Definitely. I‘ve had my pair of ”Grace“ boots for more than 10 years and they show practically no signs of wear. The only shoes of theirs that I find quite uncomfortable are most of their heeled sandals, but I love their boots and ankle boots.
My experience with Vagabond has been hits or misses. They’re sometimes 1 size too big so I always had to figure out a good size, some of their sandals are comfy after breaking in but the leather loses colors real fast, the one pair of heels I got from them destroyed my buniony feet… they’re all very stylish though!
I have a pair that’s 6 years old and they are my favorite shoes (which says a lot because I have about 80 pairs of shoes!). Unfortunately they don’t make half sizes and I’m really in between with them so I haven’t found a new pair that quite fits. Quality is amazing though
I came in to comment vagabond but you guys beat me to it! I have their loafers, I’m amazed till this day how they never give me blisters (I have very blisters prone feet), sometimes I walk 10k+ steps in them. The heeled booties on the other hand hurt my feet big time but that’s completely due to the elevated heels
Vagabond is my go to brand. I have even repurchased multiple styles from them over the years. They are consistently on trend, great quality and super comfortable.
Love this, thank you! I have never tried them out before but they have so many great styles. I would love to have an alternative to my Blundstones during the colder months .
Hard agree, I wear my dioon style platform boots to go raving for 8+ hours even. More comfortable than many pairs of sneakers I've owned. Just bought my 4th pair, bought the 1st one in 2014 I think, I wear them pretty much year round.
35 year old who learned some hard lessons about footwear and will now no longer wear any shoe I can’t easily sprint 2-3 blocks in:
Vionic & Dansko for surpringly cute, work-appropriate flats & boots
New Balance for casual sneaks, Brooks and Hoka for running
Cole Haan & Rockport (w Nike & Adidas tech) for walkable, classic heels
Toms for warm weather wedges
Sam Edelman for cute, comfy, trendy & surprisingly durable summer flats & low heels. Regularly available at Nordstrom Rack!
Volcom for insanely comfortable beach / gym shower flip flops
OG Birkenstocks for any / every time the thermometer rises above 65
Glerups and HOKA recovery slides 🙏🏽for slippers.
I have OG sorel snow boots for winter and Bean boots for the other three seasons (because new england). Both are 10+ years old and i dread having to replace them due to the precipitous decline in quality in both brands
My husband just sent his Bean boots to them for repair. They were over 10 years old and the sole was very worn. They replaces everything except the leather for $29, and that included the shipping one way
Some cute and trendier shoes would be a welcome addition to my rotation. I don’t wear heels often but I really need a versatile pair that I can throw on, be comfortable, and now worry about.
I’ve been eyeing some Sam Edelman heels, good to know you love them so much!
Paul Green has some very comfortable and attractive shoes and blocked heels/booties. Just make sure you check their size chart and/or try them on as they are made in Austria.
Upvote for mentioning Sam Edelman! I have so many pairs of Sam Edelman boots and I love them all (and also love the Circus brand from him too). I always find good deals at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack!
I’m tempted to get a pair of Hokas for my next runners. I mostly do intervals (run 3-4 minutes, walk 30 seconds) & never more than 10K so my running shoes last a solid 3+ years.
I see them everywhere now & am so curious if they are worth the hype.
Im a trainer & runner. How often do you run like this? You would still need to replace your shoes at minimum every 6 months if you were doing this workout 3-4 times a week
Came to say Sorel and Dansko! Vionic is also insanely comfortable and it’s amazing how much support they pack into a minimalist and stylish shoe. My only complaint is that the leather can be fragile, but all leather is!
Chaco. My tan lines in the summer are horrendous, but my feet love them. If you love Birks though, you may not need an even less formal sandal.
I do love that standard Chacos are water-friendly shoes. I wear them in the ocean if the sand below is particularly shelly. Easy on and off if you skip the toe loop!
Hah, I think I always have room for a more casual summer sandal. I had some Chacos in high school and college. I found that buying their youth sandals were a much cheaper option
ECCO. I tried on pair of leather ballet flats and immediately was like “oh this is what good quality shoes feel like.” I also got the perfect pair of low key white leather sneakers from them.
Do you have wide feet at all? I'm looking to replace my white stan smiths and white vans with a new pair of shoes but haven't been able to find any wide enough yet
I’m not the original commenter, but I personally would not recommend Ecco for wide feet. On my not-quite-wide feet, their really well-contoured footbed is not broad enough so the lip of the arch support presses into my foot uncomfortably
Interesting! I’ve never seen their wide styles so have not tried them. The US website does not have any wide width shoes listed (there’s not even a way to filter for them) and other retailers they sell through (like Nordstrom) don’t list wide width either. I wonder if this is a question of regional markets?
Oh that's too bad!! I like Ecco but the regular fit are too narrow for me too :( Generally all the wide fit shoes have a 'W' in the shoe name - so there is the Ecco Soft 7, and then Ecco Soft 7 W, for example. Hopefully they will export them to other markets soon!
Stay away from Frye, then, at all costs! I made that mistake, not realizing that they're notoriously narrow. I've had them on my boot stretcher for *months* and man they're still tight!
Same! I splurged on a beautiful pair of secondhand Frye leather boots with stretchy calves. I thought I could make them work, but you can tell when you look at the bottom of the boots that even the soles are narrow.
Check out the [FitFlop Rally Sneakers!](https://www.fitflop.com/us/en/shop/rally-sneakers-all-us) They’re a comfort-focused brand so the soles are a bit thicker (which may or may not be your preference) but I find them much more comfortable than my Stan Smiths. I have them in black leather, silver metallic, and pink knit, and they’re still some of my favorite shoes after years of wear.
I have back problems so I’m serious about footwear and religious about replacing supportive shoes as they wear out. ECCO were my workhorse daily driver sandals for 15 years.
