I don’t know about you, but I’m not the type of person who likes to be idle during a vacation. Whether hiking or exploring a city, I often end up walking quite a few miles while on vacation.
I admit that I didn’t pay much attention to the shoes I packed when I first started traveling overseas. But, after being sidelined with excruciating foot pain on one of my international trips, I soon discovered a new appreciation for the importance of wearing the right shoes.
Since then I’ve heard many stories about people being hindered by foot problems – things like bunions, strains, sprains, hammertoe, claw toes, and plantar fasciitis. Most of these issues stem from wearing unsupportive shoes. Shoe choice has now become one of my most important decisions when I pack for a trip.
If you’re like me and often do a lot of walking while on vacation, read the article below to find the best shoes for overseas travel.
How Should I Decide on Shoes for Overseas Travel?
Believe it or not, there actually are many things to consider when deciding on which shoes to bring on your international trip:
Comfort – When push comes to shove, you’ll want to choose comfort over style. But you also want to make sure the shoes give your feet enough support throughout the day.
Match Shoes to Destination Weather – Check the expected weather at your destination and choose your shoes accordingly. Choose a breathable shoe if you’re going to a place with hot or humid weather. Choose waterproof shoes if you’re expecting rain or snow. There are lightweight, waterproof shoes for dashing through the rain in London, and insulated waterproof boots for places like Alaska. And make sure your shoes can handle extreme weather or a random bad-weather day.
Match Shoes to Activities – Wearing the right shoe for your activity enhances your mobility and reduces your risk of injury. Hiking and other rugged adventures will call for hiking shoes with durable exteriors and plenty of grip to keep you from slipping and sliding in questionable terrain. Visiting local attractions may call for sleek and durable travel shoes or comfortable walking sandals. The beach may call for bright and stylish walking shoes.
Size and Weight – Choose lightweight shoes and leave your heavy, chunky shoes at home. Not only are lightweight shoes easier to wear, they also make your luggage lighter. If possible, choose squashable shoes to preserve precious luggage space.
Affordable Quality – You’ll want high-quality shoes with good stitching, so they don’t fall apart on your trip. Yet, you don’t want to break the bank to get them. Although the quality of your travel shoes can make or break your trip, you’ll want to balance comfort and stability with cost. If you invest wisely, a good pair of travel shoes can last several years.
Versatility – Where possible, choose shoes that will look appropriate in a variety of settings, so you don’t have to pack too many pairs of shoes. The best all-around shoes for overseas travel is a pair of comfortable trainers.
How Should I Shop for Travel Shoes?
Once you’ve decided on the shoes you need for your trip, there’s a good chance you’ll need to buy some new ones. Although many people embrace the whole shopping experience, shopping for travel shoes should involve more science than art. Here are a few helpful tips to improve your chances for success:
Shop later in the day – Shoe experts say the afternoon or evening is the best time to shop for shoes because our feet naturally expand during the day. Trying on new shoes after your feet have had a chance to swell a bit will give you a more accurate fit with your new travel shoes than if you shop during the morning. Your feet recover overnight from swelling from the previous day, so by morning they’ve likely returned to a resting size. Doing your shoe shopping in the morning could lead to tighter fitting shoes later.
Socks – Wear the same type of socks to the store that you plan to wear with the shoes in the future.
Measure both feet – Your foot size can change over time. Get your feet measured at every store and ask the salesperson to measure both of your feet. If one foot is larger or wider than the other, buy a size that fits the larger foot.
Consider the season – Consider how the current season affects your foot size and if it will differ at your destination. For instance, if your feet tend to swell in the heat and you’re shopping in the middle of winter, you may buy a pair of shoes that seem to fit perfectly. However, they may pinch your feet when you reach your warm destination. You may need to size up or down accordingly to ensure your fit is still perfect.
Examine the shoes – Feel the inside of the shoes to see if they have tags, seams, or other material that might irritate your feet. Turn the shoes over and examine the soles to see if they provide cushioning and protection from sharp objects.
Carefully assess the fit – When standing in the shoes, make sure you have a least a quarter to half-inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Walk around on hard surfaces and carpet to make sure there’s enough room at the balls of your feet, that your heels fit snugly, and that your feet don’t chafe or slide. The arch support should suit the structure of your foot. Consider how your other joints feel while walking. If your heel is elevated, make sure your weight is evenly distributed and your ankle is secure. Take your time and trust your own comfort level over the size or description.
