Here's the kicker. I am going to bring ONE pair of shoes for the entire trip.
The shoes have to be:
1. VERY VERY comfortable
2. Look somewhat decent-- (aka, no skecher shapeups)
On Saturday my husband and I shopped around for a while. Here are some options I am considering. But, I am SO open to any idea or suggestion. I am desperate here. I just want something super comfortable to walk in.
Sperrys
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Toms
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Should I get any of these options? Do any of you have opinions on Toms or Sperrys?
Do you have any other comfortable shoe options?
74 comments:
I heard Toms are comfortable but don't last very long...so if you'll be walking a lot then maybe not those. But I've never had them so I don't really know, it's just what I've heard. Sperrys look like a nice traveling shoe.
I'm currently living in France, near Paris. I bought my Toms back in November and I wear them ALL THE TIME. They're getting a little rough looking, but they're still working great for me. I have pretty flat feet that get tired easily, so I was nervous they wouldn't offer enough support, but that's not the case at all. I've honestly been surprised how well they've held up with how much I wear them. And they're my only pair that don't give me blisters! The only downside to them is that they don't function too great in the rain. When they get soaked it takes a while for them to dry, and when the pavements slippery from the rain the Toms don't seem to have the best traction so you'd have to tread carefully. But other than that they've been the best $50 I've ever spent on a pair of shoes.
The toms look great as well the cream-beige sperrys.
TOMS!!!! So very comfy. :)
Hi! I would recommend the TOMS, the gray ones. I have a gray pair that I have had for almost three years and I wear them when I'm touring and walking a lot...they are extremely comfortable. Tip: I usually wear small socks with them. Good luck finding the right pair of shoes!
Are you going to be literally backpacking or just walking a lot?
How long are you doing to be there?
I would steer clear of TOMS because from other TOMS lovers, they fall apart too quickly. I would go with Sperrys out of the options above.
Maybe look into Dansko shoes? But get them in advance so you can break them in. I think, depending on the type of walk/hiking I was going to do, I would probably get these. One person said they are not great on cobblestone.
Also, check out Clarks. Not many of them are great looking and good for walking...but there might be something.
I wore my Toms all over Italy and France both times I visited, and they were very comfortable. However, they have very little traction on the soles, so you have to be really careful when traipsing around the old stone stairs that have grown slippery with time at various places and cathedrals you may visit. My husband swears by Clarks. If warm enough, my Rainbow flip flops are the most comfortable shoe choice for me - but they don't always work depending on where you're visiting because they're so casual. If it's cooler or if I need to look a bit more put together, I always travel with Dansko clogs - they make them in patent now, and they are super comfy, but don't make you look like a tourist.
a word of advice about sperrys: they take time to break them in. aka your ankles will get cut up and bleed for the first week or so and that is with 'normal' use, not backpacking use.
so if you're doing the sperrys, wear them for a month - at least - before you go. after that, they're amazingly comfortable.
but you have to cry first.
TOMS. I have the grey ones and burgundy ones wear them all the time!!
If you had to choose between the two, I would go with sperrys. TOMS are terrible in rainy weather. I've backpacked across Europe and I would really go with shoes that are practical and comfortable, not necessarily fashionable. I brought tennis shoes and cute flats and I wore the flats the first two days and my feet killed me and wore the tennis shoes the rest of the time. I don't know what kind of bag your bringing but I think you could squeeze TOMS into your bag for dinner or nicer places you may go.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
As your physical therapist, I would vote sperrys bc they have more support for your feet. Oh, and I like the tan color.
I do not like Toms, they are just ugly to me. Sperrys are way more classy, but wear them in first! I like the navy sperrys best! If you are going to wear a lot of jean that will be cute, but if you will be wearing lots of black go with the tan.
Good luck! :)
BridgetteNicole.blogspot.com
I wore my Toms all during my study abroad in England knowing I'd be walking and climbing a ton, and that it would be wet. They were perfect! I loved that I could throw them in the washer if they got gross. However, by the time I got home they were pretty thrashed, so I don't really wear them anymore. They were a great purchase for that trip though. Worth it.
When I went to Europe I brought a comfortable pair of tennis shoes that had already been broken in, and a pair of flip flops. Your feet need good support walking all day and often on uneven surfaces. They'll probably get a little swollen as well.
Also, your shoes are going to get worn/trashed so keep that in mind. If it were me, I'd wear something comfortable I already had and spend the money on a great souveneir. I would go with comfort over style any day (and I love cute shoes)when it comes to traveling.
Oh, and I would also recommend bringing more than 1 pair of shoes if possible, even if it is a thin pair of flip flops you can squeeze in your backpack or some flats that can fold up, because if you do blister or get sore feet it is nice to have a change of shoes!
i love my tom's and walk everywhere in them. They should hold up fine unless your going to be walking around europe for months. One other shoe you might consider is minnetonka moccs in suede with a boat sole. I've had a pink pair for 8 years, just as comfortable as tom's but WAY more durable. The black ones would look great with almost anything and wouldn't get dirty. On another note lots of people seem to be pointing out that your feet would get soaked in the rain if you choose toms, but really your feet will get soaked in the rain in ANY flat. Have fun in europe!
