Tags
comfortable flats, comfortable shoes for walking, comfortable stylish walking shoes, Crocs, hush puppies, shoes, shoes for walking, sketchers, supportive flats, walking shoes
Amy’s gorgeous mum has sent us the following question:
Good morning girls, I have a shoe dilemma! Soon I am going on a holiday, there will be an amount of walking…..not hiking or anything extreme, but city walking and exploring. I will likely wear 3/4 pants most of the time and am looking for ideas for comfortable shoes, that don’t look too much like a sport shoe, but that offer some of the comfort. Price is also a consideration…..haven’t got hundreds of dollars to spend. Any ideas, thoughts would be welcomed…many thanks
Firstly thanks for dropping us a line Tina! Secondly that is a really good question and it has made me consider something that I would never normally think about, you’ve pushed me out of my comfort zone.
One word – Crocs
Yes those Crocs… Now don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t be caught dead in the normal ones and neither should you however I recently saw a pair of these when I was walking around a convention and tried them on, I am almost ashamed to say how comfortable they were:
They are like Crocs in that they are durable and made of a material I am pretty sure you can hose off but they are unlike Crocs in that they are not as ugly as f#$k (Sorry for swearing Tina). In fact when I had them on I walked up to a friend who dislikes Crocs as much as me and asked if she liked my flats and she called them cute before she realised they were Crocs, then she said some swears and I had to buy her a coffee to make her forgive me for tricking her into liking Crocs even for a minute, she probably won’t be buying a pair.
There are some other styles out there that you can probably get away with wearing because they essentially look nothing like Crocs:
A wedge heel with a good solid grip on the world you could walk around all day in them with a casual outfit and then wear them with a cute dress at night. I probably wouldn’t get the pink pictured above but the black with a hint of silver looks a lot like a normal pair of black wedges.
You can wear these with jeans or even leggings if you want a sturdier boot. I found these looked very chunky on the shelf but when I tried them on I didn’t mind how they looked with long pants.
A wee little heel which is an attempt to combine fashion and comfort I guess. I found the toe a little rounded for my taste but then I am a fan of the peep or pointy toe.
The great thing about a pair of Crocs is that they hold up to wear and tear like almost no other shoe and in the past I would have said that it was because their sheer ugliness was repelling the scuff marks but these options aren’t so unattractive and to be honest might be a practical solution for a trip when you’ll be walking in multiple types of terrain.
Crocs claim to provide great support for your foot and the prices on the website seem reasonable, there is a chance you could get two pairs for about $100 (orders over $100 get free postage) which is pretty good value.
I’m not 100% sure I’m a convert but I won’t be quite so judgemental about the brand in general from now on and I hope it gives you another option to consider as well.
Amy
HEY MUM!!! 😀
Comfort and style USED to be hard to come by, but in now day and age you can find just about anything to suit your style while still being super comfortable when forced to walk for hours on end. Just ask current Amazing Race Australia Contestant Sarah who has convinced the word that her ‘Hunners’ are extremely suited for a brutal race around the world. Someone should have probably told her that a decent bra was smart too, but hey, whateves.
Sketchers are my favourite shoe makers at the moment when it comes to making sure you are at ease on your feet but still looking cool. If you know you are going to be walking LOTS try and avoid straps across the foot in order to steer clear of a foot that looks like a string ham by the end of the day.
Here are some of my favourite options from the sketchers webpage
All of the above shoes could easily translate into the average woman’s wardrobe quite easily and trick viewers into think they are just wearing your average ballet flats. Cool, if you ask me.
If you’re not a fan of the sketchers above because they are still a little too ‘sporty’, check out Hush Puppies kickin range (pun intended)! Sleek and stylish with the added comfort of freaking awesome cushioning to make sure you feel like you’re walking on clouds all day!
Check out the websites for these pages to find stockists (although Myer is usually a good place to start). Dont forget to wear all shoes in for a couple of weeks around the house before embarking on your big trip, blister are inevitable on new shoes and you don’t want to spend the first day of your trip resting your feet in a warm bath… Or do you? Hmmm.
So fashion lovers, what’s your go to comfortable shoe?
Love you Mum! Cant wait for yours and Dads trip to visit me! 😀
Lots of Love, Amy xo
Caitlyn
Hi Tina!
Thank you for writing in about comfortable yet stylish shoes for general walking around during the day.
Unfortunately the price of comfort can be an expensive one but I’m hoping the suggestions we come up with today are in your budget range and more importantly stylish enough for you!
I have generally sacrificed comfort and quality in the effort to spend as little as I can on shoes. This will not be the case for me anymore. I spent way too many years continually buying cheap flats for everyday wear.
I’m just going to come out and say it… I LOVE Ecco shoes!! My current Ecco shoes are by far the best pair of shoes I have ever own and still going strong. I think I might actually get a whole year out of them before they start falling to pieces.
The only reason why I bought these Ecco flats was because they were on sale and sadly I would not have bought them if they weren’t. The flats seem to be about $200 a pair which is a lot of money but if you’re lucky enough to get them on sale you can pick them up for around $129! Very fair price for comfortable, stylish, beautifully made shoes and so far it’s been 7 months going strong. That equals around $19 a month and I would be spending just as much on cheap shoes.
