Traveling is all fun and games if you cover all your bases. You have all your travel documents sorted out, booked the best hotels, and got tickets to amazing places. But that’s not it. There is a lot more to traveling than you might have thought.
No matter where you go, if you are not wearing a comfortable outfit, you are probably not going to enjoy it to the fullest. Always remember that comfort comes first. One highly important thing that can make sure that your travel is super comfortable is getting high-quality travel shoes, like Loom waterproof & breathable travel shoes.
Coming from experienced travelers, this article can help you in finding the best travel shoes while solving all your queries regarding them.
Let’s dig into it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Traveling Shoes?
Buying shoes is never easy, be it for traveling, hiking, dancing, or anything. You always need to put in some extra thought before choosing the final option.
While it might look like a difficult task, if you keep in mind a few key points, buying travel shoes will become a piece of cake for you.
Here is our detailed guide on what to look for in the best travel
1. Comfort
Always keep in mind that comfort beats fashion. No matter how cool a shoe looks, if it is not comfortable, it is not the right choice. This is especially true when you are shopping for travel shoes.
A small blister has the ability to ruin your whole trip. No amount of style is worth the pain that an uncomfortable shoe is going to cause you on a trip. Travelling isn’t just about getting on a plane or a train. Rather, it's about walking hundreds of miles and climbing thousands of stairs.
Get a shoe that can keep your feet comfortable on all kinds of surfaces. Make sure to steer clear of shoes that rub, pinch, or do not fit right. Sore feet and blisters can kill your enjoyment.
While wearing a comfortable shoe, you won’t even think twice about them. However, if they are uncomfortable and tight, you will keep thinking of the times your feet were in a better place.
Our recommendation is to fully understand your comfort level. What hurts you and what makes you feel comfortable. Know your feet. Do you have any underlying foot condition? Is there any specific part of your foot that hurts?
Do you need more cushioning or better arch support? Do you have a wide toe box? Find answers to all such questions.
Look for the smallest hints. Do not compromise on comfort. Remember that while traveling, your shoes should be the least of your concerns. Otherwise, you are always going to remember that trip like the one with sore and painful feet.
2. Functionality
Although this point has less to do with the shoe and more to do with your travel plans, it is one of the very important points while buying travel shoes. How? You are just about to know.
Let’s say, you buy a perfect pair of shoes that are highly comfortable, fit right, and are super flexible. But they are not waterproof, and you are going to a place with a wet climate. Now, this is the wrong shoe for this trip despite all its qualities. Waterproof travel shoes are usually a good choice, wherever you go, the weather is unpredictable!.
Similarly, buying a super breathable and airy shoe for an ice-cold destination does not make any sense. In such situations, a shoe fails its purpose. Hence, it is very important to buy a shoe according to your travel plans.
First of all, look at the destination's weather. Is it hot? Is it cold? Or is it wet? Now find a shoe that fits best. If you are going to a place with humid weather, get a breathable shoe. Don’t opt for a shoe blindly.
Similarly, another important thing you need to consider is the kind of spots you are going to hit at this destination. Are you planning to hike? Or to go to a beach? Will you spend most of the time shopping in the malls or will you be going to do some crazy water sports?
Now, we understand that it is hard to find a shoe that offers all the right features. In that case, get two or three pairs.
3. Weight
Heavy and bulky shoes are neither easy to wear nor easy to carry. Hence, always look for lightweight shoes. Wearing bulky shoes does not even look nice, whereas light shoes have their own style and grace.
Furthermore, as there is always a limit on the amount of luggage you can carry on a flight, you might not want your shoes to take up most of it. Remember that less is more. Lighter the shoes, more the pairs you can carry.
Also, light shoes do not make any noise. Unless you want everybody to turn and look at you, our advice is to stay low and get a lightweight shoe.
Plus, this will also help in reducing your luggage’s weight considerably if you have the shoes in packing. Dragging heavy luggage around is definitely not what you are looking forward to on this trip.
4. Space
Just like weight, another most important thing about your traveling luggage is space. You definitely don’t want to drag around heavy and huge luggage bags. Hence, it is important to choose a shoe that does not take up a lot of space in your bag.
Of course, you cannot change the size of your shoe. We definitely do not recommend buying a size down so it can fit in your luggage. The smart play here is to look for a squashable shoe that can fit into your already full bag.
You can somewhat equate the squashability to flexibility. Remember that the amount of luggage you plan to take with you also affects the number of shoes you can take along. For instance, if you are only taking a backpack, you cannot take more than two pairs with you (one in the backpack and the other on your feet).
Make sure to buy a shoe that can fit easily into your luggage without taking out a thing or two.
