Need Walking Shoe advice.. Make/Model?

[beattyfamily]

I got blisters every single trip with sneakers no matter what tip I tried. I then bought Ecco Cosmos and also Teva Pretty Rugged and now I haven't gotten a blister for at least the last 3 trips.

LOVE them! They also can be worn in the rain!

No desire to buy crocs as they look very sweaty and I've heard they run in strange sizes so can be too big.

 

[saintloo]

I usually wear new balance as i have a wide foot and they offer very wide widths. But when it comes to walking as much as you do in disney i have a trusty pair of Dr. Scholls walking shoes. I look like a nerd in them but my feet thank me every night and besides the only person i know down there is my wife.

 

[OKW Lover]

If your feet were EXACTLY like mine (which I doubt they are) then you should buy Nike Air Walkers. But if your feet are different, they might not be the right choice.

OK, so that's a long way of making my point that getting opinions here is fine, but in the end you need to try the shoes on your feet and decide what's comfortable for you.

 

[beattyfamily]

If your feet were EXACTLY like mine (which I doubt they are) then you should buy Nike Air Walkers. But if your feet are different, they might not be the right choice.

OK, so that's a long way of making my point that getting opinions here is fine, but in the end you need to try the shoes on your feet and decide what's comfortable for you.

ITA!! And I just said the exact same thing on another shoe/sandal thread! Each foot is different and what works for me may not work for you so take the advice given and try the shoes on first before you buy them.

I did get some great shoe ideas from DIS members (Teva) and some duds (Straprunners) but it's because I didn't try those on before I bought them. I went by word of mouth.

 

[Pixie]

... But when it comes to walking as much as you do in disney i have a trusty pair of Dr. Scholls walking shoes...

In addition to those, I have a pair of Ecco's.

 

[Shifletjl]

I have been wearing them around the house this afternoon and they are so comfortable. The leather straps have a soft cushion lining that is very flexible and moves with my foot as I walk and bend doing housework.

I can definitely see myself wearing these sandals all day at WDW. So happy to cross this off my "to-do list".

Jen

First trip to WDW June 20 - 27

 

[beattyfamily]

I have been wearing them around the house this afternoon and they are so comfortable. The leather straps have a soft cushion lining that is very flexible and moves with my foot as I walk and bend doing housework.

I can definitely see myself wearing these sandals all day at WDW. So happy to cross this off my "to-do list".

Jen

First trip to WDW June 20 - 27

Congrats! I'm so glad they feel good. You never know until you try them out for awhile even though others rave about them...

Did you get the leather or the nylon?? I have both but prefer my leather but the nylon are more waterproof...dry a bit faster. I love them both though! No more blisters!

 

[cepmom]

I have been wearing them around the house this afternoon and they are so comfortable. The leather straps have a soft cushion lining that is very flexible and moves with my foot as I walk and bend doing housework.

I can definitely see myself wearing these sandals all day at WDW. So happy to cross this off my "to-do list".

Jen

First trip to WDW June 20 - 27

I am so jealous!! I was hoping the Teva Pretty Rugged would work for me but I just got a pair last week and they are just not comfortable to me they seem to bother my feet the most on the ankles no matter how many times I adjust the straps ~ they almost feel too narrow there. I got the Teva Stratum sandals too and they are much more comfortable (but much uglier too). I've pretty much conceded that I'll have to go with comfort over looks

 

[beattyfamily]

I am so jealous!! I was hoping the Teva Pretty Rugged would work for me but I just got a pair last week and they are just not comfortable to me they seem to bother my feet the most on the ankles no matter how many times I adjust the straps ~ they almost feel too narrow there. I got the Teva Stratum sandals too and they are much more comfortable (but much uglier too). I've pretty much conceded that I'll have to go with comfort over looks

I know each foot is different but I just wanted to say that I also felt that way last year when I first got my leather Teva Pretty Rugged. I wore them for about a week and thought, no way for Disney and put them in my closet. Well, I gave them another shot about a month before my August trip. I made the straps really loose and didn't give up. Well, now I love them and no more blisters. I think they need to conform to your foot. They need a little break in time.