What Are the Best Shoes for Overseas Travel?
With so many brands and styles available, shopping for shoes can be overwhelming, so it helps to start with recommendations from experienced travelers. Here are some recommended shoes grouped by the type of shoe you’re most likely to need while traveling:
Walking Shoes
Walking shoes are the most common shoes needed for travel and these shoes are separated into shoes that are comfortable, stylish, or athletic:
Comfortable – Allbirds makes comfortable, high quality walking shoes that are popular for traveling. The Allbirds Wool Runner is a comfortable walking shoe for women, while the Allbirds Tree Skippers and Tree Runners are the corresponding shoes for men. Note that the Tree Runners are a Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards winner. If you plan to do some running, the most advanced running shoe from Allbirds is the Allbirds Tree Dashers 2.
Stylish – Ecco makes fashionable travel sneakers for women and Ecco Soft 7 Sneakers are great city shoes. The Cole Haan Grand Crosscourt is a classic women’s travel sneaker that matches any outfit. For men, Bruno Marc Men’s Rivera Oxford Shoes are Oxford-inspired sneakers. You’ll also find stylish yet comfortable walking shoes for both men and women from Nike, New Balance, Puma, and Adidas.
Athletic – Athletic walking and running shoes are chosen for comfort rather than style. For women, Hoka makes several great athletic shoes, such as the Hoka Clifton, Hoka Bondi, Hoka Rinkon, and Hoka Arahi. Another top-rated, comfortable running shoe is the Brooks Ghost. For mid-trip jogs, consider the Adidas’ Ultraboost Light. It’s great for both laid back vacation runs and exploring cobblestone streets. Of course, women can’t go wrong with Adidas, New Balance, and Nike running shoes as well.
For men, Nike Air Pegasus, Nike Air Max, and Nike Free are very popular athletic shoes. Hoka and Brooks also offer good men’s athletic shoes.
If you’re looking for lightweight shoes, the On Cloud 5 is one of the lightest running shoes on the market and is available for both men and women.
If you want waterproof athletic shoes, the Nike Shield line of sneakers for men and women are good looking sneakers, and the New Balance 910v3 GORE-TEX is a great athletic trail running shoe.
If you have trouble fitting running shoes to your feet, Hilma’s running shoe is custom fit to your foot and could be a good option for you.
Sandals
Like walking shoes, some sandals are better suited to comfort, some to fashion, and others to durability. If you plan to do a lot of walking in sandals, keep in mind that fancier sandals tend to have less support than sporty sandals.
A woman looking for a comfortable walking sandal should look at the Vionic Amber Adjustable Sandal. It’s an orthotic sandal disguised as a fashionable sandal. Birkenstocks and Naot are also famous for their comfortable sandals.
Teva makes a variety of great sandals for women. The Teva Verra sandal is comfortable, adjustable, versatile, and stink-free. The Teva Voya Infinity is suited to days at the beach because you don’t have to worry about getting soaked-through straps. The Teva Universal Sandal is versatile and works for all types of beachwear and water adventures.
Believe it or not, even Crocs make some good looking sandals for women, like the Crocs Sexi Flip and the Isabella T-Strap.
As you might expect, the sandal decision is much easier for men who usually prefer a more rugged and supportive sandal. Chaco makes great hiking sandals, like the Chaco Z/Cloud or Z1 Classic. The rugged exterior of the Chaco Z1 Classic sandal makes it a top pick among hikers and outdoor guides. It is also a Good Housekeeping 2024 Travel Awards Winner because its support and built-in traction helps prevent slipping on a variety of surfaces.
Men or women wanting more arch support and stability from their sandals should look at the ECCO Yucatan Sport Sandal.
Fashionable Travel Shoes
Women looking for comfortable all-day heels should start with the Everlane Day Heel. For flats, check out the Birdies Goldfinch, which boasts a 7-layer footbed that conforms to each foot. Other brands to consider are Born, Clarks, and Cole Haan.
Men looking for all-day loafers should consider the Ecco Helsinki 2.0 Men’s Apron Toe Slip-On. Another stylish travel shoe is the New Balance’s 574, which keeps your feet cool and comfortable.
