I totally agree with you, janisj. I wasn't so much asking about comfort with the Walking Cradle shoes, but was more interested in if she had walked all day in them. I have tried similar shoes on before and found them comfortable but didn't purchase them as I wasn't sure how a backless shoe would work for long periods of walking.

I often read the shoe threads for ideas, but I know it doesn't matter what someone else likes unless they work on my feet.

I could never walk in my Nike Air Cole Haan wedges but I do love Clarks sandals. I got the cutest pair in black patent leather gladiator sandals. For boots, I also love Uggs Simmens. They are not fully fur lined so they are good for warmer days and very durable for hiking. They are also waterproof which rocks.

tracilee, I don't know because they are only about 24 hours old. But I usually take two pair of shoes on trips to switch them up and I certainly think so.

I did walk all over Paris and the south of France in Mephisto slides, with no backs. I can't find a photo that is similar but here's my third pair* of Mephistos -
http://www.zappos.com/mephisto-ulda-black-old-vintage

I've wore my "Paris" Mephistos for two years (and still use them around the yard) and have worn these for a couple of years too. I'm such a strong believer in Mephisto (for my feet), I was surprised at how much I liked the Walking Cradles. I tried on a lot of shoes including Danskos.

*I bought these at Harry's in NYC.

<I>"everyone's feet/arches/heel bones are different. What fits starrs or suze or me or RainyDay09 will not be the same"

</I>I think every grown adult knows that, janisj.

That doesn't mean a recommendation of brand of a shoe isn't appropriate. I read about Mephistos on this board many years ago and have been happy with three pair so far.

Perhaps a post mentioning "Walking Cradle" will help someone else in the future. I walked past the shoe several times because I was not familiar with the brand.

<I>"So asking what is comfortable to others means nothing"

</I>Perhaps to you. Please allow other posters to ask whatever questions they wish to ask without criticizing them for it. TIA.

I personally find these threads helpful and interesting. I never wear closed toe shoes if the weather is halfway decent, thus found folks reasons for doing so illuminating. Please don't discourage this kind of conversation.

Thanks, Starrs!

You're welcome!

Here's an excerpt from one of the Mephisto reviews -
"Wore them for 2 weeks throughout Europe, love the large stable footbed on their uneven roads, love the added height, and have gotten many compliments on them. Great shoe"

That's been the case for me too. VERY comfortable and lots of support without any "sliding" problems. I had a bout with plantar fasciitis and I love my Mephistos. Another sandal (that another Fodorite told me about) were FitFlops. LOVE them too and they provide far more support than one would expect from a sandal.
http://www.zappos.com/fitflop-the-skinny-black~2

I have a few pair of ARA shoes and they've held up really well. I can walk to work and back (about 5 miles total) in them and they're perfectly comfortable. Waterproof and non-slip too.

I have several pair of Brunate loafers which are very comfortable for urban walking but they're not as good as the ARAs for what I'd call "semi-hiking". I still like them though because they're stylish, made in Italy (in the Lake Como area), and are much less expensive than more famous Italian brands like Ferragamo or Prada.

Re Think! brand shoes, I like them, they're quirky and pretty comfortable, but I wouldn't wear them all day. The soles are too thin in the models that I like best. I prefer a little more support in the front of my foot as well as the heel.

Right now, I'm eyeing a lot of the slip-on sneaker types of shoes that are being offered by several designers. Jimmy Choo has some really cute ones, esp the Brooklyn and Demi models. But I just can't get my head around spending $400 for slip-on sneakers...
http://row.jimmychoo.com/en/women/shoes/trainers/

>>Please allow other posters to ask whatever questions they wish to ask without criticizing them for it.<<

And please allow others to post <i>their</i> opinions w/o criticising/attacking them . . .

I didn't call you or anyone else out. Please give me the same courtesy . . .

Of course you did.
11 minutes after tracilee posted you "corrected" her. You most certainly did call her out. You may not have used her name but you referenced her post in a very condescending way. As far as I know there is no designated Shoe Boss on Fodors so tracilee nor anyone else needs you to school her on what she needs to do:
<I>"So asking what is comfortable to others means nothing. You need to find out what works for you. And the only way to do that is to try on many different brands/styles."

<<Perhaps a post mentioning "Walking Cradle" will help someone else in the future. I walked past the shoe several times because I was not familiar with the brand.>>

Well, I want to say thanks to starrs for the mention of "Walking Cradle". I never heard of this brand before, and am trying them out.

As a person with many feet problems, I know that what works for others may not work for me, but I'm always appreciative of recommendations to try. So thanks for sharing your info!

PS - starrs, I much prefer shopping at Tip Top on W. 72nd Street over Harry's. Harry's will not allow returns, only exchanges. With so many foot problems, I like having the option to return a shoe after trying them out for a while at home. And I also go to Eneslow's, which specializes in hard-to-fit folk. Of course, now I order on line with shoebuy or zappos!

