laurie94

So I'm going to Europe this spring and I need help getting shoes since I'll be doing a lot of walking for a couple of months! I want cute but comfy shoes with good arch support. I'm going to Finland the last week of April and will be there most of May. Then I'm traveling for a couple weeks to Germany, London, and Ireland. I'm assuming I'll be dealing with a lot of rain during this time of year, but I'm not really sure. My mom recommended these Keen shoes (http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/...nx-criss-cross), but I'm worried that my feet might get cold & wet since they don't fully cover the foot. Any brands you recommend? Would the shoes my mom recommended be okay or would my feet get cold? Any tips & advice would be greatly appreciated!

PalenQ

water-proof shoes are a must - you cannot avoid wet weather if it comes and that area of northern Europe has tons of it in spring IME - some folks carry an extra pair of shoes in case one gets wet - some cheap stuff you already have.

Most folks you age in Europe will wear exactly the same stuff you do at home. Nothing fancy needed.

annhig

i agree that the ones that your mum has found are not substantial enough, [they certainly wouldn't be for me] but there are some others on the site that look quite smart but would be more practical:

http://www.keenfootwear.com/en-gb/pr...women/presidio

if you want waterproof, they have these:

http://www.keenfootwear.com/en-gb/pr...women/139,3456

I usually take 3 pairs of shoes with me on a trip - a decent pair for walking, sandals [again ones I can walk in] and a smarter pair for evenings.

janisj

Here is the 'fixed' link: http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/...nx-criss-cross

Every time someone asks about shoes . . . what is a great brand for one person is totally wrong for someone else.


But IF Keens' last fits your feet (they don't mine) then annhig's first link would be good.

Ecco and Merrell fit my feet better

http://us.shop.ecco.com/women-newarr...women-classics


http://us.shop.ecco.com/women-sneake...women-sneakers

http://www.merrell.com/US/en/dassie-...ew-all&start=1

http://www.merrell.com/US/en/albany-...ew-all&start=1

jubilada

More than a rec for brands you need to decide the features you need and then try several options.

imo zappos is perfect for this approach as you can order several pair and send the no goes back free.

kawh

honestly-- i bring cute and super comfy shoes... sandals. however, if it rains or snows, i like to be in totally rubberized shoes that have at least an inch sole, to keep my feet above the gross-when-wet street... and waterproof shoes are just too heavy for me to bring. (i travel with 1 small suitcase). so i wear a cute casual-to-dressy sandal (usually Naot) and bring some croc sandals (usually patricia) which are light weight to carry. if it rains or snows-- even if it's cold-- i wear those with no socks. a little weird, but it works well for me. in an emergency, i figure, i could buy some very inexpensive boots and then leave them behind for a deserving person to discover.

nytraveler

Sorry - the link doesnn't work.

What is important is that the show is comfy for you - and that you break it in by walking a bunch of miles before you leave home. Also - often shoes that get very wet are not dry the next am - so you really need 2 pairs of walking shoes.

(I wear Skecher's Mary Janes for walking - but they are comfy for me - may not be for you.)

janisj

nyt: >>Sorry - the link doesnn't work.<<

I posted a 'fixed' link up thread (laurie94 included a trailing parentheses which breaks the link)

laurie94

http://www.keenfootwear.com/en-gb/pr...nx-criss-cross

Here is the fixed link, sorry! You guys have some good suggestions I'll have to look into. I really liked the look of the shoes my mom presented, but I'm just worried about my feet getting cold/wet as stated above.

Tulips

Those would be ok if the the weather is good, but take an extra pair that is closed and more waterproof. You could get warm weather in May. And the ones you posted will go with a skirt or dress too.

Find a good store where they will advise you, and try them. Are you just going to be walking a lot in cities, or actual hiking on uneven roads? That makes a big difference. For in the city, those that you posted + pair of closed sneaker-type shoes would be fine.