The Best Shoes for Travel
Selecting the best shoes for travel is one of the most important parts of preparing for any trip. The key item to remember is comfort, as most times you’ll be doing A LOT of walking regardless of where your destination might be. In saying this, having uncomfortable shoes will really put a damper on your trip. We’ve made a list of the shoes that have been reliable allies during our trips and hope they can provide you comfort too.
The Best Shoes for Travel: Kallsy’s Favorites
Hiking Shoes for Travel
The first of these best shoes for travel is, hiking shoes! Hiking shoes aren’t necessary for all travel but if you plan to go hiking or spend a lot of time outdoors they will be helpful. Selecting the right kind of hiking shoe for travel is also important. I’ve had a few different kinds of hiking shoes but my favorites are my Merrell Capra Bolt hiking shoes. Unfortunately, this specific style is no longer available but I also like the Merrell Siren Edge for hiking.
Not only are Merrell’s hiking shoes comfortable they have extremely good support and structure that will keep you moving when walking or hiking long distances. If you want a different style, I’ve been pleased with all of the Merrell shoes I’ve purchased for hiking.
Casual Boots for Travel
If traveling to a cooler weather location or during fall or winter, bringing a casual pair of boots is the perfect addition to pack. One of my favorite pairs of boots is Dr. Marten Chelsea Boots they take a little bit of time to break in, so make sure you wear them in a bit before taking them for travel. But once they are broken in they’re super comfortable, durable, and pair nicely with jeans, dresses, skirts, and shorts. If you don’t like the Chelsea style Dr. Martens has a variety of other styles to choose from too.
Casual Sneakers for Travel
I enjoy having a pair of casual sneakers on me when I travel because they’re comfortable and can be worn with a variety of outfits – even skirts or dresses! I personally love Vans and Nike AirForce 1s.
Sandals for Travel
For a sandal that can be dressed up with everyday outfits, I personally like Dr. Marten’s Blaire Sandal. For more casual sandals I like Merrells, or my Tevas are my go-to. Bonus? The Tevas are also waterproof so they’re perfect to wear while swimming or at the beach.
The Best Shoes for Travel: Logan’s Favorites
Hiking Shoes for Travel
Like above, hiking shoes aren’t necessary for all kinds of travel but are definitely helpful if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors hiking. My favorite hiking shoes are the Merrell All Out Crush or the Moab Edge. Merrell hiking shoes have been my favorite for years because they always have an amazing grip that moves with your feet so you shouldn’t have to worry about twisting your ankle when trekking.
Tennis Shoes for Travel
I’ve been through a number of athletic sneakers that are comfortable for travel but by far my favorites are my Adidas Ultraboosts, Nike AirForce 1s, Van’s MTE SK8 High, or ON Cloud tennis shoes. All of these options are comfortable and stylish making them perfect for a pair of jeans, joggers, or athletic shorts.
Casual Boots for Travel
For boots that are comfortable to wear while traveling that are also water resistant I like the L.L. Bean Stonington Boots which are great for fall and winter travel.
Other Tips for Comfort
Quality Socks: Until recently we always bought socks in bulk to cut the cost. We didn’t know what we were missing until we each bought a pair of wool socks and have noticed a dramatic difference. A pair of quality socks can help provide support and compression and can help avoid painful blisters.
Supportive Insoles: Adding insoles not only help with arch support but heel support as well. We recommend Superfeet insoles for stability, support, and all-day comfort. We have a set in our hiking shoes, tennis shoes, and even some of our dress shoes that have removable insoles.
Break-In Your Shoes: It seems like common sense, but make sure you wear your shoes frequently before you travel in order to make sure they will give you comfort while walking during your trips!
What are some of your most comfortable shoes to wear while traveling?
Comments & Reviews
megan says
Great list thanks for sharing your picks … I agree that selecting the right kind of shoes to pack is one of the most important parts of preparing for any trip. Many times I’ve gone with the wrong choice of footwear in the past and lived to regret it at a later date!
kallsypage says
Agreed Megan! Not all of these are terrific for lengthy distances but have worked out for us in the past. We felt that way after walking nearly 25 miles a day in Japan.
Fiona Maclean says
I always have a challenge with shoes and boots for walking as my feet are very wide. For me, anything made of leather usually works best because it will stretch…
kallsypage says
Smart thinking! We also love shoes that stretch a little. Leather is always a durable, nice option.
Anita Hendrieka says
Great tips, good shoes are important! I recently went on a trip to Slovenia and my sneakers broke within 3 days so I have learnt my lesson to buy good quality sneakers now!
kallsypage says
Oh no! We’ve had similar experiences to this. I forgot all of my socks once… not a good time but fortunately socks are much easier to purchase than shoes.
meg says
A great list! It always depends on where I’m going but a cozy sneaker, a pair of sandals and wedges are normally my go to. Although my next trip is to Nashville so I’ll probably just wear my boots the whole time!
kallsypage says
Thank you! I’m glad you agree. Nashville is definitely the place to put on your boots and never take them off. We LOVE Nashville. Hope you have an amazing time! 🙂
Vishal says
Happy feet brings happiness to your body. They are extremely important part of a trip and a lot of people don’t realize how important they are. A trip or a hike can only be enjoyed if your feet are at ease.
kallsypage says
Vishal, I couldn’t have said it better myself! 🙂 I’ve had a few days while traveling where my feet ached so bad I couldn’t continue on. Definitely makes for a bummer of a day!
Carmen says
Oh I will SO check out those boots! All of these options are great, thanks for sharing. Happy travels 🙂
kallsypage says
Glad to give some inspiration! 🙂 Thank you.
Melody Pittman says
Cool post. Interesting to see what everyone else is wearing. 😉 I like those Lucky Brand booties, cute!
kallsypage says
I always am looking for more options as well! Those booties have been some of the best I’ve found. 🙂
Lauren Meshkin says
I would honestly wear any of these. Can you be my personal shoe stylist?! 😉 I’m loving the boots and casual sneakers though. Thanks for sharing!
Christina M says
I am a huge fan of my Chaco sandals. I got the yampa single strap and love that they are water suitable, but can be worn with socks for light hiking.
kallsypage says
Christina, I will definitely check these out again sometime. A few years ago I tried a pair but they were really heavy. I’ve heard they’ve made some good improvements. 🙂
Lynda Hogan says
Hi! I am a creature of habit and depend on the old reliable pair of Nike. But that is mainly because in the last few years I haven’t had the time or opportunity to look into alternatives. This is a great guide – I’ve spotted two brands here to look into further. Thanks for sharing.