I have a NEW favorite gardening shoe I'd like to share. I've travelled enough to know that the most important item to take is an extraordinarily comfortable and supportive pair of walking shoes. It's really one of my ultimate tests for shoes, and the good ones really stand out. I had purchased some slip-on Keen shoes (similar to their "Paradise Sandal" style) for my last trip to Europe as a secondary pair to my official walking shoes. However the Keens were so comfortable and durable that I ended up wearing them the whole time. I had bought them at an REI store, so I figured that I'd look for another Keen shoe to purchase for working around my home. As I said in my post above, my criteria is that the shoes need to cover my feet, slip on and off easily, have a thick enough sole to hold up to things like digging with a shovel while preventing anything from poking through the sole, and just generally be well made, comfortable and flexible. So then I found the Keen "Summer Golden Slip-On" shoes and have not looked back. They are perfect! I also really enjoy being barefoot, though it isn't always the best idea due to bothersome ouchies like grass burrs. However a friend of mine just purchased some shoes that were created to replicate the "barefoot experience". He's a physical therapist and loves the feel, the look and the whole barefoot rationale for these shoes called VivoBarefoot. They come in different styles for Men, Women and Children. He had purchased a style called "RA" and they looked attractive, beautifully well made and invitingly comfortable. So I may be trying some of them next, although those Keens I purchased for traveling seem very similar in construction and walking experience and have lots of life left in them. http://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/about-us/ Here is a link that might be useful: Keen,

On a long-time travel forum, where I've made many friends and met them in person, we had a famous 14-page thread about stylish, yet comfortable walking shoes! As a person who averages 8 miles per day when I'm in Paris, I know what has proven to work for me. Caveat -- when in Paris, where I have many friends, I tend to wear nicer shoes than when I'm in more casual locations. You only get one pair of feet, so I spend a bit more on shoes with comfortable arch supports. I've never found inserts to help much. I like leather insoles, or the Skechers Yoga Mat. Here at home in the US, and in London or UK Countryside, I like Skechers with Yoga Mat insoles. Usually, you can get these under $70.00. These are my current go-to Fall slip-ons in grey: http://www.belk.com/p/skechers-relaxed-fit-traffic-slip-on-dress-casual-loafer/290006649109.html?dwvar_290006649109_color=025255484238#q=Skechers&lang=default&start=23 For long walks with my dog on trails and sidewalks in my neighborhood, I wear these slip-on sneakers: http://www.belk.com/p/skechers-go-walk-sneaker/390004754152.html?dwvar_390004754152_color=007286627297#q=Skechers&lang=default&start=29 For wet walks on trails for miles and miles, I wear these here and wore them in the Cotswolds this summer: https://www.rei.com/product/128516/ahnu-montara-iii-event-low-hiking-shoes-womens For Paris (and nicer occasions here at home) -- I wore these L'Amour des Pieds in June in 98 degree heat on city sidewalks. I averaged 8 miles a day, but walked up to 12 miles one day. I didn't wear socks/hose/tights of any kind. These look good with black tights in cooler weather, or black leggings. 'Bane' Wedge (mine are black leather): https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lamour-des-pieds-bane-wedge-women/4066786?origin=topnav&cm_sp=Top%20Navigation--Women--Comfort&offset=2&top=72&brand=9460 For nicer dining out with my friends, I wore these red sandals. They look good with flare-leg retro jeans, skinny leg jeans, slim ankle length pants, long skirts or dresses. https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/lamour-des-pieds-brenn-ankle-strap-sandal-women/4059232?origin=topnav&cm_sp=Top%20Navigation--Women--Comfort&offset=2&top=72&brand=9460 I don't know if they're still available, but in cold weather, I wear my Dansko 'Lola' ankle boots, or one of my three pair of Aquatalia ankle boots. Similar to this pair (I have black, taupe; and I also have a dark grey "moto" boot). I have worn both the black and the taupe in Paris for lots of walking. https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/aquatalia-franca-weatherproof-bootie-women/4794483?contextualcategoryid=2374961&origin=keywordsearch&keyword=aquatalia

Wow, I've been wearing ankle booties for about 40 years, usually in black leather but also in suede (brown and black). Call it my signature look :) Always with a slight heel, some with crepe soles, others with slightly higher angled heels -- I don't do wedge heels. I always wear them with straight leg jeans or pants, not skinny jeans, so they go over the ankle. I have some from Jack Rogers (very comfy), Clark's (super comfy), Cole Haan (from Costco!) Actually, my Costco is selling Kensie ankle boots for 28.00? Other than that, I always have at least two pairs of Coach loafers/driving moccasins that I were for driving but also for walking around pretty much everywhere. They come in a bunch of colors; always one pair in black. Usually, I get the Crosby Driver. They frequently go on sale when new colors come out, https://www.coach.com/coach-crosby-driver/G1208.html?cgid=sale-women-shoes&dwvar_color=WIN#prefn1=silhouette&prefv1=Drivers%2FMocs&cgid=sale-women-shoes&start=2

As far as ordering from Zappos...I recently tried to find decent athletic shoes for my grandson. He has a narrow foot and needs something with support and a lace that can actually be tightened. Nike's seem to fit his foot the best, but were hard to find with the other criteria, for some reason. So, I ended up ordering 18 pairs of shoes from Zappos (over a couple of weeks) trying on sizes and styles! I thought they might ban me when I returned 16 of them, lol. Actually, you can return unworn ones for up to 1 year, so I kept the next bigger size in the shoes that worked for him and hope that he grows into them within a year. If he doesn't, I have it marked on my calendar to return them before the year is out. I know that I'm paying for this convenience in a slightly higher price for their shoes, but it is so worth it to me. The closest decent shoe store (Nordstrom) is about 45 min away on a terribly clogged freeway and he would not be a happy camper spending nearly 2 hours in the car to try to find shoes.