Traveling long distances could be a very tedious task on its own; even though many enjoy traveling more than someone like me. Whichever category you belong to, it is essential to have some level of comfort on your feet while you walk and while you are seated in the plane or a bus or any of the several means of transportation.
Aside from the long cruise and changes in the environment, the fun of traveling is usually the sight of new places. While walking around the new environment, you can have a full grasp of most of the lively details in that vicinity compared to a fast pace movement.
You are likely to be bruised or feel back pain after walking all day on your feet, especially if your footwear is not adequate to support your body weight and stress accumulated in standing and walking.
While packing your luggage for your next tour, one or two fashionable and yet comfortable shoes should be the major items to accompany you in providing you a beautiful memory as you explore new destinations in your journey.
And selecting the best shoe for travel in this current period could be highly cumbersome because there are several hundreds of footwear in the market. Thinking about quality, appeal and the form in which the shoes come could also make your decision more challenging.
For these reasons, an online survey was conducted to select the best shoes for travel in 2021. The outcome of this research made it possible to choose the top 10 shoes for travelers; which should be a guide to help you make your decision.
Note:
- Several categories of people were considered; men, women, and young adults. Children were not involved in the survey.
- The top ten walking shoes on this list are arranged in no particular order because each of these shoes is the best in their rights.
Choosing The Best Walking Shoes For Travel
There are several types of walking shoes for travel ranging from slip-on, sandals to sneakers. Get the wrong pair of shoes and could kiss all the fun of your travel goodbye. Depending on the terrain you are walking on, the travel walking shoe you are to choose from should take care of at least one of the following conditions.
Form
The form of the shoes is quite important; should you go for cover shoes or sandals or perhaps, slip-on or boots. The environment of your destination and your personality determines the suitable choice of footwear you should purchase for your travel.
In a wet environment, it might not be ideal to wear slippers or sandals; a water impervious covered shoe should be employed. Likewise, a slip-on might not be a good idea for someone walking in rocky terrain. A high trunk cover shoe such as boots will be perfect for a sandy or muddy environment.
Function
The purpose that the shoe will serve during the trip is very important in determining the type of footwear to obtain with you on your journey. Some might be interested in multi-purpose footwear that can be conveniently worn in all environments and can be used for various activities. For instance, walking, running, hiking, etc. Here, a traveler might decide to go with only one pair of shoes on his or her trip just because that footie can be worn to carry out several functions.
Fashion
Both the form and function of your footwear should enhance your style. Whether you are stepping out in divers or Oxford shoes or slippers, there should be a corresponding sense of style to suit your fashion. Therefore, in choosing footwear, the appeal of the shoe should be in consideration while also having other factors in mind.
The style should be sacrificed for neither form nor function in any situation to avoid any form of unpleasant experience while you are supposed to be enjoying your trip.
Top 10 Comfortable Shoes For Travel
Teva Women’s W Freewheel Washed Canvas Shoe
Looking for style and comfort? Women’s W Freewheel by Teva is the number one walking shoe for women travelers. This footwear is made of 100 percent textile with a minimalist design to cater to your everyday travel needs. You can wear it along with all types of outfits. The removable insole and the upper inner are well cushioned which makes it comfortable to wear all day long.
Women’s W freewheel upper material comes in 5 different colors, Grey/Black, Natural, Light Brown, Plum Truffle, and Desert Sage which are very easy to wash. The sole is made of durable rubber which not only makes it withstand the environmental elements but also provides adequate support as you walk.
It is a lace-up sneaker that makes it possible to adjust the toe box and the heels grip. A reviewer said
“They are the most comfortable casual sneakers I have ever owned.”
Several others testified to the fact that this is a piece that should not be found missing in your travel stacks.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to wash textiles
- Cushioned inner and replaceable Insole
- Toe protective rubber outsole.