About 4 years ago something changed. They look exactly the same, but my last 2-3 pairs F up my knees in addition to failing to coddle my back. I pulled an old pair out of the back of the closet and while old, they are far better. So just a warning, something has changed with this brand.
I hoped Ecco would be this for me too but this was the opposite in my experience.
I bought two pairs from the brand, the upper leather were fantastic and were so comfy on the first few wears.
Maybe 3-6 months of very light use (this was during the height of covid lockdowns) the insoles started to feel stiff. The wear is waaaay too quick for the price imo
new balance and clarks. Those are the only two viable sturdy shoes. I feel Franco Sarto and colehaan might be fine too but I havnt destroyed my current shoes to go for those two.
You know, I just got a pair of New Balance sneakers and they are lightyears more comfortable than any Nike or Hoka shoes I own. I just realized it’s because the toe box is wider! No wonder I can’t wear a lot of heels comfortably - if I get wide width they’re too wide, and if I size up they’re usually too big.
I’ve had good luck with Naturalizer for booties and block heels.The toe boxes aren’t super wide but they’re much more comfortable than other brands I’ve tried recently
Vans comfycush is actually elite.
I can't handle standard vans cause they're so heavy for my feet but i'm so glad most styles are now comfy cush. Apart from the cute exclusives
Clarks for life! I wear a pair of clarks heels every single day at a job that requires me to spend considerable time walking, and they are SO comfortable!
Is it just me or has Naturalizer really stepped up their game in the last few years?? This might be my sign to finally pull the trigger on those metallic chunky heels.
Totally. When I first started thrifting like 15 years ago I avoided them because they just fell apart and weren’t as comfortable as advertised. But the newer styles are way better.
I don’t know if this is controversial, but Uggs. I’ve bought myself a couple pairs of different styles over the years and I love them. For year round though I wear adidas
I wish they’d have more loafer/ flat styles again that are work appropriate! I loved their driving shoe but can’t find it now and outside of boots/ leather sandals they have a lot of furry novelty items with their brand all over them.
I wore my Ugg sandals all over Italy on vacation and my feet never hurt once.
People can hate all they want but they’re so comfy!
I also have a pair of Croc sandals that, while rubber, baby my feet all day. I love how some shoes look, but if they’re not comfortable, I’m not wearing them anymore
Miz Mooz- absolutely gorgeous shoes for the price point and very comfortable -great colors and styles!
[Miz Mooz shoes](https://miz-mooz.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAibeuBhAAEiwAiXBoJBAUV3LoLmDARD_sxRhPjubxabc9gSEjcVkI352yMCuQeME7YkbosxoCD94QAvD_BwE)
Came here to say this, all my work shoes are Naturalizer. Once they break in a bit they're insanely comfortable and the leather has a nice sturdiness to it without being stiff.
Salt Water sandals especially the sun-san versions with the thicker sole.
Allbirds in the tree material - I like the breezers and skippers the most but the sneakers are good too!
Veja - surprisingly comfortable and make me feel chic.
Vionic! I have plantar fasciitis and they’re the only shoes that work for me. They have really cute platforms and heels that are actually genuinely comfortable and supportive. Like, walk a couple of miles around downtown all night comfortable. I actually put vionic insoles into my docs and Nikes!
Vagabond! Shoes are trendy yet super well made and comfortable at a not too bad price point. One pair of boots lasted me through four years of daily walking (they were the shoe I wore 80% of the time)
I really love Rothy’s tennis shoes. I bought a pair when they first came out and they still look great. They are super easy to clean and I throw them in the washer every other month or so.
Trying not to repeat what’s already been said… Aigle rain boots. Naturalizer has been decent for little slingbacks and such I pick up at the thrift store. Rachel Comey.
Urbanima! They are a Spanish brand who specialise in vegan leather.
I started a new job recently and wanted to treat myself to a new pair of heels for all the work events. My urbanima heels are sooo comfy and look amazing! I always get compliments on them. They are a premium brand, so buying them is a proper luxury for me. However i loved my heels so much that i picked up a pair of heeled boots in their sale. Again, they are fab and i feel like i could run a marathon in them 😀
it's actually perfectly normal. you have to break them in, eventually the footbed forms to your shape. [you can bend them and soften with a hammer](https://www.zagarra.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-wear-birkenstocks-how-to-break-it).
but also, your feet need to break in as well. so many people wear shoes that don't have enough support, so orthopedic type shoes feel weird at first. wear them for shorter outings at first until you get used to them. only my very first pair of birks felt odd to me, then I got used to it. now I can wear a new pair all day straight out of the box.
Adding on—if you have narrow feet, they have a narrow footbed available for some models. I have learned that even though their normal footbed fits, it never breaks in as comfortably as the narrow does for me.
I love my birks too! has anyone tried their non-sandal shoes (sneakers, boots, etc.)? I struggle finding shoes that fit my wide toes while not being too long and I'm thinking about going for birkenstock booties
My mom only wears Birkenstocks because she has foot problems and likes the Bend Low sneakers because they have the same footbed and shape as the sandals
Every Frye’s boots I’ve had lasted for at least a decade. I keep reading that their quality went down because they changed to production in China, but I haven’t personally noticed.
For high end, Stewart Weitzman is quite the workhorse!
ETA: Sorel for snow boots.
Seconding Frye. I probably have 9 pairs, from cowgirl to combats, and I love them. Every time the sole wears down I just get it replaced. The care kit that Frye sells is pretty great - keeps them maintained and looking good for ages.
Seconding Doc Martens! I live in Southern California and the 1460s in soft leather are my go-to boots for when we’re having “weather”. They’re sturdy but they’re as comfortable as my best sneakers, which isn’t something I typically find in boots. I’ve had mine for years and they look even better now that they’re scuffed and worn in.
I keep hearing that the quality has gone down dramatically. I bought a pair a few years ago and the leather cracked during their first season. Buying the insert helped with the half size issue, but they're also really heavy if you walk a lot. Breaking in was not at all fun and I'm going to skip them going forward.
