I will be in Italy for 14 days and am trying to decide between two completely different types of shoes. I will be doing alot of walking. I bought a pair of Eccos. They are a tie up type tennis shoe, but a little more stylish. They actually look like bowling shoes, but sort of cool. They cost $105 and are called Soft Solution. I am also looking at a pair of mules(sandals with open toe and no back) from Easy Spirit called I think Alonso. They are $59. I just don't know if any sandal could be comfortable enough to walk around in all day. But the Eccos are very expensive and really are nothing but a fancier tennis shoe. I will be wearing mostly capri pants as I am leaving in two weeks and that is June. I wish I could say I could afford both but when my husband sees the bill for the Eccos he is going to freak. Any opinions will be appreciated.

Hm -- I think you really have to go for the more comfortable ones (tennis shoe type), sounds like they would go with capris. I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow, still having a shoe dilemma! Thinking about semi-stylish black sneakers for day (we're doing a bike tour), and comfy Aerosoles sandals for night.

Several years ago I attended a lecture by a sports medicine doctor and he said while Aerosoles, Easy Spirit, etc may be comfortable, they do not offer the support needed for walking long distances. Remember you get what you pay for. BTW, I wore ecco's through europe for a month and loved them. You might throw in a nice pair of sandles if you are just going out for dinner or a short distance.

Hi Karen,<BR><BR>FWIW, here is the walking shoe by which I swear. I put custom made orthotics in the shoes ,and I can walk forever. It isn't a "beautiful" shoe, and it is only for slacks, but it's the best combo I've found for comfort/style.<BR><BR>http://www.nbwebexpress.com/detail.asp?style=WW700BK<BR><BR>In the summer with a dress, I wear Mephisto sandals, which have arch support, and I've never had a problem with them.<BR><BR>Now, if they could only make some really cute little heels that feel like running shoes.....!<BR><BR>Jennifer<BR><BR>

Karen--I agree that the mules will not give your feet enough support. It's also very easy to turn your ankle in mules, since your foot can slide. I found that Aerosoles makes a loafer that is comfortable, supports the foot, and will look good with almost anything except a really dressy outfit. They are around $49

Here's another vote for the Ecco's. They are great - super lightweight, needed no breaking in, very well-made. On the other hand, I think mine look really dumb with capri pants. I would take both the Ecco's (but plan to wear them with long, loose pants) and the mules, which look great, but won't support you for a long day of sightseeing. Walking in Europe is different - the unevenness of streets stresses your foot and compromises your balance. If you think about how sore feet can ruin a vacation, the cost of good shoes is justified. Mom's best advice: never skimp on quality where your feet, skin, teeth or back are concerned.

I wore Mephisto sandals everyday for 2 wks last year in Italy. But it had a lot of support; I don't know how the mules would be for all the cobblestones. However, you will see all the Italian women in high heels; don't know how they do it!

I would vote for the Eccos PLUS a 2nd pair of walking sandals (but ones with straps and a back - not mules). Shoes/feet on a vacation is not the time to save a few bucks! And wearing the same shoes everyday is a drag (not how they look - how they feel).<BR><BR>I have done Europe in summer x 3 trips, with only sandals, they were all comfortable and stylish, and I took 3 pairs total. (I also have thin low ankle socks in nice colors that i sometimes use and make sandals even more comfortable - no spots rub, etc.)

I have traveled all over the world in Born shoes (which fit my short, pudgy feet perfectly). I usually take two pair, since your feet get a break if you wear a different pair every other day. Also, I have some Joseph Seibel sandals that look nice with a dress and can be worn all day without discomfort.

Spent 10 days walking the hilltowns last month. After obssessing on the shoe issue, I chose a pair of Clarks mules, purchased at outlet for about $49.00. (on sale also at Territory Ahead website) Love them! Alternated with light hikers--black and mostly for hilltowns, less fashion oriented. Good to alternate. In warmer weather, I'd take sandals for the capris.<BR>Good luck!

