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Most Comfortable Walking Shoes for Travel: 19 Expert-Tested Pairs

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Judy Antell

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the best travel shoes in front of a suitcase
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Whether you’re navigating cobblestone streets or sandy shores, the right shoes are the difference between a dream vacation and a blister-filled nightmare. This guide breaks down the most reliable, stylish, and comfortable walking shoes that deserve a spot in your suitcase.

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Seeking the Holy Grail of Travel Shoes

We all seek the holy grail of travel: Shoes that can do double duty. We want comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets during the day that are chic enough for swanky restaurants and dance floors at night.

Well, good luck with that.

While we suggest a few shoe choices on this list that come close to that holy grail, the reality is that versatile walking shoes that can get you through a day of sightseeing without sore feet or souvenir blisters rarely translate well into eveningwear. Nor do they work for hikes, trips to the beach or winter snow adventures.

So many shoes. So little space in a carry-on.

This list of the best women’s travel shoes includes everything from flip flops to insulated booties. Most are sold on Amazon and REI, which means you can shop in your underwear. We don’t judge.

For your next trip, consider one or more pairs of shoes from our list.

SheBuysTravel Tip:You might be tempted to ‘save’ a new pair of shoes to wear on your trip. Never do this!Remember what happened to Cheryl Strayed in “Wild” and make sure your shoes are comfortable and broken in before you hit the road.

The Best Travel Shoes for the Beach

white beach shoes from Native Shoes
These Native Jefferson beach shoes drain fast and dry quickly. Photo credit: Cindy Richards

1. Native Shoes Jefferson

This section is sponsored by Native Shoes.

The perforations in the sides of these specialty-crafted beach shoes are their secret weapon: They let the water drain out, so the shoes dry fast. And the supportive sole means my feet are protected from the hot sand, the rocky shore and whatever might be lurking along the bottom of the sea. Plus, they’re ultra-soft and odor-resistant, a must-have feature when I’m packing them back into my carry-on.

And I love the company’s environmental activism. It uses sugarcane, bamboo, algae and other bio-based products along with recycled rubber, polyester and cotton to create its shoes. 

Here’s what SheBuysTravel Editor-in-Chief Cindy Richards had to say about the Jeffersons: “The shoes are comfortable and fit well. I never got a blister, but my feet did get a little hot when I was out of the water.”

2. OluKai Sandals

Beach lover Keri Bartok Baugh recommends Olukai sandals, which she says “are stylish and last!” The compression-molded EVA midsole lets you take long walks on the beach with no foot pain and no cutting your feet on sharp seashells.

This comes close to holy grail status: The water-resistant Ohana Sandal looks nice enough to go from the beach to dinner. Just brush off the sand first.

The Best Travel Shoes for Sightseeing

3. AllBirds

Brown and beige women's AllBirds Tree Runners Go sneakers
AllBirds Women’s Tree Runner Go in Rugged Beige. Photo credit: Emily Caldwell

We LOVE this shoe brand for both men and women.

SheBuysTravel Founder Kim Orlando is an evangelist for AllBirds. “My Tree Toppers go wherever I go. Ultralight, comfy, washable AND cute. Money well spent.” Every member of her family has at least one pair.

I agree. My AllBirds wool runners slip on – and off – easily. AllBirds are also the best walking shoes for touring around New York City, where I live. They don’t have good arch support, but I’ve always been blister-free after a day of sightseeing. And they are certainly more comfortable travel shoes than a pair of booties.

4. New Balance

FuelCore NERGIZE – The New Balance FuelCore NERGIZE, sold on Zappos, is also a sneaker disguised as a comfortable walking shoe. The memory foam insole and foam midsole make my feet sigh with delight. And with the thick rubber outsole, you barely feel the cobblestones in a historic district.

5. Atoms

Cindy Richards swears by her Atoms. She took them out of the box five years ago and wore them all day without pain, without blisters and without tired feet. (She says it’s OK if you plan to buy new shoes to wear for your travels, so long as you buy these comfortable sneakers.)