Hiking Shoes
One of the best hiking shoes for women during overseas travel is the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boots. Men should consider the Palladium Pampa Sport Cuff WPN. Keen also makes comfortable and durable hiking shoes for men, such as the
Keen Austin (waterproof), Keen Arroyo II, Targhee II, and the Keen Voyageur.
Merrell makes a wide range of comfortable hiking shoes and many of them are waterproof. Merrell’s Moab line offers the Merrell Siren Hex Q2 Waterproof, Merrell All Out Blaze 2 Waterproof, and Merrell Bravada 2 Waterproof hiking shoes for women. For men, Merrell offers the Merrell Moab Waterproof, the Moab Vent for summer, and the Merrell Chameleon 4.
Another comfortable and water resistant hiking shoe for both men and women is the New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi V2 – Protect Pack.
Hiking Boots
Great hiking boots for women include the Vasque Sundowner GTX, the Danner Jag, and the Columbia Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped boots. The Columbia Ice Maiden II snow boots are great for snowy destinations.
Men’s best hiking boots include Timberland White Ledge Mid Waterproof (for winter), Danner Jags, Danner Mountain 600, and Adidas Terrex Free Hiker.
Casual Boots
Casual boots are a bit more fashionable than sneakers or athletic shoes and can still be comfortable. However, they usually require a longer break-in period.
Popular casual boots for women include Clarks Desert Boots (summer), Chelsea boots (easy to remove), and Blondo (many are waterproof). Clarks and Chelsea also make great casual boots for men. The Chelsea Blundstone BL500 boots are especially great for cold weather travel.
Particular Needs
Here are a few other shoes to consider if you’re trying to match a particular need:
Long flight – If you’re embarking on a long flight, we recommend both men and women to consider the Birkenstock Boston Clog because they are easy to remove and have a softer footbed.
Lightweight – The New Balance Fuelcore Nergize V1 sneaker is a lightweight walking shoe weighing just 150 grams per shoe.
Sweaty feet – If you are concerned about having sweaty feet, both men and women should consider Allbirds Tree Runners because they are made with lightweight materials that encourage airflow.
Avoiding blisters – Reebok’s Nylon Sneaker is good all-day wear with some style and without annoying foot pain. It doesn’t require a break-in period either.
Recovery – Recovery footwear is designed to help your feet recover after exercise. They’re usually made from soft, cushioning materials, yet they have a supportive footbed. Oofos makes great recovery footwear, and the Oofos Ooahh Slide is a great travel recovery shoe.
What Else Can I Do to Protect My Feet While Traveling?
Now that you’ve gathered your travel shoes, there are a few more important steps you should take to protect your feet from discomfort:
Break in new shoes – Most new shoes require a break-in period before they feel comfortable for long periods. So, it’s important to break them in for a couple weeks before leaving for your trip. Start by wearing them for a few hours. Then gradually work your way up to extended periods and add more walking.
Buy insoles – Unless you’re accustomed to a lot of walking, your feet could be in for a shock when you travel even if your shoes feel comfortable. Adding insoles to your shoes can take the shock out of each step. Be aware that insoles come in a variety of styles and features to support your specific foot discomfort, whether you suffer from plantar fasciitis or need better arch support. High quality insoles are available from Superfeet, Sorbothane, Spenco, and Sole, although there are also other good brands.
Buy high quality socks – It’s surprising how many people spend a lot of money on shoes and buy cheap socks. However, a good pair of socks will protect against blisters and harsh friction from your foot rubbing against the inside of your shoe. They also absorb excess moisture and reduce foot odor. Some higher quality socks offer arch support and cushioned soles. Many people even choose to wear compression socks to improve circulation, decrease swelling, and reduce pain.
Pack foot care supplies – Unless you’ve experienced foot problems on past vacations, you’re unlikely to think about packing foot care supplies. Pack foot powder for shoes and foot cream for sandals. Include some blister bandages in case you develop blisters. Bring nail clippers to keep your toenails trimmed. These foot care supplies could keep you off the sidelines.
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Another way to prevent your international trip from being ruined or getting cut short is to buy a travel insurance plan that protects you when the unexpected occurs. Good Neighbor Insurance makes buying insurance as easy as slip-on shoes.
Call us at 480-813-9100 or 866-636-9100, and we’ll actually answer the phone! Our staff has also traveled and lived outside the U.S. for many years and would be happy to share their experience with travel shoes! Of course, you can also get a free quote on our website.
