Pounding The Streets

If you want to buy new shoes get them now and wear them a lot so you get used to them. New shoes on holiday are a real no no. I think trainers would be best as they are well sprung as it were. Good quality walking sandals could be a good investment but whatever you decide, get them well in advance and break them in well.
Have a fantastic trip
Pauline
ps I have never heard a bloke complain about sore feet before - thought it was a girl thing! Just goes to show
"Steve Almond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In about a months time my wife and I will visit New York city for a
shopping/cultural trip.
On previous occasions, I've suffered with my feet after a day's walking
those endless sidewalks. Typically, I arrive back at the hotel about 10
hours after leaving in the morning with very hot, sore feet. The soles and
balls of my feet are sore to the touch. I usually use something like Sebago
Docksides which are very comfortable in normal use, but not sufficient for
long days.
Question is: What should I take instead? Just walking into a shoe shop and
finding something comfortable after trying it for 2 or 3 minutes is
obviously unsatisfactory.
I've considered the following:

1. Trainers. The obvious choice - well padded soles, but too hot. Are there
cooler ones?
2. Sandals. The "hiking" style ones seem a good idea, but the cheapo jobs
($14.99 in Wal-Mart on holiday) I've tried aren't up to it. Should I buy a
high quality pair?
3. High quality/price European walking shoes. Mephisto spring to mind.
Previously I've been put off by the price (and they don't look well
ventilated...)
4. Birkenstock sandals. Anything which feels this strange/uncomfortable in
the shop, must actually be very comfortable in the long run - yes?

Any other suggestions gratefully received. It's time to get breaking a pair
in!

Steve

Have you looked into Dr. Scholl's pads?

Actually one idea I just thought of, what about that freezer gel pack stuff?
If you could find a reasonably smaller one, and pack it up inside a padded
insole, that would keep your foot cool most if not all of the day.

I don't know if there's anything on the market like this, but if you find a
small gel pack, you should be able to cannibalize a foam insole and make it
work.

Steve Almond said:

In about a months time my wife and I will visit New York city for a
shopping/cultural trip.
On previous occasions, I've suffered with my feet after a day's walking
those endless sidewalks. Typically, I arrive back at the hotel about 10
hours after leaving in the morning with very hot, sore feet. The soles and
balls of my feet are sore to the touch. I usually use something like Sebago
Docksides which are very comfortable in normal use, but not sufficient for
long days.
Question is: What should I take instead? Just walking into a shoe shop and
finding something comfortable after trying it for 2 or 3 minutes is
obviously unsatisfactory.
I've considered the following:

1. Trainers. The obvious choice - well padded soles, but too hot. Are there
cooler ones?
2. Sandals. The "hiking" style ones seem a good idea, but the cheapo jobs
($14.99 in Wal-Mart on holiday) I've tried aren't up to it. Should I buy a
high quality pair?
3. High quality/price European walking shoes. Mephisto spring to mind.
Previously I've been put off by the price (and they don't look well
ventilated...)
4. Birkenstock sandals. Anything which feels this strange/uncomfortable in
the shop, must actually be very comfortable in the long run - yes?

Any other suggestions gratefully received. It's time to get breaking a pair
in!

Steve

I've suffered similar discomfort when walking all day on streets.

I've got two pairs of shoes that are comfortable to wear all day, one
is a pair of Clarks. I'm not sure what their name is but they are a
walking shoe with a Gortex liner, quite bulky, and were the most
expensive in the Clarks range at the time, they have what Clarks call
an 'active' sole. The heel is air cushioned and as you put weight onto
it the air is forced into the sole, when you bend your foot as you
walk the air is forced back into the heel. Oddly enough the sole at
the back is square cut, like a mountain boot designed to take a
crampon! I've had this pair about two years, I don't know if they
still make a similar shoe. When I bought them they did the shoe
version and a boot version of the same model.

The other pair I can wear all day are the Merrell Jungle Moc, I get
through a pair of these every year, I wear them so much and walk so
far in them that I wear the tread off the sole long before the uppers
wear out.

--
Regards

Nick

Steve Almond said:

On previous occasions, I've suffered with my feet after a day's walking
those endless sidewalks. Typically, I arrive back at the hotel about 10
hours after leaving in the morning with very hot, sore feet. The soles
and balls of my feet are sore to the touch.

I have a similar problem. New shoes might help.
But you might also consider careful choice of socks.
I wear hiking liners. I also double-up on medium-thick
athletic socks with as much cotton and as little
synthetic material as I can find (harder and harder
these days), or I wear thick hiking socks.

The liners and mostly-cotton socks reduce moisture,
which is the primary source of my discomfort. The
thick socks provide a cushion.

By the way, on my last day-long hike, I discovered
that moleskin was helpful. The downside: it tends
to prevent breathing, allowing moisture to build up.
Someone mentioned an alternative product or improved
moleskin product that breaths. But I forgot what it
is. You might ask about it at outdoor gear store.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve Almond said:

On previous occasions, I've suffered with my feet after a day's walking
those endless sidewalks. Typically, I arrive back at the hotel about 10
hours after leaving in the morning with very hot, sore feet. The soles
and balls of my feet are sore to the touch.