Since Mephistos run about $300, I might have just saved someone a lot of money.

I walked all over England in my J-41 lovely flats last year. Cobblestones, dirt, anything. VERY cushiony footbed, breathable uppers, great arch support, rugged soles, a velcro strap (so when my feet swelled a little, I could adjust it!), and very cute, to boot! They had a little ribbon detail. I walked all over the mediterranean in a pair of J-41 clogs in 2009 and loved those as well (wore them out!). I recommend the brand. They're available online just about everywhere (amazon, zappos, DSW, etc.). They run true to size and are of average width (not narrow, not wide).

This is the shoe I wore in England: http://www.amazon.com/J-41-Womens-Mi...hoes+for+women - hope this helps!

I like Tom's slip on shoes because I have a bunion and they don't cause discomfort like leather or even tight tennis shoes do for me.

Walking with them on limited cobblestone streets don't bother me, but they might others.

I couldn't do it, nanabee. I need more arch support. That's the reason I love the cork bed of Mephistos so much - and why it's impossible to throw them out. :-)

You're lucky. Cute shoes!

My doctor (DO) recommended the Dr. Scholls supports, where you stand on the machine and it tells you what you need. I've found that I can put them in loose nicer looking shoes, and still get the support I need.

HTH

I am finding a lot of helpful information in the comments. Thank you all for sharing. I will try ARA, Walking Cradle, and, perhaps, Mephisto, if my wallet can handle it.

RainyDay09, if you click on the link you'll see those Mephistos are $199. Is that "too expensive"? Depends on the individual and/or their foot needs. After one bout with plantar fasciitis the "right" shoe for me is more important than their cost. I developed the pf after my luggage was delayed (flight was cancelled and the new flight went into JKF instead of LGA). It took a couple of days for my bags to catch up with me at the apartment. I was wearing Merrill sandals (chosen for easy on/off at the airport) but they were NOT good choices for walking around NYC. By day 2 I was wearing too big Crocs out of my friend's closet but the damage was done by the time the luggage made it. I limped my way to Harry's and bought those shoes. Is it worth $5/ week for shoes that take the pain away and keep it away? Definitely. Is my decision right for another person? I have no idea and I certainly don't care what shoes they buy nor how much they spend.

The other shoes I wear the majority of the time are my FitFlop sandals in summer and my Ariat cowboy boots (with high tech soles) the rest of the time. But I needed dress shoes, hence the shopping trip that resulted in Walking Cradles.

"...perhaps, Mephisto, if my wallet can handle it."
If they fit your foot well, I can recommend splurging for them. I'm still wearing my Paris shoes from years ago. It is money very well spent for me. Some people spend $5/ day for a coffee from Starbucks. If I did that every work day it would be $1300. Am I worried about $199 shoes? Not for a second.

I love my Toms but they have garbage support for all day wear. I can wear them all day but my mother isn't as much of a fan for longterm wear. I've worn them all day in Houston, NYC, Vermont, etc, but I'm not sure that they would hold up for all day walking on a long trip. My friend's waved about the support but I feel like they are pretty flat/minimal support.

I would pay any amount of money for good, comfortable shoes. For years I wore Mephistos and then switched to Naots and have several pairs of each. I also love my FitFlops.

My ARAs cost in the $100 range. I have three pairs of the same model -- a slip-on suede shoe (with stretchy fabric bits on top to make them easier to get on and off). The last pair I bought was in September 2014 and I spent 89 euros. They are still made in Europe, not China (if that's a factor for you). http://www.amazon.com/ara-Pat-Womens.../dp/B005ADRJ88
Here's a pretty fair review: http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/t...ml?id=12192927

I think of them as three-season shoes -- this particular style is a little too warm to wear in summer. But they are very comfortable, have a good grip and are waterproof. And not too heavy -- I like my Merrell's suede "moc crocs" for walking in the hills but they're too heavy for everyday.

Funny, I was just going to recommend Naots, too. I have very poor feet and these are some of the more supportive, attractive, & comfortable shoes I have.

Actually, I developed plantar fasciitis too. Hence, the renewed interest in comfortable supportive shoes.

I love FitFlops...but I can't wear the styles that have that divider between the toes. When I first saw them, they only had that style available (where I live anyway) but now I'm see more of their styles --like Kys and Sling -- that don't irritate my toes. I'm curious about their boots -- any Fodorite experience with them? They seem like a nice alternative to the ubiquitous Uggs or the terrific but expensive Kandahars.

Footwear is not the place to save money. How much are you spending on your trip? If your feet hurt, it'll spoil your trip and you will have wasted that money.

Everybody's feet are different. Try out your new shoes at home on rough surfaces to make sure they're right and to break them in.

