Foot pain from walking

...with long periods of standing (which seem to hurt my feet far worst that walking does), because of all the sight-seeing...

You're right - just standing in one spot is going to hurt worse.  It does for me too - generally as long as I'm walking, I'm fine, but if I have to stand still-ish for long periods my feet are going to hurt too!  When I first moved, I think Steve would get mildly inconvenienced sometimes - cos he was wanting to take me traipsing all over Europe to show it to me (Amsterdam, Antwerp, London, etc...) & I just wasn't up for all that city walking.  I'd have to sit down A LOT and rest.  But he was understanding & in time it's got better for me.

Where would be a good place to start looking for walking shoes or boots? I'm not worried about looking cute for the Londoners at this point, I just want my functioning feet back! It would actually also be nice to have a good pair of shoes that won't soak through if I misstep into a puddle in the rain! I'm also willing to take one for the team, as you'd say, if they're a bit expensive. At this point it's a health/comfort over price issue for me.

The places around here are, I think, all chain stores so you should be able to find a branch somewhere around where you are:  Millets (http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/), Blacks (http://www.blacks.co.uk/blacks.storefront/), and we also have a place called Nevisport (http://www.nevisport.com/).  There may be others as well & you could also have a peek if you see a regular sporting goods store too.

I don't recommend buying boots online.  Go & try them on, tromp around the store a bit to make sure you like the fit & your toes have room to wiggle, etc.  My first boots over here were a 'bargain' but they didn't fit my feet well & they weren't waterproof & I ended up hating them.  Don't buy Peter Storm ANYTHING - that brand SUCKS!  These are the (Italian) boots I got from Millets & I love them:

http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/082581.aspx?breadcrumbs=MIL%20SS06%20Footwear;MIL%20SS06%20Womens%20Footwear

I also have a lighter weight pair that I bought in Paris, but I can't remember the brand - it was European & I don't think I've seen it here, so that's not going to help you at the moment.

But other good brands, IMO, are Berghaus, North Face, and there are probably some others.  (Stay away from Peter Storm!!!)  A good outdoors store will be able to give you technical specs on the boots regarding things like -- how waterproof they are (Goretex is of course king on this point), how well they absorb shock (part of what makes your feet hurt), what kind of traction they provide (more important for gripping the ground in wet/snowy weather conditions or when climbing), etc.  Be prepared to spend a bit more for a better pair of boots -- that's just how it seems to work, unless you manage to catch a good sale.  The cheaper ones probably won't keep your feet as dry & stuff like that.  The upside is that a good pair of boots will last you AGES -- Steve's had his for donkey's years, doesn't remember when he bought them & they're still going strong -- both performance & smell-wise -- LOL!   (joking!)

We had a team leader at my job now who wore hiking boots to walk to/from work every day, carried her nice shoes in a backpack or bag & then changed when she got to her desk.  A very practical gal!

Good luck!

Oh thank you! That is very very very helpful!!!

I highly recommend North Face!  I LOVE my North Face shoes!  Great support for high arches, last ages, and you can get some that are waterproof but still look pretty darn cute (in a sporty sort of way).  And, they will be great for hill walking and hiking, etc.

Oooh thanks I will check those out!

My boots are Brasher, which are another well-known and well-made brand. However, I bought some high ones that come up over the ankle, when I think I should have bought normal height ones. Alas. Even stomping around in the shop didn't help there - they're good for about a half hour, but then they start hurting around my ankle. Try a few different styles when you go shopping, and make sure they bend enough to be comfy.

My boots are Brasher, which are another well-known and well-made brand. However, I bought some high ones that come up over the ankle, when I think I should have bought normal height ones. Alas. Even stomping around in the shop didn't help there - they're good for about a half hour, but then they start hurting around my ankle. Try a few different styles when you go shopping, and make sure they bend enough to be comfy.

Oh that is a good tip. I wouldn't have thought of that! Thanks!

I almost wish they had some that had soft tops like a pair of boots I had before from Lands End. that way the could still be pretty waterproof up your ankle a bit but not hurting.

Oh that is a good tip. I wouldn't have thought of that! Thanks!

I almost wish they had some that had soft tops like a pair of boots I had before from Lands End. that way the could still be pretty waterproof up your ankle a bit but not hurting.

You can get Lands End here! Only mail order, but they're good about returns:
http://www1.landsend.co.uk/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/LandsEndUK/legbr_Home.d2w/report?mdiv=wl

(I don't know if they still carry the soft top ones you had before, but you never know!)

