There were 64 worn wooden steps on the charming narrow circular stairs that climb to the fourth floor apartment we rented in Paris. Every day I said to myself, “Feet, don’t fail me now.”
I’m a walker. I dance. I do cardio. I’m in pretty good shape. On some vacations I get accused by lagger companions of doing a forced march. I expected to walk equally strong on this two week trip to France, striding with purpose and vigor, like those chirpy leaders of tour groups stabbing their umbrellas in the air and urging all their chickens to keep up.
But this time my body was forced to do more strolling and stopping. My feet hurt. I grew blisters. I should have packed my trusty tennies, as I was reminded over and over by my husband, the man who covered France in hiking boots. But who wants to go to Paris in tennies?
The stylish French sported complicated gladiator sandals and tall boots to go with flirty tunics over skinny pants and tights. Their legs looked good. Their feet seemed to work fine. They clicked along sidewalks and galloped up and down Metro stairs without wincing.
I wore Moleskin and Dora the Explorer bandaids from my granddaughter’s stash that I found in my purse.
Before the trip I shopped at a healthy shoe store in California for the ideal walking shoes. I asked for something that would be good for walking cobblestones as well as city streets and the clerk said “you mean our go-to-Europe shoes” and produced a pair of dusky green Mary Janes (Clark’s) that were in the dorky-but-hip category. I wore them for a week before I left, in order to break them in.
But by the second day on vacation they were not my friend. Yet I pushed on. We walked up Montmartre and back down. We walked through cheese markets and art stalls, through museums and churches. In Notre Dame I gratefully collapsed in a seat where I could prop my tootsies on one of the giant stone chiseled pillars.
French women use their feet and ride bicycles. I watched a Parisian peer in stylish dress and no helmet point her bicycle into the chaotic traffic of the Bastille round-about. And she did it in high heels.
I came home recognizing two things. I have a body that still works, albeit one that better keep going to dance exercise, yoga and lifting weights.
Also, if I want to keep seeing the world I may have to put up with some discomfort. No pain, no Seine.
But I ask, my sister travelers, what do you put on your feet to trek the world. And still look fairly chic when it’s time for an aperitif?
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I wear Dansko or Sofft sandals-always with a back strap-or Mary Janes if I don’t want an open toe. I found some black patent leather Soffts that look a little nicer and wore them out to dinner in Italy, they have lots of padding-good for cobblestone streets. I’ve seen some fold up ballet flats that are for travel, but haven’t tried them. You just put them in your purse for a quick change to something that looks a little more dressy. Happy Travels!
I took a great pair of Teva Mary Janes to Paris last fall. Very comfortable and went with just about every outfit!
In Spain a few years ago, I wore Lime Green Dansko sandals, very comfy and relatively stylish!
I swear by Naot http://www.naot.com/ for comfort and some style.
And I like their sandals better than their shoes http://www.naot.com/cgi-bin/view.pl?action=show_all&CAT=WMnSandals
I got plantar faciitis and bought my first pair of Naot sandals a couple of months ago. I can walk almost pain-free with these….great arch support and they are gorgeous! I now own another pair in a different color. Worth every penny.
Ariat, dansko, and birkenstock work very well.
Try low-cut sneakers (I have some Stella McCartneys for Adidas) with no-show padded socks I get at the drugstore. These look okay with cropped leggings and a tunic or short dress, or pants, of course. The key is the low-cut. Anything massive and running-shoe-ish doesn’t work. I’m not that fond of most Mary Jane styles, which to me tend to look clunky and slightly little-girlish.
I love all these suggestions. I did come home and take my Clarks to the shoe guy to get stretched which helped some. But I’m starting over with these great ideas. And I know what you mean about the Mary Jane style drawback.
I agree with Lisa – the Naot sandals are awesome. I’ve had a couple of pairs for 3 or so years even. They are still comfortable and I purchase new footpads for them every year. Together with my Merrill athletic shoes, they took me through Ireland and Italy last year in comfort and style.
I also love my Naots…but what are the footpads you replaced yearly? Is that something extra you added to the sandals? And where did you get them? I’m leaving for Europe in 10 days…and hope to have comfy feet the whole time! Between my Naots and my New Balance walking shoes.
I’ve just bought Wolkies. I’m breaking them in but a chic friend swears by them. Also the Cole Haan “air” line works for me. Trek on my sister!
I travel in eastern Europe frequently with my husband on business and also “actively dislike” Mary Janes. It’s hard enough finding shoes that aren’t totally ridiculous for regular life, but for comfort and support while on the road.. shoot me, please! Expensive but wonderful brands I like are Thierry Rabotin, Arche (especially their sandals) Taryn Rose, and a great uber casual line for hiking, Rieker. Naot sandals also make the grade.
Not too into the Mary Janes either. I think they look a little too ‘youthful’. Thanks for the suggestion.
This is not about what to wear but rather what to do after wearing shoes or boots that have failed and given blisters. I put a good covering of Tea Tree Oil on huge blisters. The next day I hiked again with out a problem.
I beganwalking and riding my bike to work this summer and my chic, stylish sandals don’t fit the bill. I bought a pair of Keen sandals and love them. They are part hiking boot and part sandal with a nice rubber toe sheild, wide rubber sole and they even come in fuschia!
I too have had my share of Parisian blisters. After trial and error, I have settled on a few basic principles.
