My toes are snowflakes. All ten of them.

June 13, 2017 6:58 PM

I'm going on a trip to Europe from late September through late October. I'm having a hard time finding my dream shoes. Comfort is a #1 priority but I can only bring two pairs, and they must match my Halle pants and possibly a long black skirt.

Weather will be low 40's to mid 50's most places, with one short trip to Switzerland which will be much colder. The choice of pants is purely functional - I need quick-dry clothing that looks decent, and the Halle pants fit the bill. I'm a little iffy on the long black skirt, but it's quick dry and it goes with everything, right? I'm also not the trendiest person on the planet, but want to look cute and not fuss over my shoes.

In order of priority, I'm on the hunt for shoes that have..

• 1-2" heel at the most (I have terrible bunions)
• Availability in wide width
• Good arch support or removable insole (my feet prefer the latter)
• Closed toed (i.e. a boot)
• Lightweight sole (if possible)

Shoes that come close but don't work are:

• Merrell Veranda Tie Shoe
  • Sole is awesome, but the upper part digs into my ankles after a while.
  • Not sure if I could do a heel for all-day wear.
• Allegria Ivy boots
  • Again, heel.
• They worked for a while, but are just a bit too narrow and don't fit quite right.

Brands that have worked in the past:

• Clark's
• Aravon
• Abeo (by The Walking Company)
• I love The Walking Company's Abby (widely known as the Holy Grail of comfort and style), but for some reason they tore my feet up on a 2-mile walk. I put moleskin on insides where the strap seams rubbed my feet, but it's a bit too cold to wear them.

TL; DR: I'm taking a long trip with lots of walking. Help me find skirt-and-pants friendly shoes with good arch support for my bunion-ridden, snowflaky feet.

TIA!

posted by onecircleaday to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

I took my Propet maryjanes to France three times and walked an average of ten miles a day every time. Those fuckers SAVED MY LIFE. They're light and comfortable and wear like iron and never pinch or feel bad in any way. I fully acknowledge that they're ugly as sin. They're also amazing travel shoes.
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:21 PM on June 13, 2017

Have you heard of the treasure trove that is Barking Dog Shoes? In addition to their in-depth reviews and video demos, they even have an entire category devoted to "Best Shoes for Bunions"!
posted by oxisos at 8:27 PM on June 13, 2017 [2 favorites]

I just got these clarks; they are nicer looking in person, and are crazy comfy. lots of arch support, removable insole, the sole is all very springy.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 10:46 PM on June 13, 2017

Have you tried Camper?
They are extremely comfortable and come in a multitude of styles
posted by mumimor at 1:52 AM on June 14, 2017

I live in my Crocs Kadee flats. They're made from the same foam stuff that regular Crocs are, which makes them incredibly comfortable, but they don't *look* like Crocs. They have great arch support (though not removable insoles) and with the help of a hair dryer you can change the shape to fit your feet if they don't fit perfectly out of the box. I wear them to work at a standing desk all day (with both jeans and with nice dresses), for my walking commute as long as there's not a lot of snow on the ground (they're surprisingly warm), and for any walking situation where I don't need sneakers - including 12-hour, 16-mile days at Disney World. The relatively low cost for dressy shoes is a bonus. (I'd recommend ordering from Amazon or Zappos or anywhere other than the Crocs site, though - IME, Crocs is awful in the returns/customer support areas.)
posted by okayokayigive at 5:37 AM on June 14, 2017

Check out Keens (the shoes and sandals, but not the sneakers); they're not very pretty, but I've walked 20 miles in them in a single day in perfect comfort.
posted by TwoStride at 7:50 AM on June 14, 2017 [2 favorites]

I wore these ecco ankle boots every day on a six week vacation in similar temperatures, and currently I walk about six miles in them every day. They're so comfortable and adaptable I'm thinking of getting a second pair.

I only take two pairs of shoes on vacation too, and my second pair is usually this pair of Clarks slip-ons, which are the most comfortable shoes I have every met (I am now on my second pair). They're not suitable for intensive walking, but they make a nice change from the boots for relaxing indoors.

They're both very lightweight.
posted by kelper at 8:20 AM on June 14, 2017

I'm a huge fan of Born Shoes. I have bunion-like feet as well and do best in a low stacked heel. I got into this brand when I put on a pair of their sandals, and had the magic sensation of them being as comfortable from the moment I tried them on, as many shoes are after being well-broken in. Subsequent Born purchases have not changed that impression. They're very well made and last a really long time. I brought my two pairs of Born ankle boots to Ireland in mid-October and walked all over creation with no issues. I'm honestly hesitant to buy non-Born shoes anymore because this brand works so well.

You can find Borns occasionally at DSW, plus Amazon, Zappos, and of course, their site.
posted by Autumnheart at 1:09 PM on June 14, 2017

I will note that I live in Minnesota, and Borns have very good soles to wear in snow and ice, and the pairs of boots that I own, though not labeled as such, have been quite resistant to water. If I step in a puddle, my feet don't get wet.
posted by Autumnheart at 1:12 PM on June 14, 2017