I like the style of TOMS better than the deck shoes, although if you're going to go that route I'd highly suggest checking out Lucha Shoes. They are a similar style, but half the price of Toms and hold up WAY better. luchashoes.com.
xox
I don't know much about sperrys, but I love my toms. I can where them when I need to walk a lot and they are so so comfortable. Love them!
i have both toms and sperrys and love them both, however i would definitely say get the sperrys. they will last years longer than the toms and really are so much more comfortable for walking in. toms are comfortable but after a while it tends to feel like you're walking barefoot, they have absolutely no support and can get a little hard in the sole. i would get a leather pair of sperrys because they will last longer than the canvas ones and are more weather proof! the gold ones are super cute too!
i would also squeeze in a pair of flip flops if you can! i lived in europe for 3 years and did a lot of travelling and wore flip flops a lot while walking...sometimes your feet just need to breathe! most people i saw backpacking though either wore tennis shoes or chacos sandals.
Neither. You have absolutely no real support in either of those shoes, no matter how damn cute they are.
Look at Dansko, Clark, Merril, Eco... I have worn Danskos all over the world and my lower back thanks me every time. Those option above are fine for touristy stuff, but any genuine walking/hiking around the hills of Europe and you're going to regret not having a sturdier footbed and good support.
~tt
I have a pair of Sperrys and I love them! I wear them to work (where I stand for 8 hours on a concrete) and I've taken them with me to amusement parks and have had no problems. They are so comfortable! I agree with some of the other posters though and would suggest brining a second pair of shoes (even if it's a pair of flip flops that you know are comfortable) as your feet will appreciate a change every once and while.
TAN SPERRYS!! Seriously I wear mine everywhere! And the plus side about them being boat shoes is that is if does rain your feet don't get drenched like they would with other types of shoes!
I love my Toms, but they definitely have no traction. I'd hate for you to fall if it's slippery or rainy!
I would agree with try to bring another pair, if only flip flops. I bought Eccos, black leather in 1999 when we went to Europe, love them and still wear them:). I bought a pair of kids Sperrys recently for $25! I can wear kids sizes. They are a royal blue and I put in a good arch support and really like them, but think a leather would be better, these are canvas, and would really recommend Eccos or Merrill's. I just heard Blake Mycoskie speak and do enjoy his message. I have not bought Toms as just not completely sold. My niece is on about pair 7. I did not have that money to spend when I was in college.
Toms don't have much arch support, do they? For me that wouldn't work in a travel shoe, since I tend to walk a lot when I'm on vacation.
go with the tan sperrys. They have the best support, and will match the best with various outfits. :)
punchy-we.blogspot.com
my Toms are amazingly comfortable and have not ever given me blisters. my Sperry's gave me blisters on my heels after a few hours. (i bought them both before my own vacation) I vote Tom's, plus you can kind of get away with wearing them with skirts and dresses too.
neither, haha. neither will have arch support for long walks so i'd go look at Clarks or something. they are known for "old lady shoes" but they actually now have some really nice and cute things! great arch support and foot support in general. maybe those and a pair of toms for short walks? just swap them out! toms are slim enough to just shove in a backpack
oh and PS- i am futuremrsbays on instagram :D
I wore my TOMS all over Scotland. I love them and they're so comfy, however they really don't have good support at all. A few days in my feet and ankles were aching. As great as they are, I wouldn't recommend them for a lot of walking.
those are so adorable, i am partial to toms- cause i like the convenience of slip on- but they are both darling!
I just went to Europe with my sister and she wore Toms the whole time. She loved them! I like the grey ones!
I wore Toms for a week around Paris in March, and they were great. My feet were still sore at the end of a long day of walking, but not any sorer than they've ever been on other European trips in other shoes. I was 20 weeks pregnant when we went, so the fact that they weren't MORE sore than normal was pretty impressive to me.
I highly recommend the Sperry's. You will definitely need to break them in a bit before you go on your trip (you will be miserable if you don't). I don't have a pair of Toms, but from what I've heard Sperry's are sturdier and more durable. They are also better in rain and inclement weather which you will most definitely experience.
I love my sperrys walk in them all the time! Not hiking but lots of walking. I have the tan ones :)
not the toms!! AHH!! believe me, i love me some toms, but those babies will wear right through after not much walking. and walking in Europe? on cobblestones? just gonna speed up the process. the sperry's are pretty cute though, i would definitely say the blue ones though. they won't look dirty as easily either. but on a side note, you're backpacking around Europe? i'm so jealous.
i love both but i think the sperrys are going to be better in terms of sole support
I own and love both but I would definitely say go for the Sperrys. They're much sturdier and hold up much better when I wear them for extended periods.
What's wrong with tennis shoes?
