Advice on good shoes to wear

[MissManda]

I apparently have very sensitive feet that blister quite easily. We will be in WDW in June, so I know its going to be hot. Add that to the tons of walking we'll be doing, and I feel my feet starting to blister just at the thought!

I have found before that wearing flip flops or sandals instead of sneakers cuts back on the blistering quite bit. The problem is that none of my flip flops/sneakers offer very much support. So while my feet stay blister free the rest of my feet/body ache from not having good support.

Can someone recommend a good high quality flip flop or sandal that will offer comfort and support? Also, I'm open to recommendations for good sneakers as well. That way, I can have both options available.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I could never rely on any one type of foot wear...even from morning to evening I switch....and we're return to resort pool in the afternoon people and that's a good soak...

What I found is switching between 3 type of foot wear....one I wear for the trip, just a loafer, soft type, thin soled....I pack, pair of tongs ( not the cheap .99 ones) but decent soled Nikes...also pack a pair of Crocs (really not a believer in Crocs)....and a pair of Nike sneakers (again the the expensive type)....I'll go out on a limb here and the most comfortable of all of them, are the crocs...but with socks (socks absorb the sweat and you do sweat in crocs)....I give my feet a different feel from morning to evening by switching footwear...if we're only going to a park for a couple of hours, flip flops do the trick and I wear them around, to the pool or for something quick and easy to put on for short spurts here and there.....but like I said we return to the resort midday and if I'm having issues with what I had one, easy to switch but doing as I said in my post....my feet haven't been happier....one tpyr or pair for the whole trip or day...asking for trouble....rotation is the key...and what I take to WDW is only for WDW....

 

[shannonstar]

We pack 2 pairs of tennis shoes just in case of over-wetness. I also squeeze crocs into the backpack (for water rides and sore feet). I would recommend a broken in pair of tennis shoes (that still has tread and support) as well as crocs or tevas.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Avid Crocs wearer here! I have REALLY bad feet and my recipe is similar to a previous posters. I force myself to wear tennies with inserts until around 4 PM. Then I switch to Crocs. I don't switch to just any Croc though. My best ended up being Crocs Capris, which happen to be flip flops! They have tons of cushion on them, so they are great for someone like me who can't have the pavement pounding on my feet. I wore them just enough before Disney to get used to them so I didn't get hot spots between the toes and such. They were perfect! I also like Crocs beach clogs, Off-road crocs, Crocs Malindi, and I am trying out a couple more. I used to hate Crocs b/c I thought they were ugly, but now I have around 15-20 pairs b/c they helped heal my feet. Crocs are great b/c when your feet heat the rubber, they conform to your feet. That is why my doctor prescribed them to me. Now they have so many cute styles. I avoid Socks with them unless it is winter and don't have too much of a problem with sweating in them, and I sweat a lot!!! I did bring moisture wicking socks for my tennies last year though, and that helped me to not feel as though my feet were suffocating. I did sweat a ton in some Crocbands I had, and that gave me terrible athlete's foot, so now I don't wear any that don't have holes to breathe. They were crazy hot. Good luck! If you google Crocs, the website will pop up, and you can do a search from there for Capris. They are awesome, and cute too! Just don't wear them out before Disney, b/c then they won't help you. Just wearing them enough to get used to where they rub is sufficient.

 

[MissManda]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like crocs are a must. I've never worn them but I'm certainly willing to try! I will also pay more attention to how often I rotate out what I'm wearing. I tried that before, but maybe I just need to rotate out earlier in the day.

Any advice on a specific brand of tennis shoes/sneakers? The last time I went, I took my Nike Shox, which were well broken in but still in good condition, and my feet hurt so bad I couldn't stand it. After a few days I just gave up and ended up wearing my flip flops the rest of the trip.

 

[Art 1]

Nike Air Jordans. My shoe of choice.

 

[tzolkin]

After all the Teva Mush flip flops posts in the past, I bought a few pairs last year. They have enough arch support for me and they don't rub anywhere. They were great for our 12 day trip. I actually wound up wearing them the whole time.

