Sandals that look good but are also comfortable enough for walks of an hour or two?

[marcapola]

I get hot and sweaty far too easily and after a recent but very uncomfortable walk in jeans and a top, I've decided the way forward for walks is light dresses and sandals. But can anyone recommend any that look stylish but will also be good for walks of an hour or two? I'm in a new relationship with someone I very much want to hold onto so don't want to look frumpy but he also loves walking and I don't want to hold him back due to having blisters and foot problems (although he would never express any unhappiness as he is so lovely!).

I second Birkenstock’s for general strolling about for hours. Wear them in first and then they’re great-I wear mine as slippers in hot weather-that’s how comfortable they are. If he loves walking-what kind of walk? Like other posters have said, you need walking sandals for uneven terrain-I have Keen Whisper ones where you can go in water.

I have these in grey, and have walked miles and miles in them. 20,000 steps in big cities, miles in the countryside.

www.pavers.co.uk/products/ladies-on-the-go-600-brilliancy-sandals-ske33056-319-636

Love my birkies! Also Allbirds are great.

When it is warm, I sometimes wear a dress or a skirt for walking but more usually shorts. They don’t have to be frumpy unless you want them to be. I agree that proper walking sandals are best because the soles give a good grip.

One problem with dresses/skirts/shorts is that they offer little protection from stinging nettles, common on little used paths.

I once wore wedge sandals for a walk in outback Australia (I had forgotten my Merrell sandals) It was so hot (low 40s) that the soles melted and fell off.

Vionics all the way!!

They have all the right support and a cushioned sole. You want one with a proper ankle strap like this. They are basically exactly the same structure as a walking sandal without walking sandal style straps.

Birkenstocks if you arent used to them take some wearing in/getting used to. Saltwaters give your feet no support or cushioning.

I'd get either the new style cushioned sole Saltwaters, or Moshulu. Or if it's more serious walking / rougher or steeper ground, then walking sandals (Teva, Merrell, etc). It all depends on your idea of what's acceptable stylewise though

Everyone that’s recommending Birkenstock’s - what am I doing wrong? I have a pair of Mayaris that I’ve been trying to break in and I keep getting blisters on the side of my instep - are my feet too wide or do I just need to persevere? Really love them, but they hurt me every time I wear them outside the house

I have these, which I rather like and I find comfortable for walking off road.

Sketchers do some good, comfortable sandals that I can walk reasonably far in (up to 10 milesish), while still wear them to the shops and so on because I don't hate how they look (which I always have done with proper walking sandals). I also wear birkinstocks for schlepping round town, but the Gizeh style ones, I don't like the others. Also, don't walk far in a dress if there's even the slightest chance of chafing!

@lurker101 I had the same issue in Mayaris and it never went away, I don't think they held my big toe in the right place so everything else moved to compensate. I love my Gizehs though.

Birkenstocks are good for fairly lengthy wandering about, but I've never understood the popuarity of sandals for proper walking. Not as grippy or supportive as trainers or walking shoes/boots, and you constantly get stones and grit in them ime! Surely if the person you're seeing is a keen walker, he's going to regard proper footwear as a necessity, not as frumpy! Mind you I wouldn't go for a proper walk in a skirt or a dress either tbh.

Oh wow, thanks everyone, what a great response!

I've got cancer and getting chemo at the moment so we won't be doing anything too gruelling between chemo sessions. The walk we went on last time I saw him was just an hour and twenty minutes along a local canal to a nice restaurant then back again so a flat, earth path and little in the way of challenging terrain. I'm wearing a wig though which makes me hotter and amn't allowed to have botox along my hairline for sweating so am trying not to end up a big greasy mess. I also have ADHD and take ages having showers so am just trying to avoid getting too sweaty in the first place! Unfortunately shorts don't usually really suit me and it would probably take years to find a pair that did.

Lots to look at with all these recommendations, definitely! The Vionics look nice but only one person has recommended them - can anyone else vouch for them? So many of the other options are more expensive and I'm not earning at the moment but I'll look into them anyway.

The other walk we did was along a cliff edge and it was a beaten earth track but more up and down and through long grass at the sides so more challenging than the canal walk but still nothing too onerous.

To those recommending Birkenstocks, are the ones without a strap at the back of the ankle good enough for the kind of relatively unchallenging walks I go on do you think?

Birkenstocks!

Columbia springy bottom ones.... they are bliss to walk in

And what's Birko-Flor like as a material? Is it in the same category as the vegan leather?

FitFlops. That is all. Like walking on cushions.

Ah ok - sounds like you have good reasons for some quite specific requirements then. I hope you find something suitable! I sympathise on the sweaty walking front - I have always sweated massively out of my head for some reason. I have really fine hair, so it looks like a wet mop afterwards .

At this time of year I think I'd be looking more at walking trainers rather than sandals? My feet would freeze to bits in my Tevas (I like mine but it might be because I only wear them when it's hot weather walking stuff) and not a chance of wearing socks with them so I'm in my Salomans now unless we go proper walking in which case it's meaty boots time. Which I don't own 😂

These are like walking on air and I get loads of compliments about them.
I hope your treatment goes well
www.next.co.uk/g258s7/475098?dp=a&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eeu-_oBPJfJwmpek89qLiO-5Gg8NZNiG7bdTrXNXGgT0nZQRRND6S2QaAi8zEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#475098

Fit flop I like the barra style and have 3 different versions
www.brandalley.co.uk/17570585.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Smart%20Shopping%20(Catch%20All)&utm_term=&Kenshoo_IDA=IDA_shopping&utm_id=go_cmp-1688274450_adg-66093507752_ad-327805423185_pla-618356043519_dev-m_ext-_prd-17570592_mca-119667858_sig-Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eetIEZAQeQ9ttDAM_jua7xdJ7aXU-Zl18sAWvFhQnJXZYS7IMWmWIyMaAgsaEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eetIEZAQeQ9ttDAM_jua7xdJ7aXU-Zl18sAWvFhQnJXZYS7IMWmWIyMaAgsaEALw_wcB

I also would go for fit flops. So comfy!

They don't exist IMO. If you try and go half way between "nice" and comfortable, you'll end up with both sore feet and ugly shoes. Proper walking candles or trainer are the only way.

Plus surely a man who enjoys walking is much more concerned that what his GF has on her feet is comfortable than what they look like. And if he's not, why would you want to keep him?

I walked 27,000 steps a day or thereabouts when I was in Edinburgh for the fringe festival recently. The Hotter Tourist 2 sandals were extremely comfortable and not nearly as fugly as some of the ones often mentioned in this sort of thread. I hate the idea of hotter but the reality was very good.

@lurker101

Everyone that’s recommending Birkenstock’s - what am I doing wrong? I have a pair of Mayaris that I’ve been trying to break in and I keep getting blisters on the side of my instep - are my feet too wide or do I just need to persevere? Really love them, but they hurt me every time I wear them outside the house

I know they sell narrow and normal styles, it's possible you bought narrow ones?