Park shoes...again!

[scchristo]

I have worn Easy Spirit Reinvent shoes at the parks (the trip we did 3 parks in one day). They are SUPER LIGHT and have a mesh top. I wore them almost exclusively two trips ago and switched out with Asics (or something) the last trip.
I actually bought them because they were on clearance, not to use as a WDW shoe, but they worked out great. I got them from a Bon Ton family store, and they ARE a shoe that works with their coupons. Normally.
I would add that I WANTED to love Sketchers, but they are a "no go". I put them on and I can FEEL the gap between my arches and the sole. However, my mom and sister LOVE them. Feet are weird.

 

[Loreli]

I love love love my Keen ballet sneakers. Slip on and no slippage as I walk. Arch support and mesh sides for cooling. Pretty colors and not ugly like most Keens sandals. Buy on line and ship back if they don't fit. I have a high instep (top of foot) so Alotta shoes/sandals don't fit right. But these are open on top and fit comfy.

 

[xjay]

I used to work at Champs so I would get a lot of people asking what kinds of shoes are best. If you don't have a budget, I would look into Asics. They're more expensive but have a lot better arch support than Nikes. Any type of Kayano is good. Mizunos are good as well and are a little bit less expensive than Asics, but when I worked at Champs, there wasn't a lot of selection in Mizunos. Nike Lunarglides are a pair that I would recommend. They're light weight and made out of mesh and are a lot more stable than Free Runs. They run about $160, but are well worth the money. If you do choose a Nike shoe, I would recommend adding some sort of insert inside, because the insert that comes with the shoe is all flat and flimsy.

 

[ktlm]

Bernie Mev shoes. They are very lightweight. I can wear them from open to close in the parks and at the end of the day my feet aren't tired and my legs don't hurt. I do the comfi for open toe, the cuddly or charm for closed toe, and this summer they came out with a new sandal called the cindi that I tried at DL and it was as great as the others. You want to wear them a couple of hours to get them stretched out and conformed to your foot the first day you wear them, and then they will be ready for a full day at Disney. Since the first day I wore them in the parks a few years ago, I haven't worn anything else at WDW or DL/CA.

 

[texasbelle12]

I love to wear Chaco sandals in the parks and Chaco flip flops also. They have a great arch support which is huge for me.

I second Chacos! They were great when we visited last March, especially when it rained. I never had to worry about wet socks/shoes, and when my feet did get wet they were pretty easy to dry off. Chaco has a variety of shoes to fit a lot of needs (arch support, wide feet, etc) and you can customize.

 

[OKW Lover]

Shoes are a very individual choice. What works best for one person is the absolutely wrong choice for another person. Unless you know that the person recommending a particular shoe is the same gender, height, weight, size shoe, and how they walk as you then the recommendation isn't worth much.

Go to an athletic shoe store in the mall and try on models from different manufacturers that feel best on your feet.

 

[Jennasis]

Thanks gang! I went shopping tonight and found a nice pair of Asics-Contend 2 running sneakers. Super lightweight. Mesh (I could see light inside them when I looked into the footbed). They felt really nice on my foot, had a noticeable arch support and weren't $150. And the color didn't horrify me. Seriously, are runners into gaudy now? I will be wearing them a lot to break in over then next month and a half (not in the barn though!)

If these don't do the trick, then I will hit up a specialty store for a gait analysis and be prepared to drop a chunk o'change for something else.

 

[darkwing818]

I bought a pair of Nike Air Pegasus shoes for my 2012 trip and have been wearing them ever since. Everyone's feet and tastes are different, but I've always had good luck with Nikes.

(ps I got them at that "store with the name the Dis won't allow." LOL)

I been wearing Air Pegasus since 2001 & love them. Bought my last pair at the Nike outlet store just outside of WDW just this past June.

 

[neutie88]

Skechers go walks. I have 5 pairs and swear by them. No socks needed, and they are more comfortable than my $150 running shoes. I have orthotics in my running shoes and have really weak ankles, so it's hard for me to find good shoes, but these are awesome.

