Slip on athletic shoes for the parks

[lovedisney123]

This may not be the right place, but I have been wearing crocs for years because I like slip on shoes that are not open toed and have no backs to them. I think I would like to try a more athletic type shoe for this next trip (which includes the parks AND the cruise).

Any recommendations? I want black shoes that are comfortable for walking a lot.
Thanks!

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Whatever you choose, wear them for long walks before your trip. Everyone on these boards will scream the praises of sketchers Go Walks. I bought a pair, they were comfortable at first, but after my first long day in the parks my arches were in excruciating pain. I had to buy some emergency dr scholl's arch supports to save the rest of the trip. So just know, whatever people recommend here may not work for you, so be sure to test them out extensively despite any rave reviews you may hear or initial comfort levels.

 

[lovedisney123]

Whatever you choose, wear them for long walks before your trip. Everyone on these boards will scream the praises of sketchers Go Walks. I bought a pair, they were comfortable at first, but after my first long day in the parks my arches were in excruciating pain. I had to buy some emergency dr scholl's arch supports to save the rest of the trip. So just know, whatever people recommend here may not work for you, so be sure to test them out extensively despite any rave reviews you may hear or initial comfort levels.

Good point. I do have high arches. So yes, I will try to break them in first.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

Merrells. Love 'Em. They come in a variety of slip on styles. I highly recommend them.

 

[Gregowa]

I have also always been a big fan of Crocs but I love Clarks Privo line fisherman type sandals too. They are have a sturdy back strap and provide good coverage of my feet and toes. They are also easy to slip on & off. The shoes are like walking on air, they are so comfortable. Best of all, I have never gotten blisters wearing them with all the walking at Disney.

 

[Splashboat]

Everyone on these boards will scream the praises of sketchers Go Walks. I bought a pair, they were comfortable at first, but after my first long day in the parks my arches were in excruciating pain.

I didn't wear them to Disney because I did try mine out for a while before our trip but I find them very uncomfortable the more I wear them. I really like Sketchers so I wanted to like them and was very surprised how uncomfortable they are - glad I'm not alone.

 

[Anal Annie]

Agree with 3 Hobbits - Merrells have lots of slip on styles with good arch support although I don't know if they're as much "athletic" styled as what you may be looking for.

 

[lovedisney123]

Thanks, I will check these out. I really don't care about 'athletic' shoes, but I was wanting something that has a closed toe. I just don't like to wear open toed shoes (which is probably why I liked crocs). Thanks for the suggestions. I will check them out.

 

[kniquy]

Check out Easy Spirit women's traveltime clog. I bought these for a trip to vegas and then also wore them all day every day for our disney trip. We were park commandos that trip and they were amazingly comfortable. They are a slip on with no real heel and are very light. Not too expensive and the come in a bunch of colors.

 

[moericus]

This may not be the right place, but I have been wearing crocs for years because I like slip on shoes that are not open toed and have no backs to them. I think I would like to try a more athletic type shoe for this next trip (which includes the parks AND the cruise).

Any recommendations? I want black shoes that are comfortable for walking a lot.
Thanks!

Crocs in a theme park?!?!? My feet are sore just reading that. You must have super human feet.

Merrells are an awesome shoe brand. Not quite the padding of a basketball-style sneaker but close. I think they're built more for longevity. My last pair must have lasted 10 years. But I'm in my Birks if I'm not on my feet all day and it's above 60.

 

[elaine amj]

I haven't found anything to beat the comfort and support of athletic shoes.

I bought a pair of Skecher Go Walks from Costco after all the rave reviews here. It was a plain black slip on shoe. It felt good and I had no issues with a 30 minute walk. I pushed it on a 1hr 15 min walk and found my arches hurting. It was much better after I added supportive insoles. That said - I was not massively impressed and didn't end up bringing them for my Disney trip. They were still too "sneaker-like" to pair with dresses and skirts and I found they didn't pair any better with my clothes than my regular (more supportive) athletic shoes.

I personally think it all depends on how you walk/move through Disney. I get a little excited and tend to brisk walk through large sections of the park. If you are the type to just stroll through the parks, you might not have as many issues and less supportive shoes should work just fine. I can even wear my Crocs flip flops for a whole day if all I am doing is strolling (and have done so at Universal Studios). But once I throw in a few brisk walks, my feet are done for without supportive athletic shoes.

I was there with my girlfriend (and in my past trip, my teen niece) who both tried trendy canvas shoes (that definitely looked more fashionable!), and by the end of the day, both were complaining about painful feet. Mine (in athletic shoes) were a little foot-weary, but certainly no pain. I was thinking about getting a pair of canvas shoes for the park - but based on that, am reconsidering. Maybe for half days?

