EasySpirit are old lady shoes. Hiking boots or running shoes are your best bet--I have a lot of foot pain, and do a lot of running and hiking, so I live with this question on a daily basis! <BR> <BR>But no one can really tell you what shoes will be most comfortable for you. Buy what you think will work for you at least 4 weeks before you leave. Test them out--while shopping is best. Hopefully, they'll do the job for you. <BR> <BR>Then, buy a couple of sole inserts--the exact kind depends on your feet. If you have good feet, no pain, just get some that offer a little additional padding. Buy two pairs and interchange them. If you have arch pain, get a couple with some support. Also get synthetic socks that wick moisture away from your feet--hiking or running socks, again, are best. You'll be all comfy.

Thank you Beth. I've been agonizing over trying to find a comfortable pair of sandals to wear during the day that I can also wear out at night. This is especially difficult for me, as I don't like to wear leather (I'm working on being a vegetarian). I live in NYC and wear my steve madden slinkies all the time. They are very comfortable on long walks, though the bottoms of my feet do tend to get a bit sore if I do this for more than 2 days in a row. I'm bringing my sneakers anyway for the active part of my trip. So, you've convinced me to just use what I have and switch to my sneaks for a rest day if need be. <BR> <BR>FYI, though it's good to buy walking shoes at the end of the day with tired, swollen feat, be careful about doing this with other shoes. I bought a pair of dressy heals at the end of a long day and needed a half size bigger than usual. Unfortunately when I wore them, I got lots of painful blisters because they were too big.

Lynn- I prefer NAOT brand shoes for closed walking shoes and have clllimbed towers and walked miles and never got a blister(and Ihave bunions!)I think the best style is the Nottingham. you can check out www.simonsshoes.com or call 1-888-NAOTS 4 U - they mail the shoes for $4 and I got them in one day! only about $100. try them- you'll like them (for men too)

I think shoe comfort depends on finding the right shoe for your particular feet. I don't particularly like the styling of ecco, mephisto, etc. nor have I found a pair that fit my feet very well. Even among certain brands, some styles feel good, some don't. You have to be willing to try lots of shoes,and price doesn't always make a difference. Last year I found a pair of crepe sole, stretch fabric Donald J. Pliner open-toe sandals ($115). I wore them to Spain and was the only one in our family who never had tired, sore feet. Even had a Spanish woman ask me where I got them because they looked so comfortable. This year I found a pair of Easy Spirit stretch fabric flats ($39) with a square toe and thicker sole. Very comfortable. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

i noticed a comment about moleskin and wanted to give my experience from my recent trip to italy. i had never heard of it and noticed it being discussed on this board. so i bought some. sorry guys, but it was no better than a band-aid in my opinion. my travel companion however found a new band-aid product that was called 'new skin' or something like that. after my first day shoe disaster i had a HUGE blister on my heel. i put one of these pads on it. it really sticks to your skin. never felt that blister one time after that. word of caution, the first night i pulled it off----OUCH!!! it will stick for several days. even through showering, bathing, etc. leave it on.

For those of you who wear custom orthotics or footbeds and would like to wear them with sandals, the Naot brand has removable footbeds (at least the Zurich style does). I bought a pair via the internet a few weeks ago and it is so wonderful to be able to wear completely supportive sandals! Website was www.shoobedoo.com/

We just got back from 3 weeks in Europe, and I wore my Ecco sandals everywhere. <BR> <BR>They were expensive, but they are seriously the best (and best-looking) pair of comfortable shoes I have owned. I'm 29, and I did not feel that they were matronly at all - and I"m picky about these things.

I avoided the typical American tourist look this year with 2 pairs of sandals: <BR>I'm a big fan of Eddie Bauer cork sandals -- several styles available in the catalog, online, or 800 #. <BR> <BR>I also found the best pair of sandals at Greenwich Market in the UK in June: leather with a thick rubber sole, very open, athletic style (like Tivas, Nike, etc). <BR> <BR>I wore one pair during the day and the other at night; alternating shoes is also key. <BR> <BR>Happy Trails!