1. Loafers with thick rubber soles will walk for miles and climb steps without protest
2. Buy shoe about a half size larger and cur foam inserts to fill up the space. As you walk your feet will swell. Pull out the inserts and you are still comfortable.
3. Ballet flats with either rubber soles and/or foam inserts look very french with skirts, dresses and skinny pants. Just make sure they are a bit loose when you buy them
4. Arche is an incredibly comfortable brand of French shoes that have great style. They are about half the price in France as in the US, so wait until you get there to buy them. In the US, I get Mephisto ballet flats and loafers. Not only are they heavily padded, they have an ergonomic design that reflects how we walk.
5. Don’t bother bringing heels.
AMEN! (at least don’t bring High heels – some of us are kind of short) – Something else I always throw in my bag is Blister Block. It’s at the drugstore in the band-aid aisle and you rub it on your feet at the usual places blisters normally start (for me it’s my heels and my little toe on the left) – a wonderful preventative!
Couldn’t agree with you more. I have a nifty pair of Cole-Haan shoes with airsoles from a couple of years ago. They were made on a European last and have a leather insole to conform to the foot. I keep them just for travel. Last trips to France and Italy I did some window research, as I was working for a footwear company and none of their products were in there – too athletic. There are country brands that have the European last (expect to wear a larger size as they tend to run narrow), and expect to pay at least 1.5-2x more. Web shop, as I’ve found Sofft, some new Danskos, Fluevog, and one out of Italy that has air channels in the soles. You’re wise to want to break them in. And, remember, we buy with our dollars. If your favorite shoe store is not offering fashionable comfortable shoes, demand them. They will change.
Dansko or Naot for sure!
the one from Italy with air channels are called Geox. They rock! they’re fun and stylish with simple black loafers, adult looking sandals, and my latest purchase a fun fully aereated tennis shoe, perfect for a Parisian look.
When it’s not too hot, I love my backless Clarks wedge that I wear with black socks and dark jeans (I know there are still some places even in the states where jeans are not it for aperitifl) But with my spine damage, I have to have something between me and the concrete. Just bought the Clarks “slide” sandal with a similar wonderful sole that is okay looking. We’ll see if it makes a blister in really bad weather. My best old slides were soft unlined from Aerosoles andnever gave me ablister in any weather.
I wore Clarkes to Bulgaria. It was a bad idea. I took two pair, and they both broke in half on the cobblestone streets. From now on, I go everywhere with Uggs. If you must wear sandals, try SAS They are made for comfort, and are constructe better than Clarkes.
Interesting idea… Uggs. I wear them all the time here at home and love them. I’m planning on doing a 30 day walk along the Camino de Santiago and am trying to decide what to wear for shoes… what do you think of Uggs for 5 hours of walking a day for 30 days?
Would not work for me — I need some support!
I walked the Camino de Santiago and wore Aesolo walking/hiking shoes. They were comfortable the whole trip and didn’t get one blister the whole trip. Even if you don’t get them don’t get something over your ankle. I loved them and they weren’t too expensive. But at the end of the day when you are walking that much you need to invest in a good shoe. They lasted quite a while as well.
I wear boots. Not expensive ones….but ones that have arches that fit my feet. I like the support on my ankles and they help me manage better when I do have pain in my feet which has been more of late.
All I can say about shoes and European travel is this: women always look at your feet first (so keep them as stylish as comfortably possible) and men always look at your boobs first (so cover ‘em up if you don’t like to be oggled so much), LOL! Really, Dansko’s work best for me for trodding around days, even on hikes if you get a sport pair. I have literally taken them out of the box on the day of the trip and worn them 30 days + in a row with no problem. Just try on each pair to make sure they fit because they are hand made and there is a difference, particularly in width. For evening, I have gone with Dansko, too, in summer sandals. I always pack a pair of your basic flip flops, too – for the pool, beach, shower if necessary. Have a wonderful trip!
I love to walk, and walk without pain! Here are my favorites: Chaco sandals great for my wide foot, have arch support and look nice casual or dressy; Merrell clogs for around town, especially the ones with an enclosed back; and for dressy, I found some adorable wedges with a cut-out toe by Jambu, found these in Acacia catalog, so comfortable you won’t believe it! Happy wandering!
Oh, and for hiking I found a great pair of shoes in Great Britain by Rohan, light weight but rugged and nice-looking. The white tennis shoes that so many Americans wear are great for your exercise class but scream dorky tourist in Europe!
SAS Traveler or Ecco or Propet sandals. Whatever they lack in fashion they make up in comfort. I always wear socks or hose to eliminate the liklihood of blisters. Happy feet make happy faces! Save the dressy shoes for dressy occasions.
Ecco sandels – I have 2 black and 1 red pair. I did 5 days intense walking in NYC including up and down tour bus steps and never missed a beat. They’re cute enough to go with summer dresses and skirts and jeans in the fall. I feel so much cooler in an easy breezy skirt and shirt or sundress than shorts here in the dog days of summer.
I also use them for my early morning 5-mile walk. It is just too hot to wear shoes and socks in this heat – 105 heat index yesterday, and the farmers market this morning was an oven with people, cement and cooking vendors. I’ll wear them til they disintegrate.
I’ll be in new york in a week. we don’t have heat like yours in coastal northern california. ecco sandals may be my salvation. thanks.