Last fall, I took only 2 pairs of shoes. A black suede Naturalizer, mary jane with velcro closing - they went with dresses, skirts and pants, with or without socks - VERY comfortable. And, Naot sandels with velcro straps over the top of foot and around the heel. I walked for hours every day with those two shoes and never had blisters or sore feet. I am taking them again in Sept. and hope to maybe buy a nice pair of Italian shoes to bring home.

Last year when we walked all over denamrk and finland, I took THE most comfortable pair of sandals that Ihave ever owned. They were Naturalizer EUrosoles ; they are different than their regular sandals as they have a thicker, more supportive sole. THey required little to no breakin (at home) and I NEVER had a sore toe/foot; they still look perfect a year later and at $59, you can't go wrong. I loved them so much that I bought a new pair in a differnt color this year. I also took an Easy spirit pair and they were not nearly so comfie. In addition I took one pair of Joseph seibel shoes that were great. Good luck, but make sure you break them in first.

I'm an advocate of wear-what-you-know. My everyday walking/bicycling shoes are Naturalizer soft-soled flats; for my trips, I buy the same sort of shoe, just a little sturdier. I've never found sandals to be good for walking (except in sand) so I wouldn't even consider them. For someone who has spent a lot of time in sandals and finds them comfortable, a solid shoe with high, lace-up vamp would make them miserable.<BR><BR>Gail, I'm just curious re the sports medicine doctor - so all those humans who down through the centuries walked hundreds/thousands of miles in barefeet were destroying their bodies? My efficient skeletal structure is useless for walking unless I spend hundreds of dollars on shoes? Does that mean that if someone doesn't have the money to buy expensive shoes, they shouldn't walk, whether for pleasure, exercise or out of necessity? Or am I examining this too closely?

Karen I just looked at the web site for ECCO and found the shoes, they look really cute and comfortable, I am looking at the Soft Soul and the Pistoia. I think I will get some. The mules would be nice for a restaurant, with not too much walking.

Just got back last Thursday from 2 weeks in Italy. I took by Ecco Mobile shoes and never had a blister or any discomfort. I also took a pair of Teva sandals which I wore on days when we weren't walking as much. Both did fine. The Eccos are comfortable enough that you can run to catch a bus if you have to sprint down the street. I hope you have a wonderful time. I didn't want t come back. I don't know whether it's because I love Italy or whether leaving responsibility behind that makes going on vacation so much fun. P.S. I did notice in the bigger cities that I had to check the totals for our meals carefully as some of the figures did not match what we ate. Marilyn

Store windows in France were STUFFED with bowling shoes 4 weeks ago, so if you dedide on the Eccos, you'll be fashionable! (That is, assuming the same things are "in" in both countries.

Karen, I also have the Ecco bowling shoes (black with tan trim) and I love, love, love them! I will take these and a pair of black Easy Spirit sandals (with back strap) which I have worn on trips before and were great for me. I don't recommend mules for trips even tho I often wear them at home. I will alternate wearing them; I agree with previous poster that it is not a good idea to wear the same shoes each day. My toes like to be free some days!

I have ECCO sandals which I wear when I go to europe. I also have the shoes you are talking about. My Ecco Sandals have velcro straps on toe and ankle and they are very comfortable with or without socks.<BR><BR>

Shop around! Our local discount shoe store carried Eccos recently for less than $40/pair!!! And nice ones, too. Needless to say, I stocked up! <BR><BR>Another super comfortable shoe is Josef Siebel.<BR><BR>I'd definitely take more than one pair of closed toe walking type shoes, and more than one style. No matter how comfy shoes feel at home, after walking all day, you'd be surprised! And carry bandaids, just in case!

go ecco! i have those shoes too & they're great for long days of walking. that pair isn't there, but there are several others at sierra trading post (www.sierratradingpost.com) on sale.<BR>p.s. elvira, get real. those cavepeople didn't have to walk on cobblestones, had no illusions that they should be comfortable, & didn't live long enough to care!