You're right - just standing in one spot is going to hurt worse.  It does for me too - generally as long as I'm walking, I'm fine, but if I have to stand still-ish for long periods my feet are going to hurt too!  When I first moved, I think Steve would get mildly inconvenienced sometimes - cos he was wanting to take me traipsing all over Europe to show it to me (Amsterdam, Antwerp, London, etc...) & I just wasn't up for all that city walking.  I'd have to sit down A LOT and rest.  But he was understanding & in time it's got better for me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! My BF gets frustrated with me because my feet ache when we're walking around a lot. Not to mention the blisters....even when I wear sneakers. These dogs just aren't used to all that walking!!! I'm better at it since I've been here awhile, but the standing/shuffling at museums and such kills me. I wear sneakers when I walk to work and people kind of stare at me a little. When I worked in Baltimore everyone wore sneakers to work with their skirts and such, but I don't see that at all here. I'm the only dork on the street, but at least my feet are normal! 

My BF bought a pair of Merrill shoes when he moved to Dublin and he loves them for walking in the city. I know others who swear by them as well.

You can get Lands End here! Only mail order, but they're good about returns:
http://www1.landsend.co.uk/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/LandsEndUK/legbr_Home.d2w/report?mdiv=wl

(I don't know if they still carry the soft top ones you had before, but you never know!)

Unfortunately while I loved the shoes for snow, they would be very bad for walking because they didn't have much support. Thank you for the link though, they have some other stuff on there that looked good as well!

I'm glad I'm not the only one! My BF gets frustrated with me because my feet ache when we're walking around a lot. Not to mention the blisters....even when I wear sneakers. These dogs just aren't used to all that walking!!! I'm better at it since I've been here awhile, but the standing/shuffling at museums and such kills me. I wear sneakers when I walk to work and people kind of stare at me a little. When I worked in Baltimore everyone wore sneakers to work with their skirts and such, but I don't see that at all here. I'm the only dork on the street, but at least my feet are normal! 

My BF bought a pair of Merrill shoes when he moved to Dublin and he loves them for walking in the city. I know others who swear by them as well.

Ah, I have heard of Merrill!

Merrill is brilliant!  Totally. Freaking. Brilliant.  And I forgot to list them.  I have several pairs and love them!  And most of their shoes are pretty fashionable too!

On the other hand, I'm a big fan of the stiff above the ankle boots I have.  I have very small ankles in proportion to the rest of the size of me, and with the country walking we do -- sometimes a bit of scrambling over rocky gills & the like, I'd probably have had a seriously sprained if not broken ankle by now if it weren't for those sturdy ankle boots supporting me.  I always wear hiking socks though to cushion around my ankle & to cushion my foot.  It all depends on what kind of activiities -- and to what extreme -- you're going to be doing, however.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! My BF gets frustrated with me because my feet ache when we're walking around a lot. Not to mention the blisters....even when I wear sneakers. These dogs just aren't used to all that walking!!! I'm better at it since I've been here awhile, but the standing/shuffling at museums and such kills me. I wear sneakers when I walk to work and people kind of stare at me a little. When I worked in Baltimore everyone wore sneakers to work with their skirts and such, but I don't see that at all here. I'm the only dork on the street, but at least my feet are normal! 

I know what you mean!  When I walked more getting to/from work (my first job here), I wore sneakers to get into the office & then changed into my dress shoes.  No one else around me did that & I know I got a few looks.  But who cares?  I don't have as much of a walk now so I don't do that anymore -- unless it's snowy or icy out, or something like that.  But also, like I said, there is more than one person where I work now that either wears sneakers or even hiking boots to get into work then changing -- so I'm not the only one if I do.  And even if I was - who cares?  It's my feet!

On the other hand, I'm a big fan of the stiff above the ankle boots I have.  I have very small ankles in proportion to the rest of the size of me, and with the country walking we do -- sometimes a bit of scrambling over rocky gills & the like, I'd probably have had a seriously sprained if not broken ankle by now if it weren't for those sturdy ankle boots supporting me.

That's why I bought them! Not because my ankles are particularly small (I wish!), but because they're pretty weak and I figured I'd need the support. My right ankle has been sprained about 7 times. But there's just not enough give for me.

Hmmmm, I wonder if mine just have a bit more give?  The first boots I had were rubbish, so you really have to take your time finding a pair that's right for you & thinking about what you need, I think.  My Italian Trezetas (high ankle boots) are the most comfortable pair of shoes I own - lol!

Hmmmm, I wonder if mine just have a bit more give?  The first boots I had were rubbish, so you really have to take your time finding a pair that's right for you & thinking about what you need, I think.  My Italian Trezetas (high ankle boots) are the most comfortable pair of shoes I own - lol!

I don't think mine are rubbish but, as you said, maybe they just don't suit me. Brasher boots always get great reviews and they're weren't cheap, but I might have done better with a pair of more light-weight ones.

(I wasn't suggesting yours were rubbish, btw. )  Those early ones I had definitely were though!  The only thing is my feet get hot in the Trezetas when the weather is warmer, so that's why I bought a lighter weight pair in France -- thinking I'd need them for a nice warm week's walking back in June.  Not!