I'm am VERY pro-TOMS. I wouldn't buy them for years (I still think they're ugly), but a friend convinced me I needed a pair for camp. They seriously saved my poor feet! I wear them so much I had to buy another pair of ugly shoes, but my feet are happy, so it's okay.
They both look great, but if you're going to be doing a lot of walking, I wouldn't go with either of them. I'd go more for some Saucony, Adidas or New Balance. Something like that, that is EXTREMELY comfortable and will last a long time! They may not be as fashionable, but in my opinion, neither are sore feet :) You actually can find some pretty decent looking ones though if you look around. Good luck!
Toms, Toms, Toms
I love my pairs I wear them all the time, super comfortable even when you are walking and they look cute with a dress, pants, or shorts. Just get them in a nuetral color.
i don't own toms but i do own sperrys and i can walk anywhere in them. i love the support they give. not sure how supportive toms are, although i have heard they are comfortable.
http://lachapstickfanatique.blogspot.com
I think it depends on what you will be wearing them with. Are you going to be wearing skirts and dresses or or just pants? I think Toms look good with jeans or skirts, but I think Sperrys are the better option.I like my Toms for the most part. They aren't as comfortable as I thought they would be, but I still like them. Tip: When you try on your Toms at the store, wear socks with them to make sure they fit okay. Mine are a little too tight with socks on. They start to smell horrible if you don't wear socks though.
I have both...if you are going to do a ton of walking I say go with the sperry's. They have more support and will wear better in the rain and such!
Have a great trip!
Have you considered a pair of classic grey Van's. Just a thought. enjoy your trip!
And by Van's, I mean Vans. Sheesh.
I'm a huge TOMS fan (like own 12+ pairs). That being said, I've also never owned any Sperry's.
I don't know if I'd suggest either. I'm traveling in the near future, and I'm not sure if my TOMS will be my main shoe for walking around town. I also hate how my TOMS feel when they get wet from rain and puddles, so that would bother me.
I'm surprised no one has suggested Chacos. They are too pricey for me, but I know several people here in Utah who swear by them. (Are they a Utah thing?)
Also, I'm not sure how fashionable they are. But it seems like you guys can make anything look good.
I don't own either so I can't comment on comfort or durability... But as someone from the UK, from a fashion point of view it has to be the Toms.
Those deck shoes are a huge 'no no' here!!
What about converse all stars? Good with jeans/maxi dresses/shorts. I wear mine allll the time!! X
Yeah, I would say neither. TOMS are okay...however it rains a TON in Europe, and as mentioned they don't have very good traction. They don't take that long to dry, but they are uncomfortable when wet. I would HIGHLY suggest bringing more than one pair of shoes. Or pack one pair and then buy another over there.
What about Chacos? They have excellent traction in the rain, and are sandals, so if they get wet, its no problem. You can wear them with skirts and dresses (it takes some getting used to...but they look alright). They have fantastic arch support. The only thing is--they are a little heavy and don't support your knees that well. If you are truly going hiking backpacking, I would invest in some boots!
I love TOMS. Best shoes ever. Plus, they give back to a great cause. You can get basic color TOMs that go with everything (think: black, brown, red) or you can glam it up and get funky ones for special occasions (think: sparkles, paint splats, etc.)
Everyone has been telling me lately that saltwater sandals are the most amazing things ever. I haven't personally worn them, but they look nice and can get wet and people are swearing to me up and down that I will never find a more comfortable shoe. If you want to try them and let me know how that goes that'd be great :)
http://www.madewell.com/AST/Navigation/Sale/AllProducts/PRDOVR~44084/99102739051/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~0~15~all~mode+matchallany~~~~~saltwater/44084.jsp
I would say neither as they do not have great arch support and your feet will ACHE at the end of the day and after a few days it will spread to your knees and ankles. The last thing you want to worry about it sore feet on your trip!
What about some Ecco shoes? They are SO good for support and make some really cute styles like these mary jane style:
http://www.eccousa.com/shoes/womens/casual/vibration-ii-mary-jane/2418/detail.aspx
Great for casual, shorts, pants, skirts, etc but still with lots of support and comfort. They have some flats that are similar as well. I agree that you need to think about them getting wet and how they will fare then. When I was in France for 2 weeks we were wet a LOT. Something to consider.
I also think these Ecco shoes are great, especially for travelling:
http://www.ecco.com/en-XI/Ecco/Explore/Womens%20Collection/802083-05602?i=14
Let us know what you pick!
I had the exact same dilemma last year and ended up taking a pair of navy Keds on my trip to Europe (I hadn't worn Keds since like 1st grade!) and they were fabulous. I liked that they have a better sole than TOMS for support (I think my feet would have died in TOMS after 8-hr days of walking and exploring) but aren't as bulky as something else more structured.
Good luck and have a great trip!
Sperrys! It depends where you're going in Europe. If you're going to Italy, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Switzerland, or Austria, I would say Sperry's. Anywhere else, I would say whatever the heck you want to wear!
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