Shoes that got me through India!

aebp25

I know it sounds like a silly thing, but with all the walking you do in India, it really does matter. Esp. if you have ANY foot issues (destroyed mine running). I looked every where for good walking and hiking shoes. My MIL finally recommended that I get a pair of "crocs". Basically all rubber shoes that she swears by as a nurse on her feet all day.

They were amazing. So comfortable and you can get them with different amounts of venilation and in a rainbow of colors. There are many different styles. I had no problem walking for hours, climbing millions of stairs, or being sure footed in the crazy traffic of Bombay. I can't recommend them enough. And they weigh almost nothing! Not saying they are cute, but the benefits make up for it!

the website is www.crocs.com

(Another huge bonus - when they get dirty (like all shoes there will) you can just wash them off in the shower and you are good to go. Because you will one day step in something that is scary!)

Sama

I just bought some Keen trekking sandals that I will take with me in March. They were recommended by a woman I know who trekked thru the mountains of Mexico. The style I bought is Newport. I liked the Jamestown style, but they did not have my size. Check out the website below for a HUGE selection of Keen shoes and a ton of other good brands.

http://www.zappos.com/n/es/d/722063234/page/1.html

They are pricey, but they fit like a glove, are light, and even tho mine are leather, I can throw them in the washing machine. Buy a half size larger than what you usually wear.

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lotus blossom

i've heard good things about these crazy looking shoes too, and yes, good fitting comfortable footwear is essential. i am wanting to move away from leather footwear, so am also interested from this standpoint. and so many zany colors!! thanks for the info.

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lotus blossom

i know someone who loves her keens. i am not sure if they sell non-leather shoes, but this shoe also seems a good bet.

Sama

yes, they do sell non-leather. the non-leather style of my style is Newport H2.

Darmabum

Those Keens are going with me too . . . in about two weeks! I use them for river running . . . quick drying . . . light . . . should be perfect for monsoon in Varanasi.

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lotus blossom

thanks yogagal; i'm checkin' 'em out!

HowieUK

I bought some 'Merrell' walking trainers to wear! Don't really know where they're from? (I should have checked for child labour! ) I wore them for a day in the house and they are sound!

Another pair of something on the feet is required? So! I'm interested in this thread and recommendations that have been given! - Keep them coming!

Howie

Darmabum

the great thing for me about the Keen's mentioned above is that they cover the whole foot but are very well ventilated. Kind of a half-way house between a closed shoe (as I imagine the Merrel's might be) and a flip-flop beach sandal.

HowieUK

I forgot to say that I tried a pair of Keens on last week and didn't find them too comfortable!

It could be as someone said, go up half a size as the ones I tried were half a size down!

Howie

davyd

Shoes ?
In my case I found difficult to carry black shoes for my two formal suits, sneakers for sporting and casual wear that I used also in Ladakh, practical sandals I bought on Main Bazaar for South India and comfortable light fabrics tennis shoes I purchased for their look in Diu.

How you handle all this luggage if you have many boots as me?

I don't know much about Crocs and Keens but noticed that many western backpackers easily slipped into Indian styled rubber sandals of simplest design.

Sama

Howie!

davyd, I know I for one need a good supportive shoe, and flat sandals of any type (where it's just a piece of leather or rubber on my sole) would kill my feet. not good having sore feet wherever you are.

HowieUK

Yes Doh!

I didn't think of trying half a size above the normal and they had that size in the sale!!!!

I'm going back tomorrow! - and you just know that they would have sold the last pair of that size 2 minutes before I get there!!!!!

Howie

guerik

I've got a pair of "spoilers" made by Teva and I swear by them - super comfy, no blisters and I even went for a walk in the snow in them (+socks and a plastic bag over each foot - it wasn't on purpose!)
I wore them for more or less six months straight and never had any problems, they're the only shoe I'm bringing with me on my next trip! I'll also be testing them out on a bit of a hike up in the mountains of Thailand (ripped half my toenail off recently so can't wear closed shoes anyway), and am pretty confident they'll do well for me

Nick-H

Good and comfortable footware is utterly essential --- anywhere in the world!

I've tried on Teva and Merrel stuff in the fancy Outdoors shops in London (there were some pretty good sale bargains last time I went) and nothing suited me at all. The shapes were not right, the hard bits came in the wrong places for my feet.

I used to have a great pair of Clarke's sandals (even had non-slip sole, for those nowdays-rare occasions I get aboard a boat). They would be fine still after several years except the velcro fastenings have lost their grip.

At the moment (This season I will mostly be...) wearing a half-of GBP15 pair of sandals from a UK shop called Moshula. Very comfortable.

I don't wear flipflops or the light, trad, leather chappals: I don't like flip-flopping. If you do you can get foot wear here for un-noticable amounts of money! I can get a very decent pair of comfortable sandals for around Rs500, which is quite pricey here.

I'm glad the expensive sandals don't suit: I'm a consumerist sucker for this kind of thing and sailing once got me addicted to top-of-the-range Sebago shoes for everyday wear. Expensive.

I'm also glad I don't have to think about different climates (although I'll get a pair of wellies for next year's monsoon), jungle or mountain trecking --- although I have a nice pair of boots I wore coming from London. I hope they survive the hot humid climate until they get worn again: I give them a coat of polish every few weeks (which is more than I ever used to do for shoes in UK).

Nothing silly about insisting on comfortable shoes!

One more important thing: make sure you wear them in before leaving. Made this mistake last year and got a blister withing three days. I had to buy a new pair just so I had something with the strap rubbing in a different place.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team