My Very Excellent Walking Sandals

I recently added a new pair of sandals. A new pair of walking sandals, as in real walking, as in miles a day walking. From a store that specializes in comfort. Does this sound like the height of fashion? Obviously very much no, yet I haven’t been this thrilled by a shoe purchase in some time.

Presenting – my very excellent, super duper Dansko sandals (also available at Nordstrom).

Yes I know. Danskos! I never thought I’d end up with a pair of sandals from this brand but I just got back from a very short trip to Paris where I walked at least 3 miles a day in up to 95 degree heat (lunacy) and these were basically the only shoes I wore. And they were cute. And comfortable. And I emerged with no blisters.

I’m not the sort of person who can wear “any sort of shoe”.  I don’t have that sort of super foot and/or ability to absorb pain that lets me walk in chic stiff leather shoes for a mile. I’m still attached to my Saint Laurent Tributes for this reason. Despite a few Prada platforms coming close, nothing has yet replaced these in my heart.

But for some time, I’ve been on the hunt for some time for a sandal I can really walk in. For the longest time, it was Birkenstocks. I still love my Birks. But I really wanted something a tiny bit better, and since we were going to Europe, also something that I could conceivably wear to a “slightly” nicer restaurant without snooty looks from the waitstaff. I discovered these Danskos on a random stroll through our local neighborhood “walking shoe” shop, and it was like the skies were parting. No, really! Not bad, right? Especially compared to how I usually wear this romper, with a pair of Everlane mules, which are also incredibly comfortable, but definitely not “3 milers”.

I included a picture of the mules above (which I love), in case any of you are looking for a slightly heeled dressy mule. Really good. And more versatile year round. But anyway, back to the Danskos.

Yes, close up they’re a little bit less pretty – if you look super close you can see that the straps in the front and back actually close with VELCRO (!) which is slightly less elegant but honestly a godsend on a hot day when I was constantly adjusting my sandals. But who cares when a pair of sandals let’s you walk for miles and feel as if you’re floating on clouds?  I already bought a backup pair in white. If you want a comfortable sandal, I really can’t give a higher recommendation.

Do you have any comfortable walking sandal recommendations (besides Birkenstocks? But even if they are Birks – I want to hear).