Cons
-
- Very short laces
- Not suitable for persons with flat feet
ZERO GRAND Men’s Waterproof Hiker II Boots
Cole Haan’s Zerogrand waterproof boot is a stylish and rugged boot suitable for travelers who plan on going hiking or walking in a park. They are not only comfortable to the feet, but they also offer sufficient arch supports, for every type of feet conditions, whether it is an overpronation.
They are versatile footwear that can be worn for many purposes and occasions. They have this beautiful design that goes well with different outfits and you can easily categorize them as “City Boots”.
Unlike many hiking boots, which you would expect to be somewhat heavy, Zerogrand hiker II is super light and still offer durability. They are not the regular kind of hiking shoes because of the strong but flexible rubber outsole which makes it seems like regular sneakers; so if you are looking for a hiking-sneakers in boots, look no further. Cole Haan Zerogrand hiker II will protect your toes and ankle as you walk in rough terrain.
The upper is made of top-quality leather, which offers water-resistant; and comes in 3 colors, black, grey, and ivory. Also, the insole is well cushioned and provides about a 5” shaft to arch measurement.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Sturdy
- Flexible outsole
- Versatile traveler shoe
- Arch support
- Super lightweight
Cons
-
- Narrow when it is still new
Sperry Men’s Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe
This stylish dockside by Sperry is a generation to generation design that has been my favorite casual shoe for a very long time that can also serve as official footwear. The hand-sewn boat shoe is lightweight and very durable, with conscious attention to detail to give you maximum comfort.
The upper is made of pure leather and designed just like the side of a ship. While the outsole is made of tough rubber with wave sipping patterns that provide great traction for both dry and wet conditions; beach, park, pool. It is the razor-cut wave pattern that expels water from underneath the shoe.
This design makes it adaptable to the different environment so far you do not deep it inside water. And the fit is sure, with a 360-degree lacing system. You can adjust the heel’s support and the grip on the feet with the laces. Or you can tie the lace once, then leave it as a slip-on shoe.
Sperry men’s authentic original 2-eye boat shoe is simply the ideal choice if you will be walking or standing for long.
Pros
- 360° lacing system
- 100 percent pure leather
- Tough rubber sole
- Hand-sewn
- Great traction and stability
- Versatile and never out of vogue
Cons
-
- Not everyone likes the heel design
Merrell Men’s Burnt Rock Travel Suede Hiking Shoe
For the best comfort during your trip involving outdoor activities such as hiking, beach party, and taking a stroll in the park, you can rely on the Merrel Men’s Burnt Rock. Its versatile design also makes it a great choice for indoor activities.
The travel sneakers are designed to provide you with adequate arch and heel support, a characteristic that makes them suitable for every type of foot condition. Travelers with flat feet will love this pair of shoes the most.
The durable and beautiful upper design of Merely Burnt Rock consists of mainly pure suede leather with a small portion of synthetic mesh blend, which makes the breathability more adequate. It goes well with different types of clothes; jeans, khakis, shorts, and the likes, makes it the ideal choice for many recreational travel opportunities.
Pros
- Rugged and beautiful design
- Excellent arch support
- Versatile
Cons
-
- The toe cap is not well integrated into the outsole.
Scarpa Margarita- M Shoe
If you only have the opportunity to pack just a pair of shoes for your journey, then ensure you have a Men’s Margarita Shoe by SCARPA with you. This amazing footwear is making the list because of its ability to blend into a multitude of occasions without any fuss.
You can rely on this piece for your walks in the park, trails, or even the city or any unpredictable environment. That is the main reason it is referred to as “City need the mountain footwear”. They offer a good deal of comfort to your feet. They fit in perfectly well to all types of feet.
Durable construction using high-grade leather suede and highly breathable inner lining fabric that gives that soft feel to the feet. The insole consists of molded foam with a microporous midsole (Dual-density).
The outsole has a Vibram® Globe Grip design under it that provides great grip on various terrain surfaces. You can not slip on a wet surface; they go well as dress shoes, walking, and running shoes. You are not in the eyes of everyone as a “tourist” with these pairs of your feet.
