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Show me your comfortable shoes

kellygirl

Veteran

My feet are getting fussier with age. These days, I'm more willing than ever to sacrifice style for comfort. I know everyone's foot is different and has unique needs but I'd love to see your comfortable all day shoes that aren't boots. I rarely have tired/sore feet in the fall and winter but these days, I just can't wait to kick my shoes off when I get home. Some of my most comfortable sandals (Miz Mooz and Clarks, I'm looking at you) aren't cutting the mustard anymore. They are fine for events and days where I'm not walking around too much but that's it. So YLF'rs, show me your shoes, please I'll start:
Photo1: The good guys (Naots, Clark's Indigo, Dansko)
Photo 2: The not so good guys (Miz Mooz, Clarks Artisan, Sofft.)

ETA:

Photo 3: Potential black sandal candidates--Fly London, Born and VC. (I tried the Eliana look-a-like at DWS and wasn't convinced they were all day shoes for me. I wonder if the real thing feels different? )

Looking forward to hearing your faves! Thanks.

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Børn 'Yana' Sandal

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41 replies

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Diana

Veteran

I love Naots! (As you know). I have 7 pairs - 5 sandals and 2 boots. Unfortunately their non boot or sandal shoes don't work for me - too much volume in the instep/heel. The narrower lasts work best for me.

Born also works well for me. The Arletta oxfords are my favorites and I have 2 pairs. They are both dying though. I need to start trolling eBay for dead stock. I also have a pair of higher heeled oxfords and some sandals. The one thing that annoys me about born is their stupid footbed stitching. I have princess feet and don't like any texture underfoot. However this can be fixed with a foam insole or summer soles so it's ok.

I also love my Blondo vitalia boots. I bought them this winter out of desperation bc I really needed a pair of winter worthy tall black boots, but they turned out to be one of my most comfortable pairs. I'll definitely check out some of their other styles in the future.

My fly London gladiators have super soft leather and are pretty comfy although the sole is a bit too thin.

As for things that don't work as well? Danskos tend to be too high volume and stiff so my foot slides around. Converse and similar styles with super flat, non contoured soles are awful for me. I like my docs but in reality they are too wide and deep as well as weighing a ton, so I try to limit them to less-walking days.

kellygirl

Veteran

Thanks for chiming in, Diana. I have the gold Arlettas too. I love them except that I can't find a comfortable sock to wear with them and reserve them for low mileage days because well, I just feel eww in an oxford with out socks. The footbed stitching drives me nuts too. That's basically what bothers me on the MM and the red patent Softs. They start irritating my feet after awhile. My Cons are comfortable too but I feel kind of weird wearing them except on super casual days (kind of funny, coming from me, eh?) Like you, my Docs are heavy. I really only wear them in early spring, fall and winter. Too hot for summer. I'm so glad you introduced me to Naot. I really love my Oregons and Origamis!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Most of my sandals are pretty darn comfortable. I have a very high arch, and have heard others complain that flats hurt, but I don't find that to be the case. Of course, my Birks are comfortable and so are my slip on Roxy's. What else? The Madden Twynkle studded hi tops, my Jessica Simpson Cenbo zipper flats are pretty good, too. The Dr Scholl's flats were great, but not my style.

Diana

Veteran

Try these for the footbed stitching in sandals.
http://www.summersoles.com/shop-womens-suede.html

JAileen

Veteran

I have those exact Born toe ring sandals. The cushioning under the sole is good, but the toe ring itself is kind of tiring. I think they're really cute though. I just got Bernardo Mavericks in black and saddle. Although they have a toe ring, they aren't as tiring, maybe due to the heel strap, but they have zero cushioning. I also have two pairs of Birkenstock Arizonas. Again, zero cushioning. Probably my most comfortable aren't very stylish. They're Tevas, called Tirra. I also have a couple of pairs of Kork Ease sandals. One has a huge wedge (Ava, I think) but the other one is lower and is pretty comfortable. It's called Myrna.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I just bought these Nikes for walks, and to wear going to and from yoga (yoga is barefoot so I don't wear them for yoga). I am saving my feet as much as I can so that I CAN wear fashionable shoes when it counts. I have to loose the battle and win the war.

Nike Air Max Cage

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kellygirl

Veteran

Thanks, JAileen! I had a silver pair of toe ting sandals very similar to the ones you show in 1. I wore them out. They had a back strap too--that could make a difference in terms of comfort. Thanks for bringing that up. I hadn't considered that when I was looking at the Borns. I liked that their shoes tend to fit my feet and that it didn't look like it had the typical stitching on the soles--not to mention they were an Angie pick!

I had Birkenstocks ages ago but I never found them all that comfortable and they are too similar to my Naots anyway. My wedge Clarks have been a workhorse. In fact, I tried a pair of Kork Ease very similar to the ones you pictured. I thought they were nice but too similar to my Clarks--but now that the Clarks aren't as comfy, I may re-vist them.

kellygirl

Veteran

Those are so fun in citron, Angie! Not sure I could pull those off though

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I've had a lot of luck with Reiker sandals. Have you tried Rockports? or Ecco's? Also very good all-day shoes.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Well as you know from my post, I'm a new convert to the comfort of Mephisto for sure, and I believe the Clarks will be great as well. I've had Clarks in the past and they fit my foot quite well. I've also had great luck with Naot, Fluevog, and Aerosoles.

