CHACO sandals, ANYONE???

[Lives4Disney]

Hi Disers, I bought my first pair of Chaco sandals online and they arrived today.

I think I love them! I bought the Sweetwater color (pink) in the Z2 Torreno style. I am a devoted Keen wearer for the past year and more, but usually I get VERY achy arches after a few hours on my feet. These Chacos seem to have a very high & supportive arch. I also have Birks, but though they are comfy, my arches still wind up aching after a few hours.

Anybody wear Chacos to the parks and have great, comfy, nonachy results? I need to know, as these were pretty pricey and if they don't work - I don't want them! I will start over with something else!

THANKS for your input!

Lives4Disney

 

[Robindianne]

I bought some to wear to WDW last April. The feel wonderful on the arches all day. No aches at all! My only problem was when I wore them 1/2 day at AK w/out socks (hate socks - am used to flip flops (from Hawaii) and hate squishing my feet into tennies and heating them up aw: ) the texture of the soles made my feet red and hot and I had to fight blisters on my heels and pads for the rest of my trip. I never did get blisters mind you, but had to alternate shoes and socks throughout the rest of my days there because my skin hurt.

If I were you, I'd wear socks on and off at least. But, they are prob the most comfortable walking shoes / sandals ever. Good support on the ankles and arches!

 

[monica31671]

I'm flat footed so the Chacos did not work well for me. The arch made my foot cramp after an hour or so.
I love Keens and Crocs.

 

[Robindianne]

Oh, I love crocs! Good for jogging in hot weather w/strap behind my heel. Never tried Keens but love how they look.

 

[campinggal]

I'm a Chaco fan! In fact- I have two pair ready to put in my suitcase to WDW for our trip on Wed!!

I like the 'firm' feel and pronounced arch of the Chaco footbed. They have worked well for me when I traveled to WDW in the past.

My Keen sandals also worked great too.

Hope you have happy feet in yours!

 

[back2disney]

I like the way they look and they seem rugged, but man they hurt my feet.
Its been almost 3 months and I've slowly gotten used to them.

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

My Chaco's hurt too! I've only had them a few days and I will keep wearing them off and on until they stop hurting, but geez, this isn't what I was expecting from such a highly rated shoe! I prefer instant comfort! But, from what I've read, it is not uncommon for it to take a while to break in a good pair of Chaco's.

 

[reader]

I wear them all day, everyday during 4 week European tours with tons of walking, camping, hiking, kayaking & of course to WDW!! Always happy feet! I get the vibram hiking sole models. I wonder if those who are having problems with them have followed the fit instructions correctly? Love that there is no velcro, they come in wide widths (hurrah!), and are so adjustable. Have never had any problems with blisters etc. Can't say enough good things about my Chacos!

 

[Stitch65]

Hoping they are good. Anyone have these? They were pretty spendy, but they were awfully comfortable. I actually went to a real shoe store *gasp* (not payless either) and asked about comfortable walking sandles for WDW... the person there said either Chacos or Tevas, so I tried both on, and liked the Tevas........

Or was I fooled by the creatvie foot lighting, and I should have gotten Chacos?

 

[Lives4Disney]

I am a Chaco convert! I wore them on our week long Thanksgiving WDW trip and also just got back from a two week vacation to UO and WDW and wore them every day. The funky texture on the shoe did bother the soles of my feet a bit, so I coated my soles with Bodyglide and had no problems with that issue after a couple days.

If my feet did swell, I just adjusted the straps to make them looser so no rubbing. My feet and legs feel great in the Chacos! No aches!! My Keens & Birks are also nice, but I really love the extra arch support the Chacos give. I think I have found my perfect WDW shoe!

Lives4Disney

 

[Kitka]

I tried crocs * birks and couldn't swing it with them in the parks. I'm an Earth shoe devotee

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Where does one acquire these Chacos of which you speak? And how much do they generally run? And can someone post a pic?

 

[monica31671]

I'm flat footed and my Chacos killed my feet after about fifteen minutes. I tried a few different times, but there was no getting used to them. I went back to my Keens.
You can do a web search for Chacos. I think Zappos.com sells them.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Thanks...don't know why I didn't try Zappos before asking...I love that store! I especially love the reviews, it gives you a good idea of what people think of the products before you buy.

I'm a little bit shoe-obsessive, buying on impulse anything that people say are comfortable (8 pairs of Crocs now). So because the reviews were mixed, with many people saying the straps irritated their big toe, etc, I think I'll look around here first and see if there's a place I can try them on. I'll have to go for the men's shoe, though, since it appears they stop the women's sizes at 11. The reviews say the men's are very heavy, and that won't do, no, no. Thanks for the info, Monica, and everyone.

