Walking sandals or no Walking sandals? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Chocolaty Claire · 08-06-2006, 10:25 AM

I will be packing around Thailand for 2 weeks and then staying with friends in Oz for another couple of weeks and i was wondering if you ladies think its necessary to purchase a pair of walking sandals??

As well as taking a pair of flip flops and clubbing shoes I was thinking of just getting a pair of Birkenstocks and breaking them in before the trip.. do you think these would suffice?

I'm not planning on doing any major treks, just mooching around the city, temple seeing and sun worshiping.
And if anyone can recommend any other type of sandal with really good foot arch support that would be great!

**tumblezweedz** · 08-06-2006, 01:55 PM

I swear by my walking sandals, they've endured three summers to date and still going strong. The brand I have is Bama, it's a German brand and I don't know if they're available in the states. I recently bought several of my kids Columbia walking sandals, which seem pretty good. They have some nice ladies styles, too, that look comfy but not horribly clunky. Both brands have made it up the slippery but not challenging walk up Vesuvius, and have done a fair bit of off-road walking on hilly paths in Germany, as well as countless city kms. I prefer the fit of a walking sandal vs slip ons, because I normally end up running for trains or buses and slip ons tend to slip off my feet. If you can walk - and run - around your home town comfortably in Birks, than no reason to think you couldn't overseas - but do give them a good test - wet, sandy, up and down hills, and running...chances are you'll encounter all of those conditions at some point on your trip.

**bluepea** · 08-07-2006, 03:10 PM

I've never actually purchased walking sandals because I don't wear leather, and that's about all that's out there. I do have a pair of Reef flip flops (seems hit and miss to people who wear them) that I've walked many, many miles in. My only complaint was that I literally walked many mailes in them and they seemed to lose their treading quickly. I actually slipped once and busted my toe nail! But (to me) they are soooo comfortable!!

Chocolaty Claire · 08-09-2006, 09:32 AM

Ive Googled Bama but i cant find anything online!!

**space virgin** · 08-09-2006, 10:17 AM

I have a pair of Keen Newport H2 sandals (Jamie-- no leather!!

). They're wonderful. Check 'em out.

**tumblezweedz** · 08-09-2006, 12:26 PM

I googled "bama shoes" and the fifth entry was "Travelpunk!..." and an entry I wrote. Kinda weird. Anyway, it looks like they're only available at "Reno" shoe stores, and those seem to be only in Europe - Germany and eastward, by the look of it (Switzerland and Austria in the west). You can check out the line at www.my-reno.com to get an idea what I'm talking about (it's in English), but I don't think you can order on line. Still, it'll give you an idea of what's trendy at the moment, as well as what is available if you decide to wait til you get here to buy something.

You might want to check out Columbia Clothing Company's line as well, they have everything from pretty rugged walking sandals to still comfy but more stylish city sandals - I like them, but all the ones I've seen have a thong between the toes and I can't wear those.

marabe54 · 08-27-2006, 03:03 PM

Check out www.chacousa.com sandals. I got mine before spending a year in Israel and they are the best shoes I've ever had. They are a bit pricey, however the comfortability and amount of traveling I did they've paid themselves off numerous times.

**SuDz** · 08-27-2006, 03:59 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(space virgin @ Aug 9 2006, 12:17 PM) [snapback]134330[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have a pair of Keen Newport H2 sandals (Jamie-- no leather!!

). They're wonderful. Check 'em out.

[/b]

I absolutley love my Keens. I have the same ones and am about to replace them with another pair. I wear mine year round and often put a few miles on them a day. I even jog in them and love it.

SuDZ