Do you wear Dansko-esque clogs? ISO comfy shoe recommendations

[citymama]

I really want a pair of shoes that feel as comfortable as my New Balance sneakers but look nicer - shoes I can walk around town in without looking like I'm heading to the gym. I walk a lot and take public transit and most of the time with baby in carrier.

About my feet: not much of an arch, sort of flat feet. I never wear heels. NEVER - not since my wedding 9 years ago! Somewhat wide, which means I get callouses easily with narrower shoes that rub against my little toes. Generally my favorite shoes are NB trail runners or Teva/Born sandals. You get the picture - comfort first!

Dansko/Sanita clogs look like the perfect thing but every time I've tried them on, they haven't felt right. I had a rare 20 minute trip to a local shoe store the other day where they had these Born clogs on sale (roughly the same price as DSW): http://www.dsw.com/shoe/b.o.c.+peggy+clog?prodId=206963&productRef=SEARCH

I bought them - it says they are size M/W which I guess means medium/wide? They fit better than the Sanitas I've tried on, but still feel clunky, maybe it's the 2 inch heel? The footbed is very cushy but the overall effect is still hard, if you KWIM. And despite the M/W size I still felt like it was kind of claustrophobic around the toe-bed. I'm debating between keeping them, seeing if they work (meaning walk around outside) or just giving them back (which means I can't try them on outside my vacuumed living room floor!).

And I'm scratching my head as to what shoe is going to feel comfy on my feet that isn't a pair of sneakers! Help! I'd love to hear what kind of clogs I should try, whether I should give these ones another chance, and any other kind of uber-comfy shoe you'd recommend for a comfort-seeking walker who craves a little style in her life. ;) Thanks!

[graciebellesmomma]

OMG, I LOVE those clogs and have been looking for them in black, on sale, in a size 9.5.
I have then in a dark brown and can walk for hours in them. They took a while to break in, but now they are my go to shoes for touring around San Francisco or Chicago. Super great for my feet. If yours happen to be a size 9.5 and you don't want them or if you go back to the store and they have my size.....I'd be so thrilled if you could pick them up for me and I could paypal you immediately!

Wear them around your house for a few days and see what you think. I have tons of shoes and boots and they truly are a comfy walking shoe for me!

[citymama]

OMG, I LOVE those clogs and have been looking for them in black, on sale, in a size 9.5.
I have then in a dark brown and can walk for hours in them. They took a while to break in, but now they are my go to shoes for touring around San Francisco or Chicago. Super great for my feet. If yours happen to be a size 9.5 and you don't want them or if you go back to the store and they have my size.....I'd be so thrilled if you could pick them up for me and I could paypal you immediately!

Wear them around your house for a few days and see what you think. I have tons of shoes and boots and they truly are a comfy walking shoe for me!

Seriously? That's great to know! I bought a sz 9 even though I usually wear a 8.5 shoe. I'm in SF and they sell them at store here called Sports Basement on Bryant St - I'm sure they'll ship them to you. I'm pretty sure they had them in all sizes. They are actually marked at $60 but I had a 10% off code.

Does the heel end up hurting after a while on your feet or does the sole "soften up" over time? It feels kind of hard to me, as does the leather. What kind of socks do you wear with it? Thanks so much for the feedback!

[Momit]

I'm wearing these shoes right now! I have 2 pairs like this, and 2 others that are true clogs with an open back. I LOVE them all and find them very comfortable for walking and being on my feet a lot. I usually wear normal dark socks (not thin like knee-hi nylons but not like thick socks you'd wear with sneakers either).

The heel stays pretty firm from what I've seen, but the leather does soften up some. I will say that with one of the pairs, I do occasionally step wrong and land on the outside of my foot. I've never hurt myself, and it only happens once in a while and only with that one pair.

These are my favorite fall/winter shoes ever!

[wellyes]

Danskos never felt right to me, either.

The most comfortable shoe I've ever worn is a Josef Seibel. Soft like butter but still somehow supportive enough that you can wear them for long walks outside. They're expensive but Sierra Trading Post usually has some on closeout.

[MamaSnoo]

Danskos never felt right to me, either.

The most comfortable shoe I've ever worn is a Josef Seibel. Soft like butter but still somehow supportive enough that you can wear them for long walks outside. They're expensive but Sierra Trading Post usually has some on closeout.



Well, YMMV. I have been very happy in Dasnkos for years. No they do not have a cushioned footbed. It is a different feel and I remember thinking "this is odd, not bad, but odd" for the first month.

I have has one pair of Josef Seibel's. I hated them. They had this little pebbly insole that was supposed to "massage" your feet when you walked. It left little dents in the bottom of my foot and felt like I was standing on rocks! And they were $$ so, I tried to like them. I do not know if that insole is standard with them, or just an experiment gone awry.

GL!