I love Naot! They are the most comfortable shoes I own these days. I like both their sandals and several style of shoes (but not all of them fit me).

For plantar fascitis you need orthodics from a podiatrist, not just supportive shoes.

"I love FitFlops...but I can't wear the styles that have that divider between the toes"

WeisserTee, my first two pair didn't bother me at all but I ordered another pair and the thong part hurt. I should have trusted the reviews on that particular shoe. I really rely on Amazon and Zappo reviews.


"For plantar fascitis you need orthodics from a podiatrist, not just supportive shoes."
suze, that may be your personal experience but my personal experience is different. I'm glad the "orthodics from a podiatrist" was the right solution for you.

"I'm curious about their boots -- any Fodorite experience with them?"
I think OO has used the boots. I'll tell her about this thread.

"Footwear is not the place to save money. How much are you spending on your trip? If your feet hurt, it'll spoil your trip and you will have wasted that money"
Completely agree, Mimar.

I've never even seen fit flop boots let alone worn a pair! I live in a climate that is pretty warm most of the time so if they are displaying fit flops at all, it's the sandals, even now. I just got my 6th pair. :) I do have a pair of the clogs, and have found that FitFlops with leather or cork soles don't work as well for the cushioning I need. The others did help me get over a year long case of plantar fasciitis. And now they are filling a new need. Hip replacements often result in one leg being slightly longer than the other. Even a quarter inch difference is noticeable. FitFlops have <u>so much</u> give tho, they absorb that extra 1/4" and as long as those shoes are on, it isn't noticeable at all.

This past weekend I was mesmerized by a pair of purple clogs I saw. OMG they were cool. So I had to ask the woman where she got them, and she said online, but they are vintage. The top was purple and a material that looked almost like a shiny croc material. They were Swedish, and she told me the name, but the words were all Swedish too so I'm clueless today as to what they were. One of the words was Swedish for the word clog, that much I know. I LOVED them!!

<I'm glad the "orthodics from a podiatrist" was the right solution for you.>

starrs, you really shouldn't assume about other people. I don't have plantas fasciitis.

Oh. You "don't have plantas fasciitis"?

And yet you are giving advice re the condition?
<I>"For plantar fascitis you need orthodics from a podiatrist, not just supportive shoes"

</I>LOL! Now that's funny!

Sorry Dr. Suze. Thanks for sharing your professional opinion but I already have a doctor I trust.

LOL :-)

Starrs, Please feel free to ignore everything I post. I have a long-time background in sports and dance, and everyone I have ever known who faced it, went to a podiatrist. Can you please not pick a fight over everything I say?

suze, despite your professed credentials, I'll continue to follow my doctor's recommendation regarding PF.

OO shared how well FitFlops work for her, based on first hand experience, and I have benefitted from her recommendation.
I've shared how well Ariat and Mephistos work for me. Perhaps others will benefit from my recommendations.

You've shared that Mephistos are too expensive for you. Some of us feel differently. You've given advice for a condition that you've not experienced. I'll consider advice from OO and others who have experienced PF.

<I>Please feel free to ignore everything I post.
"I hate Mephistos"
"Since Mephistos run about $300, I might have just saved someone a lot of money."
"For plantar fascitis you need orthodics from a podiatrist, not just supportive shoes."
" I don't have plantas fasciitis."

</I>When you pepper a thread about comfortable shoes with comments like those over just a two day span, it's hard not to notice. :-)

In any case, perhaps the Walking Cradle suggestion will be helpful for some, even though it may not be helpful to others.

Like I said starrs, please just stop. We can all read posts for ourselves the first time. You don't need to copy, paste, and compile my comments and make a bunch of derogatory remarks. No one else does that, you'll notice. Only you.

I think the solution is to stop with the "I hate Mephisto" and "For plantar fascitis you need orthodics from a podiatrist, not just supportive shoes" comments.

I think you'll find that if you stop with those type of derogatory remarks on a comfortable shoe thread, you'll not get any comments in response.

Following a recommendation for Mephistos with "I hate Mephistos" and bragging on saving someone $300 with that comment is just strange.

Providing advice on PF and then sharing later that you've never had it nor had to recover from it is strange.

We are sharing recommendations with one another about comfortable shoes that have worked well for us. That's always valuable.

<then sharing later that you've never had it>

I didn't say that. I can be cured you know.

starrs, this is the Europe forum. Not the Lounge. I am going to stop posting on this thread now, since you won't leave me alone.

Sorry to bring up this thread again, but I just wanted to report that I found Alegria and Pikolinos shoes. I love them both so much! While Alegria look like Dansko, they are lighter and a bit less clog-like.

Pikolinos are just beautiful.

It's not believable that a businesswoman would have such bad grammar. It's pretty obvious that you're selling shoes.

bvl - WT has reported this on another thread.

not subtle, is it?