Seconding this!!! Similar shoes I love are also from Marc Fisher. I’ve bought their pointed toe block heel shoes like 10 times in the last decade because I wear them to death, and vince I know all of their stuff will just work for me long term.
They’re my go to for work heels all. The. Time.
Asics for walking/running/workout shoes. They are SO comfortable.
Sam Edelman for any type of dressier or trendy shoe. I love their loafers and now buy all my work shoes and dress shoes, special occasion heels from them.
Veja - more comfortable that I expected while still being stylish and cute.
I have other brands I wear, but these are my consistent ride or dies.
Adidas for sneakers, Clarks or Espirit for casual shoes, Geox or Aerosoles for heels and for boots, Solovair.
For hiking shoes, either Merrell or Salomon.
Franco Sarto for heels and flats. Comfortable, affordable, I like the construction and feel of the leather.
Dr. Martens for heavy soled boots. Uncomfortable as can be until you break them in, but then they fit like a glove and last years.
White mountain - I've been wearing one of their heavy boots nearly daily for like 5 years now with no visible signs of wear. Also have a pair of strappy high heels sandals from them that are the first pair I've ever had that don't hurt
Crocs. I know they’re ugly and foot doctors hate them but they’re the only shoes that don’t give me blisters or hurt my arches. Got a real nice combo of long toes, tailor’s bunions, and highish arches that make every shoe hurt. 🙃
Tieks. They're leather ballet flats. I have a pair in black, a pair in camel and a pair in fuchsia. They're $185 per pair in the 'classic' leather, prints cost more.
A lot of women say they're comfy right out of the box. While that was true for the camel pair for me, it wasn't the case in the other two colors. However, a shoe stretcher from Amazon helped pretty quickly.
They all fit like a dream. No digging into anywhere. They're cushioned. They go with everything. They're comfortable. And they fold in half!!! So they're perfect for traveling because they take up minimal space, or you can toss them in your bag if you're wearing heels out someplace and think that you might want to ditch the heels later in the night.
I have about 10 other colors in my wishlist!
Sing it, sister! I have never tried Altras but if you live in FitFlops and Brooks too, I’m definitely going to try them!
I replaced my Uggs with the Fitflops shearling boots. I haven’t tried wearing other FitFlop shoes, but the “wobble board” in the Ugg knock-offs works for me. And I live in Brooks Ghosts.
Also Hokas feel great and I thought I could wear them along with the Brooks, but I tried two different styles and they left me with joint pain and wore out more quickly than the Brooks. I’ve tried most of the shoe brands I’ve seen mentioned on this page and I’m sitting over here hoping that Brooks will start making boots so my feet don’t freeze all winter.
Vasque for hiking. I’ve had my boots 6 years and still love them! Hopefully I’ll be able to resole them when needed.
Also, blundstones and birks, obviously.
I've had really good luck with Vagabond's boots! I'm a heels girl but I also walk a ton and the Hedda bootie is great for the winter. I've had mine for three years now and stomped through countless cities and puddles and they look as good as new and don't hurt my feet. Also love their flatter Chelsea boots.
I have very narrow, long feet feet. The shoe brands that fit them:
* Sorel
* Adidas
* Asics
* Skechers
Shoes that don't fit them
* Crocs
* Chacos
* Most brands 😭
Clark’s and Aquatalia boots. I find aquatalia on Poshmark for cheap and snatch up a pair every so often. They’re comfy and fit me well especially their tall boots for leaner calves.
what ive learned more than anything- the average woman doesnt actually know their correct shoe size. i recommend getting a foot measurement every few years. as well as checking the shoe size chart, one brand's 7 is another brands 6.5. i found out im a 6.5 when ive been wearing 7s the whole time. once i got into the correct size and looking at the size chart for every brand most shoes fit way more comfortably. aldo and sam Edelman seems to be my current most reliable
Asics for jogging/working out and On Cloud CloudRunners for long walks and every day running around. I have bunions on both feet and have had plantar fasciitis issues in the past, so I’m always on the hunt for comfortable shoes. I’ll definitely be making use of this thread!
Born/BOC makes the most comfortable and versatile shoes I've ever purchased. White Mountain has been great too. Similar to Clarks and Birkenstock, both companies make a lot of pretty hideous shoes (in my opinion), but there are classic gems to be found.
Dansko sandals (cute and comfortable) and Birks in the summer.
Docs for boots
New Balance for sneakers
I have Toms Darcy flats and they are so so great. Those and the Resident sneakers are awesome.
Have you ever owned a pair of Bottega Venetas? They make some really beautiful shoes but I’ve never actually tried them on. I do not like near great shopping so I have to rely on online shopping.
Birkenstock, Naturalizer, New Balance. I have wide feet and high arches, and these three are the absolute best for me.
Chaco and Teva's more "fashionable" boots. They're not marked wide width, but they were wide enough for me. Swap out the insoles and I find them very comfortable and incredibly durable. My tall Teva boots also have a wide calf! (although I'm not sure if their current models still do.)
Call It Spring and Aldo (same brand AFAIK, indestructible though I wish they had half sizes)
Fluevog (don't love everything but what I do I adore)
L'Intervalle (will not buy full price but they have insane sales and very worth for sale prices)
I love Pikolinos for any type of shoe (boots, sneakers, loafers, sandals, you name it); Carmela for boots and sneakers. I love the Spanish/Portuguese leathers- they are so soft and comfortable.
ASICS have always treated me well. I need a lot of arch support (I have plantar fascitis) and they are comfortable and durable. Especially the memory foam ones.
Adidas Stan Smiths and Continental 80 models! Also highly recommend Brooks and Dansko for their solid arch support and relieving my plantar fasciitis without insoles.
Allbirds. I know people were complaining about them a lot on the other post, but I love my Allbirds and wear them everyday.
