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Any suggestions for a cute walking shoe :)

Since I will be doing a ton of walking on my trip to Italy I will need some comfy walking shoes...does anyone have any suggestions on a stylish/comfy tennis or walking shoe?? I am giong early October.

Posted by
1880 posts

Dar,you should be reading the " Best Walking Shoe" board on this site...there are TONS of suggestions there!! Go to the Graffiti wall and look to the left for this header....

Good luck.

Posted by
479 posts

The cutest walking shoe is the one that allows you to walk all day without sore feet and never gives you blisters.

Posted by
11 posts

I agree Jarrod, cute is not as important as comfort. There's nothing cute about a lady in heels that can barely make it up the Spanish Steps.

Posted by
11507 posts

COMFORT is very important, but, trust me fellows, we women do not want to look like we are wearing ugly clodhoppers either!!

Posted by
55 posts

Have you looked into Merells? Look around and you can get a good deal on them otherwise they run about $90. I found a new pair on E-bay for $42. They look like a dress/casual shoe but feel like a tennis shoe. I bought a black pair and a brown pair for my upcoming trip to Rome. I love them! They look cute. They even have shoes for guys and girls.

Posted by
77 posts

I agree with the ladies, comfort is important, but you also want to look cute. I have found Natralizer now makes some cute cumfy shoes. They have them in major department stores. I will keep you posted, I am also looking for shoes for my trip in May.

Posted by
1170 posts

I tend to get blisters easily. Do you all use these without any type of socks?

Posted by
400 posts

Please do let me know where you can buy comfy walking shoes. I always have trouble finding properly fitting shoes and would never order over the internet....must try them on before purchasing. I went to Dick's Sports and was surprised to find they had nothing but totally enclosed hiking shoes. If anyone finds some good comfy walking sandle type shoe at a popular chain store, please let me know. Thanks!

Posted by
1158 posts

I agree, all it matters it the comfort, but since I am a lady I like to look good, not too sporty while I travel. About 2 months ago I bought a pair of beije Columbia shoes from Sierratradingpost.com and also a pair of cute and very comfortbile no heel botties made by Simple. I wore the boots a few time and no blisters and no pain so far.
I have many foot problems, bunions, flat and wide foot, blisters most of the time, so I always try to find comfy shoes.If you decide to buy anything from that website, search for some coupons on google. I found one for 20% off.

Posted by
1158 posts

Eli,

You are supposed to wear socks with your shoes. I can't imagine wearing shoes for a long walk without socks. I found that the sport socks are the best, especially the ones with cushions. Some of them have a nice elastic in the middle sole, so it kind of help with the circulation and it feels good. I also heard that the wool socks are good, but I am not sure if i want to wear such sock in summer.

Posted by
206 posts

There are also socks that have a double layer and are supposed to be good for preventing blisters. For the life of me, I can't remember what the socks are called! For shoes, snoop around sites like shoebuy.com, shoeparlor.com, and zappos.com. They typically have free shipping delivery and returns, great for people like me who are difficult to fit and hate going to the store! :-)

Posted by
199 posts

I've never understood how a shoe can be cute.

Posted by
16 posts

I love my skechers. They make a "cute" slim tennis shoe. That sometimes I have worn at work without any problems (nurse - on my feet all day). They look stylish, wear socks though!

Posted by
1 posts

Check out travelsmith.com and click on "Travel Shoes". A great selection which includes comfy and stylish. Not exactly cheap, but quality shoes. Plus, you have plenty of time to return them if the fit isn't right since you're not leaving until October.
Good luck!

Posted by
139 posts

We are headed for Italy in April. My wife just bought a pair of Merrill or maybe ECCO. They are a Mary Jane look. She was not sure at first. But the other ladies standing there said they were real cute. they are built for walking, yet can probably dress up a little also. She has been breaking them in and is starting to like the look more and loves the comfort for walking.

Posted by
9 posts

Hello Da!
After reviewing the previously mentioned comfortable walking shoes area of this site, I purchased a 2 "cute" pairs of Mary Jane type shoes - one Merril and one Josef Seibel. I've been doing the rounds at home in them and must say they are like clouds on my feet! I'm confident that these are the shoes that will carry me through Italy in May!
Good luck!

Posted by
19 posts

Yes! I just bought some Jeep J-41's from Zappos.com
They are soooo comfortable and really cute. I bought a pair called Dune and one called Aquarius. Zappos is a great website. I plan on wearing them on my trip to Italy this summer.

Posted by
3551 posts

Get a shoe that works for you but break it in bef you go and use Thorlo running socks (they prevent blisters) well worth the $13 per pair price. Since I changed to Thorlos no blisters.

Posted by
19 posts

Crocs makes a really cute pair of ballet flats that I love (and in black they are quite fashionable!) I live in NYC and often walk the 2.5 miles to and from work in them and my feet always feel great. I've also been comfortable in them on days when I walk all over the city doing errands (4-6 miles, walking quickly, often lugging all sorts of stuff) and again always been really comfortable.

