Last Updated on May 25, 2023 by Greg Head
Best Travel Shoes, Travel Sandals, Walking Shoes and Hiking Boots – If there’s one thing you can’t leave for your next vacation without — it’s travel shoes. And given that, when traveling, you probably walk a good deal more than usual, it’s critical to have the best travel shoes and travel sandals. So, we’ve compiled a list of what to look for in the best travel shoes so you know which traveling shoes to pack.
Ready to explore the world? Make sure you have the right footwear for every adventure. Whether you’re in need of walking shoes, sandals, or hiking boots. Looking for the perfect pair of travel shoes? We’ve got you covered.
Best Travel Sandals: Best Walking Sandals
There are three reasons you might need travel sandals when traveling (and they might overlap):
- You’re hosteling and want shower shoes
- You’re heading to a beach
- You’re headed someplace warm
For 1) and 2), you may be fine with a pair of flip flops. Flip flops are easy to transport and relatively inexpensive making for great shower and beach shoes. I usually get mine for less than $5 at Target or Old Navy, but I have friends who really like:
- Reef
- Rainbow
- Teva (have arch support) for Women and Men
- Havianas for Women and Men
For 2) (beach, if lots of walking) and 3) (someplace warm), you’ll want a comfy pair of walking sandals. Walking sandals with wrap around straps (forcing your foot to press against your foot, unlike a flip flop) are a better choice. Depending on your dress style you may want something fancy in travel sandals.
Best sandals for walking that we’ve found
In terms of brands, I used to recommend Birkenstocks but have had some terrible quality and customer service issues. I had the strap fail and separate from the sandal after just 6 months of light wear. I do not recommend anymore; and Kimberly prefers Tevas and Chaco sandals, which are known for their durability and comfort. If I were going to buy a pair of walking sandals today it would be either Chacos or one of the following brands: Keen, Uggs, Clarks, Born, Mephisto, Hush Puppies all have good comfortable dress sandals that will also be good for walking.
Best Travel Walking Shoes
If your destination isn’t 90 degrees and hot, you’d probably prefer a pair of close toed extra comfortable travel walking shoes (like the Propet Women’s Travelwalker II). Depending on your travel plans and amount of luggage, you may want walking shoes that double as hiking boots or travel walking shoes that double as dress shoes. That said, your best best might be to invest in a good pair of hiking boots (like the Keen Targhee II or the Moab Ventilator and a small cute pair of flats (like the Bloch London) Arabian Ballet Flats that don’t take up much room in your suitcase.
Best Travel Shoes: Hiking and Walking Shoes for Traveling
If you’re looking for walking shoes that double as hiking boots, look for a pair of low cut hiking boots. For Argentina I purchased these Merrills (the Moab Ventilator) and love them. Kimberly bought some Keens and loved those. We wore these shoes regularly for both hiking and city walking. There are a number of great brands of hiking/walking shoes, the trick is to find a pair that fit well.
Best Travel Shoes: Walking and Dress Shoes
If you want travel walking shoes that can double as dress shoes, there are a few brands that turn up comfortable walking shoes that look nice enough for a fancy restaurant. Check out: Ecco, Mephisto, New Balance, Rockport (men) as they all get good reviews for fancy, yet comfortable, walking shoes. I’ve been wearing my Keen Women’s Shoes (Mary Janes) and they are perfect for this.
Travel Hiking Boots
How much hiking you’ll be doing should influence what kind of hiking boots you’ll need. If you’re doing day trips or low-intensity overnight trips you might be able to get away with a pair of low cut hiking boots that can double as your walking shoes. This is what we did in Argentina and it worked out very well. Plus, it saved a lot of space in our luggage.
If you’re planning on a lot of hiking, you’ll want the best hiking boots money can buy – with plenty of ankle support. These boots will be taller and bulkier, but the last thing you want is a twisted ankle, 3 days trekking into the Alaskan wilderness. Try on many pairs of tall hiking boots to find a pair that fits well. Potomac Appalachian Trail Club has a great resource about finding hiking boots that fit.
Buying Travel Shoes Online: Zappos Review
Shoes are difficult to buy online because you can’t try them on. But, you can get better prices. There are a lot of reasons to buy shoes online and a lot of reasons not to. Here’s an experience I had trying to buy hiking shoes just a week before we left for Argentina.
A previously written but unpublished post.
I knew I had a pair of hiking boots. Somewhere. They served me well during a 3-week backpacking trip in Poland years ago. After digging around for them, I found my trusty Merrells tucked away in my parents’ garage. A few seeds in them. And what else… chewed up padding. Apparently a mouse had found the hiking boots before me.
