Does anyone wear sandals all day on holiday? How will my feet feel?

[SarahBear2000]

Hi,

I'm going on holiday to Spain next month and I am thinking of wearing sandals all the time. I'm not really a sandal girl and on previous holidays I've stuck to pumps or my trusty sneakers. However, I have decided this year I'm going to wear sandals all day on holiday as I've just purchased a pair of birkenstocks. Has anyone else done this? Is it common? What are the physiological benefits?

Thank you!
Sarah

I live somewhere with warm summers (30 - 35°c most days for the last month) and cold winters, and have been wearing hiking sandals to work and out of the house on days off every day for the last month or more (relatively active, hands on job with casual dress code) - at home I go barefoot. My feet feel... exactly the same as in spring and autumn when I wear allbirds running shoes or winter boots.

No reason at all not to wear comfortable, practical sandals all the time - wear them as much as possible for a few days before you go to make sure they suit your feet though.

I never wear sandals at home. Even on the hottest day I have socks and trainers. Partly because I get plantar fascitis, my feet get blistered in sandals plus I wear orthotics.
On holiday in a hot country I take a pair of flip flops for beach and pool but otherwise wear my usual socks and shoes.
It's probably why my luggage is so heavy - walking shoes , two pairs of trainers and two pairs of sandals.

Thanks for your help ❤

I wear Birkies all summer long whether in the UK or abroad. Not everyone finds them comfortable but I do. I hate having my feet enclosed in socks and shoes in warm weather.

I've got havianas the ones with the back on not flip flops.
V comfy.

For all-day wear I vote Merrells.

I've never had to break in Birkenstocks - they must suit my feet (and I need the arch support). I bring arizonas for wandering about the hotel but the ones with back straps (Milano/Rio) for actual walking - I don't like the feel of gripping with my toes.

I love my sandals, I have a pair from Trespass and one from Hotter (not the most stylish but very comfy).
I wear them all the time unless we are sightseeing or walking on uneven ground, not keen on sand or soil between my feet though.

I live in flip flops in the summer or go bare feet. I couldn't bear to wear trainers or similar. I've never had a problem, never even thought about it being a problem to be honest.

I've just come back from Spain only brought sandals. They were FitFlops and extremely comfortable. The be if it is your feet are cooler than if encased in something!

Wearing sandals.

I wear Birkenstocks a lot on holiday but only on days with not too much walking (say up to 10k steps). If I'm going to be walking all day then it's trainers. Even in 35°C plus temps they are fine with trainer socks made out mesh fabric. Sandal straps can start to rub a bit if my feet get sweaty. Also if you are going anywhere where there is sand, grit or gravel it gets into the sandals and is annoying.

I wear Birkenstocks day and night on holiday, however a bit of advice is to wear then here before you go on holiday, they are quite uncomfortable to start with until they have moulded to your feet. For the first few days of sun that I wear them, the soles of my feet are sore but over time I find them really comfortable.

I hate trainers/pumps and don’t wear them anyway. I wear Birkenstocks day and night all summer long.

I love my Birkenstocks. I've have lived in a hot climate for the last 17 years. I also have fat feet. The only thing shoes/ sandals that fit are Birkenstocks.
However I would say that you do need to get used to them if you haven't worn them before. Some people just can't get on with them at all. So do practice or your holiday will be wrecked (along with your feet).

I wear Birkies all the time at home and on holiday but would find them hard work if walking any distance (they are backless ones). I also like fitflops as they have a supportive cushioned sole.

I wear FitFlops. Most sandals are too flat for me to wear for hours on end but FitFlops are like wearing trainers.

I've got 3 different styles of Fitflops, I wear ones called Remi most of the time on holiday. Extremely comfy and pretty much all I wore on a month long trip to Aus

I always wear sandals and flip flops on holidays. Tevas for active days and flip flops for more chilled days.

The only downside is my heels can get quite dry and I need to remember to suncream the top of my feet.

Birkenstocks are a lot stiffer though, agree with recommendations to break them in pre trip.

I hate wearing shoes, especially trainers. I am in sandals from May to October!

Usually leather sandals - these are my current favourite

https://www.moshulu.co.uk/wedged-cork-footbed-sandals-p245

I rarely wear anything except sandals -- I have a pair of nice shoes for weddings and suchlike, and some boots for when there's snow on the ground, but the rest of the time I wear sandals and I've never had a problem. Put suncream on your feet if you're wearing it elsewhere, bug spray your feet in the evenings if you need, and make sure your sandals are suitably supportive, walking sandals are best.

I think it depends what type of holiday activities. I love my birkies but couldn’t wear them all day for more than a stroll, but I could walk a coastal path or similar in my Tevas or similar! If I had to choose just one type for all occasions I’d choose the walking sandal.

I live in a holiday town where the weather is sometimes very warm. I live and die in Birkenstocks, and I walk for a good 3 to 4 hours each day. My feet are always comfortable and although I sometimes think about wearing something smarter, comfort always wins out in the end. Birks Rule!!

I do! I have 3 pairs of DM sandals and between them it’s all I wear all summer.

I'm with others - the first time I put my expensive Birkenstocks on I felt sick, due to the upward pressure on the arch. I decided they were too expensive to waste, and my feet would adapt. Once I'd broken them in, I then lived in B's for the next 8 or so years (including to work - informal dress). So whatever you do, make sure they are comfortable before you go/ take alternatives. Remember that thong sandals can also chew up toe cleavage....