So here are some suggestions.
– Look for something with a thicker sole. I believe this will help with ‘shock’ absorption while walking.
– Definitely try and find some flat shoes with arch support for walking
– Allow yourself time to get used to your new shoes. Nothing worse then having your outing ruined by horrible blisters.
– If you get leather flats I would suggest to waterproof them simply because it will protect them further against water damage. Who knows what mother nature has in store for you!
Once again I hope our suggestion help today and have a wonderful time on your holiday. Hug your beautiful daughter for me, I miss her!
Caitlyn
ABCs of Style. 
Great posts! Flats are usually the best footwear for walking, because they are comfy, but yes it is important first to get used to the new shoes.
Thanks so much girls, I knew you would all have good ideas for me. I am inspired now to look at some websites and venture into the shops armed with good advice! I am looking forward to our trip…our first without children in tow……but certainly don’t want to be worrying about sore feet. Thanks again, keep up the good work, love reading this blog very much and happily share with my friends who have only ever had good feedback. xxx
I’m a school teacher with wide feet. Crocs often fit this need. I only wear Crocs super light looking sandals, though. Our Central California summers get just as hot as summer in Adelaide, so keeping cool while having great comfort is important.And yes, crocs last a long time, basing my opinion on lots of little ones stepping on top of my feet/shoes. I have 1 pair of the traditional ugly crocs, which I use in the backyard ONLY.
Naturalizer seems to have wide enough shoes for me, but they are more costly.
I like the looks of the Sketchers. Do they come in wide widths?
You ladies gathered some great suggestions for Tina.
Thanks Pam!
I have wide feet too and I found the Crocs super comfy.
I don’t do well in flats, I need a bit of a heel, and if possible to also fit in my orthotics, unless the shoes already have really good support & cushioning.
My walking shoes of choice are MBTs – they are not cheap, and may be out of Tina’s budget, but I think they are well worth it. Mine are black leather mary janes with buckle strap (so they are adjustable), they don’t look sporty and I can even get away with wearing them to work (conservative corporate office).
So far I have had them for 3 years and they are still going strong. I can walk all day in them (and have done many, many times), they go well with jeans, pants and even some skirts, and they are so well structured that I can wear them without my orthotics and not get sore even after a couple of weeks, whereas in other shoes without my orthotics I usually only last about 2 days.
They cost me about $280, but on a cost-per-wear basis it would be mere cents per wear, I practically live in them, and they are still looking good.
Definitely recommended!
They sound awesome, thanks for telling us about them, I’ll have to do some research.
I love Hush Puppies shoes! This style is my go-to shoe for work, and I’m on to my second pair of them. Since my baby was born, I want to be comfortable when I’m out and about with him, so I still wear them a lot even though I’m not working. I used to work in a public library so spent a lot of time on my feet helping visitors, re-shelving books, and lending or returning items. I find this shoe pinches my little toe quite badly as I’m breaking them in, but once the leather stretches they are ridiculously comfortable. Maybe they’re not the most attractive… both my grandmothers have admired them when they see me wearing them… but they are neat and comfortable so I don’t care!
I agree Loller, sometimes I spend 5 or more hours a day on my feet doing training sessions and I tend to go with good quality leather flats or low heeled wedges.
Hi Girls,
loved this post for comfortable shoes. I currently own numerous pairs of Crocs for wear around home, beach, etc and absolutely LOVE them. They are exceptionally comfortable and durable; plus they are so easy to clean. One thing that I learnt is never to leave them outside in a very hot day as they can curl; but I think the manufacturers have done something about this, plus put a warning on the label now! I’m going o’seas very soon and was only planning on sightseeing in my Brooks Ariels; now I think that I’m going to go get myself a pair of ‘stylish’ Crocs.
Thanks for the amazing info.
Tam xxx
ps – we all miss you gorgeous Amy, especially Bunky xxx
Glad the post was helpful!!! 😀 I miss my Bunky too!!! Big hugs and kisses to my little champ!
I ended up buying my other favorites: ‘Colorados’; William’s the Shoeman still sells them even though the clothing side has gone bust (sob 😦 ). I purchased a gorgeous pair of flats called ‘Bobby’ and some all terrain shoes called ‘Abacus’ (both pairs in black). They are sooooo comfy and have lots of support and padding. I also got a bargain as they were on a ‘buy one pair, get the second pair half price’. The pair of Abacus shoes cost $110 (and last years – I have a brown pair from eons ago) and the Bobby’s were already down from $99 to $69.99, so got them for $34.95!
Im very ashamed to say this, but i agree with bec. Last year, whilst shopping in bali, i committed shoe-icide. My shoes had been tortured walking for hrs on the burning pavement and eventually they gave in. 😦 trying to find something comfy, good fit without having to wear them in, and still looking stylish, i happened on the crocs store. I found a pink/purple pair, similiar to those bec pictured, and i have to say, they were soooo comfy!! Dont get me wrong, the original pair WILL NEVER ENTER my house, but i may be an occasional crocs convert (when travelling, anyway)
Haha yeah I saw some yesterday as well and to be honest thought about getting a pair just in case life throws a lot of travelling in my general direction.