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

I'm not having good luck with my Chaco's at all! I so desparately wanted to like them. I think they are very cute, but they HURT, HURT, HURT! It's not the straps and it's not the height of the arch! It's the side of the arch. It digs into the side of my instep. I have very narrow feet and these sandals are plenty wide, but they just HURT! Also, the little "nubbies" on the footbed are making the skin under my toes wear raw. I hope they will someday get broken in! It's going to be hard to do though as I would have to wear them to break them in! And wearing them HURTS! There is no way I am taking these shoes to Disney with me this week! I am going to try to break them in by wearing them around the house with thick socks and see if that helps at all. I got the Chaco's at a great price and don't want to send them back. I will just keep breaking them in a little at a time and hope for the best!

I just got a pair of Keens in the mail today, and although they are a bit too wide, they feel great on my feet. I hope the wideness doesn't cause them to come flying off my feet though. I am so frustrated over not being able to find a GREAT shoe to take with me to Disney. So far I am taking; 2 pairs of Crocs (which don't give me all day comfort), 2 pairs of Birkenstocks (one is my oldest most broken-in pair the other is a bit newer and stiffer, but still comfy) and my new Keens (which I've only had for an hour so I have no idea how they will work out in the long run but I can't wear them on any rides where my feet dangle as they are a slide style and they are too wide and would definitely fall off). I am hoping that having a variety of fairly comfortable shoes will overcome the fact that no one pair is perfect! We will be going back to our hotel mid-day every day so I don't have to wear any one pair of shoes for an entire day. I hope I can keep my feet feeling good and avoid blisters! Where oh where is that elusive PERFECT SHOE????

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

I got them for $56 (normally $95) at backpacking deals.com. They are really cute and I love the looks of them! I just don't like the feel of them....yet!

 

[Cindypooh]

I have two pair of chacos and they are what I wear the whole time at WDW. They never rub or blister even when soaking wet. Good arch support and you can easily adjust them if your feet swell later in the day. I found my keens to be too hot (August). Enjoy! P.S. I never wear socks! Cindy

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

Not that anyone really cares about this, but my Chaco's are feeling better today! There IS hope that they will eventually get broken in!!! They still may not make it to the parks at Disney later this week, but I am hoping for a much longer-lasting relationship with my Chaco's than just a quick visit to the parks! I did a lot of research before buying these shoes in hopes of finding a quality sandal that would support my Plantar Fasciitis while still providing a bit of style and endurance. The fact that I didn't find them until a week before my Disney trip is just a bit of bad timing. I am going to hang in with them and assume that eventually they will be my favorite shoes! I had also ordered a "dressier" Chaco's sandal at the same time I ordered the Z1 sports sandal. They arrived today and are very comfortable already! They are called CHACO ROSA LEATHER SANDAL. Here's a photo! I really like them! They are sort of a butterscotch color and will look nice with just about anything! So, I may be sporting my Chaco's in Disney after all! Just not the ones I thought I would wear!

 

[karen l]

Hoping they are good. Anyone have these? They were pretty spendy, but they were awfully comfortable. I actually went to a real shoe store *gasp* (not payless either) and asked about comfortable walking sandles for WDW... the person there said either Chacos or Tevas, so I tried both on, and liked the Tevas........

Or was I fooled by the creatvie foot lighting, and I should have gotten Chacos?

Hi Stitch65! Another fan of Tevas here. I just bought a new pair on sale at City Sports. They're packed & ready to go. I've had great luck with Tevas, good support & very comfy. Hope you enjoy yours!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Not that anyone really cares about this, but my Chaco's are feeling better today! There IS hope that they will eventually get broken in!!! They still may not make it to the parks at Disney later this week, but I am hoping for a much longer-lasting relationship with my Chaco's than just a quick visit to the parks! I did a lot of research before buying these shoes in hopes of finding a quality sandal that would support my Plantar Fasciitis while still providing a bit of style and endurance. The fact that I didn't find them until a week before my Disney trip is just a bit of bad timing. I am going to hang in with them and assume that eventually they will be my favorite shoes! I had also ordered a "dressier" Chaco's sandal at the same time I ordered the Z1 sports sandal. They arrived today and are very comfortable already! They are called CHACO ROSA LEATHER SANDAL. Here's a photo! I really like them! They are sort of a butterscotch color and will look nice with just about anything! So, I may be sporting my Chaco's in Disney after all! Just not the ones I thought I would wear!

Darn, those are cute! Wish my feet were a little smaller so I could try out the women's styles