Posts Tagged women’s shoes
Teva Fuse-ion Shoes
Water-friendly shoes often come in two forms: big clunky sandals and neoprene booties. Usually, that means you’re changing your shoes to something that looks a little nicer when you do anything other than hit a beach bar after your outdoor adventure. But with the Teva Fuse-ion, you can keep your water shoes on for your urban adventures as well.
Designed in a cool sneaker style, the Fuse-ion uses ion-mask, a liquid-repellant technology that keeps the shoes lightweight (at 11 ounces), breathable and stain resistant. The perforated upper lets water drain out, so you’re not sloshing around when you’re on dry land. Even if you’re not jumping around in the water, that same perforation allows for maximum ventilation for your feet.
The Spider Rubber + JStep sole has good traction, whether you’re walking around on the deck of a boat, or hopping rocks in a river. The hundreds of small pods independently move and flex, offering a more grippy sole than many other water-friendly shoes.
The footbed and the tongue are padded, to make your adventures a little more comfortable. The collapsible heel lets you slip the shoes on and off easily (aided by the heel pull loop), but equally important for travelers, it makes the shoes collapse flat so they’re easy to pack. And speaking of packing, since the Fuse-ion can cover outdoor and urban adventures equally, you can lighten your load and bring fewer shoes on your travels.
Teva Fuse-ion shoes list for $90.00 on the Teva website. A men’s version is available for the same price. They’re also available at Amazon and Zappos.
See more reviews of travel shoes on Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on April 13th, 2012
Baffin Judy Boots
Spring is here, but that doesn’t mean the snow is gone. When it comes to keeping your feet warm in winter conditions, it’s often hard to find the right balance between functional and stylish. Baffin Judy Boots handle both in perfect order.
When it comes to stomping in the snow, flimsy shoes and boots won’t do. The second your feet get cold or wet, you’re just plain miserable. Rated to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and constructed with a seven-layer inner boot system and Thermaplush liner, these boots will keep your toes warm and dry when other boots quit.
The Judy includes the same cold resistant EVA-compound tread and cozy liner as other traditional Baffin boots, but swanks it up with 15-inch height and fur-collar design. It’s the tallest boot in the Baffin Drift series of all-around winter boots. The speed-lacing toggle closure is easy to adjust, even with bulky gloves or mittens. Each boot is 1.3 pounds, contains an integrated arch support and removable inner boot liner—so you can pull them out to dry overnight.
The suede leather upper kept my feet warm and dry over a long snow weekend of stomping around. Plus, the leather upper and faux-fur trim make the lace-up boots a stylish match with “normal” clothes, and not just that snow stuff you take off the second you get indoors. I wore them recently in Aspen, and the boots got a handful of compliments everywhere I went.
The Baffin Judy Boots list for $184.99 CDN from the Baffin website. They’re also available on Amazon, ranging from $49.50 to $140.24, depending on size and color.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on March 23rd, 2012
The Flip-Flop Alternative: Maryjanes from Teva
Flip-flops have become a lot more acceptable as footwear, and really, some of them are very nice and can pass as good enough for an evening out, if you’ve dressed them up right. But sometimes you need just a little bit more appeal, just a little, or maybe you want something that’s a bit girlier. Teva has a line of ballerina flats and mary-janes that feel like flip-flops, almost. They’re light, they’re easy to pack, and ladies, they’re cute.
Let’s get this out of the way first. The Mush Frio Maryjane is not a sturdy walking shoe. It’s a built on a flip-flop style sole. This shoe is a flip-flop, only it’s got a fabric upper in the shape of a mary-jane. You’ll wear it for the same kinds of things you’d wear a flip-flop for — happy hour at the beach bar, running out for an iced latte, making your way down that gravelly path to the pool.
I like that these cute little shoes take up no more space in my bag than a pair of standard flip-flops. They’re super compact and they come in a couple of fun colors — mine are what Teva calls “baton rouge”, a shiny fuchsia. They’ve got a Velcro strap so they’re really easy to get in and out of; that makes for great airport wear. The squishy insole is comfortable and takes on the shape of your foot after you’ve worn them for a while. I do wish it was removable, though, as this beachcomber is going to get them wet at some point and removable insoles mean the shoe takes less time to dry.
Size-wise, Teva’s Mush Frio felt a little small to me — I’d order a size larger; they don’t come in half sizes. There are two options for uppers, one style has a patterned mesh, the other a sort of reflective mesh, and there’s a variety of colors. There’s a ballerina flat too, it’s got the same sole without the mary-jane strap. I thought the price tag was a little high for a shoe that’s on a flip-flop sole — Teva sells them for $45 on their site. It’s worth checking Summit Hut or Amazon for prices.
Still looking for the perfect women’s shoes for travel? We’ve reviewed lots of them, have a look.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on November 4th, 2011
El Naturalista Women’s Shoes from the Angkor Collection
The N970 flats in El Naturalista’s Angkor Collection are my second pair of Mary Jane style shoes from this eco-friendly footwear manufacturer El Natural. I’ve been wearing my Iggdrasil N095s since 2007 — with and without socks, in three seasons of weather (I do store them when the snow sticks to the ground in winter). But I think I like the slim-fitting Angkors even better. They are definitely less clunky than my original pair, and the cut out “window” on the upper allows the top of my toes to peek out, adding a touch of whimsy.
These Angkor Mary Janes are very comfortable; they feature the company’s Frog Shock system, a special cushioned insole that absorbs the impact on the heel. I’ve worn them with and without a thin pair of socks and they fit equally well either way. I’ve paired them with a long skirt, short skirt, capris and jeans in recent weeks — here in Colorado and while traveling in Hawaii. These are definitely a versatile pair of shoes.
To call El Naturalista an environmentally friendly company is a bit like saying Bill Gates is rich — being kind to the environment shapes everything the company does, and you can see that in El Naturalista’s shoes. For example, my Angkors have an anatomical insole made from recycled cork, and the cool textured outsoles are made from recycled rubber. The leather has a great distressed look due in part to vegetable tanning.
Here’s one caveat with the Angkor Mary Janes: I have to make sure to secure fully the Velcro strap across the top of my foot. If the hook-and-loop pieces aren’t tightly attached, the strap can loosen, flap up and I step out of my shoe.
Every shoe line from El Naturalista’s varied collection has been inspired by travel, such as these Angkor Mary Janes by a designer’s trip to Angkor, Cambodia. Indeed, I’ll surely pack these shoes for my future trips this summer and fall.
The N970 Angkor women’s shoes come in eight different colors, including the black and soft blue shown here. Purchase them for 125 Euros (today, approximately $178) on the El Naturalista website. El Naturalista is a Spanish company, and shoe sizes for women run 36 to 42 (there is a shoe size conversion chart on the website). If you order through the site, shipping to the United States is a flat $15, and other taxes may apply.
I found the N970 Angkor Mary Janes in four different colors retailing on Amazon.com for $160 (with Free Super Saver Shipping).
Find a wide range of other El Naturalista shoes, with free shipping at PlanetShoes
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Posted by Kara in General Gear on May 24th, 2011
Chacos Loyalist Mary Jane Shoes for Women
Chacos Unaweep sandal for women.
Chacos sandals are ubiquitous in Colorado. I’ll start spotting the zig-zag-strapped sandals around my mountain town as soon as ski season ends — with or without socks. They are especially popular among white-water enthusiasts, as the quick-dry webbing, plus the secure fit, make them ideal for a day of paddling or rafting on the Colorado River. By August, many locals are sporting the striped “Chaco tan” on their feet.
Me? I’ve never owned a pair. The style is just a leetle bit too hippie-like for me, and fat feet and stubby toes just never looked good in them. I didn’t feel cute wearing them. (That’s not to say other women can’t pull them off with aplomb!)
However, Chacos makes a ton of other styles of shoes for women, including flip-flops, slides and leather closed-toe winter shoes. Of course, when given the opportunity to check out a pair of new Chacos, I opted for the Mary Jane style. I cannot get enough of my beloved Mary Janes — for me, the style is ideal, as I can wear with skirts, jeans, dresses, capris and shorts all spring and summer long.
Chacos Loyalist shoe for women.
Now, these Chacos Loyalists (pictured above) aren’t as slim and feminine, say, as the Teva Westwaters I sampled a while back. The Chacos Loyalists, with Vibram Gunnison rubber soles, are solid shoes. I really like the comfort stellar arch support that the LUVSEAT platform provides. The strap cinches quite snugly, which I also like. The upper is a great leather and stretch cotton; they are roomy enough to wear with or without socks. Truly, these are comfortable shoes that I’ll happily wear sightseeing — probably not so much adventuring — on future trips.
One important note: These shoes seem to run big. As I mentioned, they are roomy, and without socks, I might even need a 7.5 (which I haven’t worn since 7th grade). Even if you prefer to shop online, you may want to duck into a quality shoe store or brick-and-mortar outdoor retailer that carries Chacos to try them on for yourself before buying.
Purchase for $110 at ChacosUSA.com, or other online outlets such as Amazon.com.
Posted by Kara in General Gear on April 26th, 2011