The shoes feature a breathable mesh upper, a sole made of rubber and foam, and, Cindy’s favorite, stretch laces. She tied them once and slips them on and off to this day. According to the website, the insole is lined with copper yarn that “actively kills bacteria, prevents odor and feels soft against your feet.”

  • Best for: Zero-break-in comfort and odor control during long flight days
  • Buy now: Shop Atoms Sneakers

Best Lightweight Travel Shoes

6. Astral Loyak EZ HT

Loyak shoes top my list for many reasons. They are super lightweight and comfortable whether I’m walking for hours or sitting on an airplane. They take up very little space and add very little weight to my carry-on.

They are made of hemp, cork and natural fibers that make me feel good about my environmental choices. This also makes them breathable, so even when I wear them many days in a row, they don’t get stinky. The wide toe box gives my piggies plenty of breathing room and the rubber sole makes them grippy whether I am walking on wet cobblestones in Prague or on a boat in Wisconsin.

7. Kizik Milan

If you want a stylish, ultra-light option that requires zero effort to put on, the Kizik Milan is a gamechanger. These casual sneakers feature a hands-free design with a spring-back heel mechanism, meaning you can step right into them without bending down or ruining the back of the shoe.

They are built with a lightweight, breathable upper and a highly responsive cushioned sole that keeps your feet energized through hours of walking. They pack remarkably flat, making them an excellent choice for a packed carry-on suitcase.

8. Dream Pairs Mary Jane Flats

Cindy Richards is always on the search for the lightest-weight anything to pack. So when she discovered these DREAM PAIRS Mary Jane flats, she was curious. When she put them and wore them for a day, she was sold.

They are lightweight, flexible and easy to squeeze into a carry-on. The breathable knit upper, roomy wide sole and adjustable strap make them comfortable for sightseeing. Bonus: They’re machine washable and dressy enough to wear to dinner.

Best Travel Shoes for Exercise

9. On Cloud

The best travel shoes are comfy
I am stocking up on On Cloud running shoes. Credit: Judy Antell

On Cloud running shoes are lightweight, so they pack well. And they come with slip-on speed laces. The rubber soles of my On Clouds have carried me through marathons and on moderate hikes. One caveat: the sole can embed stones and sticks, which means they don’t work well for hikes.

10. New Balance

Westin Hotels let you leave your exercise shoes at home (and your workout gear, too!). You can borrow a pair of New Balance athletic shoes, along with shorts, a shirt and socks. This costs $5 and you get to keep the socks.

I did that once and was so impressed with the New Balance shoes that I bought a pair of 480v6 sneakers.

Best Travel Shoes for Adventures

11. Merrell

For hiking shoes, Merrell makes some great boots. I prefer a low hiking shoe because I find a heavier hiking boot makes me more tired. Bonus: it weighs less in your suitcase. The downside of low hiking shoes is less ankle support. If you have weak ankles, you might have to suck it up and wear your heavy, high-ankle hiking boots on the plane.

Whichever Merrell shoes you choose, chances are they will have a removable contoured footbed, which is great if you’re hoping to swap out inserts later. Make sure whatever shoe you choose is waterproof. When we hiked in Patagonia, I wore the Merrell Siren Edge Q2. This is a comfortable shoe for all-day hiking with great traction.

12. Salomon Speedcross

If space in your carry-on is really an issue, and you need hiking boots AND running shoes (remember, I can’t travel without running shoes), consider a trail running shoe.

This is a hybrid of a running shoe and a hiking boot. It has traction for uneven terrain but is light enough for running. It wouldn’t be appropriate for climbing the Swiss Alps, but for a beginning hiker, it works well.

The Salomon Speedcross 5 GTX Trail-Running shoe is my choice.

13. Teva

When you are hiking in warmer climates, you will want to take the minimalist approach, but still need a very supportive sandal. Experienced hiker Jennifer S. Mitchell says her feet “get hot and blister easily in warmer temperatures. Flip-flops don’t cut it for long days or uneven terrain.”