 

[Anal Annie]

Check out Easy Spirit women's traveltime clog. I bought these for a trip to vegas and then also wore them all day every day for our disney trip. We were park commandos that trip and they were amazingly comfortable. They are a slip on with no real heel and are very light. Not too expensive and the come in a bunch of colors.

I have had a couple of pairs of these in the past and I do like them a lot. They're very comfy for everyday use running errands or whatever but I don't think they offer as much arch support as Merrells do and are probably not as good for all-day park walking. For a true athletic shoe designed for walking all day in the parks you need a Nike or something similar that ties - a real tennis / walking shoe. The open heeled ones are good for a little break here & there if your feet are swollen or something but I'm a believer in good arch support. I have very narrow, hard-to-fit feet and I pronate pretty badly. If I don't wear shoes or sandals with good arch support my knees kill me from all the walking. It's not just the feet that can hurt. I start limping from the knee pain and my family sometimes has to go on ahead of me. I just got back from 5 n / 6 d down there for F&W and I almost solely wore my Olukai flip flops for the arch support. I wore a pair of Croc sandals 1/2 day and a pair of Nike tennis shoes 1/2 day but nothing felt as good for the all day walking as the Olukai's. My feet were swollen the day I wore the tennis shoes and they felt like my feet were on fire - my toes were throbbing. I will bring a different pair of tennis shoes for our next trip in January. Thinking I might need to spring for another pair of closed Olukai's too.

ETA the Olukai "Pehuea" comes in several colors and has their "drop in heel" (it's designed so that you can push the back heel in to wear it as an open heel design). I think I am going to try to get a pair of these.... https://www.olukai.com/pehuea.html?color=oceans-oceans&gclid=CPur3_3mwc8CFUgmhgodoMgBGA

 

[Splashboat]

The problem I have with those brand name walking shoes/sneakers is that they can be really hot. I have an expensive pair of New Balance which feel very comfortable but my feet and ankles swell after a lot of walking because my feet can breathe.

 

[Anal Annie]

The problem I have with those brand name walking shoes/sneakers is that they can be really hot. I have an expensive pair of New Balance which feel very comfortable but my feet and ankles swell after a lot of walking because my feet can breathe.

The Olukai "Pehuea" I mentioned above are on sale now at LL Bean! They are mesh so that shouldn't be a problem! Just a thought! http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/117471?feat=olukai-SR0&page=women-s-olukai-pehuea-slip-ons

 

[Splashboat]

The Olukai "Pehuea" I mentioned above are on sale now at LL Bean! They are mesh so that shouldn't be a problem! Just a thought! http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/117471?feat=olukai-SR0&page=women-s-olukai-pehuea-slip-ons

Just ordered them in the Trench Blue color. I am desperate to find something I can wear and not get blisters or swollen feet. Thanks

 

[keishashadow]

Crocs tend to form blisters when walking for miles IMO

At the parks, it poured @ MK this afternoon...thank you my Keens! Only brand I can wear in parks without socks and no blisters and my feet don't hurt. This is coming from person who has done her time @ the podiatrist.

The new balance made the trip too, they'll go into rotation tomorrow for Epcot day.

 

[Anal Annie]

Just ordered them in the Trench Blue color. I am desperate to find something I can wear and not get blisters or swollen feet. Thanks

I hope they work for you! I need to run by my orthopedic store & see if they have them in the store so I can try them on before I order them so I can be sure of my size with my goofy narrow foot!!

 

[Splashboat]

I am supposed to get them Monday so I will wear them a bit and report back with my experience. Thanks again.

 

[lovedisney123]

Crocs in a theme park?!?!? My feet are sore just reading that. You must have super human feet.

Merrells are an awesome shoe brand. Not quite the padding of a basketball-style sneaker but close. I think they're built more for longevity. My last pair must have lasted 10 years. But I'm in my Birks if I'm not on my feet all day and it's above 60.

Honestly, we have been to the parks so many times, we only tend to go for about 4 hours. So it isn't an all day thing. But I do wear socks with them. Yes, I am a nerd. LOL BUT I am looking for an upgrade from my crocs

 

[lovedisney123]

Check out Easy Spirit women's traveltime clog. I bought these for a trip to vegas and then also wore them all day every day for our disney trip. We were park commandos that trip and they were amazingly comfortable. They are a slip on with no real heel and are very light. Not too expensive and the come in a bunch of colors.

I like the looks of this one. I like that is comes in black with black soles. I think I will give it a try anyway. If it doesn't feel like it would work for the parks, at least it should be good for slipping on to go to the mail box. My crocs have no tread left on the bottom so I am getting nervous about using them for the mailbox if it is wet on the driveway. So one way or another, these will probably be useful. Thanks!