Best Walking Shoes Recommendations Please!
 

Hi,

I am going to Germany from late March until April 12th, what types or brands of shoes do you find the best considering the weather and all the walking?

You don't say if you are male or female, which will impact your choices.

There are lots of threads on this topic that you can search, but I would say the camps divide into Mephisto vs Merrell, which is sort of highly constructed vs soft, protective vs comfy.

The one great agreement except for determined contrarians is not to wear white (or really any color) athletic shoes.

Wear what most Germans wear when sightseeing; white, athletic shoes.

Wear what you find comfortable, even if that is white athletic shoes. Lots and lots of Europeans wear them too. No one will be looking at your feet anyway, and comfort is number one priority on holiday.
Are you planning on walking just on pavements or will you be walking in the countryside too? That will also impact on what you choose, as you will need a sturdier, more supportive shoe for country walks/hikes than for city walking.
Whatever you choose, make sure you war them plenty before you travel so you really are comfortable with them.

Dansko proffesional clog/shoes - have worn mine for 5 years - best walking shoes and also fashionable. These shoes last forever and they are comfortable from day one. They come in male/female sizes, so that isn't an issue. Many chefs/health care workers and others who spend a lot of time on their feet wear them for comfort. Can't recommend them highly enough!

Privos, my FAVE shoe!

hi silver,

Great advice above.

Whichever you choose, my advice would be to make sure they are well broken in. Your feet may swell, depending on how long your flight is, and also by being on them walking all day. Comfy, well broken in shoes, that are not tight will be best.

Also, I would wear one pair and pack one pair of shoes that you have worn that you know will be comfortable for all day use. Alernating between two pairs has always helped me.

Enjoy your beautiful trip to Germany!

I like Paul Green; they are available on www.zappos.com and better shoe stores. They have good arch support and coincidentally are made in either Germany or Austria, I forget which.

I have to always wrap parts of my feet with moleskin when I am on vacation. This really helps my problem areas.

I wear the leather sandals I bought in Florence in 2001. I have looked for a similar pair in black, but no luck.

Previous poster wrote: >>Dansko proffesional clog/shoes - have worn mine for 5 years - best walking shoes and also fashionable.<<...NOT!! Ugliest shoes ever.

Did someone say white athletic shoes?

Sure, why not? (white athletic shoes) unlike common misconception often passed on here, lots of europeans wear them.

For silver, there's nothing special about going to Germany. Just wear what you'd wear at home to do a lot of walking. If you need new shoes get them asap so you can wear them before your trip and make sure they are OK.

Rick Steve's has a whole board devoted to just this subject. The problem with taking this kind of advice is that we are not all made the same.

One popular recommendation on Steve's board is Keens. I can not walk in them for any distance as they stress my knees. They work for some but not for others.

Rockport walkers are my favorites. You need to shop and see what seems to work for you.

Regards, Gary

<i>Privos, my FAVE shoe</i>

This is a perfect example of why you have to go to the shoe store and try them on yourself. I just gave away a pair of Privos -- loved how they looked, hated how they felt. I don't like Keens so much either. Eccos are my brand of choice.

The white athletic shoes they wear look different than ours. However if you really want the attention of muggers, why not wear a cowboy hat too?

I agree with the posts above that say that what works for one person absolutely will not work for another, so you really have to try shoes on. Eccos work best for me, but maybe not so much for you.

And as for the attacks of the vapors at the thought of white athletic shoes: get black athletic shoes. Same comfort, fewer attacks by the fashion police.

Frank-- the white athletic shoe comment was trigered by a poster stating that it is the one type shoe NOT to wear. The point was made that it happens to be the most COMMON type shoes wear by GERMANS while on travel.

No one mentioned them, but I love Borns, great styles and colors, sandals &amp; lace ups. I've had several pairs.

A really fabulous sandal for warm weather is the KiWi. They are hand crafted leather, by Lee Risler, a guy in California. You stand on a piece of paper and have someone draw around your feet. Send him the pattern and he sends you the right fit. I've had two pairs. They are very reasonably priced and last for years. I love these sandals. I have the adjustable, thong type with the strap around the ankle. www.kiwisandals.com

I like my Eccos. Comfortable, light, nice-looking enough to wear from casual to business and waterproof which is really nice in Europe.

The number one thing that makes you look like a tourist is not having a cell phone glued to your ear. I'm thinking of taking mine or at least a blue-tooth just so I look like a local (even if it's too expensive to actually use).

I'm female and like the &quot;unstructured&quot; line by Clarks. Not very fashionable, but very comfortable. Latest favorite style for travel: Un.fog.

http://clarks.zappos.com/n/es/d/722685834/page/1.html