BTW the lady at the shoe store last night said Ecco is an other great brand for someone with high volume, bunion, narrow-heeled feet. I haven't tried any on yet though.

I guess you and I are officially in the Fussy Feet Club Kelly

Glory

Veteran

I agree on the move towards more comfortable shoes. I just purged a few and plan to be very strict with my remaining footwear. I have only kept 2 heels to be worn when absolutely needed.

For summer I have purchased the Clark in pic 1 which has quite a low heel. I am considering 2 - ecco, and 3 - birkenstock. I have tried both 2 & 3 but am hoping for a sale.

When I purchased the Clark there were some ladies recommending the FitFlop. I didn't try it but they said it was very comfortable.

Shannon - PSA that The Bay has loads of Clarks on sale at the moment.

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Lisa

Veteran

I have found the walking company has really comfy shoes and more styles than just Dansko. The stores are hit or miss for selection but online they have quite a bit to pick from. My favorite brand for summer casual footwear right now is Taos. I've had these Taos Gift flip flops since my foot surgery and years later they are still going strong.

Anonymous

I'm in old comfortable shoes below from Naturalizer that I refreshed with some store-bought orthotics. For closed shoes, orthotics can do a lot depending on your issues. I like Naturalizer for regular shoes because they carry narrow widths.
Like Angie I am trying to do my everyday walking in good supportive shoes so my feet can be ok when I want to focus on style more. Picking my battles!
I did also just get some running shoes from Brooks last Saturday, the 'Transcend' with additional orthotics so I can keep plantar fasciitis at bay and have a better gait to avoid joint problems. Why yes, I am middle-age!

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cciele

Veteran

Ah, totally with you on this one Kelly; as you know, having been a recipient of some of my shoes -- speaking of which, maybe I should give you my Doc Monas (the sandal version of the Marcies).

Anyhow, one of the comfiest pairs of sandals I've worn are Mephisto Helens (I think greyscale has these). So sad I can't wear them anymore, because of the backstrap issue.

Another pair is the Ecco Bouillon t-strap that was an Angie pick (I think). Inge recommended it to me for a Vegas trip and I was able to walk all day all over Vegas in the summer wearing these.

Surprisingly, I find the Okalas extremely comfortable. Was able to dance the night away in them. Probably because they are so light and well-balanced!

For a fashion sneaker, I wear bright pink Tigers.

Good luck on your search!

P.S. Angie, those sneaks are perfect for you!

Marmee

Veteran

I'm out and about, but here's a quick picture. Franco Sarto slip on oxfords. They have some cush to them, which makes them comfortable to my fussy thin foot pads. The edges were stiff when I first wore them, but are starting to soften after a few outings.

I look at the rest of my slim collection this afternoon and get back to you.

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Greyscale

Veteran

Yup, I love my Mephisto Helens. They provide a ton of support for my very high arches. I never worried about arch support until I sprained my foot from too much demi-pointe dance stuff, so now I try to give my feet a break sometimes. (One note, though - the footbed is pretty hard. I know Birkenstock makes a "soft footprint" variant of their classic sandals, but Mephisto doesn't as far as I know.)

These Naots are also great, for narrower feet than mine:
http://www.planetshoes.com/ite.....a/1204/rk7

Arcopedico shoes also get rave reviews. Luckily they fit into my style without looking frumpy - somehow they manage to look even a tiny bit edgy in black with avant garde layers. I have boots but I almost got these also.
http://www.zappos.com/arcopedico-vitoria-black-red

Greyscale

Veteran

Oh! And, since I just got email from them - Tsubo shoes are amazing.

jackiec

Veteran

Here are a few of my favs - disregard the Born boots since you said to exclude boots (just noticed that!). Last year I picked up these Trotter sandals, and they are BY FAR my most comfy shoes ever. I was worried that they bordered on frumpy, but I think they look ok. These sandals have walked me all over Paris, all over San Francisco, and all over town here in the summer. They are the only sandals (correction - only shoes) that have taken me through travels, walking, and at the end of the day I do NOT have sore, tired feet. That says a LOT. I think they are winners b/c the front strap is quite wide (to accommodate my feet as they widen and swell after a long day), they have lots of support on the bottom, and the bands across the top are elastic to keep things snug (no rubbing), yet giving. I can't find them online so maybe they are an older model (I picked them up at a Rack type place for comfort shoes). My next best favs are the Camper Rights.

http://www.camper.com/en_CA/wo.....-21735-008

I picked up the black pair last summer in Paris and practically lived in them all summer here. I loved them so much that when I saw the neutral/silver/taupey pair come up on ShoeMe on deep deep discount last month ($38), I snapped them up in a heartbeat. They are super super comfy. The common factor, it seems, is the supportive footbed and the elastic on the tops.