My Teva Pretty Rugged nylon ones fit me fine from the start BUT the tag on the inside was rubbing my ankle and I couldn't take it. Again, I almost gave up on them but was determined not to let a tag make me stop wearing them so I got a razor and scissors and got both tags off and now they are a dream!

Good luck everyone on your perfect Disney walking shoe journey!

 

[cepmom]

thanks Beattyfamily!

I know you are a huge fan of the Pretty Rugged sandals so that is one of the reasons I decided to try them out! I just put them on again before I return them just to double check ~ it's right where the side straps are attached to the bottom of the shoe that bothers me. I can feel them rubbing the sides of my foot area more so than my ankles. It's like they are just too narrow (and I don't have a wide foot). I loosened up the straps a lot and that was almost worse than having the straps snug because my feet were moving around too much. It's too bad because they are actually kind of cute (although my Dh says the Pretty Rugged and the Stratums are equally ugly )

 

[beattyfamily]

thanks Beattyfamily!

(although my Dh says the Pretty Rugged and the Stratums are equally ugly )

DH's just don't get it! Of course, he never really has a major blister problem like I do!

I just wanted to share that I too felt what you are feeling but gave them a second chance and it ended up working out for me. Good luck!

 

[Shifletjl]

Congrats! I'm so glad they feel good. You never know until you try them out for awhile even though others rave about them...

Did you get the leather or the nylon?? I have both but prefer my leather but the nylon are more waterproof...dry a bit faster. I love them both though! No more blisters!

I purchased the Pretty Rugged Leather sandal. This is day two and so far so good.

Jen

 

[Shifletjl]

I am so jealous!! I was hoping the Teva Pretty Rugged would work for me but I just got a pair last week and they are just not comfortable to me they seem to bother my feet the most on the ankles no matter how many times I adjust the straps ~ they almost feel too narrow there. I got the Teva Stratum sandals too and they are much more comfortable (but much uglier too). I've pretty much conceded that I'll have to go with comfort over looks

I'm with you. I choose comfort over good looks too. My first choice in a Teva sandal was not the Pretty Rugged. I wanted a Teva sandal that was a little more "stylish", however that model didn't have the support I knew I would need for the amount of walking we will be in for at WDW. My DH has worn Tevas for years and has tried to talk me into trying a pair for myself. With so many on this board agreeing with him, I guess that is what pushed me toward finally giving them a try.

I sure hope you will find the sandals that will work for you.

Jen

 

[jamstew]

I second Brooks! I had a brief but painful episode of plantar fisciitis and I would wear my Brooks around the house to help the pain go away. I have run and walked in them and love them very much. I have never had a pair of Nike's that were as comfortable and NB did give as much support. Good luck!

Just bought my first pair of Brooks. I'd never heard of them before I saw the posts here. They were immediately comfortable in the store, but they'll get tested this evening on my daily walk. I'm keeping my fingers crossed since I've been "auditioning" shoes for a couple of weeks (Nike, two different styles of NB and Tevas). So far, the Tevas are the ONLY thing that I think I can walk around in for a day. I wish I still had the Nike's I wore to WDW in 1990. They were the most comfortable shoes ever, but I have no clue what they were.

 

[Perlla55]

I like Clarks they are cushiony and i can walk all day with them.
There is a store at the mall in orlando called the walking company,
they sell all comfy shoes.

 

[kgkmom]

I just bought a pair of Crocs (per the suggestions on this board) and they are incredibly comfortable for me! It is true that they are butt-ugly, they run big (I had to buy a size smaller than usual, and they are still a bit big), and they are more than I like to spend, but man are they comfy! I bought a pair of the Payless knock-offs for Dd, and they are even cushier than the Crocs.

I've also worn Teva's to WDW, and I too had to razor off the tag on the inside (don't know who's bright idea *that* was at Teva!). I've worn hiking boots when visiting in the cooler months.

With all the walking, the Teva's straps would eventually dig in to my foot, so I'd have to periodically readjust the straps. Not a big deal, just annoying enough to wish I had other shoes with me to be able to switch out.

I think the sweaty foot issue with the Crocs may be a problem, so I'll have to wait and see on that one. But so far, so good!