good shoes for traveling that are still fashionable?

[lilo]

My DH and I are going to Europe next month so I need to buy some basic black flat shoes that can withstand walking around the city for a few hours. I am not one to wear tennis shoes or birkenstocks so I'm looking for something a bit more fashionable. Suggestions??

TIA!

[Mrs. M.]

I've worn black ballerina flats with a rubber sole all over the place.

Somewhat like these:
http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdImg/images/pr/177X150/00/01/76/7c/44/24542276.JPG

[caramello]

I love Born, Ecco, and Josef Siebel shoes! They may not be the most fashionable shoes, but they are definitely comfortable. I usually try to buy them at Nordstrom's Rack, Marshalls or Ross because otherwise they can get pretty pricey!

Hope that helps. I "think" there was a similar thread in the Fashion section about comfortable shoes or something like that with pictures.

[sue-bert]

Naot and Clarks make comfortable shoes that are not grossly un-fashionable.

I have a pair of Clarks sandals that I've worn for over 5 years for trips to Spain, Thailand, the U.S., and also on an every day basis (I walk to & from work). I think their shoes are outstanding. Comfy and lightweight.

I have lots of sandals and one pair of clogs from Naot. I've walked many many km in shoes from this company and always found them to be comfy.

Examples from Clarks: http://www.clarks.com/portal.html
http://www.clarksusa.com/images/shoes/women/detail/1000845.jpg
http://www.clarksusa.com/images/shoes/women/detail/1000760.jpg

From Naot:http://www.naot.com/
http://www.naot.com/cgi_images/full/89401.jpg
http://www.naot.com/cgi_images/full/89306.jpg
http://www.naot.com/cgi_images/full/74408.jpg

All the above shoes are available in black.

Aerolsoles also makes comfy shoes (I had a pair years ago).

I'd also add that if you're planning on doing a lot of walking, especially if it's a destination with cobblestone pavement, choose the most comfortable show you can get away with! You'll thank yourself at the end of the day.

Good luck! Tell us what you come up with!

[LeslieandPaul]

My DH and I are going to Europe next month too! I'm not taking dressy shoes to walk around in, but I did get a pair of beige Timberland walking shoes that are really comfy, and not too sporty looking. If I were going to get black dressier shoes, I would probably go for Clarks or Hush Puppies.

[Rosebud]

The last several times I've been to Europe I've bought new walking shoes each time... but never found one that was really comfortable enough. We honeymooned in Europe last year and I went on a mission to find the most comfortable walking shoes-- and I think I found them!

http://tinyurl.com/zee55
(mine are black)

They're by Merrell, and they have a bunch of different styles. I also tried on these pairs and liked them, too:

http://tinyurl.com/kwaechttp://tinyurl.com/feveehttp://tinyurl.com/f9xs4

The salesman at the store where I bought them said they're really popular with backpackers and nurses-- people who walk a lot every day. I wore them every day for two weeks in Europe and they were awesome! I've actually been wearing them to work a lot ever since because they're just the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.

Merrell website: HERE (http://www.merrell.com)

[pewee9196]

Dependingon where you are going remember the weather. If you are going to Germany I would get something warmer than a flat. I was raised in Germany - I would go for something you can walk a bit more in like the ones rosebud posted. Have fun. I am very jealous!

[emmjay]

Not super stylish (but they are European! ;) ), but the Dansko Professional clogs are incredibly comfortable and good for walking around. I have these in black and brown. They are around $110.

http://www.epinions.com/images/opti/1c/df/pr-Shoes-Dansko_Professional_Oiled_Boots-resized200.jpg

I also have the first pair of Merrells posted by Rosebud03 in black and those are good too. I personally prefer the Dansko clogs, but I have wider feet so maybe that is why.

[karlatta]

I have a pair of black Eccos that I don't walk around Europe in, but I wear every day to teach (standing up all day), and they've been great. I've been wearing them since the beginning of August - they still support my feet, show very few signs of wear. I think they would do perfectly toting around Europe.

[Daisy]

It is so hard to find cute walking shoes! Most comfortable walking shoes are so freaking ugly! My vote is for Cole Haan and their line with the Nike air technology. I just bought these for my Italy trip in May:
http://a1216.g.akamai.net/f/1216/955/6h/images2.nordstrom.com/images/store/product/medium/33691-BLK.jpg

Also, the Nordstrom site allows you to do a search for flats and walking shoes.

Good luck!

[lil_geek]

Last year the day I was leaving for Europe I bought a pair of wedge heel (1.5 at highest) ankle boots.....

http://www.theshoecompany.com/images/products/Spring06/women's/6-2xxx-648.jpg

WIth a shorter heal and only up past the ankle.

They are without a doubt the best boots I have bought in my life! We walked all week long and I had no blisters, no sore feet, etc. Because they are a boot, when it poured on us in London my feet stayed dry, and I didn't have to worry what colour my socks were!!

I will be very sad next winter 'cause I think I need to retire them!!

ETA: Just found these on Nordstrom and they are closer..... may have to look into ordering!

http://a1216.g.akamai.net/f/1216/955/6h/images2.nordstrom.com/images/store/product/medium/165207.jpg

[thechick79]

It is so hard to find cute walking shoes! Most comfortable walking shoes are so freaking ugly! My vote is for Cole Haan and their line with the Nike air technology. I just bought these for my Italy trip in May:
http://a1216.g.akamai.net/f/1216/955/6h/images2.nordstrom.com/images/store/product/medium/33691-BLK.jpg


Daisy, did you already try these out? They are really cute! We just got back from Disney World and I made the mistake of wearing flat sandals. We're going to New York City next month and I want to find something comfy yet cute :-)

[Daisy]

thechick79 - Thanks, I just ordered these from Nordy's and expect them any day now. I will let you know what I think of them then. I have worn other Cole Haans with the Nike air before and they are pretty comfortable. :D

[alisong]

I have a half hour walk to/from work, so I've spent a lot of time investigating comfortable un-ugly shoes. In addition to the Clarks (I like their Indigo line) and Ecco suggested above, I have a couple of pairs of Sofft that are super comfortable.

