The Best Travel Shoes

Written by Aliya Kayla

According to a famous adage, “A good pair of shoes will take you to good places.” Simply put, you need the right kind of footwear for you to enjoy your trip to the fullest regardless of the destination.

What are the best travel shoes – how do you decide

In a way, it’s dependent on the kind of place you’re visiting. If you’re going to mountainous regions, hiking or trekking, shoes will be your best bet; if you’re heading down to the ocean depths, scuba boots will do the job; and so on.

So, when speaking about the best shoes for travel, various types of footwear should be highlighted. Oftentimes, women will pack too many shoes or not enough pairs suited for walking and other planned activities. This article will share the best shoes for traveling and some shoe packing tips.

TOMS

Travel + Leisure called TOMS, specifically the Classic Canvas, the only pair you need on a trip. It’s easy to understand why: they’re comfy, stylish, light, durable, and easy-to-wear.

You can take them to the beach or for touring the city. Due to all their impressive qualities, you may find yourself abusing a pair of TOMS, but not to worry as they can handle the pressure well. Footwear with similar qualities are popular espadrille brands that come in a wide range of and styles.

Sperry

When you see or hear the name Sperry, you probably think about boat shoes or the ‘Top-Sider’ editions. Paul A. Sperry invented the boat shoe back in 1935. Sperry shoes can face any weather condition, whether it’s wet, dry, hot or cold making them a noteworthy addition to your travel gear.

Birkenstock

A trusted name in footwear, Birkenstock has been creating excellent sandals and slip-ons for centuries. Founded in 1774, a classic Birkenstock pair is highly recognisable given its timeless design. That’s just the icing on the cake though, as a pair of Birks can last for years, all the while retaining its comfort.

Salt-Water Sandals

If you’re from the US, chances are you or someone you know have worn at least one pair of Salt-Water sandals.

(image credit: En Brogue)

They fair well in water, which means they’re great for trips to the lake/beach or island hopping and En Brogue remarked that they can even be tossed in a washing machine.

Likewise in a blog post from Salt-Water, Kate Pietrasik, founder of unisex children’s clothing label Tootsa, shared her experience with a pair, and recalled her trip to the Caribbean where she tested the sandals’ ‘washability’.

Among the bestsellers is the Salt-Water Shark, which do a great job of protecting your feet during walks on rocky beaches and provide better stability even when stepping on downward surfaces.

Salt-Water sandals also have raised inner soles for comfort and foot/leg fatigue reduction when used for long periods.

Merrell

Ask any hiker what pair of shoes he/she would recommend for the casual trekker, and Merrell will almost always be mentioned. Chasing the Donkey listed the Rockbit Cove Hydro Shoes (the pink pair in the photo above) as their best entry for hiking.

All the ones listed above are great for walking and some are also suited for additional activities. Regarding packing, USA Today suggests to:

• Lay each pair on their sides, if possible
• Keep them together or bind them if necessary
• Put them inside your bag last, on top of your other stuff for easier inspection
• It’s also advised to bring as few pairs as possible.

Walking shoes are the most basic; then take a pair for particular activities (hiking, swimming). If you have some that can do both or more, then that’s much better.

Do you have other specific shoes to recommend? Name them in our comments section below. Keep those feet happy and moving!

More Packing Tips from WomenTravelBlog