With only 3 weeks until my departure (and 1.5 until my move) and 45 minutes from the nearest REI, I knew I had to act fast. After pouring through hiking boot reviews online I still couldn’t decide which pair to buy.
I knew I wanted Merrells. Mostly because I knew what size I wore in them. But there are probably 50+ Merrell hiking boot options. So I slowly but surely narrowed the choices down. To three.
While this takes its toll on the environment because of shipping, the stress it saves me (plus the long drive to REI) certainly pays off. But then there’s the problem of costs. Shipping costs a lot of money. Thank goodness for Zappos. I ordered all three pairs of shoes on Tuesday. Free 4-6 day shipping was included. Lucky for me they upgraded me to free overnight shipping. Woo-hoo!
Wednesday I received all three pairs. I tried them on. The $90 pair slipped off my feet. They were sort of elastic. The $115 pair was really heavy. Plus, they are made of Gore-Tex which, for environmental reasons, I’m on the fence about. The $80 were very comfortable. They were soft to the step. Plus I think they are the best color. I’d heard good things about Zappos (like this story about Zappos sending someone flowers which I still am so impressed by). But now I’ve experienced it for myself. I will definitely shop there again since it makes my life so much easier.
So there you have it. Everything you needed to know (and more) about the best travel shoes, travel sandals, walking shoes, and hiking boots, plus where to buy them online. Update: I have also heard good things about Endless, which also offers free shipping.
Simple Satire ecoSNEAKS Environmentally Friendly Travel Shoes
I stumbled upon Simple Satire ecoSNEAKS two years ago during my search for an environmentally-friendly alternative to my beloved Vans tennis shoes. I wanted shoes that were more durable than the Vans, but as attractive. I was even willing to sacrifice the awesome Velcro, but only for the right eco-friendly shoe. Then I saw it: the Simple Satire, a member of Simple’s ecoSNEAKs line. These are also recommended for Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts for Your Favorite Green Traveler
Features of Simple Satire ecoSNEAKS
- Certified organic cotton uppers with recycled PET laces
- Vegan shoe! No animal byproducts or even regular animal products
- Certified organic cotton linings
- The “pedbed” (the cushiony and supportive stuff at the bottom of the shoe) is made of super soft and squishy polyurethane and recycled car tire
- Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire
- The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
- Even the boxes are environmentally friendly – made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue
I quickly ordered the black hemp version (they also come in leather, silk, and suede) and eagerly awaited their arrival. I ordered black because, of course, I wanted something I could wear with almost anything. If I bought another pair, I would look at other varieties as well. I was happy when I opened the box: the shoes were cute and looked durable. I slipped them on and promptly wore them as I walked the monuments in Washington, DC. The 5+ mile walk was quite the initial test, but I wasn’t as excited as I wanted to be.
I wanted to love them. I wanted them to be my go-everywhere, perfect travel shoe. But I found them less comfortable than I hoped; specifically, the sole didn’t have enough cushion. It almost felt like I was wearing flip flops. The ball of my foot had virtually no support. And my arches were completely unsupported. I hope Simple has improved the “pedbed” in newer editions of the shoes.
Pros and Cons of Simple ecoSNEAKS
ecoSNEAKS Pros
- Very eco-friendly — where else can you get a shoe made with recycled tires
- Cute
- Can dress them up or down
- Comfortable except for the sole
- Durable
The cons of ecoSNEAKS
- Lacking arch support – my Vans lacked arched support so I was expecting this and also okay with it.
- Not enough padding in pedbed
- Since they’re made with old tires, they’re a bit heavy for travel
Would I recommend the Simple Women’s Satire?
Yes, I would — for everyday wear. If you’re walking more than a couple miles, I’d stick with traditional tennis shoes. I also wouldn’t recommend them as being your sole (no pun intended) travel shoe, since they’re a bit heavy and not as comfortable as other travel shoes I’ve tried. For that, I’d recommend a more supportive hiking boot. Best Lightweight Slip On Shoes: Patagonia Women’s Advocate. But these are cute and while I’m not one to follow the trends, they are trendy. The Simple Satire ecoSNEAKS are a fun addition to any wardrobe.
ecoSNEAKS sustainable sneakers by Simple Shoes
Quality footwear is essential when you’re hiking around new cities for six hours every day. ecoSNEAKS are made of organic cotton, recycled paper pulp, and old car tire, which makes for a pretty sweet pair of sneakers.