When I first saw the email inviting me to Disney World for a work trip, my inner child screamed “YES!” I grew up in Los Angeles and had been to Disneyland a handful of times, but somehow, at 34-years-old, Disney World was still sitting pretty on my bucket list.
As I started thinking about what to pack for the sticky Orlando, FL heat, my mind immediately went to one thing: shoes. I’ve been working from home for the past 3.5 years, so I don’t exactly wear shoes every day—slippers and fuzzy socks have been holding me down. That meant whatever I brought had to be comfortable enough to survive eight-plus hour days and at least 10,000 steps, if not more.
With just a few days to spare, I panic-ordered two new pairs of sneakers and brought along an old faithful for backup. First up: a fresh pair of New Balances. Supportive, reliable and perfect for long stretches of standing. Then came the Salomons. If you have flat feet like me, these are a game changer. They handled inclines, uneven paths and all the random uphill terrain the Disney parks throw at you with ease. And finally, my well-worn Adidas—my go-to pair that I’ve had for years and still don’t mind wearing all day if needed.
All three sneakers had their moment to shine and quite literally saved my feet from the agony I know I would’ve been in if I had chosen poorly from some of the cuter but not-so-functional sneakers in my closet.
Each night, I’d crash into my hotel bed and check the Health app out of curiosity. It consistently told me I’d walked between 15,000 and 20,000 steps per day. And the real kicker? On those same days in 2024, I had only clocked around 300 steps—probably just shuffling around my tiny NYC apartment. I had to laugh… and gag a little.
All in all, I’m glad I invested in those sneakers because I know they’ll be clutch again when NYC summer rolls around. Between dodging subway stairs, sweating through long days, and pretending I’m not melting on the sidewalk, these shoes are about to earn their keep.
Price: $150
Price: $140
Price: $100
Products featured on EBONY are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. However, when you buy something through our retail links, EBONY may earn an affiliate commission.
