Last time I was in New York (we visited twice last year) I think we averaged 18,000 steps per day. And I know many people who walk more than that. All I can say is arch support is a must!
Some of us don’t plan to walk that much, but before you know it you’ve gone a few more blocks and a few more blocks, and your feet feel like they’ve been pulverized to stumps by the end of the day.
And as for the husband’s suggestion of walking through Central Park instead of taking one of those bicycle buggies – bug off! Thank goodness for the respite of the Beatles buskers at Strawberry Fields.
So one thing you should not scrimp on is a good pair of shoes – or two – for your New York escape.
Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase from one of my links, I might make a commission at no extra cost to you.
Here are the best shoes for walking around New York City
Pro tip: Take at least two pairs of shoes that are comfortable to walk in. The worst thing would be to get a blister in your only pair of shoes and you can’t take the friction away.
My other pro tip is to buy cushioned insoles which you can put into any shoe (except a sandal/flip flop) – provided you have about a half size of wriggle room. I have several pairs and put them in everything from boots to my cute white sneakers and flatforms.
3rd pro tip: I have had to hobble into department stores looking for discrete footlet socks, and failing that, rip up table napkins to do quick blister repairs on the go (reader, it doesn’t take the pain of an emerging-soon to burst blister), so I would also recommend packing some little cushioned bandaids if you’re trying new shoes.
Check out these blister bandaid packs for quick repairs. They’re cheap and come in a pack with all sorts of different shapes for heels, toes and anywhere else.
Summer Shoes for New York
If you’re going in the warmer months, take a trainer/walking shoe AND a sandal/slide (or more than one pair!)
Hoka shoes are great for comfort, and they look cute. These ones are lightweight, roomy in the toe and machine washable.
GDefy – Gravity Defyer – is very good shoe if you are after arch support. They have a patented Versoshock technology sole and reviews show they assist with comfort levels for flat feet and walking posture that leads to knee pain.
Skechers Womens Uno are another very comfy shoe for a day’s walking. These have an air-cushioned midsole and one-inch hidden heel to give a bit of lift.
Asics are my go-to for thousands of steps, as I had plantar faciittis for two years and I like the support Asics gives in the instep/arch. I wear these for my daily exercise and then stay in tham all day!
Nike Walking Runners. These are lightweight and look great. This is what I wore in New York last summer. They have a flyknit upper so are breathable for those hot days. I also like the wide rubber sole on this one to stop the foot from too much rolling.
Dr Scholl’s Women’s Time Off Sneaker. These are a combination of cute and functional. I know – hard to find in one shoe! Reviews are spot on for what we’re looking for: 18,000 – 20,000 steps per day while traveling, and very comfortable. They have support in the arch, without adding orthotics.
Teva Midform Universal Sandal. This ergo-shaped sandal also happens to be cute enough to go with your shorts or dresses as you hammer the streets of New York.
Teva Women’s Zymic Sandal. These have a better shaped arch-supporting insole and wide straps for comfort. Not as cute as the Midform Universal (above) but voted the top sandal for comfort. Super practical and a sandal you could live in.
Steve Madden Women’s Bigmona Sandal. If you like a chunky look without the weight, these are great. They are a strappy flatform with a molded footbed and have about two inches of total height at the heel.
Oofos Ooaah Slide. These are marketed as a “recovery slide” for athletes – and those who’ve walked all day in New York! I like to pack a pair of super lightweight slippers to wear in my hotel, and these would be great for kicking off your trainers and putting these on to recover. Super spongey and great. They are ugly, but luckily ugly is cool right now! (Aren’t they Birkenstock?!)
Have a look at these insoles:
You’ll need to ensure the shoe you’re putting them in is roomy enough – like a half size I would suggest. But these are game-changers to provide support for high arches, and especially good for those who work on their feet all day, or have suffered from plantar fasciitis and don’t want to risk it coming back!
By the way, this is a very good post and video on some things you can do to fix plantar fasciitis.
PCSSole Plantar Fasciitis. These are for those over 220lb and are heavy duty high arch support. However, they will take some getting used to, so I would recommend using these at home for a while before storming off for a day in NYC!
Orthopedic Insoles. These ones are more malleable and are good for flat feet that need support. They are a good multi-use insole to pop into any shoe or boot and alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis, spurs, even bunions.
Ugg Sheepskin insoles. I used these in my winter boots for extra warmth and cushioning.
If you’re in New Zealand I have these divine Sole Purpose cushioned insoles in my Travel Store, but can only ship NZ-wide. Sorry! The ones above you will find on Amazon.
Winter Shoes for New York
We were back in New York between Christmas and New Year so that I could run around this chilly, drizzly, yet twinkling city taking photographs of the festive decorations!
I actually lived in my hiking boots all day. Yes, even popping into Bergdorf’s in them. I kinda figure no one notices your footwear unless it’s crazy weird!
I also had a cute pair of flat-ish leather boots that I wore to dinner, and the Radio City Rockettes – which I totally recommend in this post on How to Have a Gorgeous Christmas in New York.
We had arrived in New York from a 10-day river cruise of the European Christmas Markets (here’s what I packed for that), so my hiking boots had done many thousands of steps over there walking on slippery cobblestoned streets, then were great for the wet NYC pavements. I had also put sheepskin insoles in them for extra warmth and comfort. Oh, but they are blue and cute!
So I’ve searched out some nice looking hiking boots that will work outdoors and in for NYC.
Sketchers Sneaker Boot. I love this cute boot with the faux fur collar around the ankle. It has a sturdy rubber, anti-slip sole, and a comfortable cushioned insole. This will be great from streetwear to inside.
Dakota Hiking Boot. This one has orthopedic support, a waterproof leather upper and adjustable cushion support, as well as being wide in the toe with soft padded fabric inside. This is good boot for wintery wet pavements, but cute enough to wear into a department store, a museum or even a restaurant.
Sorel Out n About Boot. This is a cross between the hiking boot and the trainer. I like Sorel for the molded insole, traction for those wet streets, and cosy comfort. My bestie wore these on our Christmas Europe trip on and off the cruise, into cafes and shops and on the streets. They look good and feel great.
Ariat Darlin Western Boot. Get your inner cowgirl on! I bought a pair of Ariat ankle boots in Nashville and find them to be very comfortable. I wouldn’t walk in them all day, but this is the boot I would wear on the plane, then out to dinner if the restaurant is a short walk from the hotel, or you’re grabbing a taxi.
Great socks and footlets
A good shoe is super important for knee, hip and back pain, but the right socks are essential to avoid rubbing and blisters.
I like to wear a thick sports ankle sock in my trainers. I also need a little extra at the heel tab to ensure it doesn’t slip under my foot. Nothing more annoying!
Try these ankle socks, that also come in cute colours. They have thick cushioning underneath too and the back tab, plus moisture wicking and are anti-odor! Useful when you’re not doing laundry every day.
You could also look at compression socks, which sell like hot cakes in my Travel Store. These are not just for inflight use, but great for long days on your feet. Get the right size and they feel like a hug to the legs!
Read more of my New York posts
New year’s eve in NYC is another huge excuse for celebrating and this post lists lots of great places to party including ticketed events with live music, rooftop restaurants you should book early, and where to stand to see the ball drop in Times Square.
Where to have Thanksgiving Day at one of these NYC restaurants.
How to have a wonderful Christmas in New York
Best, dreamy rooftop restaurants in New York
Where to go for the best brunch spots in New York
Awesome flea markets in New York to get your bargain hunting on
Where to find great shopping in NYC from malls to vintage neighborhoods
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