Feet pain and another shoes post - Any Merrell fan?

[Veronique]

I cannot stand for more then 30 minutes before my feet start to hurt. Well, that was before I discovered Merrell sandals (I have the Terran Convertible II)! Now I've tested 8 hours and my feet were barely sore at all! Magic! I have nearly flat feet and the Merrell feels perfect.

Last winter I went to Disneyland with two normal (crappy) pair of shoes and alternating did help also.

So I'm looking for another pair of sandals or tennis shoes, and I thought I should ask for recommandation from people who actually like Merrell or who also have feet pain!

I know everyone is different, and I'll try the shoes in a store, but I need real live experience so I can justify the spending lolol

 

[megster1123]

I only have Merrell in the lowtop hiking version, but here's my advice on that style - break them in before you plan on wearing them. They can be a bit stiff at first and almost uncomfortable. Once they feel right you'll love them and won't want any other brand of hiker. I'm on my third pair now, and it happened with all three pairs when they were brand new. But I love my Merrells and wouldn't trade them for anything.

 

[Accident]

Have you ever tried the dr schools inserts that are specific to you and going to a store with the machine you stand on to find out which ones you should buy?? they were a life changer for me.

These days, I just don't skimp on a good light running sneaker and I make sure it's the correct size. Apparently where I was measuring my feet for awhile was noticing my wide foot but not recommending a sneaker with the correct width.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I like my Merrell hiking shoes. My favorite walking sandals are Abeo Laguna sandals from the walking company. I just ordered my third pair. I wear them for any days when I'm walking all day.

 

[M&MGirl1]

I love Merrell sandals and I also love my Chacos. The Chacos are better for me at Disney because they are meant to get wet, so they dry a TON faster than the Merrells. I've also found the Chacos just plain last longer than the Merrells. I go through a pair of Merrells every summer not wearing them as much as the Chacos, and my two-year-old pair of Chacos still looks and feels like new.

If you get any of the Merrell hiking shoes (particularly the waterproof kind), be aware it takes forever to break them in and if you try to walk in them for any significant distance without them being very well broken in, your feet will be a mass of blisters.

 

[TreeFalls]

I have nearly flat feet with a high instep and I love my merrell sandals. Normally I wear sneakers almost all the time because everything else hurts (I'm also not one to sacrifice comfort for fashion), but these are so much cooler in the Summer. They work for me because they have so many adjustment points, and they are soft on the bottom. Haven't worn them to Disney yet, but I will in a month!

 

[HollVoll]

My husband has flat feet. He takes 3 pairs of shoes to Disney and takes 3 pairs to Disney. He switches them out depending on the day ahead: Vibrams, New Balance Tennis shoes, and Tevas. However, he has some new Chacos that he really likes and I think he plans to switch those out with the Tevas. And I'm hearing very good things about Chaco ZCloud. We're watching for a sale on them for him. He loves his Merrell hiking boots.

 

[W.E.D.]

YES!
THIS!
Love my Merrils. I can go 10 days at WDW and my feet feel fine. And they dry out so quickly after water attractions.

 

[prprincess]

I have feet issues/pain, and I love my Merrills! The other brand I can suggest is ABEO B.I.O. from The Walking Company. Only thing, it's best to go in store and be assessed so that you know which footbed is best for your issues.

 

[Veronique]

Everyone is always recommending Sketchers Go Walk but I'm guessing they are probably good for people who usually do not have pain? There is big discount on old model right now (around 40$) and I'm thinking to go at least try them, but I don't want to spend 40$ and after a few hours walk have to spend 100$+ on another pair ! Any experiences?

 

[angierae]

I like the Teva sandals that have the built in support and the squishy soles. My faves are the Hurricane XLTs.

 

[megster1123]

I love Merrell sandals and I also love my Chacos. The Chacos are better for me at Disney because they are meant to get wet, so they dry a TON faster than the Merrells. I've also found the Chacos just plain last longer than the Merrells. I go through a pair of Merrells every summer not wearing them as much as the Chacos, and my two-year-old pair of Chacos still looks and feels like new.

If you get any of the Merrell hiking shoes (particularly the waterproof kind), be aware it takes forever to break them in and if you try to walk in them for any significant distance without them being very well broken in, your feet will be a mass of blisters.

CHACO! Just bought my first pair of sandals this summer and they're going to be my main go-to for Disney. The super-strappy kind can take some getting used to though so if you're using them for distance for the first time - even after they're broken in, make sure to bring some bandaids or something for a blister. Also - sunscreen on your feet unless you want some crazy tan lines lol

 

[kittyab]

I am thinking of dr schools before I go, I have really high arches.

 

[Night Huntress]

Everyone is always recommending Sketchers Go Walk but I'm guessing they are probably good for people who usually do not have pain? There is big discount on old model right now (around 40$) and I'm thinking to go at least try them, but I don't want to spend 40$ and after a few hours walk have to spend 100$+ on another pair ! Any experiences?

I purchased a pair of GoWalks do to the recommendations on Disboards and I absolutely love them. I bought a second pair for Disney. I have major foot pain due to past foot surgery and I have heel spurs. These shoes are amazing. Now they aren't perfect and once in awhile I get a little pain but I could be any number of things with the way I stretch at work etc. They haven't entirely gotten rid of all pain but I don't come home from work limping anymore. That's just my personal experience with these shoes.

 

[BayouQueen]

Merrells are what I wear in the parks, too. I like the plain thong type. They change them up every year a little bit, but they fit the same. I can walk all day in them, and if they get wet, they dry quickly.
With any shoes, I always have big band-aids along with me to put on the pressure points between the shoe and my foot. With Merrell thongs, there aren't a lot of pressure points to worry about. I don't like closed shoes, because feet swell in the heat and after being on your legs a long time, so they always feel tight after awhile and cause "hot spots" somewhere on my foot.

 

[cindyfan]

I am a huge Merrell fan!!! I've been wearing them for years!!! Although the sandals have changed some lately..... not as great as they used to be. And not all the sandals can handle getting wet.... some take a while to dry. So... I started trying more of the styles of Tevas. Love to switch between the two. I currently Teva Tirra and love them!!! Great support and cushion... especially for the heal!! I just got some Teva Terra-float Novas and love them too.... but have only worn them at home for a few hours. I plan to try them out at WDW next month!!

 

[areno79]

Try Ecco as well...I bought a pair of quasi sandal/walking shoes for a recent trip to Niagara Falls, and they were so comfy! I loved that they could get wet, and also weren't closed up like a sneaker.

 

[SDJEL]

I have found Naot sandles and shoes to be the most comfortable for me. Our last trip to WDW, I started with sneakers and then switched to my naots when my feet hurt. I was able to walk far longer in those.

 

[DreamFlightCpt.]

I've got a pair of Merrell Moab mids that I've used for everything from everyday wear, hunting to most recently trekking around France on my honey moon. Super comfortable, especially when paired with smart wool socks. Make sure however your Merrells are snug on your feet. If you use them as much as I do, they'll break in possibly a little too much leaving room for your feet to move around and get blisters. But then again these occur most for me after screwing around in the woods for 8 hours at a time.

 

[dis_guy]

DW and I both swear by our Go Walk 2s. Comfy x10 but I found the soles wore down a fair bit doing 35000 steps a day on the pavement of WDW.