walking shoes in July

Get a pair of athletic sandals. I particularly like my Ecco Yucatan sandals. They adjust in 3 places, have a no seams that rub against your feet, and are very stable with good traction. I've worn them every single day on my last 3 trips.

I've taken two pairs of walking sandals on our 3 summer trips to Italy - I like Mephisto, Naot & Ecco. Wear one & pack one.

Go-lite makes some nice light walking shoes. I usually wear Keen and Mephisto but I just got a pair of go-lite walking shoes for my spring travels in Italy. You can order them from many online shops like shoes.com or zappos.com
http://www.golite-footwear.com/

I agree, Yucatan by Ecco are great. So are Mephisto and Naot sandels. You need something supportive yet "airy" as it will be hot! Wear the heavier pair on the plane, of course.

Thanks all. Anyone find a Keen sandal that's not heavy? I have a pair and would like to go lighter if possible. I like the closed toe in front though.

An ounce or two will make no difference to your luggage carrying but a good or bad fit will make all the difference to enjoying your trip. Get the best for you.

Wear your heavier shoes and pack a lighter pair of sandals or Crocs. Crocs are light, but I don't recommend planning to wear them as your main shoes. You can remove your shoes on the plane and walk around in your sock feet. That's what I do. My favorite walking shoes these days are Keens. I have worn Merrill's in the past; they were good for day-after-day walking.

I cannot wear sandals in big cities (it's a yuck factor for me), so I tend to wear non-workout athletic shoes made by Puma, New Balance, or Adidas. They are suprisingly light weight, airy with socks, and supportive. They also tend to blend in well with the locals (i.e., not white) if you care about that kind of thing.

Do those lightweight sneakers like Pumas have enough cushion in the soles for all those cobblestones?

Sarah, in my opinion the lightweight sneakers like Pumas don't have enough cushion for all day walking. I say this as someone who brings 2 pairs of shoes, usually one of those pairs are my lightweight Pumas. I wear the sturdier shoe during the day, and Pumas at night where it is a nice change of pace for my foot, so to speak. But I wouldn't want to wear them all day on cobblestones.

Thanks everyone for your opinions. I think the thought of 90 heat has d all these questions I have about what will be most comfortable. San Francisco is such a temperate climate. Haven't been in that kind of heat for a long time!

I also like my Ecco Yucatans-my feet are very picky! Wore them in Spain, Portugal, and even in Paris. They are light but soles similar to running shoe. Great for going through security & plane trip. I tried them for size & fit in a local place but ordered them from Zappos to get the best price and no tax. They are ready for Burgundy and Provence in June.

pair of Nike or just flip flops...

Try Merrell Encore breeze. These are a mesh clog that stays on your foot. They have air-cushioned heels, a nylon shank, and a sturdy sole that can handle cobblestones. I suffer from heel pain, especially if standing for a long time on a hard surface (e.g. in a museum). These shoes are wonderful and really reduce the discomfort. They're also great for airport security as they come off and on easily. And they are perfect to wear around the hotel to keep your bare feet off the floor. I have 3 pairs. If you can't get to a store that carries these (I think Macy's has them), you can use zappos.com. They have free shipping both ways so return shipping is a snap if you don't care for the shoe.

Live and learn - I always make sure that one of my pair can handle the rain...:-( And ditto on the sandals in the heat - you'll be sticking those feet in the first fountain you come across...

Last October in Rome, it was warm enough for me to wear my Skechers Tone-Ups. They're the flip flop version of the Shape Ups. The soles are thick and cushy and served me well on those cobblestones. If you're worried about your feet getting dirty, bring a package of wipes for cleaning your feet thru the day. I always bring a small package with me anyway in case I can't find anywhere to wash my hands.