Packing the perfect travel shoes is imperative to having a good time on any vacation. The last thing you want is to be left with uncomfortable shoes you haven’t worn in before you’re about to start a 5-day hike. To save you time and energy, we’ve put together a collection of travel shoes for any kind of vacation, maybe even a European hidden gem. Best of all, you can buy them all online from one store – Zappos!
Travel Shoes For the Beach and Resort
The easiest vacation to pack for! You’ll need a comfortable pair of slip-on to take you to the beach, pool and walk around the resort. Look for a classic style shoe that is comfortable and can be worn on any occasion abroad and at home.
1.) Birkenstocks – $120 – $130
Make sure you wear these shoes in before taking them abroad as they can often cause blisters.
2.) Bernardo Miami Sandal – $120 – $140
The sandal comes with a fairly hefty price tag although they are comfortable and you can expect them to last for years to come. The Sandal itself is quite wide so tends to make feed look a little wider.
3.) Havaianas Slim Flip Flops – $30
Another classic flip-flop, these Havaianas are quite slim so bear in mind that if you have wide feet, these aren’t ideal.
4.) Volcom Forever and Ever II Flip Flops – $20 – $25
With the lowest price tag, these flip flops are an easy and lightweight shoe to take on any beach vacation and just live in them for the entire time.
Travel Shoes From Day to a Night Out
Planning on hitting the town for a good night out? Rather than carrying along a pair of heels, pick a stylish shoe that can be dressed up if you need and can be paired with any outfit. We love a good slip-on shoe for ease but it depends on how fancy or casual you want to go.
1. Seychelles – $105 – $115
A stunning slip-on shoe that comes in navy or gold. The shoe is slightly padded although not enough for a significant amount of walking.
2. Steve Madden – Various $
A cute and stylish shoe that is a little more on the casual side but can definitely be worn on a night out.
5. Monterey Metallic Strap Wedge Flip – $30 – $35
Yep, these are crocs but they don’t look like them. The great them about crocs is that they are ridiculously comfortable and can be worn all day and all night.
City Slicker Shoes To Walk All Day
If your next vacation is to a city (or cities), chances are you’re going to be doing a lot of walking. For city trips, it’s often unnecessary to go all out on a hiking shoe since the terrain isn’t going to be difficult. So, opt for a classic sneaker that is comfortable, versatile and stylish.
1. ECCO Soft VII Sneaker – $160
A comfortable and stylish sneaker that can be worn with any outfit and for any occasion. This travel shoe has also been rated well for people with wide feet.
2. Vans Old School – $70
Old school Vans that are breathable with a padded footbed for superior shock absorption.
3. Kate Spade New York – Various $
Perfect if you want something comfy that will stand out and give a little sparkle to your day.
4. Nike Air Zoom Vapor X – $65 – $70
For those who are a little more sporty or what to take a shoe from the city to the outdoors, this is the one!
5. Adidas Outdoor Terrex – $75 – $90
If you’re wanting to hit the gym on your vacation or just spend a lot of time walking or hiking out of the city, this Adidas pair is great, comfortable and pretty damn cute.
Winter Vacay Travel Shoes
Traveling in winter? Keeping your feet warm is vital to keeping the rest of your body warm. if you’re traveling to somewhere with snow, you will need a pair that is waterproof, lined well for warmth and has a good grip at the base of the shoe so you don’t slip and slide. If you’re traveling somewhere rainy, opt for a pair of Hunters to weather it out. All the below travel shoes are comparable so you should just pick a pair depending on the pair you prefer.
1. Columbia Ice Maden II – $100
An extremely warm and waterproof shoe, this low boot is perfect for any winter vacation involving snow.
2. UGG Highmel – $160
A nice low winter boot that can be worn during warmer days. Its stylish and sleek design means you can wear it with anything.
3. Keen Kaci III Winter Mid Waterproof – $165
A waterproof mid boot that will you keep your feet warm if you plan to do any winter hiking.
4. The North Face Shellista IV Tall – $165
A tall boot for anyone wanting to keep their legs toasty during a winter holiday. This boot is particularly suitable if you’re going to walking in a lot of snow.
5. Hunter Rainboots – $175
If the winter vacation is bringing rain rather than snow, Hunter Rainbows will keep you nice and dry. However, these aren’t great for keeping you warm so if warmth is what you need, opt for one of the other boots.
Long-Term Travel Shoes
If you’re traveling long-term and particularly through different seasons, you’re going to need at least two pairs of shoes to cover a range of occasions. Generally, you should opt for a pair of sandals or flip-flops and a pair of sneakers or hiking boots. If you know you’re doing a lot of summer hiking through water, it’s a better idea to get a good pair of hiking sandals and a sneaker you can hike in if needed or can wear around cities.
1. Chaco Z/Cloud X2 – $80
The ideal pair of travel sandals that can be taken through most terrains.
2. Teva Katavi 2 – $70
At early half the price of Chacos, these Tevas are fantastic for most summer vacations
3. Adidas Running Edge Lux V – $40
A comfortable and versatile pair that you can take anywhere in the world.
4. Merrell Siren Edge III – $120
A low hiking shoe, this pair doesn’t provide as much ankle support as the next pair of Columbias but is great for regular day hikes and general travel.
5. Columbia Newton Ridge – $99
This waterproof hiking shoe is very reasonably priced and good value for money. If you’re planning on bringing a pair of flip-flops instead of hiking sandals, this pair is definitely what you’ll need for hiking and walking. For long-distance hikes, we highly recommend this awesome travel shoe given the ankle support.
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