Shoes The Pros Wear

Recently, we’ve had discussion in our Reader’s Forum about shoes—with one admittedly started by me.

So isn’t it nice that the New York Times has an article today titled Shoes The Pros Wear. In it, they interviewed numerous tour guides in Europe and asked them what they wore.

Comments

[Paula Bag Lass]

Interesting, thank you.
I posted about my Skechers GOWalks on the forum. After clocking up thousands of miles in heavier shoes throughout my years, I've finally clued in that my feet want as nature intended......lightweight shoes.
Why on earth did we slog around with weights on our feet! Thank goodness today's technology allows a greater choice and better comfort.
I do have Birkenstock and Dansko clogs, but I don't wear them for walking, they are more for lessening leg and back strain when standing around for hours. I bought my Dansko clogs after reading that many chefs wear them at work, people on their feet for hours at a time.

[Richard Wanderer]

Interesting that no one mentioned Garmont Zenith Trail GTX. I've worn the brand for 6-7 years and they are comfortable, waterproof (Gore-Tex), and easy to wear whether walking on cobblestones in Europe or back roads in Vietnam. One can buy them at REI stores or via Zappos.

[Alan B]

Be careful of older lightweight shoes with glued construction. My otherwise perfectly appropriate and comfortable Rockport sport oxfords purchased 3003 or perhaps earlier delaminated today....ten time zones away from home. I got back to my hotel only by the grace of packing tape carried and applied by a guide with more than thirty years experience...not counting his prior career as a military frogman! Frank's recent thread about finding a second pair of travel shoes is an important

[Alan B]

2003 of course...sure wish I had brought my Lowa Renegade low top hiking shoes instead! Beyond that, never assume that a hotel sink will have a stopper.....

[Alan B]

Low top light trekking shoes seem to be the popular choice where I am. Merrell Proterra we found for me are prototypic, though the ones we found are a half size small.

[tcl]

For walking cities such as Paris, I bring a small foot kit containing extra orthotics, moleskin, a small bottle of liquid bandage, waterproof bandaids (they work better for blisters than regular bandaids), a small foot file, mini baby powder, nail clippers and packets of betadine wipes. This lesson was learnt the hard way trying to argue with a French pharmacist in Paris who just wouldn't sell me what I needed for my feet. This sounds like a lot of stuff, but it all fits into a Ziplock snack-sized baggie. I decant the baby powder into a small loose powder container bought at a beauty shop.

If you have areas prone to blisters, pretreat the area with liquid bandage. It will reduce the chaffing and will most likely prevent blisters from occurring in the first place. If a blister does form, rinse and wash with a betadine solution made from soaking the betadine wipes in a glass of warm water. Betadine not only disinfects the area, but it also helps dry the wound. Waterproof bandaids adhere better to the area behind the ankles and forms a complete seal around the wound so no dirt or dust (or moisture) can get to it. Blisters heal faster :)

I also wanted to add that I usually love French pharmacists, but the one time I had traveler's feet (where your feet inexplicably swell up and comfortable broken-in shoes suddenly become uncomfortable), I bump into a stubborn one :( This is also why I bring 3 pairs of shoes on any trip that includes one pair shower shoes/flip flops and one pair that will accommodate swollen feet.

[Paula Bag Lass]

My feet and ankles swell on every flight so my shoes have to have a lot of give.
In transit (and the thousand miles we all walk at the large airports) I do prefer to wear my sneakers, but when on the plane my feet prefer being in clogs or slides that can be kicked off easily.
I also pack a few items for my feet. One is a Body Shop peppermint spray......gosh that feels good after a day of schlepping around.

[Fun Travel]

A good brand of wide width shoe that can accomodate traveler's feet and look decent in most but the most formal circumstances will be welcomed.

It would help if it was available in retail stores in the U.S.