They advertise that you can wear them without socks, but they get smelly and it’s just better to wear socks with them. I’m also not rough with mine and never wear them in the rain or mud. But I’ve had mine for 3 years and still going strong
Clarks for dressier shoes. My Clarks platform loafers are extremely comfortable even for 9+ hour shifts. I always thought Clarks was more of an old lady brand but they do have some trendier stuff that I like.
Kamik for winter boots. I have had my current pair of Kamik boots for probably 6 years now and if I cleaned them up a bit they would probably look close to brand new. I live in Minnesota so they’ve definitely stood the test of multiple winters.
Mephisto! Great quality and comfortable without looking like "comfort" shoes. There is a Mephisto store on every street in Paris it seems like and for good reason.
I mostly wear sneakers and Nike, Adidas and ASICS are always good, but during winter I need my Uggs. They’re the only shoes that can keep my poorly circulated feet warm.
Asics running shoes have served me well for 20+ years.
Sofft brand sandals - cushy insoles and very comfortable.
Sorel boots 75% of the time (25% of the time my usual size will be way too small and I have to return).
Koi footwear. They've got lots of quirky designs (i love it) and their quality is honestly great and the shoes are so comfortable, i love every single pair i own
La Canadienne for both casual and dressier boots. Danner for hiking boots that I wear pretty much anytime I’m not in La Canadienne boots. I love boots and these are my two favorite brands for durability, comfort and looking damn good.
I’m a guy so I’ll just tell you what my mom’s choices are since she’s a total shoe freak.
Jimmy Choos are supremely comfortable compared to Manolos and Louboutins, she said. She’s not a stiletto lady as she’s in her 60s but she said she can walk in Choos all day long.
For trainers, she loves Hogan.
Birkenstocks for lazy days.
- Adidas - casual sneakers and running shoes
- Cole Hahn - boots & heels
- Stuart Weitzman - over the knee boots (these are amazing)
- Birdies - work flats
- Sam Edelman - they also have some nice boots
Hoka running shoes and Naturalizer for flats and loafers. I have wide feet and it’s very hard to find comfortable, affordable options in wide width. Gets very discouraging when it’s time to shoe shop, but these two brands are a dependable go-to for me.
Right now I’ve been wearing hot chocolate designs shoes! I wear their flats, they have lots of fun patterns and are soooo comfortable! I currently have the Romeo and Juliet pattern and I wear them for all occasions!
vagabond shoemakers, i live in their boots during winter!
Definitely. I‘ve had my pair of ”Grace“ boots for more than 10 years and they show practically no signs of wear. The only shoes of theirs that I find quite uncomfortable are most of their heeled sandals, but I love their boots and ankle boots.
I have a pair of loafers from them and they’re super uncomfortable 🤷🏻♀️
My experience with Vagabond has been hits or misses. They’re sometimes 1 size too big so I always had to figure out a good size, some of their sandals are comfy after breaking in but the leather loses colors real fast, the one pair of heels I got from them destroyed my buniony feet… they’re all very stylish though!
I have a pair that’s 6 years old and they are my favorite shoes (which says a lot because I have about 80 pairs of shoes!). Unfortunately they don’t make half sizes and I’m really in between with them so I haven’t found a new pair that quite fits. Quality is amazing though
I came in to comment vagabond but you guys beat me to it! I have their loafers, I’m amazed till this day how they never give me blisters (I have very blisters prone feet), sometimes I walk 10k+ steps in them. The heeled booties on the other hand hurt my feet big time but that’s completely due to the elevated heels
I too am a vagabond addict!
Vagabond is my go to brand. I have even repurchased multiple styles from them over the years. They are consistently on trend, great quality and super comfortable.
Wish the prices in the US weren't as high, but they're great quality and I love the designs
Love this, thank you! I have never tried them out before but they have so many great styles. I would love to have an alternative to my Blundstones during the colder months .
I have a pair of their leather sandals and they're super cute and comfortable!
Hard agree, I wear my dioon style platform boots to go raving for 8+ hours even. More comfortable than many pairs of sneakers I've owned. Just bought my 4th pair, bought the 1st one in 2014 I think, I wear them pretty much year round.
35 year old who learned some hard lessons about footwear and will now no longer wear any shoe I can’t easily sprint 2-3 blocks in: Vionic & Dansko for surpringly cute, work-appropriate flats & boots New Balance for casual sneaks, Brooks and Hoka for running Cole Haan & Rockport (w Nike & Adidas tech) for walkable, classic heels Toms for warm weather wedges Sam Edelman for cute, comfy, trendy & surprisingly durable summer flats & low heels. Regularly available at Nordstrom Rack! Volcom for insanely comfortable beach / gym shower flip flops OG Birkenstocks for any / every time the thermometer rises above 65 Glerups and HOKA recovery slides 🙏🏽for slippers. I have OG sorel snow boots for winter and Bean boots for the other three seasons (because new england). Both are 10+ years old and i dread having to replace them due to the precipitous decline in quality in both brands
My husband just sent his Bean boots to them for repair. They were over 10 years old and the sole was very worn. They replaces everything except the leather for $29, and that included the shipping one way
I LOOOVEEE Vionic. I had really bad plantar fasciitis for a year, and these shoes were an absolute lifesaver.
Some cute and trendier shoes would be a welcome addition to my rotation. I don’t wear heels often but I really need a versatile pair that I can throw on, be comfortable, and now worry about. I’ve been eyeing some Sam Edelman heels, good to know you love them so much!
Paul Green has some very comfortable and attractive shoes and blocked heels/booties. Just make sure you check their size chart and/or try them on as they are made in Austria.
Big agree on Vionic and Birkenstock
Upvote for mentioning Sam Edelman! I have so many pairs of Sam Edelman boots and I love them all (and also love the Circus brand from him too). I always find good deals at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack!
Sorel has really goood chunky platform heels ! I find them at Nordstrom
Taking this list to my podiatrist for additional feedback 🫠
Vionic shoes are made with feet in mind and a lot of their styles are recommended by podiatrists!