I concur 100%! Been going to the World since 1998, and until last year, could only wear Mion sandals (long discontinued). Skecher Go Walk and Go Walk 2 are FANTASTIC! I buy the slip-ons (have 4 pairs so far) and went without socks, and my feet were perfectly fine all day - and we are rope drop to late in the evening park goers. I especially like the ones I have that are all mesh on top (goga mat). Just like wearing breezy sandals, but with support and cushion!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/479774166526600092/

 

[MK4ever]

I concur 100%! Been going to the World since 1998, and until last year, could only wear Mion sandals (long discontinued). Skecher Go Walk and Go Walk 2 are FANTASTIC! I buy the slip-ons (have 4 pairs so far) and went without socks, and my feet were perfectly fine all day - and we are rope drop to late in the evening park goers. I especially like the ones I have that are all mesh on top (goga mat). Just like wearing breezy sandals, but with support and cushion! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/479774166526600092/

Yes! Tried the Skechers Go Walk 2 for my last trip after hearing about them here on the boards. Good for walking and also cushiony for standing on lines. I have plantar fasciitis and my feet felt great in these shoes.

 

[snayak]

If these don't do the trick, then I will hit up a specialty store for a gait analysis and be prepared to drop a chunk o'change for something else.

I've had lots of luck getting fitted for shoes, and made my (newly) DW do the same as she started to train for a 1/2 marathon. Boy, what a different proper shoes & support makes - no more hurting feet even though she is very flat flooted and has outward pointing toes (your toes should point straight forward when standing, walking, and running otherwise you get pain from the rest of the body trying to compensate)

Personally, I have had excellent results with Mizuno and also Nike Run Free 2014. I loved the Nike's so much I bought 3 more pairs in case they changed something in the 2015 design. Crocs also make very comfortable regular shoes, I have a pair of their Santa Cruz loafers and wear them all the time in warmer weather (thanks, Boston).

I hardly ever wear flip flops/sandals outside of home, but own 2 pairs of Reefs after the first pair fit so well. I also like shoes which have the Vibram soles (not the Five Finger toe shoes!) since they are very lightweight and comfortable, almost like being barefoot.

I'm glad you found & like your Asics, they are a very reputable brand. Don't ever be worried about being fit for shoes and having them cost an arm & leg - if its a good shop they will give you several options and have you try each one. In my mind, not dealing with any pain is worth the short term issues of spending $100 on a pair of sneakers - I probably save that much in pain killers alone over the lifetime of the shoes.

 

[jcconn]

The go-walks are awesome for the average vacation (non-park) as they are light weight and comfy; but they have no real support to them.

If your feet are hurting, I agree with people that have been suggesting Asics or any shoe with a little bit firmer sole. These will last longer and have more support to them. Asics can have a pretty penny price to them. If you are not looking to spend a lot on a new shoe, simply add an insole to them with a medium to high arch. If you take the pressure off of your arch by lifting them up a bit, they will alleviate pain in all other parts of the foot and will help with leg and back pain, as well. During my CP, I put a good pair of insoles in my el-cheapo non-slip wally-world shoes and it was a miracle how much better my whole body felt at the end of the day!

 

[ilm2000]

I have Ecco sandals with receptor technology. This past year has not been a good foot year for me. Was really worried about whether I could walk all day and if I would ruin my families vacation. These sandals have been life changing. Even walked a 5k and was the only one not complaining about my feet. I am beyond amazed.

 

[letsgoreds]

Hmmm..I try to avoid catalog stores as I HAVE to try things on before I buy. Was hoping I could find something at Foot Locker, Modell's, that other sporting good store with the name the DIS won't allow, the Walking Store etc...

You can find Lands End at many Sears nationwide. Or order online, and return to any sears (doesn't have to have a Lands End store). No problemo.

I wear Keen sandals. I have some H2, but prefer these flip flops I have (hard to find) that have more substantial toe protection.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

My DD discovered the gel insole Skechers - right at the end of our holiday! I told her we should have gone shopping earlier in the week. Anyway, she lives in them now.

