# Tell me about walking sandals
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 3, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528 "2007-06-03T00:00:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/1 "2007-06-03T00:00:48Z")
By walking sandals, I mean something like [this](http://www.shoebuy.com/bite-xtension-2/198043/439758?cm_mmc=pricegrabber-_-none-_-none-_-none). They look kinda like running or walking shoes with all the fabric removed.
I’m intrigued by these as summer is upon us and I went to get back into my walking routine (about 2 miles in the morning).
My feet are not the greatest. I have what a podiatrist called “flat, flexible feet” – when I walk barefoot in sand or track water on the concrete around a pool, the footprint clearly shows an arch. But when I do serious walking, my foot splats out flat. I have orthotics in my regular walking shoes, and I’ve seen some models advertised that accommodate orthotics.
So are these walking sandals the equivalent of Victoria’s Secret underwear – you have to be thin and under 30 to wear them? I’m pushing 50, packing some extra pounds (which is why I need to start walking regularly again), and don’t want to screw up my feet. Both my older sisters are having serious problems with post tibial tendinitis, and I don’t want to end up there.
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### Author:  [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/2 "2007-06-03T02:50:35Z")
Here in Oregon everyone (regardless of age) wears [Chacos](http://www.chacousa.com/) or [Tevas](http://www.teva.com/) for hiking. I have very high arches as well and usually need major insoles in my hiking boots.
My favorite are the Chacos for three reasons:
1. they have awesome arch support
2. They just have one strap that goes through the sole and around your foot 4 or 5 times (for the ankle, foot, toe (optional), and across the top of the toes. This means that the whole shoe really hugs your foot. You can tighten it to fit the weird contours of your personal foot. When I walk with them they don’t ever rub unless I’ve forgotten to tighten up the straps.
3. Lifetime warrenty on the sole.
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### Author:  [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/3 "2007-06-03T03:28:05Z")
I second the Chacos. I’ve never loved a pair of shoes so much, and that’s no lie.
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### Author:  [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/4 "2007-06-03T04:10:31Z")
Wore my Chacos all day today. Put a bit of vasaline on the hot spots and they were great for the whole day.
The great thing about the Chacos with the toe loop is that you can pull it flat if it gets cold and you need to wear your sandals with socks. That’s the beauty of the one strap system.
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### Author:  [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/5 "2007-06-03T08:22:48Z")
Teva!
Padding is overrated (warmer, sweatier, slippery, blistery)
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### Author:  [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/6 "2007-06-03T15:31:36Z")
I wear my Chacos hiking all the time. On firm surfaces they’re great. I’m over 30.
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### Author:  [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-walking-sandals/406528/7 "2007-06-03T15:37:17Z")
Whatever you decide don’t [wear white socks with them.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=422329&highlight=white+socks)
FWIW, I like keens.