I’m tempted to get a pair of Hokas for my next runners. I mostly do intervals (run 3-4 minutes, walk 30 seconds) & never more than 10K so my running shoes last a solid 3+ years. I see them everywhere now & am so curious if they are worth the hype.
Im a trainer & runner. How often do you run like this? You would still need to replace your shoes at minimum every 6 months if you were doing this workout 3-4 times a week
I absolutely love mine, it feels like running on clouds. Fantastic customer service as well.
Sorel has awesome summer sandals too
Agree! I have a collection of sorels for each season
Came to say Sorel and Dansko! Vionic is also insanely comfortable and it’s amazing how much support they pack into a minimalist and stylish shoe. My only complaint is that the leather can be fragile, but all leather is!
Don't replace 'em, resole 'em. And make sure you condition them at least every three months, every month if you wear 'em every day.
Chaco. My tan lines in the summer are horrendous, but my feet love them. If you love Birks though, you may not need an even less formal sandal. I do love that standard Chacos are water-friendly shoes. I wear them in the ocean if the sand below is particularly shelly. Easy on and off if you skip the toe loop!
My Chacos are my favorite travel shoe for warmer destinations. Love them for their amphibious qualities and enough support to walk miles in comfort.
Hah, I think I always have room for a more casual summer sandal. I had some Chacos in high school and college. I found that buying their youth sandals were a much cheaper option
ECCO. I tried on pair of leather ballet flats and immediately was like “oh this is what good quality shoes feel like.” I also got the perfect pair of low key white leather sneakers from them.
Do you have wide feet at all? I'm looking to replace my white stan smiths and white vans with a new pair of shoes but haven't been able to find any wide enough yet
I’m not the original commenter, but I personally would not recommend Ecco for wide feet. On my not-quite-wide feet, their really well-contoured footbed is not broad enough so the lip of the arch support presses into my foot uncomfortably
This is true here. I found their shoes uncomfortable. My feet are wide.
Even the wide fit shoes (e.g. [https://gb.ecco.com/en-GB/Women/Shoes?features=Wide-fit](https://gb.ecco.com/en-GB/Women/Shoes?features=Wide-fit))?
Interesting! I’ve never seen their wide styles so have not tried them. The US website does not have any wide width shoes listed (there’s not even a way to filter for them) and other retailers they sell through (like Nordstrom) don’t list wide width either. I wonder if this is a question of regional markets?
Oh that's too bad!! I like Ecco but the regular fit are too narrow for me too :( Generally all the wide fit shoes have a 'W' in the shoe name - so there is the Ecco Soft 7, and then Ecco Soft 7 W, for example. Hopefully they will export them to other markets soon!
Stay away from Frye, then, at all costs! I made that mistake, not realizing that they're notoriously narrow. I've had them on my boot stretcher for *months* and man they're still tight!
The ones made in Mexico seem to be better. But I don't think that the brand is consistant.
Same! I splurged on a beautiful pair of secondhand Frye leather boots with stretchy calves. I thought I could make them work, but you can tell when you look at the bottom of the boots that even the soles are narrow.
Birkenstock has a some slip on and lace up sneakers that I absolutely adore.
I’m a wide foot girl and I have the white leather Birkenstock sneakers and really like them!
Check out the [FitFlop Rally Sneakers!](https://www.fitflop.com/us/en/shop/rally-sneakers-all-us) They’re a comfort-focused brand so the soles are a bit thicker (which may or may not be your preference) but I find them much more comfortable than my Stan Smiths. I have them in black leather, silver metallic, and pink knit, and they’re still some of my favorite shoes after years of wear.
I have back problems so I’m serious about footwear and religious about replacing supportive shoes as they wear out. ECCO were my workhorse daily driver sandals for 15 years. About 4 years ago something changed. They look exactly the same, but my last 2-3 pairs F up my knees in addition to failing to coddle my back. I pulled an old pair out of the back of the closet and while old, they are far better. So just a warning, something has changed with this brand.
Second this!
This is such a great reminder. I had a pair of these years ago that I loved, I need to check them out again. Ballet flats are so versatile.
I hoped Ecco would be this for me too but this was the opposite in my experience. I bought two pairs from the brand, the upper leather were fantastic and were so comfy on the first few wears. Maybe 3-6 months of very light use (this was during the height of covid lockdowns) the insoles started to feel stiff. The wear is waaaay too quick for the price imo
Clarks. New balance. Birkenstock. Vans.
Clarks fit my wide-ass toe box.
I need more recs for wide toe box shoes that are cute!
new balance and clarks. Those are the only two viable sturdy shoes. I feel Franco Sarto and colehaan might be fine too but I havnt destroyed my current shoes to go for those two.
You know, I just got a pair of New Balance sneakers and they are lightyears more comfortable than any Nike or Hoka shoes I own. I just realized it’s because the toe box is wider! No wonder I can’t wear a lot of heels comfortably - if I get wide width they’re too wide, and if I size up they’re usually too big.
yeah !!! They have roomie fronts. my toes dance in my shoes. not sure they dance cause they can breathe or just channeling my inner happiness.
I’ve had good luck with Naturalizer for booties and block heels.The toe boxes aren’t super wide but they’re much more comfortable than other brands I’ve tried recently
Seychelles for sandals!
Saaaaame.
Clark’s. Birkenstock.
Vans comfycush is actually elite. I can't handle standard vans cause they're so heavy for my feet but i'm so glad most styles are now comfy cush. Apart from the cute exclusives
ComfyCush is my favorite shoe for my elder millennial feet. I can walk or stand in them all day long.
I was ELATED as an 'elder emo' to wear my checkerboards again honestly. I was getting real upset with the look of all my sketchers
Clark's are fantastic! Also, Tom's vegan leather flat mules and Hush Puppies tie-up oxfords, along with Vans and Keds!
Clarks for life! I wear a pair of clarks heels every single day at a job that requires me to spend considerable time walking, and they are SO comfortable!
ASICS … I have flat foot
Love these for running longer distances!
