That's it, I wore (supposedly comfy, correct-sized) new sandals for 10 mins today and my feet are shredded ...

[Steamedcabbage]

I'm sick and tired of constantly having to strap them up and mince around painfully in the summer.

What in heaven's name does everyone wear on their stumps in this heat?

I'm nearly 50, have thin ankles (only bit of me that is thin mind you ) am generally rather porky, and my feet have kind of "spread" somehow ("like pancake mixture in a frying pan" as my 9 yr old dd so helpfully put it ).

All I want are some comfy shoes ...

happy to help!

Birkies are the work of the devil for me - completely wrong shape for my feet.

Josef Siebel are good but not very nice for the last few seasons. I quite like the twinkly fit flops with two straps rather than a thong. Also have successes with Gabor and Van Dal (50+ too and wider than average with very sensitive feet). Ecco have some nice styles too - not exactly cutting edge but some are quite elegant.

Moshulu looking good Whoknows - brilliant stuff!

PicturePuncture

Will keep an eye on those brands Marriedinwhite thanks for info!

Off to bed now my feet have stopped throbbing!

I find Keen sandals quite wide, I have a pair of these that I've worn to death
www.keenfootwear.com/gb/en/product/shoes/women/waterfront/venice%20h2/barberry!neutral%20gray

I have shockingly wide feet. I live in my Birkenstocks. First wear can sometimes rub but within a day or two they are perfect. Got 2 pairs this summer - saving my poor pregnant feet any more woe than is necessary!

I love love love Gabor lanzarotes
Noone ever listens to me on these threads but I'll still sing their praises. They're incredibly comfortable, well made and look pretty good too. They look better on. I discovered them because i actually stopped a woman to ask her where she got hers.
I currently have three pairs, black, brown and pewter and I live in them all summer. I don't normally like toe posts or backless shoes but theses are so good I don't notice. I'm wearing a pair right now in fact I've given up on all other styles of sandals.

I like the Lanzarote ones too.
But they look hideous on my feet- they are size 9with very long bony toes and raised tendons.
I cannot inflict my toes on the public.

I find the sizing on Birkenstocks really weird. Mine are a size 3 and I usually wear a size 5 (and my feet are quite wide at the toes, but narrow at the heels). The size 5s were unbelievably enormous.

Arbitrary I have the wide at the toes, thin at the heels thing going on too! (I find it can make me look a bit marsupial-esque if I am wearing the wrong shoes.)

MrsRobertDuvall and Gibberthemonkey (great nicknames btw!) I was avoiding Gabor because my late mother used to wear them and didn't want to go down that route quite yet! But I've just browsed their site and they've obviously reinvented themselves - some of the designs look really good - thanks for the tip

More recommendations for Birkenstocks and for Keens noted - thanks RNJ and Mercury

My feet are always shredded by shoes. It's a nightmare. However, camper shoes are often made of really soft (non-shredding) leather, so you might want to see if that extends to their sandals.

I've just ordered 3 pairs of Moshulus, will report back when they arrive. Not intending to keep them all I should add.

Thanks I'll have a look at Camper too Abitrary

Glad to know I've triggered some retail therapy on your behalf Whoknows

Was going to go back on that site myself this morning ...!

Brickenstoc (sp), ancient Clarks very comfy Velcro sun seekers, heavenly feet wedges.

The trick is leather, nubuck lining.

Fabric sometimes is OK, DD has some cheep new look mock suede that have done two years and are cool.

I have several pairs of Clarks sandals, really comfy and have never rubbed. They have a sale on just now too :)

Another vote for Birkies, I only bought them for in the house but they are that comfy I ware them everywhere. I wish I had bought several pairs in different colours but there are none left now in our TK Max.

In the days of old fashioned Jesus creepers the trick was buy in autumn sale. Wear around the house with socks and the next spring they were your smart pair and the year before's went on the beach.

Thanks for yet more tips Mumofthemonsters and daimbardiva

So many of you are confirmed Birkie fans ...will definitely have to have a look now...

Clarks a bit difficult because I am abroad ...but will have a look when I am in the UK this summer - oh for shoes that 'never rub'

Starballbunny re the Jesus creepers!

My feet are still suffering today. Don't know if they get more sensitive with age ... or one is just less willing to put up with pain ...

Cant wear manmade - it has to be leather, any plastic or fabric and my feet sweat and and cant walk.

fitflops!

Steamedcabbage
I'm 32 so I hope they're not too fuddyduddy

Depends on your feet, like anything else I love Birkenstocks but my mum finds them really uncomfortable. I had fit flops and found them really painful inbetween the toes, I gave them to my mum who loves them.

I'd say go to a posh shoe shop and try all the different sizes of Birkenstocks in both widths and then buy them online, outlets sell online for £25 whereas they're £40+ on the high street.

Regarding rubbing remedies, Lanacane anti-chafing gel (the same stuff you use for chub rub) is very good, non-staining and well packaged to keep in your bag.

OOOhh didn't know such a thing as anti-chafing gel existed Snoot thanks for the tip!

Yes, Bacon I'm better in natural materials too (the shoes I wore yesterday were leather though) but tough around the edges ifyswim - you should see my feet today - have two horrible gashes - was rushing to get out of the door and so stupidly didn't put on Compeed or Micropore first

Haven't ever tried fitflops Theas18 will have a look on line. Think I am looking for something with a bit more coverage though. One of the things about getting older is that you don't have pretty feet any more unfortunately ...

Absolutely not Gibber I was happily surprised by the new Gabor designs ...

Thanks again everyone!

Gibber oh dear ... meant absolutely not fuddy duddy!!!

I've just bought some of the Lanacane from Amazon but haven't tried it yet. was for my fat thighs not my feet though.