I tried the Skechers Go Walks and while they're like standing on clouds, I saw straight away in the mirror that my feet tilted down on the inside and up at the sides. How much of that was caused by having arthritis in my knees I don't know, but I DO know that they would have caused me immeasurable problems so I had to cross them off my list straight away.

The only thing that works for me is Birkenstocks, but due to the firmness of the footbed they can really make your feet hurt after a few hours, especially if you're doing a lot of standing still. All my shoes and boots are made by Hotter (a UK brand) and I have some Pavers sandals as well which are nice and spongy underfoot. I also have a high instep, and after a few days of not wearing my Birkis, I can almost feel my arches dropping!! I wear them around the house as 'slippers'!

 

[kathy884]

My personal favorite is a lightweight hiking shoe for the parks. These are waterproof too. They are great for the National Parks, dog walking, and Disney. With these too your feet stay dry if you do water rides or sit in the splash zone at SeaWorld, for example.

The ones I have are North Face and I bought them at Bass Pro.

Here's an online link to some that look sort of similar. Mine are older so I'm not seeing the exact match.

http://www.sportchalet.com/product/...uct_listings&gclid=CM-8wuT4iMACFQGPaQodTXQAbw

The practical color, a light grey mean they stay looking good for years. Also, as they are not leather, you can stick them in the wash if you step in "dog poop" or something like that.

 

[polymerpig]

To those of you who mentioned Skechers Go Walks... I can't thank you enough. Literally a week before our trip to Disneyland I had a flareup of a bump on top of my foot. I could barely walk for more than 5 minutes and we were planning 2 14 hour days. Well, between a cortisone shot and Go Walks based on your recommendations, I was able to have a great visit with no more pain than you'd expect from a 14 hour day. It is my first trip to ANY Disney park with zero blisters. I got grey kind of tshirt material shoes... Looked a little like slippers but who cares????

 

[davedmaine]

That's it...I HAVE to get a better pair of shoes for park touring. My feet are killing me in my el cheapo sneakers. With our trip coming up this September I would like a nice LIGHT WEIGHT, mesh pair of sneakers to add to my footwear. ANY recommendations? I also have Croc sandals and flip flops that I really like, but I'd be open to suggestions for sandals or flip flops that are comfortable, light weight, dry quickly and have GREAT arch support. As I sit here right now, my right instep does this intermittent burning stabbing pain thing that makes me want to punch someone.

No offense, but it's just walking. Any decent pair of shoes are fine. You're just walking in Florida, not on the surface of the moon. Don't over think this one..

 

[Jennasis]

No offense, but it's just walking. Any decent pair of shoes are fine. You're just walking in Florida, not on the surface of the moon. Don't over think this one..

It's this line of thinking that has led to my current foot ache problems. You aren't "just walking"...we are just walking about 12 miles a day (we've done the pedometer). You're walking on extremely hot pavement, in extremely hot temps. Wearing the wrong shoe could be detrimental, and has been on past trips. It wasn't until I bought and used a pair of Crocs (on recommendation from these boards years ago) that I discovered I could walk the parks ALL day without feeling like I had beaten my feet with a baseball bat by the end of the day.

I appreciate every suggestion I was given.

 

[NinaBella]

No offense, but it's just walking. Any decent pair of shoes are fine. You're just walking in Florida, not on the surface of the moon. Don't over think this one..

Wrong. I am military and work out almost daily. A couple years ago I was a rope drop till close type of person. Most people in my family struggled to keep up with me. Over the past couple years (just turned 40 3 weeks ago) I have notice that I am no longer a sun-up to sun-down moving non-stop person that I use to be. My feet have started to hurt (and I wear the expensive, fitted at a running store, sneakers). I use to never take breaks, but now I do to get off my fit a bit. It't not just my feet but my back aches as well. I think my feet and back hurt more when I am standing still than when I am walking and/or running.

Good shoes are the first step in the right direction.