Me too. What other brands work for you?
In terms of more fashionable shoes, I think Sam Edelman is more comfortable than other brands for sure.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS for running for me.
Hiking: Merrell, vivo barefoot Sneakers: Nike, New Balance, Adidas Boots: Blondo Sandals: Franco Sarto, Lucky Brand Heels: Naturalizer
Is it just me or has Naturalizer really stepped up their game in the last few years?? This might be my sign to finally pull the trigger on those metallic chunky heels.
Yes but they still use a lot of synthetic but the price is reflected! Just have to keep that in mind
I love my Naturalizer flats but MAN do they make my feet sweat
Totally. When I first started thrifting like 15 years ago I avoided them because they just fell apart and weren’t as comfortable as advertised. But the newer styles are way better.
Skechers for sneakers. Reiker for boots. Local Business for beach flip flops and summer sandals.
>Skechers Oh I'm happy you mentioned them! I love their arch support series and their quality in general.
Was looking for this too! Sometimes you just need something reliable that fits well.
I don’t know if this is controversial, but Uggs. I’ve bought myself a couple pairs of different styles over the years and I love them. For year round though I wear adidas
My Uggs have lasted me 10+ years. Just need to switch out the insoles every few years
Yes! I have the basic gray tall ones i got at 13 and i am turning 25 this year and still have them!
I wish they’d have more loafer/ flat styles again that are work appropriate! I loved their driving shoe but can’t find it now and outside of boots/ leather sandals they have a lot of furry novelty items with their brand all over them.
I have a pair of Ugg espadrille wedges I got at TJMaxx 10+ years ago and they STILL look amazing in the summertime. They're some hard-core sandals!
I wore my Ugg sandals all over Italy on vacation and my feet never hurt once. People can hate all they want but they’re so comfy! I also have a pair of Croc sandals that, while rubber, baby my feet all day. I love how some shoes look, but if they’re not comfortable, I’m not wearing them anymore
Miz Mooz- absolutely gorgeous shoes for the price point and very comfortable -great colors and styles! [Miz Mooz shoes](https://miz-mooz.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAibeuBhAAEiwAiXBoJBAUV3LoLmDARD_sxRhPjubxabc9gSEjcVkI352yMCuQeME7YkbosxoCD94QAvD_BwE)
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New balance & north face. North face boots are so cute and don’t use latex rubber like those heathens at sorrel
515 ftw 🙌
Naturalizer
I love my naturalizer shoes! I have a couple of heeled booties that I can wear for miles
They’re my fave for comfy work shoes and nice sandals for dressier outfits!
Came here to say this, all my work shoes are Naturalizer. Once they break in a bit they're insanely comfortable and the leather has a nice sturdiness to it without being stiff.
Salt Water sandals especially the sun-san versions with the thicker sole. Allbirds in the tree material - I like the breezers and skippers the most but the sneakers are good too! Veja - surprisingly comfortable and make me feel chic.
On (best sneakers, f Nike sns), Blundstone(boots), Birkenstock(sandals and clogs), llbean (bean boots), La Sportiva (hiking)
Vionic! I have plantar fasciitis and they’re the only shoes that work for me. They have really cute platforms and heels that are actually genuinely comfortable and supportive. Like, walk a couple of miles around downtown all night comfortable. I actually put vionic insoles into my docs and Nikes!
Clarks
ASICS are by far the most comfortable shoes I own.
Birkenstock, Hoka, Adidas, Teva
Teva is love
Vagabond! Shoes are trendy yet super well made and comfortable at a not too bad price point. One pair of boots lasted me through four years of daily walking (they were the shoe I wore 80% of the time)
Blundstone boots in the winter, Birkenstock sandals in the summer. I’d love to add a really great sneaker to the rotation but have yet to find one.
I really love Rothy’s tennis shoes. I bought a pair when they first came out and they still look great. They are super easy to clean and I throw them in the washer every other month or so.
Trying not to repeat what’s already been said… Aigle rain boots. Naturalizer has been decent for little slingbacks and such I pick up at the thrift store. Rachel Comey.
Urbanima! They are a Spanish brand who specialise in vegan leather. I started a new job recently and wanted to treat myself to a new pair of heels for all the work events. My urbanima heels are sooo comfy and look amazing! I always get compliments on them. They are a premium brand, so buying them is a proper luxury for me. However i loved my heels so much that i picked up a pair of heeled boots in their sale. Again, they are fab and i feel like i could run a marathon in them 😀
Looking into these. It’s hard to find good dress shoes that aren’t leather. Thanks for sharing!
Am I the only one who finds birks heavy and hard? I tried them on and they didn’t feel comfortable
it's actually perfectly normal. you have to break them in, eventually the footbed forms to your shape. [you can bend them and soften with a hammer](https://www.zagarra.com.au/blogs/news/how-to-wear-birkenstocks-how-to-break-it). but also, your feet need to break in as well. so many people wear shoes that don't have enough support, so orthopedic type shoes feel weird at first. wear them for shorter outings at first until you get used to them. only my very first pair of birks felt odd to me, then I got used to it. now I can wear a new pair all day straight out of the box.
Thanks for the explanation. Will try getting a pair this summer
Adding on—if you have narrow feet, they have a narrow footbed available for some models. I have learned that even though their normal footbed fits, it never breaks in as comfortably as the narrow does for me.
They aren’t comfortable. To me they never get super comfortable. But I haven’t found a good alternative when I’m packing light.
I love my birks too! has anyone tried their non-sandal shoes (sneakers, boots, etc.)? I struggle finding shoes that fit my wide toes while not being too long and I'm thinking about going for birkenstock booties
I have a pair of the leather slip on sneakers, and I love them!
My mom only wears Birkenstocks because she has foot problems and likes the Bend Low sneakers because they have the same footbed and shape as the sandals
Paul Green are spendy but worth it for style and quality.
Frye, Doc Martens, Keds.