I have a similar problem. New shoes might help.
But you might also consider careful choice of socks.
I wear hiking liners. I also double-up on medium-thick
athletic socks with as much cotton and as little
synthetic material as I can find (harder and harder
these days), or I wear thick hiking socks.

I am on my feet all day on a hard surface while wearing Doc Martens, not the
most comfortable shoes known to mankind. What makes them bearable is that I
wear Bridgedale Light Hiker socks for padding, these also soak away any
sweat quite nicely and don't rub up blisters.
But if I were to walk around New York again I would wear either soft
trainers or walking shoes, both of which would be well worn before
travelling. Good socks are a must.

Nick

Good trainers, trail runners, or light hiking shoes should work well.
There are various well-ventilated types of these. I would strongly
recommend either birkenstock or chaco sandals - both very comfortable
and obviously well-ventilated. Especially with the birks, though, be
sure you allow several weeks to break them in (or rather, to break your
feet into the sandals). The high arch and unique footbed takes a
little getting used to - they will probably feel uncomfortable if you
wear them for long periods of time right away, but once you get used to
them, they are in my opinion the most comfortable footwear in the
universe. Chacos are a pretty close second, and the clear winner if
any water is involved. Both are expensive, but durable and
re-soleable.
Enjoy,
Andy

Steve Almond said:

In about a months time my wife and I will visit New York city for a
shopping/cultural trip.
On previous occasions, I've suffered with my feet after a day's walking
those endless sidewalks. Typically, I arrive back at the hotel about 10
hours after leaving in the morning with very hot, sore feet. The soles and
balls of my feet are sore to the touch. I usually use something like Sebago
Docksides which are very comfortable in normal use, but not sufficient for
long days.
Question is: What should I take instead? Just walking into a shoe shop and
finding something comfortable after trying it for 2 or 3 minutes is
obviously unsatisfactory.
I've considered the following:

1. Trainers. The obvious choice - well padded soles, but too hot. Are there
cooler ones?
2. Sandals. The "hiking" style ones seem a good idea, but the cheapo jobs
($14.99 in Wal-Mart on holiday) I've tried aren't up to it. Should I buy a
high quality pair?
3. High quality/price European walking shoes. Mephisto spring to mind.
Previously I've been put off by the price (and they don't look well
ventilated...)
4. Birkenstock sandals. Anything which feels this strange/uncomfortable in
the shop, must actually be very comfortable in the long run - yes?

Any other suggestions gratefully received. It's time to get breaking a pair
in!

Steve

San Antonio Shoes (SAS) shoes are my favorite for city walking, try
<Zappos.com>😉. I've tried Clarks (hard to find in wide widths, but a
great shoe), Rockports (and long-time favorite until they switched their
lasts to a "European" last about 5 years ago, i.e. narrow and flatter),
Ecco's (damn that European last!), Keen sandals (flatter arch than I
prefer, and hard to hold an arch support, but a verstile shoe),

But whatever shoe you buy, make sure your foot is measured properly
(using a Brannock device), especially width and arch height. IMHO, women
are especially succeptable to ill-fitting shoes, often placing fashion
ahead of comfort, leading to sore feet on day 1.

Allow room for thicker socks if you're travelling in winter.

In addition to good shoes, be sure to condition your feet (and body) to
walking about 4-5 miles/day. Visitors to NYC are often caught off-guard
by the amount of walking tourists and even residents walk each day.

If you're coming around Christmastime expect large crowds, slow
traveling, but exceptional scenery and buzz. Enjoy the trip!

Simon

Steve Almond said:

In about a months time my wife and I will visit New York city for a
shopping/cultural trip.
On previous occasions, I've suffered with my feet after a day's walking
those endless sidewalks. Typically, I arrive back at the hotel about 10
hours after leaving in the morning with very hot, sore feet. The soles and
balls of my feet are sore to the touch. I usually use something like Sebago
Docksides which are very comfortable in normal use, but not sufficient for
long days.
Question is: What should I take instead? Just walking into a shoe shop and
finding something comfortable after trying it for 2 or 3 minutes is
obviously unsatisfactory.
I've considered the following:

1. Trainers. The obvious choice - well padded soles, but too hot. Are there
cooler ones?
2. Sandals. The "hiking" style ones seem a good idea, but the cheapo jobs
($14.99 in Wal-Mart on holiday) I've tried aren't up to it. Should I buy a
high quality pair?
3. High quality/price European walking shoes. Mephisto spring to mind.
Previously I've been put off by the price (and they don't look well
ventilated...)
4. Birkenstock sandals. Anything which feels this strange/uncomfortable in
the shop, must actually be very comfortable in the long run - yes?

Anything but Birkenstock sandals - they seem comfortable but they
aren't for a long hike. I have a pair of Birks and I love them but I
learned the hard way that they aren't for hiking.

I would suggest buying a pair of socks that you wear a liners under your
socks when you hike. They are smooth and seam free, wick the perspiration
from your feet and most importantly, they don't bunch up. I wear them
when I go hiking or snowshoeing and my feet are quite comfortable.

As for shoes, get a good pair of walking shoes and break them in before
you head off for NYC. Or a pair of light hiking (day hiking boots). Not
very stylish but very comfortable.

Martha