waterproof. Look great whatever the setting, minus actual hiking. Will your feet be cold? Wear wool socks and size up a half size. For the price, definitely try to try them on and not just do mail order. Nordstrom's should have them or one of the top flight department stores.

Will you climb mountains in them? Probably not. When I went on the MSV tour in Dec 2017, these were my more city shoes. I wore Merrells for visiting Neuschwanstein and hiking up the hill towards it. I am taking them on my Christmas Market tour again this December.

PS, Arche goes on sale a couple time a year following the European sale model (Jan and July). If you put them on your wishlist, you may find them reduced at some point.

Good luck.

I'm reminded of my first trips outside of San Diego to visit relatives in the winter. We bought coats and gloves in San Diego, then froze because they weren't suitable for winter use in the actual cold.

Generally the streets won't be covered in snow. It's snows occasionally but the sidewalks get shoveled. Unless you are going to a mountain destination, I wouldn't worry about boots. I'd worry about two things: wet and cold.

A good water proof walking shoe will work fine. Pick something your feet are comfortable in. Each person is different. I love Ecco and Clarks, but that doesn't mean they'll work for you. One thing is sure, if it's not comfortable in the store, it won't be on the road. Unfortunately, some shoes are fine in the store - and for short walks - but become painful when you're walking miles on a vacation day in Europe.

I bought a pair of Rockport for my trip to Spain and literally suffered (for more than a year after the trip too). They were fine for walking up to several miles before the trip. When I really used them, however, my old ankle injury flared up in a way it hadn't with other shoes. To date, it's the only trip I shopped for shoes on the road (never found the right shoe). I packed a pair of Rockport to Ireland this year and had no issue (go figure?).

For the cold, good socks is the most important part. When cotton gets wet, it loses all insulation value. That makes your feet cold and also opens you up for blisters. Use wool socks, something with enough stretch to retain their shape. I love the four-pack of merino wool socks at Costco. I've used them any trip I thought might be cold and haven't been sorry. Some of the more expensive wool socks come with less elastic and end up being a nuisance.

look at Ecco gortex shoes or boots. My friend spent two week in England in the rain wearing them and loved them. You can get a slightly larger pair for nice warm socks or leggings

Like Nancy, I wear Altras as well. I need a very wide toe box. That may or may not be your need! If it is take a look at the Altra Lone Peak 4 RSM. (RSM = RainSnowMud) It comes in low cut and a mid-high boot. I've got both and took the low cuts with me on my recent trip to France altho it turned out that I did not really need waterproof shoes. The waterproof models tend to run a touch narrower due to the waterproof membrane which takes up a skimption of space.

As Nancy mentioned, they are a Zero Drop platform (meaning the toe height is equal to the heel height) so if you are used to having a raised heel you'd need to give yourself plenty of time to get used to them.

I do not have a local store that carries them or if they do get a style in they never get it in an 11. I always order thru Zappos which has free shipping and free returns. With the Altras I'll often order 2 sizes at one time so I can compare the fit, then send the one I don't want back. I used to always need a 12 because Altra ran a but small but I think they have changed their last a bit because the last 2 pairs I wound up with the 11 fitting better. Anyway, YMMV with sizing.

If you’ve had foot surgery you need to have shoes that you know for sure are comfortable, it doesn’t matter what the Europeans wear. If your feet hurt from new shoes you will be miserable. I’m not sure you have time to properly break in a pair of boots or shoes by the beginning of December. If you have a winter type boot and a workout type shoe that fit and are comfortable, that you can walk in and stand in then take those. Buy yourself some good warm socks, something like Smartwool or a thermal sock.

We did a Christmas markets cruise at the beginning of December a couple of years ago, from Passau to Budapest, with a few days in Prague beforehand. There wasn’t much snow and it wasn’t bitterly cold, but we did have a couple of drizzly days. I didn’t pay attention to what people had on their feet, I was too busy looking at all the Christmas market goodies!

Last December I brought one waterproof shoe and took my sneakers as the second pair. Bought waterproof spray and coated the sneakers 3 times. Bring socks that you can wear two pairs at a time or add a pair of panty hose. Wear the waterproof shoes on wet or snowy days and sneaker other days. Our trip had more dry days than wet. This system worked great for me. This saves buying expensive shoes you won’t use another time.

I don't have special winter shoes, I have a variety of leather boots and trainers that I'll wear with no problems. European streets are usually cleared of snow so you won't be traipsing through inches of snow.

I have a pair of Goretex North Face walking shoes and a pair of waterproof Karrimor boots for wearing when taking the dog for wet walks however if you only intend on walking the streets then there's no requirement for such protection.

Thanks for all your help.
I have one more shipment of shoes coming this week, and if none of those work, I will stick to the one pair of Earth comfort boots that I have, and just take the Hoka work-out shoes, with plenty of warm socks.
I'll look into the wool socks that Costco sells. And I will triple waterproof whatever shoes that are coming.
Again, thanks and safe travels!

In addition to water proofing shoes I spray my coats and RS luggage and backpack. Especially when I wash them after a trip.

Have you tried Abeo brand from the Walking Company? Everyone is different, but they work well for me in sandals. Haven't tried their boots though.