My wife and I are going to Italy in January and I'm trying to find a good pair of shoes for all the walking and that will fit in with the locals a little better. What do you suggest?
Thanks!
My wife and I are going to Italy in January and I'm trying to find a good pair of shoes for all the walking and that will fit in with the locals a little better. What do you suggest?
Thanks!
To be honest - at this late a date, anything that is well worn in. Buying something brand new could be asking for trouble at this point...…
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Well-broken in, and with good traction - lots of cobblestones.
What do you normally wear? Will you have any dressier evenings out? My husband has been bringing two pairs of shoes on our travels to Europe. Usually a pair of nicer looking sneakers (perhaps not white) and some casual light weight oxford looking shoe. This last trip he only brought sneakers and never felt out of place. Now, he has quite large feet (size 15) and we pack very light, so for him it pays to be quite conservative with the number of shoes he brings. If you have the room and aren't crazy about wearing sneakers 24/7, I would think a nice looking pair of rubber soled oxfords with good arch support would work.
Under the Tips and Trip Reports forum there is a category called Best Walking Shoes for Travel. Plenty of information there.
Wear whatever comfortable shoes you would normally use for much walking. White sneakers are worn by more than some in North America. Trying to pass as a local when you are not? Worry about important matters.
will fit in with the locals a little better.
Wear comfortable, practical shoes. You cannot disguise the fact you will be a tourist.
Ecco soft 7 sneakers. Stylish, comfortable, good grip on surfaces, lightweight. Took 2 pair for my 3 week trip to Italy in September and October and in December last year. They barely need any breaking in.
Thanks for the advice! I currently wear an Ecco shoe everyday. I looked at the Ecco Soft 7 that was referenced here and they look like they will do the trick. Great advice everyone. Although I'm not sure what was meant by the comment of "worry about the important things." I think worrying about a pair of shoes is pretty important. But, it doesn't matter.
Worry about important things while traveling and not about shoes in an attempt this will surely disguise yourself as a local. Go forth and enjoy....in comfortable shoes.