Now that we’re rolling into spring and summer, many of you are gearing up for trips around the country and over to Europe. Since travel brings out your inner explorer you will likely be walking several miles a day. Finding a pair of travel shoes you love is important. In fact, shoes might be the most important thing you’ll pack!
One of my most frequently asked questions on this blog is regarding shoes and what are the best for travel. While I love shoes, it’s one of the hardest questions to answer because everyone’s feet are so different. What is comfortable for one person isn’t always going to work for the next.
Even so, there are a few helpful considerations to think about when it comes to packing shoes for trips.
- Stick with neutral colors that will go with several outfits. As you can see in my roundup above, most of the shoes are black, brown, navy, beige, white, or metallic. The less shoes (and more lightweight) you bring, the less heavy your bag is. This is always a win in my book.
- We all know that uncomfortable shoes make for an unhappy traveler. Testing out the shoe before you go is incredibly important. I never bring a brand-new pair of shoes on a trip that will involve a lot of walking. There is nothing worse than getting a blister on the first day.
- Another thing I don’t usually pack are high-heels. If you’re big into heels, I’m certainly not here to convince you otherwise, but if you’re traveling to Europe you are going to find yourself doing a lot of walking and many cities have cobblestone streets that make it very hard to get around in heels. If you like the extra height, wedges are a good alternative to heels.
Below is a roundup of my favorite travel shoes for the summer. I did my best to take into account style, comfort, and whether they will pack nicely in your suitcase.
Espadrilles
Soludos (or other espadrille variations) are comfy, lightweight, and make your legs look fantastic in shorts and dresses. They don’t have the best arch support, but as long as you have two or three different shoes to rotate throughout your trip, your feet should be just fine for walking around town or an evening out.
Sneakers
Sneakers are having a moment these days, which is great because it makes it easy to keep your feet both happy and fashionable.
Walking/Running Shoes
A good pair of running or walking shoes are important to bring if you are going to be biking or taking long hikes.
Sandals
Sandals are a must for summer travel. They keep your feet cool and don’t take up much room in your suitcase. It’s nice to have a pair of sandals to walk on the beach so you don’t have sand stuck in your shoes the entire trip. If you’re staying in a hostel, sandals are important to wear when showering as you don’t want to come home with any funky foot issues. Havaianas are a great option as they are easy to rinse off and they dry instantly.
Flats
Since I haven’t included heels on the list, I recommend a nice pair of flats for your dinners out on the town. Just be sure to test them out before you go as you want to make sure they are comfortable.
What are your favorite travel shoes? I’d love to hear!
