New Balance Women's X 1080 V13 Shoe, 10.5

For years, I've been buying used versions of a shoe I found on clearance at Ross's. It was the New Balance WW536, so you know how old that style is if you are a New Balance person. That shoe was the first shoe that always felt better than walking barefoot to me, so I stuck with it. I'm retired, planning a european trip this summer and knew that I needed a better shoe that would be extra padded for all the walking tours I'll be taking. As you age, your natural foot padding thins out and what was comfy and supportive a decade or two ago no longer feels as cushy. So I've tried several different higher end walk/run shoes and finally found that this particular NewBalance 1080 v13 shoe is perfect for me, and amazingly, the same size I've been buying all along is the best fit. I'd say it runs just a little longer than my old NB shoes in the same size. It is truly a joy to walk in and stand in, and I often forget I have them on. Before settling on this, I trialed both Hoka Clifton 9 and an Altra Torin 7 after being fitted at a running store. Both were beautifully constructed shoes with great cushioning, but the toe boxes weren't high enough for me. I loved the mid-spring and rocker of the Hoka but would wake up with sore toes the day after a long walk. I love the barefoot concept and wide toe box of the Altra, but something about the way the Altra is constructed caused my feet to go numb after a while no matter how much I loosened the laces. Of course, that creates heel slippage. Then I walked in this shoe and it was "no contest". The pink granite color is so pretty. Its my version of white. I plan to get a second pair in a darker color as well. Probably one of the blues. The only thing I don't like about this shoe is the way the sole at the heel sticks out backward. Seems a bit clunky and awkward, but so far it hasn't gotten in the way or caused any walking or stumbling issues. Not a deal breaker in any way.