Comfortable shoes

[LauraOD]

One of the places where I am really feeling my age is my feet.

I need comfortable shoes with cushioning and arch support. Even if I try them on in a store I make sure they're returnable and walk around in my house wearing them for at least an hour before I decide if I'm keeping them.

My favorite sneakers are these Hokas

https://dms.deckers.com/hoka/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto/b_rgb:f7f7f9/w_483/v1718056732/1127896-GLLS_1.png?_s=RAABAB0

Then I also like Birkenstocks in the summer and Vionics.

How about you? Any recommendations to share?

[Brendazzle]

One of my friends recommended Merrill, specifically because they had glow-in-the-dark galaxy shoes at half price. They're pretty comfy for all-day walking and I'm someone who is barefoot at home 90% of the time (and therefore unaccustomed to foot prisons.)

I've also been a Reef flip-flop person since a photographer I followed in college told me she wore them to shoot beach weddings. I'm on my fourth pair in 16 years because they hold up well.

[LauraOD]

One of my friends recommended Merrill, specifically because they had glow-in-the-dark galaxy shoes at half price. They're pretty comfy for all-day walking and I'm someone who is barefoot at home 90% of the time (and therefore unaccustomed to foot prisons.)

I've also been a Reef flip-flop person since a photographer I followed in college told me she wore them to shoot beach weddings. I'm on my fourth pair in 16 years because they hold up well.


I forgot about Merrills. I have a pair of Merrill flip flops with really great arch support. They’re about 5 years old and still in good shape. I would replace them with the same thing if still available when the time comes.

[cherrygutz]

I'm a Nike girl, but I can recommend sketchers for driving and walking. Super comfy.

[carrie1977]

I have terrible feet. Super flat. I also live in Birkenstocks during the summer months. I also have a pair of sandals (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ7J4SSG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) that I bought on Amazon that are pretty comfy. I wear them quite often.

For sneakers, I have a pair of Brooks that I usually wear with my orthotics.

[Leablahblah]

I need a wide toe box most of the time otherwise it hurts my protruding bone at the big toe.

I love Dansko but they are pricey! But they have such cute shoes now, not just clogs.

I'd love these or these booties.
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/products/9433781600-PRI.jpg?v=1727901885&width=400
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/products/232780202-PRI.jpg?v=1727902620&width=400


and I already have these two pairs
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/files/9440371600-PRI.jpg?v=1727901819&width=400
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/products/6025105300-PRI.jpg?v=1675907675&width=400

[Kimberly27]

I wear brooks tennis shoes.

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

I'm with Brenda - foot prisons! EXACTLY

I'm barefoot inside the house. I wear flip flops almost 365 days a year. I do have some Crocs that are little flats that are so cute. They have rhinestones on them or patent leather toes. I have a cream colored pair with a black & white dotted ribbon on them. They definitely don't look like Crocs! The flip flops I buy are Yellow Box. They are super comfy AND they usually are blinged out. I'm into wearing what **I** want to wear and I love all the sparkle.

[carrie1977]

I need a wide toe box most of the time otherwise it hurts my protruding bone at the big toe.

I love Dansko but they are pricey! But they have such cute shoes now, not just clogs.

I'd love these or these booties.
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/products/9433781600-PRI.jpg?v=1727901885&width=400
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/products/232780202-PRI.jpg?v=1727902620&width=400


and I already have these two pairs
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/files/9440371600-PRI.jpg?v=1727901819&width=400
https://dansko.com/cdn/shop/products/6025105300-PRI.jpg?v=1675907675&width=400

They do! Before I had my Plantar Fasciitis surgery, I bought some Crocs Clogs. Not as pricey as Dansko but they did the job.

[Brendazzle]

I'm with Brenda - foot prisons! EXACTLY

I'm barefoot inside the house. I wear flip flops almost 365 days a year. I do have some Crocs that are little flats that are so cute. They have rhinestones on them or patent leather toes. I have a cream colored pair with a black & white dotted ribbon on them. They definitely don't look like Crocs! The flip flops I buy are Yellow Box. They are super comfy AND they usually are blinged out. I'm into wearing what **I** want to wear and I love all the sparkle.

On road trips, I'm barefoot in the car and have flip flops in the foot-well. My mom used to keep old, ratty sneakers in her trunk for me to grab real quick if I saw a photo op that wasn't flip flop safe.

We were doing the drive-thru trail at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in March - so I was barefoot and happy - and stopped at the trailhead for the Wild Bird Trail. I ended up walking 1/4 mi each way in flip flops to photograph my beloved roseates because I was not digging through the trunk for closed-toed shoes. I don't think I would have done it in cheap flip flops (remember when the $1 Old Navy ones were everyone's favorites?) but my Reefs were great. And luckily, the actual trail wasn't muddy!

[Cheryl Ashcraft]

On road trips, I'm barefoot in the car and have flip flops in the foot-well. My mom used to keep old, ratty sneakers in her trunk for me to grab real quick if I saw a photo op that wasn't flip flop safe.

