New Balance Women's 574 Core Sneaker, Nimbus Cloud/White, 8.5

I have small but wide feet, with a high arch and a high instep. As I've aged and mobility has become an issue, laces have become a challenge. I'm preparing for a trip to Europe where there will be lots of walking, and was in search of a comfortable, supportive shoe that didn't look like I was going to walk on the moon. This was recommended on a travel blog so I gave it a shot. It's my first pair of NB and I'm very pleased. I haven't yet worn them on my trip but have been wearing them regularly to walk on the treadmill. No rubbing or discomfort, plenty of room in the toe box, and I've been able to tie them so they're hands-free. The arch support isn't quite enough for my very high arches so I do use inserts, but even with those in, the shoes still aren't too tight across my instep - a game changer. I've paid a lot more for sneakers I hardly wear. Paris, here I come!

I wish I'd tried ordering the wide version of these before, as I found them uncomfortable in the regular width. I'm usually a 9.5 and ordered that in these; the extra 1/4 inch in the toe bed makes a huge difference for me in terms of comfort/arch support, and allows a little extra breathing room for my wide-ish feet.