Walking Shoes
 

We will be in Italy for 2 weeks - don't want to appear too "touristy" in our walking apparel.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Jan

Shoes can be such a subjective/personal experience question: depending on if you are comfortable in anything or have back/feet issues, etc - if you are walking/ no hiking, etc - I love my Mephistos, Merrills or Rockports.

I worry less about fashion and more about comfort - but I have back issues - and I don't worry about my feet looking 'touristy' - certainly you will see others in fashionable heels which I couldn't walk hard streets or museum floors in for over an hour, - but I own other more 'dressier/stylish' shoes that I can also walk in for a day that happen to work for my feet (I have a pair of 'more stylish' Rangoni's that I can walk all day in a city in, but they happen to work for me) whatever you choose, if you dont' already own them, buy them and break them in long before your trip! And I always bring 2 pair of walking shoes and another pair of 'stylish' for evenings out.

Go to a good shoe store, maybe even one that specializes in comfort shoes. Try on everything. Pick two pair and then wear them at home before your trip. This is much more important that a particular brand or appearing a tourist.

For me Ecco, Arche, Merrill and Clarke are good. The new Nike Air & Cole Haan team-up has some great options. But Mephisto and Joseph Siebel (often recommended) *never* work for me. I also always travel with a pair of normal trainers/sneakers like Nike Air, regardless of their appearance.

Munro's work very well for me. They are very comfy, yet look very nice. I have managed 2-3 week trips in Europe with just 1 pair of those and been fine. I buy mine at Nordstrom, but I know other stores carry them as well.

I really like my Born shoes, though I bought a pair of black Ecco boots for a trip to Paris and have worn them for years. The Munro suggestion is a good one for slightly dressier shoes (its what I wear for work).

Mephisto.

Black Reebok "princess" walking shoes? But get inserts for any shoes if you're going to be on cobbles...

Oops! Those shoes were highlighted on TLC's "10 Years Younger" show as "old lady shoes". The first name for them in the 80's was "Freestyle". Saw them again this week at Kohl's as "Princess". If you haven't seen the show, they put a woman in an acrylic booth and passersby guess her age and comment on her looks. Then, they give her a makeover to make her look at least "10 years younger".

Reebox's Princess shoes were pegged as "old lady shoes". Thought it was interesting - but they are comfortable. They were the first aerobic type shoe on the market.

Merrill is the most comfortable walking shoe I have ever had. These are equal or better than sneakers and of course they look nicer with pants. The Merrill company makes all types of shoes/sandals for whatever weather you are in. I have two pairs of black shoes. One pair look like black leather shoes and the other are black suede.

I recently searched high and low for something similar, and finally found two pair I love at a store called Dunlaps. They are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The brands that finally worked for me were Airspree and an unfamiliar one called GF Glamour Original. Each pair cost less than $40. Both are so comfortable and very stylish. Still, two weeks isn't much time find the perfect shoes and break them in, and if I were doing a lot of serious walking, I'd wear whatever was most comfortable because I relate much better to everything and everyone if I feel good. Have a great time in Italy!

keens or merrills.

One more thing: I bought the Merrills specifically to walk around San Francisco and be comfortable and yet stylish. They were great and they were new when I put them on for the trip. There was no breaking in period.

don't know where you live, but even if you try some on in other places, you might want to check the prices, especially their sale price column, to compare at www.zappos.com, they sell some of these brands mentioned and others and often on the sale category have good price breaks, and I think the shipping is free - that might be related to $ spent, but maybe not.

Zappos is great, but they do not carry Merrills!!!

I wear comfortable sneakers. What's wrong with being a tourist?

If you want blend in with the locals, don't take a shower for a week and wear sandals with dark socks :.)

I have bought shoes at zappos.com. They have some great ones. No one has mention Reikers. They make good walking shoes, and I think they have a Euro look. At least they're billed that way. I think Eccos look kind of European also. You may want to hit a shoe store as soon as you land in Italy and see what you can find there. A pair of new shoes may not be broken in enough to help you on your trip, but you'll come home with a pair of cool Italian shoes to show off.

I am on my feet all day and couldn't walk all over without my New Balance 925s. I have plantar fascitis and also wear ortho inserts.
When not in New Balance I wear Birkenstocks. Even as houseshoes.

I also use Zappos!

merrill, mephisto, paul green or for the water/hike...keen

After trying on dozens of shoes for my trip to Paris next week... I landed a great pair the ECCO shade slide on...comes in black, brown, or dark reddish leather. They fit great and are super comfy, while stylish! Definitely worth it.

Here in SMdA, a difficult walking environment, the gringas swear by the San Miguel "cocktail combat boots".
M

"I used to walk around singing the blues, because i was sad and didnt have any shoes. Until the day I roamed the street and met a man who had no feet" ~Razorwrist