Usually I bring two pairs of shoes (light weight sneakers that tie and/or mary jane style) and two pairs of flip flops. Most days we go back to the room for a mid-day break so I will wear different footwear in the morning and evening or at least rotate every day. But after last trip, I think I'll just bring something as a back-up and plan to wear the Teva flip flops daily again.

 

[Mardis22]

I agree with Teva mush flip-flops. They mold to your feet and do have arch support. New Balance running shoes are great too.

 

[corgi_monster]

I've found that compression socks make just about any shoe comfy. I know it's a fashion no-no, but you could wear them with crocs and I think you'd have enough support + no blistering.

 

[Caseystigger]

I love my Keens for busy days in the parks and a nice pair of flip flops for down times.

http://www.zappos.com/keen-venice-h2-raya-red

I like the cap toe too, very roomy and little to no break in period. Order at least half a size up though.

 

[martyshoney]

I will tell you what shoes to avoid by all means, Nike Shox! I thought I LOVED mine, very comfy shoes and love the look of them! Well I had brain surgery Dec. '10 and what I have causes severe neck pain. When we went to Disney in Oct. I wore my Shox for most of the trip. My neck was a total mess and I just thought it was from being on the go from morning to night and my body was just worn out. Well someone told me Shox are awful support shoes so I started noticin how my neck felt on the days that I wore them and after just a few days I realized that on the days that I wore them my neck was wayyyy worse than on the days that I didn't. So, 2 pairs of $110 Shox went into the garbage! We are going back in one year so once it gets closer I will definitely be looking into all of these suggestions to see which is the best shoe for support!!!

 

[mdetloff]

I love these sandals. I am not much for crocs, as they make me sweat more. I was talked into these at the shoe store and they have been the best. Wore them all around Disney on our last trip in 2009 and wore them all last summer and they are still in great shape. Very comfy and worth the $

http://www.shoebuy.com/ecco-yucatan-sandal-69563/154797/1073241

 

[AshleeH]

I wear New Balance tennis shoes for runners and I walk for miles and miles before we leave to break them in. I just bought a new pair last month, so I'm in the process of breaking them in for our October trip.

For lighter days or nights, I pack my Tevas - although they need to be broken in as well, even though they do adapt to my feet, I had what felt like a burn on the bottom from the material used. They work great now though, after I've had them a while.

 

[quigs3]

I'll add to the the PP about what not to wear - Sketcher Shape Ups! I bought a pair and wore them on our last trip based on previous DIS threads, and now I suffer from horrible Plantar Fasciitis! My podiatrist said those are the worst shoes for your feet. Anyway, the point I'm making is that everyone's feet are different, and you need to find the shoes that work best for you. Buy them on plenty of time to wear them and make sure they work for you. Also bring back-up shoes as previous posters have mentioned.

 

[PrincessDaisyDuck]

I have tried a bunch of different shoes for Disney in the past, the best ones I have found are Ryka brand walking shoes. They are very well cushioned and have wiggle room for your toes. Since finding them in January 2010 I have taken 3 trips and brought a second pair of shoes to rotate into each time, and ended up never having to use my back up shoes.

For the resort I do have Nike flip flops that are like the Teva mush - they feel really good on your feet after a long day!

I have also used Crocs by the way and had no problems comfort-wise, I just tend to trip in them a lot, I seem to catch the toe of them on the ground, but that's probably just me

 

[disneyfanjan]

I apparently have very sensitive feet that blister quite easily. We will be in WDW in June, so I know its going to be hot. Add that to the tons of walking we'll be doing, and I feel my feet starting to blister just at the thought!

I have found before that wearing flip flops or sandals instead of sneakers cuts back on the blistering quite bit. The problem is that none of my flip flops/sneakers offer very much support. So while my feet stay blister free the rest of my feet/body ache from not having good support.

Can someone recommend a good high quality flip flop or sandal that will offer comfort and support? Also, I'm open to recommendations for good sneakers as well. That way, I can have both options available.

I, too, have very sensitive feet and my feet would swell and blister (under and over toes). I found that placing moleskin on the areas that were prone to rubbing worked quite well, but I still needed socks and sneakers to keep the moleskin in place.