Pros
- Durability
- Versatile and appealing
- Excellent traction and balance
Cons
-
- The sizing is about ½ inch bigger than regular
Viakix Hiking Sandals for Women
In the quest to solve the challenge of sacrificing quality for fashion as it is in the case of most outdoor footwear and that is also very cost friendly; Viakix came up with this gorgeous shoe for women called Viakix hiking sandals.
The Viakix hiking sandals for women are developed in America by a family company that considers every one of her customers as one of theirs. Providing a shoe to withstand rigorous sporting and outdoor adventures and still be appealing to be worn for indoor dates without any reason to switch into another shoe.
There are adjustable straps that make Viakix sandals fit in all widths of feet; narrow or wide, you are covered with this shoe. Also, the straps consist of a blend of waterproof material lined with soft cushioned fabric to deliver extra comfort.
The rubber outsole has very lightweight and it is highly durable. The insole has a midsole made of cushioned EVA foam that is user-friendly to provide adequate arch support. This midsole also aids in impact engrossing and relief to the feet.
Pros
- It offers fashion and function
- Adjustable straps to accommodate different widths of leg
- Durability and Versatility
- Arch support
Cons
-
- The sizing is about 1 inch bigger than regular.
- Low value to cost ratio
Samuel Hubbard Men Hubbard Free “Un-sneakers”
Not so many people have the luxury of packing more than a pair of footwear with them on their trip. This Samuel Hubbard Hubbard Free shoe could be all you need for your journey in such a situation.
They blend well into any form of dressing and occasion whether you going for a walk in the park or you have some business deal you want to seal on your trip. You can not exhaust the list of the possible use of this shoe; kayaking, hiking, picnics, evening walks, etc. We can confidently say this is athletic footwear with a classic leather shoe design.
Hubbard Free is popularly known as the “un-sneakers” footwear by Samuel Hubbard because of the ease of switching from one function to another. It is called “free” because that is exactly how your legs feel like, wearing this shoe.
Pure upper leather with soft glove-like leather lining which offers comfort, durability, and breathability to your feet. The derby design means you would not have any worries about seams on your feet after long hours of wearing them. The Ankle area has a well-padded collar, although not very visible as in most running shoes.
The outsole is a Vibram springy rubber material with good traction and the weight is very light. Also, the memory foam using the Kevlar shank was designed just to accommodate your feet and absorbs all the stresses coming from your body weight and the rigors of your adventures.
Pros
- Versatile
- Sneakers with a classic leather shoe design
- Lightweight
- Durable
Cons
-
- Expensive
Seavees The Legend Sneaker Standards
Seavees casual sneakers are another worthy travel shoe on our list. Designed to give you a traveling experience a boost. Show up in Seavees is a trend that encourages everyone to go casual while having catching fun.
Walking in a Seavees The Legend Sneaker Standards is incredibly comfortable and stress-free. Stability is another feature it offers, through the Herringbone sole design that makes it possible to have great traction on different terrain surfaces.
Made of finely woven poplin twill fabric that is highly breathable; you can hardly feel any heat. And the memory foam, made of springy material is lined with soft cotton which keeps your leg dry and cool all day. The outsole is made of “chewing gum” synthetic rubber, an indication of flexibility and toughness.
They come in a variety of colors to match with all types of clothes; beach clothes, evening outings, pool party clothes, etc. And the sizes fit well, with different leg width sizes. You have the option to choose either narrow width or wide width, depending on your needs.
Pros
- Aesthetic Appeal
- Springy synthetic rubber sole
- Highly breathable Poplin twill fabric
Cons
-
- You might get confused with the size.
Superga 2750 COTU Classic Sneaker
Every closet deserves at least one Superga 2750 COTU classic sneakers. These sneakers come in all colors, so there is always a color that combines well with the clothes you are packing along on your tour.
The Superga 2750 COTU is specially designed with 100 percent cotton that fully allows the circulation of air in and out of the shoe. It has 5 or 6 eyelets to accommodate the lace.
