Travel shoe recommendations for woman with knee replacement

Tried correcting but wouldn't let me my last reply.
At the New Balance store you have a greater selection and help in choosing for your needs.

New balance shoes are great but I recently found Naot shoes which I wore in Rome and found very comfortable. The right shoes make all the difference. I believe the store where I found these shoes is the Walking Company. You can also find the brand online and see the styles. Good luck!

Look into New Balance walking shoes. You are better going to a New Balance store and explaining your problem. Get ones with good support to keep you feet from "rolling". You can get a better ion to choose from and help buying directly from their retail store then what you find in a regular store that sells New Balance. My mom's podiatrist had recommended them. Also, look into Merrell shoes. Their website is www.merrell.com

I also prefer Naots. They have many footbeds some softer than others & also different heel heights. All have good support. My favorite for travel is the Koru footbed which is removable. In this footbed, I like the 'Mauri' style best. This is a very cushy shoe with great support & is excellent for walking & standing around (museums). I've worn this shoe on my last 4 European trips. The shoes can be a little hard to find, but are worth the search. The Walking store usually carries a style with this footbed. If you try it & find the footbed comfortable, you can order other styles thru the internet or, in some cases, thru them. I have arthritis in my left foot & both knees & this shoe has made travel possible again. The Mauri is nice looking & can be worn with both pants & skirts. Good luck with your search.

In addition to the type of shoe, you might consider a cane (if you wouldn't be embarrassed). I too have had a knee replacement. On our last trip, I took a cane with a fold down seat which helped immensely when needing to stand for long periods of time.

Mephisto shoes are great but they are expensive. I've had a pair for over 14 years. You can send them back to be reconditioned. They do make a big difference between shoes like this and sneakers or running shoes if you have painful legs and knees.

toured Ireland in May for ten days with a new knee I took my most comfortable shoes I had been wearing ...the performance of your knee is more related to the muscles around it than to shoes.. try to walk each day to make your leg stronger ...the way I look at it I'd much rather be on a trip with a worn out knee than at home with a rested one good luck and enjoy

I have made 5 or 6 trips to Europe since I had both knees replaced and have had no problems with the walking and standing. I usually wear my NB running shoes, NB Country Walkers or SAS sandles. All have worked well. I also take a trekking pole that folds down to fit in my carry on bag. I don't use it for everything but if going for a long hike or walk, I do. Have a great trip.

I want to thank all of you who have given me good suggestions for travel footwear. I will be shopping in the next month so if anyone else would like to add a further suggestion, I'd be most appreciative.

Thanks for asking this question and to everyone who responded. I, too, had a knee replacement in August 2010. I am scheduled for a RS tour in May and have begun to research shoes also. I plan to start my walking exercise as soon as the snow melts here.

Both of us are very pleased with the ECCO shoes. But you have to think of shoes as a system with the socks which are equally important. Since shoes can greatly vary, the shoe which is great for one person may not be so hot for another. Very iimportant to walk a few miles in your new shoes prior to going.

I had a knee replacement five years ago. I still have problems with the other knee and I have had several foot surgeries. I have used New Balance 811 shoes for the last four years. Unfortunately, the colors that had been available when I ordered my shoes were either white or bone. I did not want to wear white shoes so I ordered the bone color. It is a really ugly color but ...there was nothing else. Not only do I have knee and foot problems but I also have wide feet. The NB 811 comes in narrow (2A), medium (B), wide (D), WW (2E) and WWW (4E). The shoe is also wide enough to accomodate a custom orthodic. I usually wear compression socks and a fairly heavy cushioning sock. I agree with a previous post that the shoe that works for one person won't work as well for another person. I had ordered several pairs of shoes and tried wearing them in my house. It was well worth the shipping costs for the returns. Good luck!

Lisa, I strongly suggest taking two pairs of shoes - your feet, knees, back, entire body in fact will appreciate trading out shoes from time to time. And I'm talking about two different styles of shoes - so that you don't put pressure on the exact same areas of your foot. A slightly higher or lower heel will keep your back happy. This second pair can be a good walking/touring sandal (Tevas, or any other brand already listed), depending on the season you're traveling. You don't want to have to pack a huge and cluncky second pair in your bag. In my experience, I haven't found a shoe that is good for "walking all day, standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time, etc." LOL Especially the standing! I also highly recommend the Cane Seat. The last thing you want is to be is sidelined with a puffed-up knee in the middle of Europe :-( That's also why the cafe/park bench/short-rest-break-in-your-room was invented. No shoe replaces rest breaks. (cont.)

(cont.) As noted, socks are important. Also, be sure you try out your candidates while doing a 'sightseeing walk' - not an exercise pace, but not a window-shopping stroll either. Walk like you're 'going someplace' - maybe to a meeting or trying to catch the next bus (and not have to wait for the one after that). That way, it'll be obvious which shoes are going to give you blisters, make your back ache, etc. And do this walk for 20-30 minutes or so...not in 3-minute spurts. Most people don't walk in 3-minute spurts in Europe; you're trying to get to the train station ASAP, or to your next airport gate, or to the other end of the Louvre before the end of the year... Try walking somewhere that replicates cobblestone - that's a killer! You'll want a sturdy sole, and a non-slip one. Lastly, if you have (or can get) a pain prescription/Celebrex/etc. for your knee, BRING THE PILLS!!! Bring plenty of pills (and a copy of the prescription), and take them! A day in Europe isn't like your typical day at home, so come prepared for trouble. And be happy if there isn't any!

I'd like to add to all the good advice above- go to a great shoe store (where ever Riverbank is) and try a sole ( board filter does not like the word ins*rt) in your shoes, for example http://www.rei.com/category/12221601 I have a great pair of new balance sneakers, as well as a pair of wolky boots,both of which were made fabulously comfortable for my high arches/tender heels by adding a $45 . Expensive shoes are worth every penny if you find the pair that works for YOUR feet. My feet swell from all the prepared meals/salt and walking while on vacation, so the old advice about trying on shoes late in the afternoon is still good advice. (Right on about the Celebrex!)

I see this is an older post, but I noticed nobody mentioned the Merrell Jungle Moc. I have not had a knee replacement, but based on what was posted here two years ago, I purchased these for our 2 1/2 week trip to Europe. We walked a ton, and the added benefit was when we were caught in the rain, they were also waterproof, so my feet stayed dry. They have a big cushion and support. My feet never ached, at times they felt tired, but we walked everywhere, all day, most days. I've continued to wear them 9 months of the year for the past two years and they are not even worn out. ( I don't wear them in summer here as it's hot) Read reviews at REI.com or Altrec.com.

I swear by Brooks' Ariel. I have foot problems and need to wear a custom orthotic. And I love to walk for hours when I travel. The Ariel can accommodate my orthotic comfortably without slipping and it has excellent support. My back-up travel shoe (if I'm going to a concert or nice dinner or if it's pouring rain) is a black lace-up from Keen. Also good support, roomy toebox and I can walk a lot with them. Good luck and best wishes on finding a good walking shoe.
And I like that suggestion about bringing something to sit on.

I would suggesst checking out SAS. My sister had to have both knees replaced and found the SAS walking shoes really helped.

I've had good luck shopping at footsmart.com. They carry Clarks, Mephisto, Merrell, Ecco, and many more. You can shop by condition or brand. I've seen feedback from people with various foot problems and surgery which might help you choose. Not only do they sell shoes but socks, insoles, etc. They occasionally have sales so I suggest getting on their email list. The disadvantage is you cannot try them on before buying. I think they are completely online.