Gear Review: We Love This Comfy Women's Travel Shoe

Shoes are every woman's weakness, right? Well, that's one cliche I personally have helped to perpetuate.

It's true that some people just can't help buying shoes -- until our closets are overflowing.

I constantly deal with blisters, uncomfortable rubbing, arch pain and problems finding that perfect fit — because of my bunions (yep, I got ‘em, thanks genetics). Yet, I can't help but keep buying more pairs of shoes, especially if they're cute and cheap. 
But as I get older, it's just not worth wasting money on flimsy, arch-less, synthetic knockoffs, only to end up with Band-Aids on my heels and toes. I've finally come to appreciate quality over quantity.

Hmmmm, I seem to recall someone frequently prodding me, saying that's how I should always be shopping for my footwear — and a few other items. Yes, Mom, you're always right!

So when A'rcopedico offered In The Loop Travel the chance to try out a sample pair of shoes and give an honest review of the company's Alice loafer, I figured "Why not?"

I'm always looking for comfortable travel shoes that offer a bit of fashion with their function.

If they didn't work out, I could just toss them to the back of my closet to gather dust with my 52 pairs of other shoes that hurt too much to wear regularly.

I had a feeling this moccasin-style shoe was going to be joining my rotation, though, when I selected them online.

I was right, and fortunately, these will be staying front and center in my closet. Let's have a look at what impressed me most — along with a couple drawbacks — of this travel shoe.

Right out of the box, you can tell these shoes are of high quality and workmanship. The suede leather top is soft and flexible, and the removable insoles are thick and supportive (kudos to A'rcopedico's twin arch support system — included on every style they offer — which protects your natural arch and allows for even distribution of body weight through your foot). Within a few wearings, these shoes gave my feet a refreshing level of comfort.

The Alice loafer by A'rcopedico features a suede leather upper, thick sole, removable insole and innovative arch support. 

Honestly, what worried me most as a 30-something woman was that these shoes might look too "mom"-ish and not be fashionable enough. But after trying them on and asking my husband and girlfriends for their honest opinions, they agreed with me that these shoes looked great. And they'll look great on you, too.

My favorite thing about the Alice Loafer is that it can be paired with jeans, capris and even business-casual pants. They are truly versatile. They are also perfect for traveling as they slip on and off easily. The break-in period was fast, and they quickly can be worn all day without any pain (even for those of us with dreaded bunions).

Make sure to pack these for your next city walking tour — you won't regret it. Keep in mind that they are fairly warm, so they are best worn in winter months or during transition seasons.

One thing that took a little getting used to was the sole itself; it's a thick, textured non-slip sole that gives great grip and traction but can stick to carpet fibers the first few times you wear them until they're worn down a little bit. Because the insoles on the Alice moccasin are removable, you can replace them if and when they wear out. And if you're unhappy with your shoes for any reason, A'rcopedico offers a full refund of your purchase price within 60 days, minus the shipping fees.

For our U.S. readers, it's important to point out that A'rcopedico shoes are sized only in European sizes so you'll have to do a little converting. I'm a solid 7 in the US, so I ordered the Alice loafer in the "mouse" color and in size 38, and they fit perfectly.

The Alice retails for a steep price at $125 and also comes in other trendy colors: black, red, denim and lemon. I highly recommend these extraordinarily comfortable shoes for any woman on-the-go who needs reliable, practical, and trendy footwear.

You can check out A'rcopedico's full inventory of shoes, boots, sandals and other footwear to find some of your best new travel accessories for upcoming trips.

Thanks for reading,

Kelly