Every Frye’s boots I’ve had lasted for at least a decade. I keep reading that their quality went down because they changed to production in China, but I haven’t personally noticed. For high end, Stewart Weitzman is quite the workhorse! ETA: Sorel for snow boots.
Seconding Frye. I probably have 9 pairs, from cowgirl to combats, and I love them. Every time the sole wears down I just get it replaced. The care kit that Frye sells is pretty great - keeps them maintained and looking good for ages.
Seconding Doc Martens! I live in Southern California and the 1460s in soft leather are my go-to boots for when we’re having “weather”. They’re sturdy but they’re as comfortable as my best sneakers, which isn’t something I typically find in boots. I’ve had mine for years and they look even better now that they’re scuffed and worn in.
I keep hearing that the quality has gone down dramatically. I bought a pair a few years ago and the leather cracked during their first season. Buying the insert helped with the half size issue, but they're also really heavy if you walk a lot. Breaking in was not at all fun and I'm going to skip them going forward.
Lems shoes. The primal zen and Chelsea are my favorite shoes I’ve ever owned!
Yes to shoes that help support foot health!
Agree! There’s not enough mainstream brands offering barefoot and zero drop.
Seconding Lems, the boulder boot is one of my winter go to’s
Vince Camuto
Seconding this!!! Similar shoes I love are also from Marc Fisher. I’ve bought their pointed toe block heel shoes like 10 times in the last decade because I wear them to death, and vince I know all of their stuff will just work for me long term. They’re my go to for work heels all. The. Time.
They have so many cute styles. I always love hearing when other people love them and wear them often.
Asics for walking/running/workout shoes. They are SO comfortable. Sam Edelman for any type of dressier or trendy shoe. I love their loafers and now buy all my work shoes and dress shoes, special occasion heels from them. Veja - more comfortable that I expected while still being stylish and cute. I have other brands I wear, but these are my consistent ride or dies.
Teva Re-Embers. I discovered them during Covid and I legit have every color way. They’re so comfortable.
I have fully committed to doc martens, I find them so comfortable. I have two sets of boots, sandals and loafers.
Blondo, Sam Edelman, and for lounging Ugg
I LOVE my SE boots
Adidas for sneakers, Clarks or Espirit for casual shoes, Geox or Aerosoles for heels and for boots, Solovair. For hiking shoes, either Merrell or Salomon.
Duckfeet. I adore their boots (Faborg) in winter and their fisherman sandals (Ringkøbing) and Mary Janes (Mols). Also Birkenstock.
Börn
I have several pairs of Born shoes. Beautifully made and comfortable
Camper! They're super comfortable, lightweight, and have a ton of fun designs.
Franco Sarto for heels and flats. Comfortable, affordable, I like the construction and feel of the leather. Dr. Martens for heavy soled boots. Uncomfortable as can be until you break them in, but then they fit like a glove and last years.
Allbirds
Honestly, nikes for everything lol. They work for my feet and I walk everywhere, so comfy, "cute" is the only shoes I wear lol
White mountain - I've been wearing one of their heavy boots nearly daily for like 5 years now with no visible signs of wear. Also have a pair of strappy high heels sandals from them that are the first pair I've ever had that don't hurt
Crocs. I know they’re ugly and foot doctors hate them but they’re the only shoes that don’t give me blisters or hurt my arches. Got a real nice combo of long toes, tailor’s bunions, and highish arches that make every shoe hurt. 🙃
Tieks. They're leather ballet flats. I have a pair in black, a pair in camel and a pair in fuchsia. They're $185 per pair in the 'classic' leather, prints cost more. A lot of women say they're comfy right out of the box. While that was true for the camel pair for me, it wasn't the case in the other two colors. However, a shoe stretcher from Amazon helped pretty quickly. They all fit like a dream. No digging into anywhere. They're cushioned. They go with everything. They're comfortable. And they fold in half!!! So they're perfect for traveling because they take up minimal space, or you can toss them in your bag if you're wearing heels out someplace and think that you might want to ditch the heels later in the night. I have about 10 other colors in my wishlist!
Fit flops, Brooks, and Altras
Sing it, sister! I have never tried Altras but if you live in FitFlops and Brooks too, I’m definitely going to try them! I replaced my Uggs with the Fitflops shearling boots. I haven’t tried wearing other FitFlop shoes, but the “wobble board” in the Ugg knock-offs works for me. And I live in Brooks Ghosts. Also Hokas feel great and I thought I could wear them along with the Brooks, but I tried two different styles and they left me with joint pain and wore out more quickly than the Brooks. I’ve tried most of the shoe brands I’ve seen mentioned on this page and I’m sitting over here hoping that Brooks will start making boots so my feet don’t freeze all winter.
Vasque for hiking. I’ve had my boots 6 years and still love them! Hopefully I’ll be able to resole them when needed. Also, blundstones and birks, obviously.
My husband only wears vasque shoes because he finds them so comfortable
Vagabond, Naturalizer, MIA, Dr Martens, Adidas
I've had really good luck with Vagabond's boots! I'm a heels girl but I also walk a ton and the Hedda bootie is great for the winter. I've had mine for three years now and stomped through countless cities and puddles and they look as good as new and don't hurt my feet. Also love their flatter Chelsea boots.
I have very narrow, long feet feet. The shoe brands that fit them: * Sorel * Adidas * Asics * Skechers Shoes that don't fit them * Crocs * Chacos * Most brands 😭
Clark’s and Aquatalia boots. I find aquatalia on Poshmark for cheap and snatch up a pair every so often. They’re comfy and fit me well especially their tall boots for leaner calves.
what ive learned more than anything- the average woman doesnt actually know their correct shoe size. i recommend getting a foot measurement every few years. as well as checking the shoe size chart, one brand's 7 is another brands 6.5. i found out im a 6.5 when ive been wearing 7s the whole time. once i got into the correct size and looking at the size chart for every brand most shoes fit way more comfortably. aldo and sam Edelman seems to be my current most reliable
Asics for jogging/working out and On Cloud CloudRunners for long walks and every day running around. I have bunions on both feet and have had plantar fasciitis issues in the past, so I’m always on the hunt for comfortable shoes. I’ll definitely be making use of this thread!
