Walking or Running Sneakers?

[wdwjmp239]

I'm not sure what changed (other than age), but I usually buy a good pair of New Balance Running Sneakers that I'll break in about a month or so before I visit Disney World. On this last trip, however, I wore a pair of New Balance 409 cross trainer sneakers. What is usually a comfortable pair of sneakers for standing around and walking short distances in turned out to be the most uncomfortable things on my feet. It literally felt like someone was squeezing my ankles and jabbing pins into the bottom of my feet. After a full day at the Magic Kingdom your feet will be sore to an extent, but for even walking a few steps, my feet were sore.

So, here's my question - what sneakers do you use/recommend? Ladies - feel free to input your feedback as well because my wife is looking to change up her sneakers, as well.

Thanks!

 

[JillC LI]

Crucial question: do you walk to attractions or run to them?!

Seriously, I would wear whichever pair is the most comfortable. I have comfortably worn both regular sneakers as well as my running shoes in the Parks.

 

[wdwmagic]

The answer is not in the shoe, it is in your body.

Take up some exercise, walking, running, cycling, gym - whatever it may be. Get active, and get your body used to constantly moving and standing, and you will be fine. Since I have followed my own advice the shoe is pretty much irrelevent.

 

[cw1982]

I agree completely with @wdwmagic on this one, but I also had to add that I thought of this thread today when I went to Costco and found some nice Adidas sandals for about $14. They have a decent amount of cushioning and are pretty roomy so they'll be good for walking around all day, but the sole is made of material that will dry quickly when it gets wet. I'll post a picture later when my phone charges, but I just had to share my find! I'll be wearing them for a few days to be sure, but they don't feel like they're going to need any "break in" time!

 

[prfctlyximprct]

I love my nike frees!! And also wore toms a lot on my last trip. They were so comfortable and didn't hurt my feet even when it rained.

 

[cw1982]

Ok, as promised, here's the picture of the sandals I picked up today! They came in a blue and grey combination as well, but honestly those looked like they would show dirt a little too easily for my liking. These are the ones I found at Costco for $14 (or something like that). I wore them to go run a few errands just now, and they seem to be holding up nicely so far

 

[EvilQueen-T]

First let me say I'm in my late 40s, don't have a problem walking 3-5 miles when i'm not on vaca, have a bad back, and I struggle with finding shoes that don't make all the disney standing/walking more difficult. For the last few years I've been wearing teva sandals but in March I wore my Nike Free 5.0+ but my pair (although new to me) is last years model. I had them less than a week and wore them for 2 of our 3 days at wdw (1 full mk day and 1 full epcot day) and LOVED them! I found them to be super light and comfy. I did add a gel heel cushion to them but only because for me long days mainly standing in one place I've learned from the extra cushion in my teva's that adding this kind of cushion to sneakers helps me. I bought a pair of the newer version and where the tongue is attached to the sneaker, kinda behind the toe area, it was thick and rubbed my foot. I wore them to walk the length of my house and took them off and sent them right back.

 

[rt06]

Woo hoo. Lot's of Nike Free fans, I see. The soles have a certain "tackiness" that you can really feel on a treadmill (they grip hardwood floors and tile like glue traps, and I don't mean in the squeaky, "new sneaker" kind of way). Every other sneaker feels like concrete blocks to me now. There is a little known Hyperfeel model. 6oz! What?!

Sorry for straying from the topic, so I will wholeheartedly disagree with the admin. You gotta have the right shoe.

 

[cw1982]

Sorry for straying from the topic, so I will wholeheartedly disagree with the admin. You gotta have the right shoe.

I think it's a mixture of the two. There has to be a happy balance.

One can be a triathlon champion, but if they go to a theme park and walk around in jellies or five inch heels all day, they will be hurting badly by the time they leave. On the other hand, if someone is in poor enough shape, no shoe will guarantee the comfort needed to last through an entire day at the parks, much less an entire week.

Bottom line is that everyone's situation will be different enough that no one shoe is going to be the right answer for everyone.

 

[rt06]

I think it's a mixture of the two. There has to be a happy balance.

One can be a triathlon champion, but if they go to a theme park and walk around in jellies or five inch heels all day, they will be hurting badly by the time they leave. On the other hand, if someone is in poor enough shape, no shoe will guarantee the comfort needed to last through an entire day at the parks, much less an entire week.

Bottom line is that everyone's situation will be different enough that no one shoe is going to be the right answer for everyone.

With all things being equal, you put a couple hundred miles on a poorly constructed shoe, you're gonna pay along the way.

 

[cw1982]

With all things being equal, you put a couple hundred miles on a poorly constructed shoe, you're gonna pay along the way.

Who is going a couple of hundred miles, though? A typical person walks ten miles per day at the Disney parks... who is going on a 20-day trip?

For the purposes of what most people would think of as a typical length trip, I still stand behind my statement that the shoe and the condition of the person wearing the shoe are both important.