They are a nice alternative to the normal crocs - which no matter how comfortable they are - I refuse to wear because they are SO UGLY!

Depending on your style puma also makes what my sister likes to call "city sneakers" - they're as comfortable as running shoes, but often in black, are cute and again, won't brand you as a tourist. Probably a better choice if you don't walk alot normally.

People may make fun of you - but in Europe cute shoes are important unless you want to be targetted as a tourist. To be honest, even in NYC if I see someone wearing running shoes I know they're a tour

Posted by
19 posts

Oh, and I meant to add that in the bigger cities in Europe, puma and other "city sneakers" are very "in" - just make sure to wear them with pants/capris and get yourself some low ankle socks - the kind that protect your feet but aren't really visible!

Posted by
359 posts

Just saw an article in our local paper where Converse has come out with a new line of their high-tops with designer colours/patterns...... I'll stick with Ecco, thanks.

Posted by
25 posts

Hi Da,

I have had really good luck with NAOT and Mephisto. Both lines have lots of cute, but supportive shoes. Great for walking miles and miles and miles....

Have a great trip!

Posted by
35 posts

I really like the brand Privo. I think they are made by Clark. They are very comfortable for walking, though I would not do any serious hiking in them, and have many styles to choose from that are fairly cute.

Posted by
769 posts

maybe add some bunny slipper ears to your Ecco or Keens... :)

Posted by
2030 posts

I brought a pair of black leather Izod mary janes to Paris last January that were awesomely comfortable and looked good. Before that in Italy last summer I wore a pair of good quality, fairly thick platform soled flip flops (black again) that worked well for a lot of cobblestone walking in Tuscan hill towns.

Posted by
77 posts

I love how much attention this is getting! After spending hours and hours trying on UGLY shoes, I finally found 2 great pairs that can be found on zappos.com. First, Clarks "JILL", very cumfy with a heal, my back kills if I wear flats. 2nd, Soft Walk "Marbell" in gold! They are amazing! Keep up the good work girls!!!!

Posted by
689 posts

Last summer I bought "hiking" sandals at REI. They have great support both foot and arch. They have good tread and are very very comfy. Not a blister - for the first time ever. I was able to hike anywhere for two weeks and not a hint of a sore foot or blister.

Posted by
31 posts

Palladium Shoes are really stylish and comfortable! My two sisters and I all have some and they are great and not too expensive for traveling shoes. Their website is www.palladiumshoes.com.

Posted by
114 posts

We walk constantly when we travel, and I live in my Easy Spirit shoes--Motion is the name of the style. Not high glamor by any means, but not ugly, and they are so light I forget I have them on.

Posted by
103 posts

I'm going to wear two types of Merrel's - one is a cute two tone tan/dark brown Mary Jane and the other is a stylish sandel with a sturdy sole. I love Merrel's! They fit my feet perfectly. But everyone is different. My husband can't wear Merrel's. Definitely try shoes on and walk around. If you "notice" the shoe on the first try, they will most likely bother you. I've given up the idea that you can "break in" a shoe.

Posted by
7 posts

Dansko Professional Clogs. Very inconspicuous. Ebay always has a large selection.

Posted by
45 posts

Check out Dansko. Bought a pair of sandals in 2003. They were pricy, but I have worn them in italy, Hawaii, Switzerland, and never got tired feet. I didn't bring them on my last trip to Italy and i regretted every second. Privo makes some comfortable shoes too.

Posted by
9404 posts

Birkenstock makes some very cute sandals (cozumel or gizeh) and they are the most comfortable "shoes" I have ever worn. I only discovered them last summer because I am not the type that would be caught dead in Birkenstocks until I saw a woman at Pompeii with the cutest sandals I'd ever seen and I asked her who made them, I nearly fell over when she told me they were Birkenstocks.

Posted by
45 posts

I bought a pair of Josef Sibel Eurpoean walking shoes, they are a little dressy looking but sneaker feel. Mine kind of reminded me a bit of bowling shoes, but I still wear them to work quite often.

Posted by
6 posts

I bought a pair of black Kellie by Monroe at Nordstrom. A little pricy, but worthy. Nice enough for dressing up. Tons of comfort for walking around for hours. You don't even have to break them in. I wore them right off the box. I am bringing them to my Europe tour in May. The best shoes I've ever bough!

Posted by
10 posts

We just returned from two weeks in Italy. My husband purchased ECCO shoes, nice looking and comfy for him! I bought Josef Seibel shoes. Nice looking and very very comfortable. NO BREAK IN PERIOD. I have a high arch and a bunyon on one foot and had NO problems! They even got soaking wet walking around Pompeii in the rain and were fine. they are much more attractive than tennis shoes and I think more comfortable! I HIGHLY recommend them. I had tried on Ecco, Merrell etc etc and for me these fit the best. ALSO we found the BEST SOCKS..they are called SMART WOOL. We each had three pair for three weeks and had NO PROBLEMS with odor, wetness or foot problems. They are a little expensive but worth it.
HAVE A GREAT TIME
Kathie