My Birkenstocks have bruised me! (Tough sandal recs needed).

[pigmcpigface]

I walked 5 miles yesterday in Birkenstock sandals and I have a massive and very sore bruise under my foot! It hurts!

As I said on my other thread, I'm going to Italy this summer. DH tends to be very big on walking around, and if previous holidays are anything to go by we will do between 6 to 15 miles a day on foot.

I need some sandals that are tough enough to hold up to this, and cushioned enough not to give me bruises, but that still look relatively smart and elegant. I'd really appreciate some help!

Yes, I do know that I need solid, practical walking shoes for distance, which is why I have Tevas.

However, it is fairly likely on this holiday that I will be walking to a very posh restaurant or two... and knowing DH, this will be a walk of some miles taking in various neighbourhoods on the way, because he is obsessed with cities, their history and how they work in the present. (I enjoy this too). I want something I can wear on the way that will also look OK when we arrive. I have tried the option of wearing walking shoes and taking heels, but it's a ballache to change, and heels actually require quite a large, burdensome bag to fit into.

I cannot be the only woman in the world to have this issue! It's interesting that DH never has it- because men's shoes, even pretty smart ones, are generally built to be able to do this.

Sorry, I didn't see where you said earlier that you have Tevas. I am not sure there is a good solution. I've not managed to find any sandals suitable for walking longer distances than Birkenstocks and also smart/pretty. Maybe as someone else suggested, it would be worth trying the Birks with the softer footbed. I think Birkenstock do free returns so you could order some and see what they are like? Only other thing I can think of is to carry some lightweight pretty flipflops or folding ballet pumps to change into.

I'm desperately looking for the holy grail you of stylish walking shoes for the wide of feet...

I think Birkenstocks are the most uncomfortable shoes ever. I tried some on last week and it was like walking on nails.

If you have wide feet and need decent supportive sandals try Wolky. They're a bit marmite and probably the wrong side of ugly but they're so comfy. It's a delight to walk around in them.

I LOVE your username grimdamnfanjo!! It's making me remember lots of insults I thought I had forgotten!

I think it's extraordinary that DH can walk just about anywhere in any pair of his smart shoes, and yet we are struggling to find one pair that will work! It is a bit like a modern kind of footbinding.

I'm looking at ECCO- they have some that are quite functional looking but smart enough... Will report back if I find anything brilliant on my travels!

There seems to be a huge gap in the market here, judging by the number of threads. Shoe makers, if you're listening, please make comfortable supportive cushioned sandals, not too flat, adjustable fastenings front and back, leather lined, but in nice colours, attractive and not hideous looking!

I wear my trainers when I'm on holiday/traveling. We do a lot of walking and I wouldn't risk it with sandals.

Check out Wolky. They claim to be "designed for walking". I have several pairs and love them.

This happened to me too... after wearing Birkenstocks for years they started to become too hard and inflexible. My solution has been Teva's, they are a dream to wear!

I likely wouldn't go hiking in them but for city walking, even long distances I find my saltwaters amazing. The problem with birkenstocks, which I used to wear, is over engineering. The arch support is unnatural and unnecessary - it's basically too much - and I found it bruised me too. Saltwaters take the opposite approach, letting your foot do what it's supposed to do, plus they are nice and wide. They are not a 'barefoot' shoe but are pretty much barefoot.

What about Hotter?

Some of them are not too ugly! I have a pair which I can walk for miles in. They're a previous season's version of this: www.hotter.com/gb/en/tourist-sandals?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5fDWBRDaARIsAA5uWTjCNsHvdkwyDtSdCH0J790bUkZL-mnTCwXHGyjcMRGAfazBvf0evMUaAogWEALw_wcB

My other go to pair are Clarks.

I’ve had a bruise on the pad of my feet (both sides) from Birkenstock Madrids. I did about 10 miles around London one day pushing a buggy.

Never again.

I love my saltwater sandals, but wouldn't recommend for long walks, there's no cushioning so you'd really feel it!

I've had merrell ones that looked pretty good for a practical walking sandal.

If you're trekking and carrying a rucksack why not where shoes for trekking and keep a pair of nice sandals in your rucksack. They won't be heavy or take up much room and it saves your feet in the long run.

Wear not where!

Lulu by fitflop, I regularly cover about five miles in these and they are comfy. www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/womens-sale-sandals-uk/lulu-superglitz-slide-sandals-p-600-012

Some years Moshulu have comfy sandals, some years they don't. I had a pair of their slides that coped with a week in a rain forest. www.moshulu.co.uk/womens-sandals

Never found Birkenstocks comfy, the foot bed it the wrong shape for me, DSIL loves them though.

I'm really tempted by those Fitflops pest. They look like they'd be good with a maxi dress and far more comfortable than my go-to wedges.

Oh no! I accidentally on purpose ordered them.

Mephisto?