That's so thoughtful of your mom! I'm gonna have to try those Reefs as I'd like to walk around our property, and the Yellow Box flip flops are just not up to that kind of abuse. I mean, the property is cleared, but I just know I'm gonna turn an ankle. :D

[LauraOD]

Some great suggestions here. I have worn Brooks and Nikes before. Sketchers I should try, they’ve been around forever. Leah those Danskos are so pretty - love the 2nd and 4th pairs.

I also have spare shoes in the trunk - for, I don’t even know what lol!

[KristinCB]

I keep reading this post title as comfortable SHOWS and not shoes ( i think because of the other TV show posts that have been made today/this weekend.. LOL!

I like asics but am thinking about trying out new balance for my next pair.

I also hate shoes and would prefer to be barefoot or sandals as much as possible (which isn't always fun when you live where it snows for 5+ months out of the year)

[nesser1981]

I'm so weird about shoes, so many years in combat boots I'm so funny about what I wear. I feel like everything hurts my heels, or squeezes my toes.

I tried hokas, and they hurt my feet so bad.

I do like Skechers, my Birkenstocks are my favorites, honestly I wear sandals until it gets too cold to stand it. I do have a pair of reef flip flops I love.

For actual shoes, I like hey dudes, but I have started getting more of the skechers bob brand, they looks similar, but they have more structure I feel like, they don't rub my feet, I wear them to work instead of dress shoes, or I like their go walk boat shoes too. I rotate between like 6 pairs of those, I'm on my feet, I think I could find something a little more supportive, hey dudes aren't great for support, or a ton of walking, so if I know I'm doing a lot of standing or walking, I do the skechers.

[rach3975]

I'm a teacher and on my feet all day, plus I have high arches and get plantar fasciitis if I'm not careful about what I wear. From late spring through early fall I'm in Birkenstocks, Chacos, and 1 pair of Vionics that work for me (a lot of Vionics don't). When I have to give in and switch to sneakers, I have a pair of ON Cloudswift ADs (which are sort of like Hoka's main competition, from what I've heard) and Brooks Adrenaline 22's. I like both pairs of sneakers, but I think I'm going to have to put high arch inserts in one or both because their arches aren't as high as my sandals.

[Memaw2Wm]

I don't think I would have done it in cheap flip flops (remember when the $1 Old Navy ones were everyone's favorites?)

I still love/wear Old Navy flip flops, although they are more like $5 nowadays unless you catch them on sale.

They are likely horrible for my ankles and knees, but my feet love them. Same with the Hey Dudes I love ... no support, but soooo comfy.

I also have a pair of New Balance tennies, but they are not as comfy as my flip flops or Hey Dudes.

[LJSDesigns]

I wear sketchers for sneakers and for regulars shoes, I tend to like Clarks best. I like shoes, but finding comfortable ones are really hard for me because I have a bone spur wrapped around my achilles on my right foot and most backs send me through the roof. I haven't wanted to have surgery on it because they would have to detatch and reattach my achilles and that is pretty major. So I just wear slides, sandals and mules just about all year round. And it snow where I live. LOL

[KristinCB]

I have been wanting to try hokas but am scared to drop so much $ on shoes. I wear asics for my walking shoes and so I always just get those when in need of new shoes.

I will say for me, socks are just as important as good shoes or I get blisters. I really like saucony socks.

[Robin Carlton]

Old thread necro'd by spam... fyi <3

[SweetChar]

Old thread necro'd by spam... fyi <3

True, I noticed that earlier, but it's always nice to talk about comfy shoes. lol

Actually, I must have only stalked this thread last year.
But, because of it, I bought these: Skechers Women's Bobs B Cute Shoe (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PDXK2P6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1&psc=1) :thumbup: They're my "around town" shoes. Fancy, huh? :)

[StacyLynn]

I had terrible feet... years of plantar fasciitis, heel spurs... I spent year in boots, and getting all kinds of treatments that never helped.. including the custom insurance does not cover $400 in soles....

Due to all of that I wear Vionics most of the time. I actually used to only wear them, and if my shoes were not Vionics, I had the Vionic insoles in my shoes. I still wear them most of the time, like I love my New Balance sneakers and Hey Dudes but they all have the Vionic in soles in them. I have Vionic flip flops, slippers, dress boots, etc. But by wearing only those for so many years, I have healed my feet enough that I can finally wear other shoes like my cowgirl boots (and I LOVE my new ones from Ariat!) and Sketchers.

[YepBrook]

I had plantar fasciitis very bad and despite my podiatrist suggesting very cushioned shoes like Hoka, oofos, and vionic it just got worse and worse. After some research I discovered I didn't need SOFTER shoes I needed harder ones. Shoes where my foot was not moving very much at all and was very supported. Birkenstocks healed my feet. It hurt SO bad at first but I stuck with it and wore them all the time even in the house. PF was gone.

On that note, I've gone back to wearing sneakers occasionally but since I live in Florida I wear Birks pretty much year round. For sneakers my feet are ok with sometimes wearing Brooks and Adidas (grand court style mostly). But then I go back to Birks to make sure my feet stay happy. I wear Boston clogs when my feet need something warmer.