'It feels like you're walking on clouds': The $49 thongs that have 'saved' the feet of one mother, 45, who quit her office job to travel the world with her daughter

  • Evie Farrell quit her job three years ago to travel the world with her daughter, 8
  • Her feet struggled with walking 20 kilometres each day in un-supportive shoes
  • Now, Evie has discovered the Oofos flip flops, which she said 'saved' her feet
  • The mum-of-one said: 'It feels like you're walking on clouds!' in the shoes 

By Sophie Haslett For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

While a life spent exploring the world can often bring adventure, a feeling of freedom and fun, travelling full-time can also be an uncomfortable experience if you don't have the right shoes for walking around sight-seeing.

But after countless years of trial and error, one mother and travel expert feels she has landed on her favourite pair of shoes for travelling - which are a pair of thongs that have 'saved' her feet.

Evie Farrell, 45, from Sydney, quit her office job several years ago to explore the world with her eight-year-old daughter, Emmie, and first of all relied on regular flip flops until she developed plantar fasciitis from a lack of support.

Now, Evie will only wear one type of flip flop - which she says are the answers to your feet's prayers.

Evie Farrell, 45, from Sydney, quit her office job several years ago to explore the world with her eight-year-old daughter, Emmie (both pictured), and there's only one type of thong she wears

Evie Farrell, 45, from Sydney, quit her office job several years ago to explore the world with her eight-year-old daughter, Emmie (both pictured), and there's only one type of thong she wears

'I bought these Oofos flip flops while I was being treated for plantar fasciitis and I wear them every day,' Evie (pictured with Emmie) said - the flip flops cost $49.95

'I bought these Oofos flip flops while I was being treated for plantar fasciitis and I wear them every day,' Evie (pictured with Emmie) said - the flip flops cost $49.95

So what are the thongs?

'I bought these Oofos flip flops while I was being treated for plantar fasciitis and I wear them every day,' Evie posted on her travel blog, Mum Pack Travel. 

'I left Australia with a pair as they became worn I had a new pair delivered or if mum or dad or my sister were meeting us they would bring a pair. I've basically worn them continuously since 2015!'.

The thongs cost $49.95 from Amazon and boast an impressive four and a half star rating online. 

The shoes (pictured) are 37 per cent more supportive than other shoes and Evie said they feel 'like clouds' when you have to walk 20 kilometres each day sightseeing

The shoes (pictured) are 37 per cent more supportive than other shoes and Evie said they feel 'like clouds' when you have to walk 20 kilometres each day sightseeing

'If my foot starts feeling a little sore, I make sure I put these on, especially in the morning. Often as soon as I get out of bed... the Oofos are on,' Evie (pictured with Emmie) said

'If my foot starts feeling a little sore, I make sure I put these on, especially in the morning. Often as soon as I get out of bed... the Oofos are on,' Evie (pictured with Emmie) said

The travel blogger said she first started wearing them when she developed plantar fasciitis from walking 20 kilometres each day in un-supportive shoes. 

What makes the Oofos thongs so special? 

* They are more supportive; the shoe absorbs 37 per cent more impact than traditional footwear foam.

* A patented footbed cradles your arches to reduce stress on sore feet, ankles, knees and lower back.

* They are biomechanically designed to allow natural motion.

* They are machine washable.

Source: Amazon 

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After treating her feet, Evie was told she couldn't wear ordinary flip flops or high heels to walk around again. 

'I love the Oofos because they have an arch support that reduces stress and absorbs 37 per cent more stress than other shoes,' Evie said.

'No wonder they feel like you're walking on clouds!'.

More importantly, she also said they stop her feet from being in pain:

'If my foot starts feeling a little sore, I make sure I put these on, especially in the morning. Often as soon as I get out of bed, when my feet hit the floor the Oofos are on.'  

Elsewhere, she said she also wears Sketchers' Performance Women's Go Walk 4 Propel Walking and Tevas Women's W Sanborn Universal Sandal when viewing the sights of the world with her daughter.

Evie first started travelling around the world with her eight-year-old daughter, Emmie (pictured), three years ago, when she quit her 9-5 job in Sydney with $30,000 of savings

Evie first started travelling around the world with her eight-year-old daughter, Emmie (pictured), three years ago, when she quit her 9-5 job in Sydney with $30,000 of savings

Since then, the mother has visited dozens of countries with her little one in tow (both pictured) - schooling her around the globe via the NSW Distance Education primary school programme

Since then, the mother has visited dozens of countries with her little one in tow (both pictured) - schooling her around the globe via the NSW Distance Education primary school programme

Evie first started travelling around the world with her eight-year-old daughter, Emmie, three years ago, when she quit her 9-5 job in Sydney with $30,000 of savings and never looked back.

Evie Farrell's tips for a life on the road 

* Be prepared to change your plans, take your time and don't be too rigid - things will change and you'll need to adapt accordingly.

* Share decision making with your companion if you have one, and compromise. You need to make sure you do things you both want to do.

* Skype and FaceTime are great for catching up with long-distance friends and family - use them to your advantage.

* Plan ahead, save money and factor in things like schooling, budgets and things - then be prepared to roll with it when you're on the road.

* Embrace local buses, overnight trains and ferries, pushbikes and tuk-tuks to save money.

* Realise you don't have to follow the 9-5 pattern and that's the hardest part. Then, have no regrets.

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Since then, the mother and writer has visited dozens of countries with her little one in tow - schooling her around the globe via the NSW Distance Education primary school programme.

The places already ticked off on their itinerary include the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysian Borneo, Bali, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, London, Paris and China.

Speaking previously with FEMAIL about her tips for travel and how you can replicate Evie's lifestyle, she said: 'The hardest part is making the decision and packing up your life.

'As soon as we left I felt so free and Emmie and I were so excited as we walked through departures at Sydney - holding hands, the two of us on our big adventure.'

Evie also maintains that it's cheaper to live on the road than it is in Sydney:

'In Vietnam, we lived on about $60 a day - and China is super cheap too. On our travels, we spent lots of time in Asia, because it's very affordable and suitable for family travel,' she said.

'In most places, we can easily get by on less than $100 a day - by staying at hostels and guesthouses, taking local buses, overnight trains and ferries, riding pushbikes or jumping in tuk-tuks.

'Some of our best moments have been in hostels, like in Chengdu, China, where Emmie learned car tricks from Israeli backpackers and made paper planes with the hostel staff, and on long train rides across China when Emmie had the whole carriage joining in selfies.'

To read more from Evie Farrell, visit her blog here, or follow her on Instagram here. 

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