The entire sole has a construction that focuses on making walking and standing a seamless exercise on your feet. The outsole is made of synthetic gum sole while the removable insole offer cushion support. If you have a flat feet condition, you might want to replace the insole with an orthopedic insole.
Pros
- Stylish casual wear
- Highly Breathable
- High value to cost ratio
Cons
-
- No arch support for flat feet persons
Keen Elsa Orthotic Walking Shoe
Keen Elsa Orthotic walking sneakers is a very popular brand among travelers, with a history of providing quality footwear. It fits well most types of legs.
Keen now focuses on fashion and comfort simultaneously unlike before where one suffers for the other. Elsa sneakers have gone beyond just rugged trail shoes to the classy urban walking shoe. It pairs well with any daytime outfit.
The upper is made of synthetic or canvass material with two eyelets at the side to allow adequate ventilation of the feet. While the sole is made of rubber while extends upward to provide a toe cap for the toe box. The toe area has enough room and the width of the shoe comes in narrow and wide options.
Pros
- Fashion and Support
- Durable
- Good ventilation
- Cost-efficient
Cons
-
- The manufacturer needs to differentiate the narrow width from wide.
How To Choose The Best Walking Shoes For Travel
When I was traveling through America for the first time, my feet were soft and uncomfortable. I could hardly move, so I hated leaving the hotel for sightseeing. Bad shoes not only ruin my travels, after I got back home, but it also took me more than a month to recover.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to choose comfortable travel shoes. Since you would be standing on your leg for a long time during sightseeing, it is essential to take proper care of your feet. And not allowing bad footwear to ruin your trip.
Having highlighted the factors to be considered before choosing a suitable walking shoe for travel, some other tips should also be in consideration to be perfectly sure of which of the numerous pairs of shoes to go for in the market.
I will be discussing some of the major steps to take when you are shopping for the most suitable best pair of walking shoes in the next few lines below. The steps are:
Where You Are Visiting
Your destination should determine the type of travel footwear you are to take along with you. Your travel shoe should fit into the environment. For example, if you are traveling to a cold region, a pair of sandals will not be adequate for such a tour as your feet will be exposed to the cold and you would not be comfortable or wearing slippers for a hiking trip.
The activities you intend to be involved in, at that your destination is also an important factor to consider when choosing suitable footwear for your trip. You might have to travel in more than one pair of shoes.
Let us consider a travel plan where you want to enjoy a walk within the city just for sightseeing or mountain climbing and also intend to go for a business meeting during your visit; you should equip yourself with the appropriate shoes for both occasions.
Conformity To The Shape and Size of Your Leg
The pair of shoes you are traveling with is supposed to fit perfectly to both the shape and size of your feet. This factor has nothing to do with the activities, occasions, or the environment in which you want to wear shoes; it is all about compatibility.
When you are not comfortable with the footwear on your leg, then it is most likely you forfeit all the pleasure of traveling or engaging in any of the trip’s activities.
To get the perfect fit for your leg, you can follow the steps highlighted below while buying footwear:
- Generally, the feet are usually bigger during the late afternoon; at early dusk is the best period of the day to try on a new pair of shoes, when your leg will be at its biggest size. If you try it in the morning, you might not get a perfect fit for feet. By the time your feet swell to their Max size, you will start feeling uncomfortable and that is not what you would want to experience during your trip.
- If you are traveling with a cover shoe, it is the best practice to wear or take with you at least, a pair of socks. The socks aids in providing comfort, warmth and in absorbing sweat from the feet.
- To ensure the right fit for your leg, you can also consult a shoe expert to take measurements of your feet. It is likely to have one foot bigger than the other. Therefore, when you get hold of suitable footwear, you should test run the shoes before making the final decision. Walk around the premises for a few minutes to have an idea of how it fits. And also, after purchase, wear it around a few weeks ahead of your trip.