Interesting ? about shoes - I went on a 1 week trip to Sweden, Finland and Norway in Oct. with very little notice. I work in the shoes dept. of Hudson's and was recommended Liz Flex. I bought them one day and left of my trip the next. They were great - in fact, my 25 year old daughter who I was traveling with, had to borrow them because she had forgot her comfy shoes. You won't be sorry. <BR>

I have to vote with all the others who mentioned their Clark's. I have been to Europe 10 times and have experimented with every type of sandal, sneaker and walking shoe known to woman. I now have several pair in varying states of graceful aging- going to Italy for 3 weeks in August & wouldn't dream of walking through Pompeii without them. No, I do not own stock in this company, but I would give testimonials until the cows came home...good luck

With all the discussion about comfortable travel shoes, I'm reminded just how little we actually WALK in the US. Food for thought....

Sally- <BR>I'm wondering if you used moleskin properly. You don't just cove the blister with the moleskin. You have to cut a hole in the moleskin the same size as your blister, and then stick it on your foot. It prevents the blister from rubbing any further. I also like to apply vasoline to the blister several times a day, as it also stops it from rubbing. <BR>

1. From my painful experience as (a) somebody with hard-to-fit feet, who in addition (b) figure skates, and so is extraordinarily familiar with blister-coping strategies: <BR> <BR>* Moleskin: Works best, imho, as a way to *prevent* blisters. Cut off a piece and carry it with you -- then, just absolutely as soon as you feel something rubbing, put on the moleskin. Round the corners slightly (helps prevent socks/shoe straps from pulling the moleskin off). Don't ever apply moleskin to an existing blister; it'll adhere to it, and make matters worse. <BR> <BR>* "Second Skin": the *best* stuff *ever created* for soothing and cushioning blisters that you didn't manage to prevent. This is an aqueous gel, sold in sheets, and generally marketed for use on burns. It's amazingly cooling and comforting. Attach it with strips of athletic tape (the white stuff). You can find Second Skin and athletic tape near the band-aids in many U.S. drugstores. (FYI, Second Skin comes in a blue box. The same firm markets it as blister relief under some other name in much smaller and more expensive packages in skate shops and, I think, athletic stores.) <BR> <BR>2. Comfy travelling shoes: no one's mentioned Rockports yet. They make a lace-up walking shoe that's not very fashionable, but not old-ladyish either, and it comes in a wide variety of widths and several leather finishes/colors. The style is sort of "I live in a rural college town and don't feel like putting on my hiking boots." Mine were comfortable from day one.

I tend to agree with people who say be comfortable, locals are going to know you are a tourist no matter what footwear you have on...especially if you are also wearing a map, camera, and speak a totally different language. I have found, in the end, that I really oughta bring a good, black pair of running type shoes like Reeboks because everyone else in my family (husband and kids) stays comfortable after 10K and my feet are dying even in the supposedly most comfy shoes. ( However, I am looking good!!!) I think I will try a pair of Clarks next time and see how they do... remember, it's more important to be a gracious tourist than wear cool shoes...

I'm a man and swear by SAS shoes - the Time-out is a very comfortable walking shoe. <BR> <BR>Most of the SAS shoes are women's shoes so I would check them out

Need larger sizes: Try www.cloudwalkers.com <BR> <BR>I always have trouble finding larger size shoes (12W womens), but these are really a great solution. <BR>I haven't traveled with my pair of "Vegas" shoes yet, but after I bought them I couldn't stop saying, these shoes are the most comfy I've ever worn! And they are so cute!

for "Owchy"...

Thanks Amy. Maybe it is something with the name but I have those size 12 boats as well - what a great website. I went to Germany last year for my honeymoon and unfortunately my most distinct memory is how badly my feet hurt all the time. I am going to Italy in a month and hope I am prepared. I have Clarks sandals, Rockport hiking boots, and am going to bring a good old pair or running shoes. Hopefully, I will be able to look up and enjoy the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel as opposed to staring at every other persons feet and thinking there shoes are more comfortable than mine.

Amy -- thanks for suggesting www.cloudwalkers.com ! I've never heard of them before, but I just visited and found wide widths (yay!), great prices, and free shipping -- so, I've ordered a pair and will keep my fingers crossed.

Ecco sandles, Ecco walking (tennis) shoes and Arche..very very comfortable, like wearing nothing. Alter shoes and your feet will thank you.