She swears by Teva sandals. They have a neoprene underlayer that helps eliminate strap friction, she says. The sandals also have great arch support.

Tevas also work well for water adventures — good soles blunt the impact of a rocky river bottom while the straps hold the sandals in place and dry quickly.

14. Vionic

For a happy medium between a high- and low-ankle hiking boot, choose the waterproof Vionic Nolan Boot. Cindy Richards swears by Vionics — she has several pairs, from tennis shoes to boots to summer sandals.

All styles of these shoes, developed by a podiatrist, come with a cushioned but supportive contoured footbed that make it easy to walk all day.

Best Travel Shoes for Winter

15. Sorels

best travel shoes winter

Texas native Breeze Leonard doesn’t have a big need for winter shoes where she lives, but her family loves to vacation in the snow. The start of her winter trips: Sorels.

“One pair lasts forever and they keep my feet warm!” Plus they are named Joan of Arctic – can’t beat that!

SheBuysTravel Tip: Be sure to pair these boots with good wool socks.

16. UGGs 

My waterproof UGG Adirondack ankle boots got me through many northeastern winters and at least one polar vortex, but they bit the dust this year. Still, 15 or so years is durability at its finest.

If you’re looking for a shoe worth the investment, UGGs high-quality options never disappoint.

Best Driving Shoes – From Car to Dinner

17. Tod’s

Driving shoes like Tod’s, with a pebbled sole, are not only good for a road trip. They look great with skinny jeans, leggings or capris. The Tod’s suede Italian loafers I bought in Italy always travel with me, except when I’m in rainy locations like Seattle or England.

Perhaps I need another trip to Italy to get these loafers in smooth leather.

18. Toms

Cindy Richards says * Toms are also comfy for a long day of driving. And they can sub in for a beach shoe if you don’t have room for both.

Toms are inexpensive enough that you won’t feel bad ruining them in water. The canvas uppers dry quickly. We love this pair!

19. Tieks 

Another possible holy grail choice, Tieks are stylish ballet flats that frequent traveler Nasreen Stump loves. She says she packed “multiple colors for cruises that took me from excursions in shorts to dresses at dinner.”

Not only do they look great, but they pack small. A great solution for casualwear that can pass as dress up shoes with lots of color options. Tieks master versatility and comfort!

FAQs

What makes a shoe good for walking on cobblestones?

You want to look for a thick rubber outsole and a supportive foam midsole to handle historic stone streets. These layers absorb the uneven impact so you do not feel the sharp edges of the stones bruising the bottoms of your feet after hours of solo sightseeing.

Can I wear trail running shoes for regular hiking?

Salomon Speedcross is an excellent hybrid option if you are trying to save precious space in your suitcase. While they do not offer enough ankle support for scaling the rugged Swiss Alps, their deep tread traction and lightweight design are perfect for beginning hikers on moderate paths.

How do I protect my feet from blisters while traveling?

The absolute most important rule is to never save a brand-new pair of shoes for your vacation day. You need to wear them consistently at home to break them in completely, ensuring there are no hidden rub points before you start walking miles alone in a new city. And, when you’re packing, opt for comfort over fashion if you have to choose between two pairs of shoes!

How long do high-quality winter travel boots last?

If you invest in a premium, waterproof pair of boots from a trusted brand, they can easily last you well over a decade. My own UGGs winter boots survived 15 years of northeastern snowstorms and intense polar vortex freezes before they finally needed to be replaced.

SheBuysTravel writers have been where you’re going. We share our ground-truth experience to save you time, money and energy, making your trips easier. Been There. Bought That. Since 2006.
Judy Antell Avatar

Judy Antell

Judy Antell is an empty-nester mother of 3 who spends a lot of time visiting her daughters. Why don’t they live in Brooklyn? Judy and her husband love to travel, by bike, car, or plane, whether to see their kids or have friend or couple adventures, mostly centered around vegetarian food.
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