By this method, you can decipher how tight? is the toe box too wide or tight? Is the sole slippery or too rigid as you walk?
- Another step to take before ascertaining whether you have the right fit or not is to read the reviews of other buyers about that particular shoe. This is very essential, especially if you are buying the shoes from an online store. Different manufacturers might have variations in sizes of the shoes; a manufacturer’s size 10 might be size 9 ½ for another or even 10 ½. You can get this information by reading previous buyers’ reviews.
- You might not be certain about your size, you can go for a travel shoe that allows you to wiggle your toes conveniently and that snugs your feet all around without any discomfort.
- Performance Of The Footwear in Respect of The Intended Activities
The durability of the shoe; its ability to withstand the rigors of the activities you want to take part in, should be considered in purchasing nice footwear. Perhaps, your activity requires you to have waterproof leather-made shoes, it will be inadequate to wear cotton-made sneakers for such an occasion.
Read about the shoes and learn from the experience of previous buyers of the type of shoes you are about to purchase. These reviews will give you a great deal of information that the manufacturers might have not provided.
You can as well opt for a pair of travel shoes that can serve multiple purposes. For example, a shoe that can withstand the rigors of walking in a swampy environment and is still pretty enough to be worn at an evening party or in a street carnival.
Shoe Weight
Walking freely without any worries about the weight on your leg is very important when choosing suitable footwear for your journey. The shoe should be light enough so as not to add excess weight to your luggage as you travel; and not sacrificing durability in the process.
Design
For whatever reason, the appearance of the shoe should not be paramount over the comfort and fit that it will offer.
But that does not mean your footwear should not be fashionable enough; at least it should make your leg appealing and match well with your outfit.
The main point here is that you should not step down on the comfort and fit of the shoe on your leg for the beauty of the footwear when deciding on which shoe you want to buy.
And you do not want to attract the wrong people to yourself; try a design that blends well with the environment, so that you would not be too distinct from the dwellers of your travel destination. Blending with the environment will prevent you from being the easy target of scammers and robbers.
Breathability
The degree of “breathing” of the shoe is another important factor that can not be overlooked when deciding to obtain a certain type of shoe. We think about the ability of the footwear to offer adequate ventilation to keep the feet dry and cool all day; thereby making you feel comfortable in it.
Microfibers are used to suck moisture out from your feet in some shoes. Footwear with uppers that are made of mesh generally offers high breathability compared to other methods employed by the manufacturer to keep the feet dry and cool.
Material
To enjoy your outings, the material used in producing your footwear matters a lot. You can not overlook the importance of the material in your activities. Some materials are suitable for warm climates and others for cold climates.
Common materials for shoes are leather, suede, canvas, and fabric. There are other materials too, such as rubber and products of a polymer.
The leather is usually durable and porous, offering some level of breathability to the feet. It also offers a high degree of fashion appeal. Suede is one of the basic products for men’s casual shoes, and shoes made of canvas materials; such as sports shoes can be worn in every type of weather.
Cost
When you find the right footwear that matches perfectly with all the mentioned criteria (especially in quality, fit, and comfort), the price does not matter. If you can go a little bit over your budget for the shoe, good! And if you can not you have to make that decision early.
But a high price does not always mean that the product you are buying is the best. Ensure that the value to cost
the ratio is high.
Foot Care Tips
After long hours of walking in your shoes, even the footwear that best suits your feet will cause you to feel some pains and blisters are inevitable. Therefore, you might want to take some stuff along with you on your journey to care for your feet.
- Blister dressings: To be safe, it is a best practice to always add blister dressings to your cosmetic set. These blister bandages are saviors when you are involved in extremely intense activities.
- Socks of high quality: we have already talked about it, but a quality pair of socks will make a whole lot of difference. The most preferable sock material is wool or a mix of wool and synthetics. For cold weather, you can go for high trunk socks while in the summer, ankle-level socks will be perfect.
- Foot Powder: before stepping into the shoe, you can apply some foot powder on your feet. By doing this daily, it will significantly reduce feet moisture and consequently, bad odor.