Then enter Earth Shoes!! Besides keeping my feet comfortable on normal days of standing, walking and shopping, imagine my excitement when I found that I could wear them all day at a trip to WDW parks. The pair that I have (Aspire) that are like wearing slippers, but provide plenty of arch support. They can be worn without socks and go well with shorts or skirts. Unfortunately, they have discontinued them, but the new Kalso line has some that are as soft and I think will also do well.

 

[MissManda]

I will tell you what shoes to avoid by all means, Nike Shox! I thought I LOVED mine, very comfy shoes and love the look of them! Well I had brain surgery Dec. '10 and what I have causes severe neck pain. When we went to Disney in Oct. I wore my Shox for most of the trip. My neck was a total mess and I just thought it was from being on the go from morning to night and my body was just worn out. Well someone told me Shox are awful support shoes so I started noticin how my neck felt on the days that I wore them and after just a few days I realized that on the days that I wore them my neck was wayyyy worse than on the days that I didn't. So, 2 pairs of $110 Shox went into the garbage! We are going back in one year so once it gets closer I will definitely be looking into all of these suggestions to see which is the best shoe for support!!!

I also learned my lesson the hard way with Nike Shox. They tore my feet up last time I was at WDW. I now know to never wear them again. I've gotten lots of good ideas from everyone. I will be much better prepared this time!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like crocs are a must. I've never worn them but I'm certainly willing to try! I will also pay more attention to how often I rotate out what I'm wearing. I tried that before, but maybe I just need to rotate out earlier in the day.

Any advice on a specific brand of tennis shoes/sneakers? The last time I went, I took my Nike Shox, which were well broken in but still in good condition, and my feet hurt so bad I couldn't stand it. After a few days I just gave up and ended up wearing my flip flops the rest of the trip.

I will tell you what shoes to avoid by all means, Nike Shox! I thought I LOVED mine, very comfy shoes and love the look of them! Well I had brain surgery Dec. '10 and what I have causes severe neck pain. When we went to Disney in Oct. I wore my Shox for most of the trip. My neck was a total mess and I just thought it was from being on the go from morning to night and my body was just worn out. Well someone told me Shox are awful support shoes so I started noticin how my neck felt on the days that I wore them and after just a few days I realized that on the days that I wore them my neck was wayyyy worse than on the days that I didn't. So, 2 pairs of $110 Shox went into the garbage! We are going back in one year so once it gets closer I will definitely be looking into all of these suggestions to see which is the best shoe for support!!!

I wanted to tell both of you what I did to find my best pair of tennis shoes. I have a second best pair, which are my New Balance, that my doctor prescribed based on the kind of foot I have and my Plantar Fascitis. Even though he is a doctor and knows what kind of foot I have, they aren't as comfortable as they ones I found on my own. Here is what I did: My first doctor told me to try out New Balance, but he prescribed a really ugly pair, so I refused. I went to a store called Second Sole (I don't know if they have any locations outside Ohio). The guy tried tons of shoes on me, and I hated how all of them felt. Then he tried the last pair, and they were so comfortable! I balked at the price though! They were $120.00, and I had already wasted so much money on shoes that hurt me very badly. The kind of shoe that worked for me was Nike Bowerman Series. Bill Bowerman was actually one of the founders of Nike, and he was obsessed with creating a running shoe that was very lightweight. There is a whole series of Nikes based on his lightweight concept. I walked out of the store, and didn't come back for a couple years. Fast Forward, and I had a terrible flare up with PF. I went back to Second Sole, and told a completely different person I needed a shoe that didn't hurt. They fit me in several shoes, and then came out with a pair that felt really good. Low and behold...they were Nike Bowerman series! I bought them at $130 with $20 shock absorbers, making them $150!!! I couldn't believe that two different people fit me in two shoes from the same series. Obviously my feet knew what they wanted. My point is that you could go to a store that specializes in finding the right shoe for your feet. That is what Second Sole does, and my shoes are fantastic. It's like walking on clouds.

