sandals or sneakers?

Best shoes I've ever had. Mind you, shoes that are perfect for some, may not be for others. That said, Brooks are well regarded in the running world (I normally just walk in them ) . I'm a bargain shopper and would never pay over $100 for a pair of shoes. I usually by them on clearance for around $20. Had to pay a bit more for the Brooks, but still got a deal, and they are well worth it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Where do you find them on clearance?

I meant shoes in general under $20; had to pay more for the Brooks. Best shoe deals I find are at places like Marshall's and Kohl's. Marshall's has better clearance prices on shoes, but Kohl's has a much better selection. If you pay attention to the sales at Kohl's you can save 75%+ on everything you buy. Last couple times DW and I went we saved close to 90% average off the original price. Mind you that's shopping only in the clearance section, but that section is huge at Kohl's. Then, if there is something you want or need that isn't quite so deeply discounted it won't hurt your feelings because you saved so much on everything else. They also offer $10 "Kohl's cash" for every $50 you spend. That's $10 you can spend there on anything you want including clearance items, within a given date range. For me, I'll go just to spend that "Kohl's cash", even if I don't buy anything else. If you're looking for top quality shoes ($100 and well above), the best place to find good deals in online. You can find branded outlet stores, but they are somewhat scarce and prices (though better than retail) are not great.

What do those time windows usually look like? A few days, a few months or like a year?

It's usually something like two weeks, starting a week or so from the date you earned it. Such as, if I went today and earned some, it would need to be used by the end of the month; starting late next week. To me, it's one of the best things to ever happen to bargain shopping. I can buy a ton of clothes, all from the clearance racks, and still get any other discounts taken at the register PLUS the Kohl's cash. It almost seems unfair

Any time. Give your sizing issues; Brooks may be great for you. One of the reasons they are just right for me is my foot is rather wide at the ball relative to the rest of my foot. These are run wider in that area than a lot of shoes while providing excellent support. I luff them; I'm wearing them now (casual Friday).

LiveIsForLiving seems like a expert shopper. I'm going to consult with him before any major purchases in the future.

Don't know if you were being facetious, but I'd be glad to help. I still learn new tricks from time to time, but I like to think I'm a savvy consumer.

p.s. Did you guys know Amazon bought Zappos.com? That's good news for (online) bargain shoe shoppers.

I'm consulting you, too. I always try to do my research, but it's good to find people who do theirs as well. We can swap stories and ideas.

Amazon bought Zappos? Sounds just about perfect!

Just let me know any time you have a question or otherwise want my opinion

Jumping into this thread way late, but I've had really good success with Lands End Pool Shoes, worn as sneakers with socks. They are mesh so they're breathable, but have a sneaker-like sole for support. AWESOME!

Can you wear them without socks?

That's a tough trade off. The extra ventilation would be nice, but blisters are terrible in the World.

I got a pair of the Disney crocs one year and they are seriously the most comfortable things.

I have to agree, over the years I've gone through two pairs of classic Mickey Crocs and a pair of Mickey Crocs Sandals.

I love canvas trainers - vans usually.

I am not a sandal fan but then I have to wear compression leggings all the time, the leggings are open toe but still only wear sandals with certain skirts/ dresses.

I used to think so also ... But crocs now makes shoes that don't look like the old crocs clogs. Rather, they've got some really cute leather upper wedge sandals, some slip on sneaker type shoes, and for those of us children of the eighties -- some jelly shoes and sandals....

So usually, a pair of crocs makes it into my suitcase (but you would never guess that they were crocs at first glance)

I also have fallen in love with my pair of keens, which are meant for water and hiking. They are a bit of a cross between a sandal and a tennis shoe.

I've also purchased a pair or two of disney sneakers in the park gift shops which have also become comfy options.

I just can't wear flip flops... I can't handle any sandals with straps between my toes. Ewww.

All of the other options are part of my shoe rotation in the parks... I find that I have to rotate, because no matter which shoes I have, If I wear the same shoes day in and out I get blisters, especially since I skip socks.

Since I broke my ankle I need really good arch support because I don't have a lot of strength in it and my foot is over pronating. For a girl who is usually in ballet flats and flip flops, this has made life *much* more difficult. I've spent the past month trying to find a great pair of sandals that also have good support. The one shoe line that keeps popping up for me is Vionic. Does anyone have any experience with them?

I have lots of experience with buying shoes with good arches. A few years ago on a Disney trip you may recall I ended up on a scooter for most of the trip. It was my ankle that was swollen and hurt to bad to walk on. After seeing an orthopedic dr and two MRI's it was determined that my arch had fallen. That was great news as no surgery required. However, it does mean I had to have custom inserts made for my shoes. This worked wonders once my entire body realigned and got use to walking properly again. The down side to custom inserts is they do not fit in many normal shoes comfortably, not even most sneakers. The only brand that I feel as though they fit in with room for my foot is Xelero. I have started wearing off the shelf sandals some. I have several pairs of the Vionic. I can not wear any of them to really walk in. I wear them if we are just going out to dinner or someplace I will mostly be sitting. Better options are either OBEO, the Walking Company's brand or my favorite ECCO. I can walk all day in an ECCO sandal. I can not wear any of them all day every day for a Disney trip.

If you have need for a dressier sandal or clog, I have found the dansko brand has great arches. Again, I have never tried to walk all day long in them.

Awesome! Thanks Scrappy. I just noticed that we have a Walking Co store in town the other day and thought that I might try to stop in there. Right now I'm using a Dr. Scholls insert in my sneakers but it is really making so much of a different that I think this may just be the way of the future for me. I'll check out some of your other recommendations.

I also have fallen arches and wear orthotic inserts. New Balance works great for those too.

Flip flops, flip flops, and more flip flops! actually i alternate. Roughly vionic orthotic flips one day, Oofos super soft flips the next, and sneakers the next. I'm fine walking, but my feet just scream when we have to stand still for any length of time. Parades and fireworks are my kryptonite.

I "tried" vionics about two years ago. I ordered them from one of the shopping networks, followed the sizing guidelines, and was hoping they would be a good option for the parks.

I should preface with the statement that I've always had really flat feet. That said, once delivered, I tried my new vionic sandals for some light errands and light shopping (emphasis on light -- I seriously have perhaps the smallest Macy's store on the planet folks). Less than two hours into my light errands and shopping, I had a HUGE blister on the bottoms of my feet just inside the arch.

Its safe to say, my two hour test run resulted in a fast return (the seller had a solid 30 day return policy).

So my advice is this, they have extremely good ratings with online sellers/ shopping networks. BUT, If your feet are flat, or not used to orthotics.... beware.... especially as a park shoe. Quite simply, my poor little flat feet could not handle the coercing power of an orthotic, and rejected them soundly with blisters.

My feet later sought comfort in Keens and Crocs (which have been highly successful park options).

The one shoe that I've been wanting to try, however, is one of the "Memory foam" sneaker brands. I had a friend that used these as park shoes with some success.

I bought some Nike trainers especially for our trip and they were the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. one night I attempted to wear gladiator sandals to Epcot.. big mistake!