I did it. Something I swore I would never do. I purchased these…
These shoes probably look fine to everyone reading this, since fellow travelers share your love of Chacos, Keen, Tevas and Merrells. To be honest I had the hardest time convincing myself that I would be wearing these shoes for an entire year. I am not shoe crazy, I don’t have that many different pairs compared to most women but for whatever reason the look of these shoes just rubbed me the wrong way.
I have heard countless recommendations and rave reviews of these shoes, specifically Chacos, and to me they seemed like “Hummers for your feet” as Round We Go called them. Despite the weight and look of these shoes I knew that they were my destiny and there was no use fighting it.
While we were on our RTW Work-cation, I stopped by a store and tried on a variety of these walking sandals. Josh asked me, “Do you love them, because you will have to wear them and carry them with you for an entire year?” My response was simple, “No,” but I do plenty of things that I don’t like but I know are good for me. I eat oatmeal every morning instead of a glazed doughnut, or working out after a long day instead of crashing on my couch in front of the TV. So, no, I don’t love the shoes but I know I need the support so I gave in.
I got Teva Tierra’s which were a compromise between the big, clunky Chacos and fashionable lightweight sandals. They look decent with my backpacking dresses and give me enough support so that my feet aren’t hurting after a long day.
What are your hiking/traveling/walking sandals? Do you love them, or are they purely functional?
I have hiking sandals and I LOVE them. I got my first pair my senior year of high school, and they were surprisingly durable- I didn’t get another pair until a couple years ago when the original pair finally bit the dust. I’m not fashion-conscious at all, so the practicality and durability of the sandals won me over. They work particularly well as water shoes, too.
How have these shoes been working out for you? I have yet to buy a pair of hiking sandals for our trip but definitely want to invest in a durable/comfortable one — there’s nothing worse then spending a ton of money of supposedly well made shoes which then continue to blister your keep every time you wear them!
I still think that they are an eye sore every time I put them on, but they feel like you are walking on clouds. I have walked and hiked miles in these shoes and my feet feel great! I like that they are lighter than Chacos (and a bit less expensive) and no blisters yet!
If you actually compare them to walking on clouds they must be amazing! I’ll have to find a store nearby that carries them to try them on!
I wear ordinary, rubber flip flips, thongs or jandals. I can walk in them all day, but I’m wondering if I should get something more sensible. Do you think I’m ruining my feet? Maybe I’ll get hiking shoes that double as running shoes, at least, then, I’d be OK for entry to places where covered shoes are required. For serious trekking I wear trekking boots, but just walking around, exploring, the flip flops do me fine. We live in the tropics, I haven’t worn anything you might call a shoe in 5 years, my feet have sort of spread in that time, they’re much wider than they were, but no problems.