http://www.eurotrip.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=&whichpage=1&TOPIC_ID=103305

see: point #1

Feel free to search, but since I haven’t added my two cents to those threads I’ll add my thoughts, oppinions, and experiences here.

My current favorite source for shoes is:
http://www.zappos.com

They have free shipping to you, and free return shipping if they don’t fit or you don’t like them, provided you don’t run a marathon in them. You’ll also get them in about 4 days which is nice because I’m extremely impatient. You can get great deals on last years models and closeouts to save some money as well. Their return policy really does work as advertised, and unlike others the 110% price match guarantee is honored without hassle. They also match both physical retail store and online prices.

I have extremely wide feet and I’m flat footed so my shoes can make or break a trip for me. The selection at local stores for shoes that fit is somewhat lacking so I started ordering different brands and sizes as necessary online. After running 10mi a day for 4 years the only shoe I’ve found that is comfortable, reasonably priced, and won’t disintegrate in a month are new balance’s. My only problem is the insoles in NB’s aren’t the best, they’re by far not the worst I’ve seen though. I use a dr scholls advantage sport insole, you can get them at wal-mart and I have them in every shoe i own. They’ll make boots or wing tips feel like sneakers also. Asics are a close second, after stress fractures though i will never purchase nike or reebok products.

Since you posed the question I’ll assume you don’t already have anything suitable and will be buying new shoes. DO NOT let your trip be the first time you wear them for any period of time. I’d suggest wearing them extensively for at least two weeks prior to your trip. If after wearing them for a week or so you realize they are just not comfortable on you spend the money on some that are, it will be well worth it.

Finally if you are not accustomed to walking long distances or standing for long periods of time take either an ibuprofen or naproxen based pain reliever, tylenol or aspirin won’t work nearly as well, preferably buy it there or take an unopened package to avoid customs hassles(this is assuming of course that you’re not allergic to either). At the first sign of any foot pain start taking it every 3-4 hours and consider doubling up before you crash for the night, also make sure to drink plenty of water while taking it. It will minimize/prevent swelling and reduce the pain level considerably, if you do notice swelling elevate your feet whenever possible.

Also keep in mind that footwear comfort is highly subjective and dependent on a number of variables. What works great for most may not necessarily fit you well. I think width of the shoe is the most important and often overlooked aspect of fit. Too wide or too narrow and you can end up with blisters. The best way to find what works for you is unfortunately the rather expensive method of trial and error.

This is probably more than you ever wanted to know but I learned all of these things the hard way and now take them for granted. I lost a whole day on my last trip because when I asked my friend if she had comfortable shoes to take she said she did. What she meant to say is that she had some really cute shoes she had just bought but couldn’t walk more than 2 miles in. Ended up not leaving the hotel all day except to take a cab to a sporting goods store for her to get some comfortable shoes that looked, and I quote, "icky".

Regards,
Alan

What would you wear in your home country for the same kind of exercise? Comfort, good support, fast drying if it rains, light weight. There are zillions of shoes/sneaks/boots that will fit the bill. Just don’t get a huge pair of hiking boots – the kind they use on Mt. Everest!