[Green_Tea]

I have seen the shoes you bought in person (very cute!) and as a loyal, die-hard Dansko wearer I can say they are really not the same thing at all. Danskos have no footbed padding and they are much roomier in the toe bed. The shoes you bought also have much softer, more supple leather than Danskos, so they're much more flexible on top.

I probably am not making Danskos sound very comfy :) but they really, really are. I know a few people who felt like there was a little "learning curve" to Danksos, but have never met anyone who didn't love them after wearing them for a few weeks.

[MWmom]

...probably am not making Danskos sound very comfy but they really, really are.
Well, YMMV. I have been very happy in Dasnkos for years... It is a different feel and I remember thinking "this is odd, not bad, but odd" for the first month.
:yeahthat:
When I taught school and was on my feet all day these were fantastic! The first few years of teaching I wore various shoes and really felt it by the end of the day. A hairstylist friend recommended these. After getting used them WOW what a difference for me. I'd wear them all day and not think twice about needing to take them off. My feet rarely hurt or bothered me once I switched. I ended up with three pairs so I could coordinate with most of my wardrobe. I can justify the price b/c of how much I wear them and how long they last. I still wear them now that I'm a SAHM. Including while I have E in an ergo. I think they're great. Sneakers are still my first choice b/c I dress casual so often.
They felt very odd when I first tried them and did take maybe two weeks or so to get used to it. Maybe the arch support is what was different for me. I don't think I have high arches but not sure how that will go for you. Maybe someone else can comment. Will say one negative experience I had was wearing them for continuous walking at a massive all day craft show--no baby just girlfriends & shopping. Boy did I feel it that evening. Otherwise I vote give them a try.

On a side note:
With the first pair a salesman said they were handmade and had small differences. So if one pair didn't work out try another in the same size. That worked for me. So if possible I don't like to buy them online. I've read that Dansko lost the right to distribute Sanita under the Dansko label. There was a lawsuit and they started selling the shoe under their own label a few years ago. I own both and am happy with each. Both are a good quality last forever and feel great to me. This is what I found today on the differences:
http://www.eurowalking.com/Dansko_Sanita_Information_s/56.htm
http://www.ehow.com/about_5403695_dansko-vs-sanita.html
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-168884526/legal-briefs-dansko-sanita.html
Didn't mean for this to get so lengthy :o Anyway hope you find something that works

[Aishe]

Your feet sound similar to mine (just throw in a bunion and a permanently broken toe for extra good times), and I live in these:

http://www.naot.com/cgi-bin/show_product.pl?yaleet_number=67040&cat=

I think they look cuter on than in the picture, although, yeah, they're still comfort shoes. I literally have worn them almost every day for the past 10 years or so. (I own several pairs.) I've never found anything as comfortable as these.

ETA: With the exception of the Lolita sandals, Danskos have never worked for me either.

[Momit]

The most comfortable shoe I've ever worn is a Josef Seibel. Soft like butter but still somehow supportive enough that you can wear them for long walks outside. They're expensive but Sierra Trading Post usually has some on closeout.




These are great shoes! I have one pair for the summer and love them - comfy like my Lands' End mary janes but not "sporty" looking at all.

[citymama]

The most comfortable shoe I've ever worn is a Josef Seibel. Soft like butter but still somehow supportive enough that you can wear them for long walks outside. They're expensive but Sierra Trading Post usually has some on closeout.


I've owned a couple of pairs of Josef Seibel sandals bought at DSW of all places! They were comfy.

I have seen the shoes you bought in person (very cute!) and as a loyal, die-hard Dansko wearer I can say they are really not the same thing at all. Danskos have no footbed padding and they are much roomier in the toe bed. The shoes you bought also have much softer, more supple leather than Danskos, so they're much more flexible on top.

I probably am not making Danskos sound very comfy :) but they really, really are. I know a few people who felt like there was a little "learning curve" to Danksos, but have never met anyone who didn't love them after wearing them for a few weeks.

This is a really great point. I'm certain I'm missing the point about Danskos since they have such a loyal following. But it's been hard for me to get past the fact that the shoe feels so uncomfy to start with. I'm used to the Aerosole type shoe that is comfy from the get go. But truth be told, they're not the greatest for walking in although they cushion the foot. It's good to know that Danskos are roomier in the toe bed since that's definitely something I need. However, I can't deal with tough leather - it absolutely kills the callouses and bunions on my feet (I thought bunions happened to 70 year olds but here I am suffering from them at age 37).

Momit and graciebellesmama, it's awesome to hear from people who have actually worn and loved the Borns. At under $60, I think it's worth keeping these and giving them a try. I might do a Zappos Dansko order to compare the two. I'm not sure where to start with the Danskos since there are so many options and I have such picky feet. (They're feet that would live in flip flops year round if that was an option!)

So back to socks: I figure if the leather is too tough on my callouses then cushioned socks would be a good option. I wear wool socks with my sneakers year-round for that reason but they're too ugly with the clogs. Would love any suggestions esp from my fellow bunion/callus sufferers!