These sandals made me want to cry from comfort — and saved my vacation
We may receive commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
Last summer, I visited a friend in Portland, Oregon, and, as usual, overpacked on clothes and underpacked on shoes. I had enough jackets for a family of five, but for my often-achy feet, only the one pair of shoes that do not inflict agony, Birkenstocks. You see, my feet hurt. Like, all the time. A little arthritis here, a bit of a bone spur there. I’m not complaining. My feet have served me well. But now it’s time for me to serve them— as in, pretty much all my fashion choices begin and end by considering their feelings.
For a bit of strolling around Portland, I was hoping I was all set. Thing is, being enchanted by this new city, I ended up logging some city miles — walking much more than expected. And by Day Two, my feet began to chafe. Settling in at an outdoor café in the Pearl District to rest (and enjoy the greatest fish tacos of my life), I observed the parade of humanity — and shoes — like a comfort-seeking missile. Over and over I caught sight of an unfamiliar but kinda cute athletic sandal, in a color combo I could get onboard with.
Plus, they're available at both Amazon and Zappos for the same price, though if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can also score free two-day shipping. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
Keen Venice H2
Some backstory: I have never in my life owned sport sandals. Up till this point, I had perceived them as kind of a sham — something presented as comfortable that really were just flimsy and unsupportive. These shoes I kept seeing, though, were different. They seemed to cradle the foot, fitting close, like a dance shoe. Every person I saw wearing them took long, easy strides and exuded contentment.
Intrigued, I stopped one such happy stranger and asked for details. The magic footwear, I learned, was the Keen Venice H2. And lucky for me, its prevalence on the street where I sat (now ordering a third fish taco) was explained by the fact that Keen’s flagship location was just around the corner.
When I met my own pair of Keen Venice H2s, it was love at first step. Even though my feet are wide and otherwise challenged (see above), each detail of this shoe was perfect. The footbed fit precisely, supporting my arch; nothing on top pressed on my achy bone spur; there was enough structure to the sole that my arthritic first metatarsal was protected; and there was a natural forward-rocking motion provided by the toe tip that made walking a joy.
Needless to say, my vacation — and feet — were saved. But more important, my life has been impacted. These shoes have become my go-to’s for walks uphill and to the farmer’s market, for muddy gardening, for hikes in the woods, and for errands. They’re quick-drying so I can tromp through the creek near my house to retrieve my cat, who somehow finds her way to the other side but can’t figure out how to get home. I even wore them on a river-rafting day trip, where they provided enough grip to keep me safe on slippery underwater stones.
The one downside? I want to upgrade to a new color combo, but I can’t justify it. Because even after extensive use and being muddied up and hosed down repeatedly, my super-tough Keen Venice H2s still look as fresh as they did they day I got them.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Looking for more great Amazon deals? Check these out:
Home theater deals:
Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K Smart TV, $320 (was $470), amazon.com
JBL Bar 5.1 Channel 4K Ultra HD Soundbar with True Wireless Surround Speakers, $600 (was $800), amazon.com
TCL 32-inch 3-Series 720p Roku Smart TV, $158 (was $230), amazon.com
AuKing Mini Projector 2022, $69 with on-page coupon (was $100), amazon.com
Amazon Fire TV 65-inch Omni Series 4K Smart TV, $500 (was $830), amazon.com
Headphone, earbud, smartwatch and tablet deals:
Tozo T6 Bluetooth True Wireless Earbuds, $23.50 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com
Apple AirPods 2nd Gen, $100 (was $159), amazon.com
Zihnic Foldable Wireless and Wired Stereo Headphones, $22 with on-page coupon (was $37), amazon.com
Apple AirPods Pro, $175 (was $249), amazon.com
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 2 Pro, $70 (was $130), amazon.com
Tablet and tech deals:
Oontz Bluetooth Speaker, $25 with on-page coupon (was $35), amazon.com
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Factory Unlocked Android Cell Phone, $552 (was $600), amazon.com
Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch, $200 (was $300), amazon.com
Cleaning Gel Universal Dust Cleaner, $7 (was $10), amazon.com
Motorola One 5G Ace, $300 (was $400), amazon.com
Video game deals:
Sceptre Curved 24-inch 75Hz Professional LED Monitor, $140 (was $230), amazon.com
Halo Infinite: Standard Edition for Xbox Series X & Xbox One, $38 (was $60), amazon.com
Homall Gaming Chair, $83 with on-page coupon (was $150), amazon.com
Just Dance 2022 for Playstation 4, $20 (was $50), amazon.com
Super Mario Odyssey for Nintendo Switch, $40 (was $60), amazon.com
Smart-home deals:
Google Nest Thermostat, $100 (was $130), amazon.com
Blurams Camera for Home Security 2K, $35 (was $50), amazon.com
YoLink Mini Plug, $22 (was $30), amazon.com
Vacuum deals:
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum, $150 (was $220), amazon.com
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO (3550) Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum, $399 (was $550), amazon.com
Eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 30C, $180 (was $300), amazon.com
Fashion deals:
Auselily Women Short Sleeve Loose Maxi Dress, $31 (was $53), amazon.com
Leggings Depot Women's Printed Solid Activewear Joggers, $17 (was $29), amazon.com
Crocs Unisex-Adult Crocband Clog, $35 in some sizes/colors (was $50), amazon.com
Misfay Women's Summer Casual T Shirt Dress, $27 (was $30), amazon.com
Kitchen deals:
Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with Air Fry, $194 (was $230), amazon.com
Kizen Digital Meat Thermometer with Probe , $15 with on-page coupon (was $30), amazon.com
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, $25 (was $44.50), amazon.com
Ninja FD302 Foodi 11-in-1 Pro 6.5-quart Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer, $160 (was $200), amazon.com
Chefman Air Fryer, $64 (was $100), amazon.com
Beauty deals:
M3 Naturals Anti Cellulite Massage Oil, $32 (was $50), amazon.com
Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Night Cream, $18 (was $22), amazon.com
Heeta Scalp Care Hair Brush, $8 (was $10), amazon.com
Perfecore Cooling Ice Face Mask Gel Pack with Jade Roller, $31 (was $50), amazon.com
Bedding deals:
Utopia Bedding Throw Pillows Insert 2-pack, $15 (was $20), amazon.com
Cartman 148-piece Tool Set General Household Hand Tool Kit, $30 (was $40), amazon.com
Cushy Form Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers, $19 (was $30), amazon.com
Sleepingo Sleeping Pad, $40 (was $50), amazon.com
Health and Wellness:
Vybe Pro Muscle Massage Gun, $130 with on-page coupon (was $230), amazon.com
BD Veritor At-Home COVID-19 Digital Test Kit, $6 (was $34), amazon.com
iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer, $20 (was $55), amazon.com
KN95 Face Mask 50 Pcs, $29 with on-page coupon (was $35), amazon.com
Lawn and Garden:
Cedar Raised Planter Box with Legs, $160 with on-page coupon (was $210), amazon.com
Garden Kneeler And Stool, $47 (was $70), amazon.com
Sunjoy Avanti Outdoor Portable Propane Heater, $130 (was $192), amazon.com
Foyuee Raised Planter Box with Legs, $95 (was $110), amazon.com
Sun Joe SPX3000 2030 14.5-Amp Electric High Pressure Washer, $169 (was $200), amazon.com
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo’s newsletter.