In the photo the footbed looks absolutely filthy on my Trotters. Sorry about that - it speaks to how far they've been. Tried a foot shot but my pup kept licking my foot (excuse the hacked up feet in need of tidying). Bonus shot of me wearing them in Paris at the market.

Hope that helps. I love these threads and learn so much. Comfort is key!!!

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jackiec

Veteran

Here's a shot of me wearing the black Camper Rights as well, if that helps.

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kellygirl

Veteran

Thanks, Mo. A high arch sure seems to make a difference in what is comfortable. My arches are very average--neither high or low. I’ve often thought high heels are for the higher arched because I really can’t even walk in them. I don’t find ballet flats very comfortable either though--but that’s because of a narrow heel.

@ElizabethP: Thanks for the recommendations. I have a pair of Rockport boots that are comfortable. For some reason, I seem to think Ecco ran narrow like Puma. I will have to look at those again and also Reiker.

@Shannon: So are the Clarks keepers? I haven’t tried Aerosoles in years. I think Fluevog are cool but don’t really fit my aesthetic. I will definitely have to look at Ecco again now that several of you have recommended them. I think I associate them with golf shoes (DH) and I just assume they are ugh-ly.

@Glory: Me too. I just purged a several pair that were not that comfy and looked kind of dated. I’m definitely going for PPP when it comes to sandals from now on. I willing to pay more for one great pair than for a several mediocre. I lived in the FitFlop gladiators I got after my injury but I am definitely sick of them. I haven’t seen anything else from them that I have liked. They are super comfy though. Your Clark in photo 1 looks like a black version of my Dansko. I love it.

@Lisa: Thanks. I will check them out. I love those Taos flip flops. I will have to give those a try.

@Floradora: I hear you. I find Naturalizer runs a little narrow for me. I usually go up a 1/2 size in their shoes. Thanks!

@Cathy: I will take a look at those Boullions. They are very cute and must be comfy if you can do Vegas in those! I am pretty amazed with the Okalas too. I originally bought them to have on hand as my dressy pump since I have nothing in that category but I can see wearing these with BF jeans too. They are super comfy considering that teeny tiny heel. I wouldn’t wear them for an all day event but they are totally wearable for an evening out!

@Marmee: Those FS are so cute!. Are your feet pretty average? I think mine are on the wider side of average. I haven’t had much luck with that brand in the past but am willing to try again.

@Greyscale: Love those Naots. I’m not sure about the Arcopedico line--will have to check them out. I’m not sure they fit my style. Thanks for chiming in on the Mephistos too! I have had good luck with Tsubos too but I haven’t seen much lately that I have liked. Will have to keep checking!

kellygirl

Veteran

Thanks, Jackiec. We cross posted! I’ve never heard of Trotters but will definitely look for them. I like that they have a leather strap in the front and elasticated band in the middle. I tried a pair of shoes that was all elastic and it seemed way too stretchy. Your shoes look like they would keep a foot more secure. Will also look at the Camper Rights . I love the simple design. It sure doesn’t look like there is much to them.

IKWYM about the foot prints. I’m always embarrassed with those light footbeds. Thanks for sharing

MRL

Veteran

I am in love with Cole Hahn shoes. Bought a pair of Air Tali ballet flats last year and then a pair of patent leather loafers and they are the most comfortable shoes that I own by far!

Greyscale

Veteran

Yeah, I think the Arcopedicos are definitely over the line into "medically necessary orthotic shoes" but for that category, they're quite nice. I only wore mine while my sprain was heeling, and now I almost never reach for them.

I came across these very nice Trotters pumps last year that seemed amazingly comfortable for the style, if anyone needs classic low heels. I just tried them on in the store, though.
http://www.zappos.com/trotters.....id-leather
They were "Trotters signature" and nicer and more comfortable than the other Trotters shoes.

Jules

Veteran

Naot's Avant Garde footbed is an all day walking shoe for me, with a very stable heel on which I have yet to turn my ankle (which I have in many another shoe).
http://www.zappos.com/naot-avant-garde

Echo

Veteran

I have many pairs of Birkenstocks, which are really comfy on my feet, but I recently ordered these Melissa shoes. They are glorified jelly shoes, but somehow they don't look as bad as jelly shoes and they don't leave my feet all sweaty. They're so comfy I have been wearing them all the time!

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kellygirl

Veteran

Thanks, Jules! I am glad to hear the avant garde footbed is comfortable. I had ruled them out thinking they would not be comfy enough. There are a couple styles that I like and may give them a try!

kellygirl

Veteran

Echo, those are so cute! I've never heard or seen those before. Here I was thinking all leather for me was the only option! Thanks!

Echo

Veteran

Although you don't want Birks, as they would duplicate a style you already have, if you ever have a chance to try Birkenstock's soft footbed you might want to see how it feels. For many people who don't see what the fuss is about with the regular Birkenstock footbed, the soft version is 100% comfortable and supportive right out of the box.

And J-41 shoes are extraordinary in terms of comfort and support, too.

Day Vies

Veteran

My crocs win hands down but they are also cuter than the average pair.

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