- Foot Cream: a thorough feet massage with foot cream is great; particularly, mainly for someone that wears sandals.
- Keep short nails: always keep your nails short. So it is necessary to travel with a pair of nail clippers; to avoid growing long nails that often cause pain on the toe.
- Changing shoes: when the travel activities involved walking long distances. We recommend that you should have an organized daily routine program for changing your shoes. You can wear one today and wear another tomorrow.
FAQs
What are good travel shoes?
A travel shoe can be said to be good footwear if it can be worn for several hours at once.
As a traveler, most of your time is spent either while you are walking on when you are upstanding; far more than you would have done if you were to be at your house.
You can not have the best experience of traveling if your feet are swollen or when you are not comfortable with your footwear. So, therefore, you should have the best pair of shoes to travel with you.
Although everyone seeks to buy a pair of perfect and comfortable shoes for travel, you should never make fashion a priority in purchasing a travel shoe. As we have emphasized that what matters most is comfort; therefore, you should try as much as possible to strike a balance by going for footwear that suits your fashion sense and also offer comfortability.
Instead of going for heavy and big shoes that require shoe bag storage, priority should be given to lightweight and practical shoes, which can easily be stowed in the handbag or fiber-wrapped cubes.
When we talk about good and comfortable walking shoes, the reaction is relative to individuals. The personal styles of each person have to be considered. Some people would rather go for sneakers all year round while some will prefer slip-ons or sandals.
How Many Pairs of Shoes Should I Pack?
To answer this as quickly as possible; you should choose at least two pairs, or at most four pairs of shoes. Most experienced travelers think that magic numbers for shoes are three; A dress shoe, a walking shoe, and a boot.
If you are not sure about the climatic conditions of your destination or there is a mixed weather condition, it is safe to equip yourself with at least one pair of shoes for the warm weather, one for cold weather, and one that can go for all conditions and use every day for sightseeing.
A waterproof boot will help when it rains or snow, so if you can get one it will be a great addition. And sneakers can be used in warm and moderately cold weather.
How Do I Withstand Standing On Your Feet For a Long Time?
You might not be able to avoid standing for a very long time but you can absorb all the pressure that comes with it with comfortable footwear. The shoes protect you from pains and injuries.
Below are some of the activities you need to be doing to make you more prepared to withstand standing for a long time are the following:
- You have to get accustomed to walking, by exercising as early as possible ahead of your journey. This daily exercise will aid your leg muscles to be strong and makes you feel less sore. For someone who is not used to standing or walking for a long period, with the most comfortable shoes in the world; you may still feel pain in your feet.
- Test run the footwear before embarking on your trip. Wear it around at least twice. Before you embark on that trip, use the shoe to carry out similar activities within your neighborhood to determine the comfort of the shoe.
- If you can get detachable insoles, it could be of great advantage to you. There are Orthopaedic insoles; if you have a foot condition that causes stress and pain; under pronation or overpronation.
What Are The Most Comfortable Shoe Brand?
The following were rated by our readers as the most comfortable brands of travel walking shoes:
- Teva
- Cole Haan
- Viakix
- Scarpa
- Merrell
- Sperry
- Services
- Samuel Hubbard
- Tao
- Ecco
- Skechers
- Blondo
- Superga
- Ahnu
- Clarks
- Aerosoles
- Keen
- Avarca Pons
- Naot
- Vionic
- UGG
Conclusion
Having gone through all the different types of footwear for travels, it is convenient to conclude that the list is far beyond all we were able to write about in this post.
Some brands offer similar characteristics and we just have to talk about just one while some are base on the magnitude of positive reviews we got from verified buyers only.
Remember, in choosing a suitable shoe for travel, all that matters is your maximum satisfaction. Use some of the tips provide up there in this article to make a good judgment.
We will like to hear your experience about some of the other travel shoes you have used before or any of the footwear listed above, for everyone to learn from it.
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