Also, I've had really good luck getting comfortable shoes at reasonable prices by stalking a local shoe store. Because they're smaller they really need to move stock fast, so they'll typically discount $80 shoes to $30 only a couple of months after they get them in. I recently found a pair of Ecco boots (originally $130) for $30!!

[lilo]

Wow, thanks so much for all the great suggestions! I've heard good things about Clark and Merrell shoes. And I didn't even think about Cole Haan with the Nike Air. I love Cole Haan so it would be bonus if they were also comfortable for walking around all day.

pewee9196: Yes, Germany can definitely be fickle, weather wise. I lived there for a short period of time. What part of Germany did you live in?

Daisy: Those shoes are super cute. Definitely let us know how comfortable they are.

[laura]

When we went to Italy last year, I agonized about shoes. I'm not a sneaker-wearer, either, so I wanted a pair of comfortable walking shoes. I bought a pair of Josef Seibel mary janes that looked sort of like this:

http://a1216.g.akamai.net/f/1216/955/6h/images2.nordstrom.com/images/store/product/medium/165313-CNO.jpg

but I ended up returning them before we went b/c they are so unlike my regular footwear. That was a huge mistake. What I ended up taking was 1 pair of Reef flip flops, 1 pair of Adidas sneakers as my 'walking around shoes', and 1 pair of 'dressy sandals' for going out to dinner shoes. We were trying to pack light and I was so proud of myself! That is, until the first day of walking when my sneakers completely tore up my feet so I couldn't wear them the rest of them trip, and the strap broke on my 'dressy sandals' while walking on the delightful cobblestone streets, so I was left with 1 pair of flip flops for everything. In truth, the flip flops were fine. It was hot in Italy, though it was a pain 1 day when it rained. I really wish I would have held on to the mary janes I had purchased; I also wish I would have bought the shoes far enough in advance to wear them around our house some to make sure they would be comfortable. I almost always wear backless shoes, so I needed to get used to shoes w/ a back, too.

I really like the cute Cole Haan's posted above (and I've considered buying them for myself!), but I wouldn't recommend them for walking around Europe - at least not where we were in Italy. They seem too ... I don't know, non-robust, IMO, but I guess it depends on what you will be doing. They would be great for dinners with cute skirts, though - and no flimsy straps to break!

[Taurus]

Another glowing recommendation for the surprisingly cute (and incredibly comfortable) Indigo line by Clarks. You can also find them a zappos.com and I've noticed that my local DSW is even carrying a few styles right now.

I went through the same shoe search at about the same time last year! Good luck and have a great trip!

[pewee9196]

Lilo
I lived in Zweibrucken for 3 years and Heidelberg (actually Dielheim) for 8. I miss it so much!

I am trying to convince Dh to go this Christmas!

[Daisy]

lilo - I received the Cole Haan's last week and love them. They are super cute and I know they will go with a lot of my travel clothes. :D

As for walking around Italy (or any place with cobblestone for that matter), I wore similar sandals last summer while there and have no complaints - we did a ton of walking too. I think the key of what to look for is a rubber sole and something that is flat or doesn't have a prominent heel that could get stuck in a crack or cause your ankle to turn while walking on uneven surfaces.

[ejs]

Not super stylish (but they are European! ;) ), but the Dansko Professional clogs are incredibly comfortable and good for walking around. I have these in black and brown. They are around $110.

http://www.epinions.com/images/opti/1c/df/pr-Shoes-Dansko_Professional_Oiled_Boots-resized200.jpg

I also have the first pair of Merrells posted by Rosebud03 in black and those are good too. I personally prefer the Dansko clogs, but I have wider feet so maybe that is why.
I second the Danskos! I bought them for a UK trip and they were amazing. We walked a lot and I wore them every day. I have a really high arch and plantar fasciitis and had no problems at all with these shoes.

[strwbrygirl]

For those that have Danskos, how long did it take you to break them in?

I have this pair in black, and they are taking forever to get comfortable.
http://www.dansko.com/images/shoe_single/standard_71028102.jpg

Maybe the strap makes them tighter? I'm just wondering how long I should keep trying to wear them before giving up, because they're pretty uncomfortable at this point.

[emmjay]

For those that have Danskos, how long did it take you to break them in?

I really didn't have to break mine in - they were comfortable from the beginning. I've never worn the kind with the strap, though. Also I have seen different sizing equivalents between the US and European sizing, so I went with the bigger size (I wear a 9 and I got a size 40, although I've seen charts where 9 = 38).

[off2skl]

I tried a pair of the Dansko professional clogs and they never were comfortable for me. The arch was so hard that my feet would ache after 2 hours.

The merrell mary janes look cute!

[ejs]

I never went through a "break in" period with my Danskos. They're clogs, so they fit loosely instead of snugly.

I do, however, always buy mine in a store. Each pair is handmade, so they all will fit differently. I usually try on many pairs of shoes before I find the ones that fit just right.

It did take a bit of time to get used to the hard soles because I had convinced myself that soft soles would be better. But, as I said, I trekked all over the UK in my Dansko clogs and never had a problem.