Best shoes for long miles in the parks

[GaryDis]

I've never tried crocs, and probably never will, but given the discussion here, I suspect that part of the reason is support. I use sturdy arch supports in my sneakers (mostly Superfeet), and they really make a difference. Get good ones from a sporting goods store, not the cheap ones from the drug store.

 

[Moushe]

I wore Merrell sandals last week and they worked great, could barely even fit them on my feet! The style is called Honeysuckle (sorry dont know how to embed pictures).

 

[River Country]

I have Plantar Fasciitis and I wear Nike Airmax sneakers yes they are $190 but worth it. Sandals are Reef's and nice shoes are Sperry's if I am not walking far.

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

Just did 12+ hours in both Nikes and OluKai flip flops on two separate days at local Six Flags. No problems whatsoever!

As PPs have said, definitely take your most comfortable shoes, alternate pairs, spring for the expensive socks (Feetures brand is heavenly to me), and if you choose sandals, SLATHER on the sunscreen on the tops of your feet!

Good luck!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Hello!

My husband and I are heading to Disneyland in October. Our last Disney trip was to Disney World and I had a terrible time out of my feet. They ached and were sore and I ended up with pretty horrific blisters.

I would love to know what people would suggest.

For reference I have tried Keens and they absolutely destroyed my feet. Definitely took a bit of the magic out of our trip.

I have wide, flat feet and I am somewhat overweight still despite losing some weight since our last trip.

So, what would all of you suggest?

You should bring two pairs of well fitting broken in shoes minimum Change your shoes out each day and leave the ones you wore the day before in the room with their tongues hanging out to dry. When purchasing shoes, you should make sure the front of your feet don't scrunch. You should also be wearing the typical socks you are going to wear to WDW. You should also check for heel slippage. This
Socks should be non cotton. Wet cotton will blister your feet. Bring an extra pair of socks with you to the parks in case the pair you're wearing becomes saturated.

 

[Main Street Matilda]

I have to confess, I never really thought much about the shoes I wore - other than knowing I needed something with support given all the walking. I used to wear New Balance sneakers since they are really a trusted brand, but I found my feet were sore. I then switched to Sketchers (Premium or Sketch-Airs) since they had a thicker sole and that made a huge difference. My feet felt fine after a long day in the parks with those.

However, my last trip, since I do enjoy flip-flops/sandals (but think they are a really bad idea if doing a ton of walking), I purchased Keen sandals. They are meant for hiking and they fit like sneakers and have great support. It was the best of both worlds for me and I don't think I'd go back to sneakers since the Keens allowed me to go sockless. I got the Newports, but they are phasing that line out (I think), but there are bunch of other styles to choose from. Your feet really don't get hot in these, either.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I have tried most of these expensive brands and the only shoes that keep my feet from hurting with all the walking is crocs

It can't be said enough, the proper shoe isn't about the brand it's about the model, just like cars.

When you go car shopping you aren't necessarily comparing Toyota to Nissan to Chevy. Most likely you're comparing the Camry to the Accord to the Altime or Maxima (for example). Or comparing the Tundra to the Titan to the 1500. You need the right model to fit your need. Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Saucony, etc are all brands but all make very different shoes for different feet and often times the best shoe for you isn't based on price alone.

 

[LSUfan4444]

other than knowing I needed something with support given all the walking

More support isn't always a benefit. Over time, more support can weaken your feet, ankles, achilles etc. A common cause for foot fain for people is when they have weakened their feet over time with shoes that have alot of support, then they wear flip flops one day and have foot issues all of a sudden. The problem wasn't necessary their flip flops, but rather their weakened feet and legs from many miles in support shoes. I wear basically zero drop minimalist shoes in the parks (basically barefoot) most days, but I also mix it up with other pairs as well. Over time, we want our feet and ankles to become strong, not weak but the shoe industry for years has been telling us we need more support, which for alot of people they think more money. It's marketing at it's best.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

Hello!

My husband and I are heading to Disneyland in October. Our last Disney trip was to Disney World and I had a terrible time out of my feet. They ached and were sore and I ended up with pretty horrific blisters.

I would love to know what people would suggest.

For reference I have tried Keens and they absolutely destroyed my feet. Definitely took a bit of the magic out of our trip.

I have wide, flat feet and I am somewhat overweight still despite losing some weight since our last trip.

So, what would all of you suggest?

After many tries, I finally have it down to a science. Clarks Wave sneakers with LL Bean blister proof socks. Clarks are very expensive, but you can't beat the Wave cushioning and comfort.

 

[wdwrule]

It can't be said enough, the proper shoe isn't about the brand it's about the model, just like cars.

When you go car shopping you aren't necessarily comparing Toyota to Nissan to Chevy. Most likely you're comparing the Camry to the Accord to the Altime or Maxima (for example). Or comparing the Tundra to the Titan to the 1500. You need the right model to fit your need. Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Saucony, etc are all brands but all make very different shoes for different feet and often times the best shoe for you isn't based on price alone.

Totally agree! It's best to get properly fitted at an athletic footwear store that specializes in running shoes. They'll be able to recommend what's best for your feet according to arch support/stability/nonstability etc. For example I overpronate (lean my foot inward) so I need a stability shoe. I wear "Brooks Adrenaline" which supports my arch and keeps my foot from leaning inward as I walk or run, hence keeping my feet comfy throughout long durations. However if I wore "Brooks Glycerin" I would most likely end up with sore feet/legs as this "model" is considered a neutral shoe and would not support my feet but is fine for someone else who doesn't need that stability. It looks like on brooksrunning.com you can plug in information on your feet/stance etc to get an idea of a type of shoe that they would recommend. At least you could start here if you didn't have a specialty store near you.