I'll add to the the PP about what not to wear - Sketcher Shape Ups! I bought a pair and wore them on our last trip based on previous DIS threads, and now I suffer from horrible Plantar Fasciitis! My podiatrist said those are the worst shoes for your feet. Anyway, the point I'm making is that everyone's feet are different, and you need to find the shoes that work best for you. Buy them on plenty of time to wear them and make sure they work for you. Also bring back-up shoes as previous posters have mentioned.

Tru dat! They caused me a major flare up of PF that went into my ankle, and I ended up with several cortisone shots, being wrapped every week by my doctor for weeks, therapy exercises, etc...I actually started a thread about Crocs for PF b/c it is time for me to buy new crocs and I wondered who had tried the newer styles! I am completely repeating myself from that thread! Anyway, before the ER doctor put me on massive doses of steroids b/c I thought I had broken my foot/ankle, he told me Shape ups are very bad for PF sufferers b/c they change the natural gait. Or, in your case, someone who was susceptible to PF ended up getting it from the shoes. I have a pretty expensive pair of tone ups sitting in a box.

I, too, have very sensitive feet and my feet would swell and blister (under and over toes). I found that placing moleskin on the areas that were prone to rubbing worked quite well, but I still needed socks and sneakers to keep the moleskin in place.

Then enter Earth Shoes!! Besides keeping my feet comfortable on normal days of standing, walking and shopping, imagine my excitement when I found that I could wear them all day at a trip to WDW parks. The pair that I have (Aspire) that are like wearing slippers, but provide plenty of arch support. They can be worn without socks and go well with shorts or skirts. Unfortunately, they have discontinued them, but the new Kalso line has some that are as soft and I think will also do well.

I may have to try the Earth Shoes myself. I ended up having to attach moleskin to the bottom of my sock to keep my insert from rubbing my foot. I couldn't figure out why my arch hurt so much. Realized too late that it was from the insert rubbing. Trying to get moleskin off the bottom of a sock is no fun.

 

[disneyfanjan]

I may have to try the Earth Shoes myself. I ended up having to attach moleskin to the bottom of my sock to keep my insert from rubbing my foot. I couldn't figure out why my arch hurt so much. Realized too late that it was from the insert rubbing. Trying to get moleskin off the bottom of a sock is no fun.

Moleskin should be applied directly to your skin BEFORE any signs of blistering occur. (You would not want to pull moleskin off from a blistered area!!! Be sure to put it on BEFORE it happens.) Friction will cause a blister. As long as anything, shoe or sock, is able to rub against your foot, you can get a blister. I cut a piece that fits over the forward portion of the ball of my foot and also put some strips across toes that come in contact with shoes. Moleskin was my lifesaver for many trips. I still bring it, but I have found though that with my Aspire Earth Shoes, only my pinkies need protection as a preventative.
Earth Shoes have a negative heel. I have a high arch. For me, the balls of my feet took a lot of pressure even with the lowest of heels. Even standing for periods of time would be painful. The Earth Shoe takes this pressure off and going to Disney was the biggest test I could have put them through.

Be careful though, because I also believe the style and makeup of the shoe comes into play. These shoes have a really pliable sole and soft upper. There are some Earth Shoes that are not as pliable. Earth Shoes are not cheap, but for me, comfort is important. I am totally amazed when I see some of the shoes people wear to the parks. I couldn't do flip-flops and I can't imagine touring in high heels, but I have seen it.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

It is really going to depend upon you and your foot. What works for one person will not work for another person. I've tried most of the shoes listed here and they gave my extra wide, high arched, long toed, has the indian "bump" on top foot blisters. (And my feet are two completely different sizes. That doesn't help.)

But my foot is different from the reccommender's feet and their feet are likely all different as well.

Try a pair of shoes out, take them out one weekend on a long hike or a day meandering. If you are blisterless at the end of the day, you'll be good. If not, that's one more pair of shoes NOT to use.

I wore my Toms the last time we went to Disney and didn't get a single blister for the first time ever! Toms shape to my foot instead of expecting my foot to follow a particular shape and, as they're made of wide pieces of fabric that have no binding points had no place to rub awkwardly against my foot.

Try the reccomendations and see how shoes fit you. But know that your foot may be different and that shoe may not work, even though someone else had good results.