Must have been asked. Million times but flat, non-dowdy sandals that won’t shred my feet?

[sidneytweeney]

Desperate for recommendations, I’ve got some dr marten sandals that give me toe blisters, some Toms sandals that give me blisters on the soles of my feel- anything with a toe bar immediately hurts! Has anyone found a magic sandal?

I always have a pair of Gabor Lanzarote which are a failsafe style for me - but this year have added Gabor Oporto, and they are spectacularly comfortable.

Try Palladium. They were originally founded to make boots for the French Foreign Legion and other military applications so fit and comfort is a priority, but now make all sorts of styles for a range of purposes. I have terrible trouble finding any sort of footwear and have recently got two styles from Palladium. Very happy with them. I cannot wear any shoes without a sock or sock stocking and nothing with a toe post so a lot of styles are unsuitable for me.
The focus is on styles for practical activity rather than fashion.

I have reached a point where all I care about is fit, comfort and no blisters.

Have you looked at Pavers? I have some gold mules from there so comfy. The gold started to fade last year so I bought gold leather paint and repainted them. They're so well made. I've just worn them to death abroad.

Agree, Pavers can be very good.

I agree - completely wrong for my feet. However, Clarks have done something similar for years and they are bliss.

@sidneytweeney have a look at the Penny Chilvers website. I have these and they are butter soft. No rubbing at all.

https://penelopechilvers.com/products/heeled-shepherdess-leather-sandal-tan?_gl=1p3g5ol_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlerQBhDMARIsAB16H-XJlFTov-hYpzDBzrsR1zepa8JB61Sz-ZTfX9r3N9-i6X6FbvoCXBIaAkUiEALw_wcB

Clarks Birki style:

https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/cecily-step/26187897-p

Pikolinos - incredibly comfortable + supportive and a range of styles.

https://www.timberland.com/en-gb/p/women-10086/clairemont-way-backstrap-sandal-for-women-in-beige-TB0A61T4EN3

I have these - so comfy!

I have a pair of rieker sandals which look pretty good all be it practical style and are super comfy. No idea who even sells them because I bought new tags attached from a charity shop for £20.

Oh and I also have old timberland ones but they took a full season to get comfy alas

I have this issue too. I do like fit flops but don’t like the open back so much anymore - and don’t like wearing them on the tube as I’m paranoid they’ll fall off and end up on the tracks!
I had a Teva pair years ago for travelling and they were amazing.
I also had a Clarks pair years ago with the Velcro straps which were so comfortable (if a bit old lady - but I was only 35 at the time of wearing - a school mum friend pointed out a rather dowdy mum saying her sandals were so old fashioned and I was wearing the exact same pair but in a much smaller size w trendier clothes!).

I feel it so depends on your feet. I can wear a Birkenstock Madrid but not a Birkenstock Arizona. Fit Flop are comfy but again, I can’t wear a two strap with no backstrap because of my high instep. I spent over £100 last year on a pair of fit flops with the two straps which ended up on Vinted. However, I can wear a cheap two strap… makes no sense! So last year was a lesson to me don’t buy expensive sandals!

Yes agree with PP that it’s a bit trial and error. I have Birkenstocks which I love but if I wear them for a decent amount of walking they rub and blister.

The Gracie fitflops with a back strap have done me 2–3 summers and I am considering replacing them this summer with a gold pair. https://www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/gracie-metallic-leather-back-strap-sandals-p-EB1

my other reliable no blisters pair of sandals are the regular saltwaters. They are incredibly comfortable, I wore them all day travelling from the north to Wimbledon and back in 40 degree heat last year and they were comfortable all day. I don’t love the way they look but I like them enough that they are usually my first choice when lots of walking is involved.
https://www.salt-watersandals.co.uk/products/original-stone-womens-sandal

Pikolinos . The most comfortable sandals I've ever worn.

Penelope Chilvers, biarritz are the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever worn.

Bared.

Fitflop for me.

Love those!

My theory is to get the prettiest pair from a ‘comfort’ range, as the sole and construction will be good. Like Ecco and Gabor.

I have been seeing lots of adverts for ‘Archies’ flip flops, has anyone tried them?

I have the cheaper rubber birkenstocks I got for showing in hospital during having my baby, but wear them all the time now and they're sooo comfy.

You need Dubbin for the Doc Marten sandals. Cover the insides of the straps in a layer every day for a few days. This week would be ideal seeing as it's going to rain. It'll soften and condition the leather and help stop it rubbing.

This also works for any leather footwear thats going to eat your feet.

https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products/dubbin-wax

Josef Siebel. I have the Tonga and they are so comfy.

Thank you ever for suggestions- going to go with the Penelope Chilvers x

@AgedWalrus I'm very drawn to the shoes and sandals( and boots ! ) on the Palladium site
Have you any advice on fit ?
My feet are wide with a high instep(cuboid in fact ).
I'm wondering about the Mary Janes.

Pretty much everything shreds my feet - except for Jimmy Choo and Kurt Geiger. It must be the quality of the leather.

I bought some gorgeous Kurt Geiger strappy sandals a couple of years ago, with no intention of wearing them for any distance but they’re actually incredible and perfect for a city break where you might be doing 5km of strolling with coffee and wine breaks.

they don’t sell them anymore but they’re a sort of cross between the Priya and the Rita.

I’ve had dozens of Kurt Geiger’s over the years and everything is very comfortable (i love that their many of their “high” heels are an 8.5cm - which is unheard of in most brands and they also do a great range of “mid” heels. Plus they have quilted insoles)

Hi @limetrees32 I got a pair of Mary Janes! I think the fit is standard European, possibly a fraction on the short side. But quite roomy and flexible in the width. I have standard or slightly narrow feet. I have a high instep and can't get shoes in some styles on at all! The left foot is perfect for me but I have a bunion and a very long middle toe, slightly arthritic, on the right. (I usually wear a toe covering). I did consider sending them back and getting a half or even a full size up but that would have just transferred the problem to the other foot!

I have only just got them and gave them a good workout the other day. They settled down after a short while and no rubbing or blisters. They are not very cushioned on the sole and I might try an insert.

I am going to get another pair in a different colour.

Depending on what you experience with other brands it might be worth going up a half or full size to deal with the wide fit. Cushioning inserts are the solution to many problems I find.

I also got the Pampa Oxford and I am very pleased with those as well. A slightly different cut I think as no problems and very comfortable and light on the feet. Again, after a short while of wearing they settled down and adjusted to my feet. No rubbing or blisters. I will probably get a another pair in a different colour.

Regarding boots, you might also like the AKU brand. I got https://www.aku.co.uk/item/154/Aku/AKU-Ultralight-Original-GTX-Wmns-Greygreen.html They are brilliant. Best walking boots straight out of the box I have ever bought. They are on sale at the moment. I think AKU do a wide fit on some of their styles.

I also got the Sentinel https://www.aku.co.uk/item/182/Aku/AKU-Sentinel-Low-GTX-Black.html Haven't worn them much yet but think they will be fine.

In case anyone reading this thinks I am going full Imelda Marcos here I had a big sort out recently and realised that most of my shoes I never wore had either rotted because I was saving them for a 'best' which never happens or I had stopped wearing them because they caused me so much pain. I got rid of them and decided life is too short to have painful shoes. I realised I was wearing three pairs on a regular basis.

So I have been filling the gaps in my shoe wardrobe. No saving anything for best anymore either.

I did a lot of research and ended up with AKU and Palladium as my choice of brands. I kept some Flitflop, Hotter and Paver's/Sketchers shoes.