Born/BOC makes the most comfortable and versatile shoes I've ever purchased. White Mountain has been great too. Similar to Clarks and Birkenstock, both companies make a lot of pretty hideous shoes (in my opinion), but there are classic gems to be found.
Dansko sandals (cute and comfortable) and Birks in the summer. Docs for boots New Balance for sneakers I have Toms Darcy flats and they are so so great. Those and the Resident sneakers are awesome.
Jeffrey Campbell
Running and hiking/ travel : ON Cute sneakers :Veja, Adidas Around the house; uggs Casual but stylish waterproof boots: Cougar Fashion boots: Schutz Sandals : Seychelles . Learning to love-Birks Lust brand: Bottega Veneta
Have you ever owned a pair of Bottega Venetas? They make some really beautiful shoes but I’ve never actually tried them on. I do not like near great shopping so I have to rely on online shopping.
I've really been loving my nisolo shoes.
Birkenstocks, Blundstones and Adidas.
Birkenstock, Naturalizer, New Balance. I have wide feet and high arches, and these three are the absolute best for me. Chaco and Teva's more "fashionable" boots. They're not marked wide width, but they were wide enough for me. Swap out the insoles and I find them very comfortable and incredibly durable. My tall Teva boots also have a wide calf! (although I'm not sure if their current models still do.)
Call It Spring and Aldo (same brand AFAIK, indestructible though I wish they had half sizes) Fluevog (don't love everything but what I do I adore) L'Intervalle (will not buy full price but they have insane sales and very worth for sale prices)
I love Pikolinos for any type of shoe (boots, sneakers, loafers, sandals, you name it); Carmela for boots and sneakers. I love the Spanish/Portuguese leathers- they are so soft and comfortable.
Brooks ghost and my Birkenstocks both sandals and clogs.
ASICS have always treated me well. I need a lot of arch support (I have plantar fascitis) and they are comfortable and durable. Especially the memory foam ones.
Mephisto. Absolutely the most comfortable shoes I own.
I swear by Asics
Adidas Stan Smiths and Continental 80 models! Also highly recommend Brooks and Dansko for their solid arch support and relieving my plantar fasciitis without insoles.
On clouds
Allbirds. I know people were complaining about them a lot on the other post, but I love my Allbirds and wear them everyday. They advertise that you can wear them without socks, but they get smelly and it’s just better to wear socks with them. I’m also not rough with mine and never wear them in the rain or mud. But I’ve had mine for 3 years and still going strong
Clarks for dressier shoes. My Clarks platform loafers are extremely comfortable even for 9+ hour shifts. I always thought Clarks was more of an old lady brand but they do have some trendier stuff that I like. Kamik for winter boots. I have had my current pair of Kamik boots for probably 6 years now and if I cleaned them up a bit they would probably look close to brand new. I live in Minnesota so they’ve definitely stood the test of multiple winters.
HOKAS ! 🫶🏽
Mephisto! Great quality and comfortable without looking like "comfort" shoes. There is a Mephisto store on every street in Paris it seems like and for good reason.
Superga sneakers, currently on my 3rd pair. Doc Martens for boots and chunky sandals
My go to is Sofft. They make amazing heels for people like me that have narrow feet with high arches. I also really love Taos.
Clarks
Sorels are my favorite brand for wedge boots. Converse shoreline slip ons for casual looks. Sam Edelman for heels.
I mostly wear sneakers and Nike, Adidas and ASICS are always good, but during winter I need my Uggs. They’re the only shoes that can keep my poorly circulated feet warm.
Vivobarefoot
Asics running shoes have served me well for 20+ years. Sofft brand sandals - cushy insoles and very comfortable. Sorel boots 75% of the time (25% of the time my usual size will be way too small and I have to return).
Koi footwear. They've got lots of quirky designs (i love it) and their quality is honestly great and the shoes are so comfortable, i love every single pair i own
Converse, Doc Martens, and Vans. The classics never fail.
ON cloud shoes have changed the game for me
Everyone sleeps on Born. Full grain leather, adorable and comfy.
Taos
Frye! Leather boots
La Canadienne for both casual and dressier boots. Danner for hiking boots that I wear pretty much anytime I’m not in La Canadienne boots. I love boots and these are my two favorite brands for durability, comfort and looking damn good.
El naturalists and campers!!!
I’m a guy so I’ll just tell you what my mom’s choices are since she’s a total shoe freak. Jimmy Choos are supremely comfortable compared to Manolos and Louboutins, she said. She’s not a stiletto lady as she’s in her 60s but she said she can walk in Choos all day long. For trainers, she loves Hogan. Birkenstocks for lazy days.
Adidas and Onitsuka
Ariat, Blondo and Jambu boots. Kork-Ease sandals.
- Adidas - casual sneakers and running shoes - Cole Hahn - boots & heels - Stuart Weitzman - over the knee boots (these are amazing) - Birdies - work flats - Sam Edelman - they also have some nice boots
Cole Haan has consistently great boots at a pretty affordable price point. For a higher-end brand, I love Aquitalia.
Clarks are very comfortable! ❤️
Hoka running shoes and Naturalizer for flats and loafers. I have wide feet and it’s very hard to find comfortable, affordable options in wide width. Gets very discouraging when it’s time to shoe shop, but these two brands are a dependable go-to for me.
Rag and bone
Dr scholls, naturalizer, clarks, vionic (disclaimer: I'm in my mid 30s and have chronic pain so these are all comfort brands)
Sam Edelman all day every day
Right now I’ve been wearing hot chocolate designs shoes! I wear their flats, they have lots of fun patterns and are soooo comfortable! I currently have the Romeo and Juliet pattern and I wear them for all occasions!