Comfortable Walking Shoes?

[MrsBear]

Does anyone have recommendations for comfortable walking shoes to wear with casual shorts and capris? We are going on vacation soon and I'll be doing a lot of walking. I'd like to wear something other than my workout shoes.

Thanks for your ideas!

[Jenyfer9]

I love my Keens.

[sublime311]

I love my Keens.

I was actually coming in to post the same thing! I bought a pair for a day trip to NYC and had NO problems whatsoever with them. We spent the day walking EVERYWHERE. I looked on the Keen website (http://www.keenfootwear.com), but didn't see the pair I bought. It was an open toe version of the Newport "Trailhead" shoe...

[cynder]

I love Keens. I took my Sketchers Cali in black on vacation and loved them:
http://www.skechers.com/images/productimages/medium/36610_WHT.jpg

[cocopop]

I think it depends on where you're going for vacation. If you're planning to go to, say, Italy I would definitely NOT wear Keens. In that case I would probably look at Born shoes. They are comfortable and have some styles that are more dressy.

[Toonces]

MrsBear ~ Here are a few threads that might give you some additional ideas:

Walking shoes (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13036)
Comfy, but stylish shoes (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3018)
Comfy flip flops (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33614)
Casual shoes to wear with jeans/cords/khakis (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31994) - there are some ideas in there that would also be cute with capris or shorts :)

[MrsBear]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input! I'm definitely checking out Keenes and will read the previous threads referenced. Unfortunately, we are NOT going to Italy. Nowhere dressy, hence the casual shorts. ;)

Thanks again!

[greenbunny]

Toonces, that last link leads to a different thread than the wording, and I can't find it in a search. Could you bump it, please?

[cocopop]

I like your avatar toonces. I can't remember that girls name (from Big Brother, right). She is absolutely gorgeous.

[Rosebud]

I've mentioned this in several of the threads that were linked, but I swear by Merrell (http://www.merrellboot.com/Shop/Shop.aspx?ParentNavID=FT-TW)shoes for walking. I've worn pairs for weeks at a time in Europe-- walking all day every day-- and they're simply the most comfortable shoes ever. They have everything from casual sandals and sneakers to more dressy styles, so there are a lot of options depending on where you're going.

[Toonces]

Toonces, that last link leads to a different thread than the wording, and I can't find it in a search. Could you bump it, please?

Oops! Sorry about that. I fixed the link above; here (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31994) it is. That's a great thread.

I like your avatar toonces. I can't remember that girls name (from Big Brother, right). She is absolutely gorgeous.

Thank you. Yep, that's Danielle from BB8. :)

[KRK]

There are the cutes most comfortable shoes I've found Leslie skimmers by Privo (http://privo.zappos.com/index.zhtml).
http://privo.zappos.com/images/729/7296571/1396-370546-d.jpg

I just came from vacation and they were perfect for all the walking we did on dusty, rocky paths. The shock absorbing soles give you a bounce and it's like walking on air. I hate wearing sneakers or flats since I don't think they're cute, but these shoes may have changed my mind.

[Katy]

my Privos are super comfortable on the feet. Unfortunately, they still need a good breaking in since they dig into (and subsequently cut up) my achilles. It drives me nuts since they're otherwise so comfortable and quite cute. So I either need to break them in better, or figure out how to keep the bandaids on my heels.

FWIW, when I met Toonces the other day, she was wearing the very same Privos that I have and said that she most definitely does NOT have the same problem - so it's not the shoe, it's me :rolleyes:

[amorey]

I've mentioned this in several of the threads that were linked, but I swear by Merrell (http://www.merrellboot.com/Shop/Shop.aspx?ParentNavID=FT-TW)shoes for walking. I've worn pairs for weeks at a time in Europe-- walking all day every day-- and they're simply the most comfortable shoes ever. They have everything from casual sandals and sneakers to more dressy styles, so there are a lot of options depending on where you're going.

I LOVE Merrells! I bought my first pair last winter, and since then I've bought 2 more pairs. (Which, incidentally, are the only shoes I've bought!) I even got a pair for DH. I have bunions which can be painful, and these shoes are the cutest non-pain shoes I can find.

[vee05]

I have a pair of Privo's but they arnt too comfy i just ordered a pair of Keens lets see how theyl hold up :)

[KRK]

Katy, try these gel heel liners
http://www.shoefootandbody.com/foot/images/SF_Gel_Heel_Liners.jpg

[tgal]

they dig into (and subsequently cut up) my achilles. It drives me nuts since they're otherwise so comfortable and quite cute. So I either need to break them in better, or figure out how to keep the bandaids on my heels.

I've had the same problem with my Privo's.

Does that Heel liner work if it is the top ridge of the back of the shoe causing the problem?

[Katy]

I tried using something like that heel liner and it didn't work. I'm thinking it didn't work because 1) it really didn't have anything smooth to stick to (unlike say, the inside of a pair of heels) and 2) in my case, it's the pull-tab (for lack of a better word) part that digs into my heel, not the back of the shoe and there's no way to cover that (I tried).

I wore them this last trip to Chicago, thinking that if I just use band aids, they'll be fine and finally get broken in. Not quite so (since they're loafers, I can't wear socks). My band aids wouldn't stick on me, and I wound up tearing up my ankle something fierce - not just the achilles, but also something more burn-like on the sides of the heel. Not pretty, but thankfully, also not as crazy painful as it looks.

I won't give up since I know that once I break them in they'll be fine. Well that and the fact that I paid a small fortune for them, so dammit, I need to wear them. I'm thinking that next time I'm going to try wearing some blister band aids and maybe tape it on so it'll stick.
http://www.band-aid.com/images/15_advanced_healing/4488_advhlamp.jpg

ETA: my friend has some European band aid-like things that she thinks I should try (I guess they're stickier and softer)

[tgal]

Katy,
I have a deep gouge in my ankle from mine and like you said bandaids did not work. I've used the blister bandaids before and know they have a sticking power beyond what most of us need, so I'll definitely give those a shot the next time I decide to try and wear them. I am almost tempted to write Clarks because you are right, these things felt so dang good in the store and I shelled out 80 bucks for them. The other issue for me is the rubber soles, I think mine will probably be shelved until fall anyway because they burn up my feet something fierce!

[TracieB]

Katy,

My Privos do the same thing to me. I wonder if it's the brand? I've worn mine a TON trying to break them in (have had them almost a year now), and they still dig. My hubby thinks I should try to put some moleskin on my heel and see how that works. I'll let ya know!

[Toonces]

Okay... I'm the one with weird feet then since they don't do that to me. :p

I have these in brown (Privo Comice); don't cut into my ankle; did cut into Katy's ankle:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/cat777/privocomice.jpg

I have these in black (Privo Moraine); HUGE blister for me:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/cat777/privomoraine.jpg

Both of mine are the same size. I think the Privos run differently, both length and width, depending on the style. I have three pair of Privos and they all fit very differently.

[Katy]

I am almost tempted to write Clarks because you are right, these things felt so dang good in the store and I shelled out 80 bucks for them. yeah, my girlfriend was trying to sell me on some more expensive shoes/sneakers saying that I need to try them on and see how they feel. I explained to her that my Privos felt fine when I tried them on. It was trouble after and hour+ of walking. And by then, it's not like you can return them. In that sense, they really do disappoint. But I'm telling you, I have faith dammit they will fit fine!! :cool: