shoe recommendations for erythromelalgia

Warm weather is here!  We've been soaking it up with trips to the playground (sometimes twice a day!) and family walks.  One thing was stopping us though: my Erythromelalgia!  Too many walks were being cut short due to pain so my husband announced that it was time for me to invest in some new shoes.  I googled around to see what shoes were recommended for Erythromelalgia, but I didn't see too many suggestions, so I thought I'd share my choices here.

We looked through several different options for shoes and talked through the pros and cons.  My husband encouraged me to get two pairs: one for activity and one for style.  Obviously wearing any kind of closed toed shoe (especially athletic shoes!) is a no-go in the summer with Erythromelagia so we needed the "activity pair" to be super comfortable and good for long distances, but still open.

I've heard so many good things about Birkenstock's so I wanted to try these Kairo Sandals (sold through American Eagle), but we decided they were too expensive and not versatile enough.  My sister has a pair of Saltwater Sandals.  They are supposed to be incredibly comfortable and durable.  I'd still love a pair some day, but I was afraid that they would be too hot around my toes to be an every day pair.

For the "activity shoes", we ended up choosing these Teva Zirra Sandals.  I couldn't be happier!  We bought them for walks and special activities, but I've ended up wearing them all over the place!  They were very comfortable from the time I first put them on.  My Erythromelagia has still flared up while wearing them, but the shoes don't seem to be contributing to the problem.  I would feel comfortable doing all sorts of activities in these shoes, so I definitely recommend them to others with Erythromelagia looking for a replacement for athletic shoes.  

The second pair I went with were these American Eagle Braided Sandals.  I had a similar pair for the past couple of years, but last fall they were falling apart!  I ended up getting this replacement pair because they served me well.  They pair equally well with shorts or a sundress so I like how versatile they are.  My one complaint is that they are not comfortable for a long time.  Running to the grocery store or spending the morning at church?  No problem.  But when I was trying to use them to go on walks?  Definitely a bad idea!

Finding functional shoes might not seem like a big deal to most people, but with Erythromelagia it is a challenge.  I'm grateful to have found these options so I can stop worrying about my pain and enjoy the litte things like an evening walk with my family and pushing my son on the swing.

**All opinions are my own.  I received no compensation from any company for writing this - I am simply sharing my experience.