5. Durability
Of course, you do not want to be barefooted in the middle of a hike or a desert. Hence, it is always recommended to never compromise on quality. Make sure that the travel shoes you choose are made of high-quality material and have proper stitching.
Buying low-quality, inexpensive shoes with a thought process of “just for this trip” can cost you big time. You might end up buying new shoes at a heavier price during your trip. There is an expense you didn't see coming.
However, all this can be avoided by simply paying more attention to the durability of your travel shoes. Check the material of its upper, midsole, insole, and outsole. Make sure that the shoes provide features such as traction, flexibility, waterproofness, etc.
Also, do not forget to read reviews.
6. Affordability
We do understand that you might not be willing to put in a lot of investment in your travel shoes. After all, they are just shoes. However, this is not true on some level. Keep in mind that travel shoes can make or break your trip.
We recommend balancing the cost with comfort and stability. Do not buy a shoe that is breaking your bank. But also, do not invest in low-quality shoes, just for the sake of it.
If you invest wisely, a good pair of travel shoes can last for many years.
The 5 Best Travel Shoes:
These shoes claim to provide you with all the right features you need in the best shoes for traveling.
1- Loom Waterproof Travel Shoes for Men/Women
Sneakers have always been a popular choice as travel shoes. However, not all sneakers are created equal. You need to find that perfect blend of comfort and style. And who offers this better than Loom Shoes.
Despite being new in the industry, Loom has become one of the favorite shoes among reviewers. Also, if you are looking for waterproof travel shoes, this might be it.
Product Highlights
First things first, Loom provides the basic feature of comfort in its best form. Wearing these sneakers for long hours won’t let you feel a thing. This four-layered shoe brings you high levels of comfort, flexibility, and durability.
The four layers of Loom shoes are quite interesting. The first layer is made of H2-GO to keep your feet dry and healthy all day long. Sweaty feet are a big no-no when you are traveling. They can make you super uncomfortable, and also can cause embarrassment.
The next layer is a lining of Loom Wear Merino Wool that helps in keeping the temperature of your feet low. This, again, helps in increasing breathability and keeping the shoes odorless.
The next layer is what makes Loom Sneakers different from others. There is another Merino Wool cushion that lies at the bottom of the shoe. It keeps the sweat from getting collected at the bottom.
Last but not least, the outsole of Loom Sneakers is Excelcast. It helps you in having a strong footing by providing better traction. This means that the next time you are running to catch a flight, you can run without a fear of falling down.
Another great feature that makes Loom Sneakers different from others is that despite a four-layered construction, these shoes are super-lightweight. This makes these shoes a great choice for traveling. Bulky and heavy shoes are totally not recommended for traveling.
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Pros |
Cons |
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● Lightweight and comfortable ● Double Merino Wool Lining ● Slip-resistant ● Highly flexible ● Super breathable |
● Only two colors available |
Price: $99
2- Merrell Men's Freewheel Lace Shoes
Merrell has got a high name in the footwear industry. Since 1981, they have been creating amazing shoes. Be it walking, running, hiking or traveling, Merrell always brings you something that you would like.
When it comes to traveling, our pick is Merrell’s Freewheel Lace Shoe. Why? Because it has all the right features.
Product Highlights
The smooth-looking, stylish Merrel sneakers are made of suede. These shoes are super comfortable to walk in all day and are quite stylish to add a style statement to your outfit.
To provide high levels of comfort and stability, there is an air cushion insole and an EVA midsole. You can walk all day and get the best out of your travel destinations without having tired and sore feet.
The rugged rubber outsole will help you in providing the best traction so you can hit as many travel spots as you want.
Lastly, these shoes almost go with every outfit. They are stylish enough to be worn with a pair of jeans, trousers, or shorts. This makes these shoes highly versatile. You do not have to match an outfit, the neutral colors will allow you to pair them with almost everything.
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Pros |
Cons |
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● Comfortable ● Lightweight ● Versatile ● Neutral colors |
● Prone to stains ● Not waterproof |
Price: $149.99
3- Skechers Men's GoWalk 54601 Shoes
Based in California, Skechers has been creating unique, comfortable, and stylish shoes since 1982. With a motive to bring a high level of satisfaction to its clients, Skechers has introduced many great shoes.
And the Skechers Men’s GoWalk 54601 is no less.
Product Highlights
By providing high levels of comfort at an affordable price, Skechers has really upped their shoe game. The GoWalk Max 54601 is an athletic shoe, offering high levels of comfort and style. The best part of this shoe is the Goga Max high-rebound insole that provides you with supreme comfort and high cushioning.
A long day of hitting your favorite spots and exploring them will feel like a breeze. The soft fabric lining and mesh upper allows better breathability. Hence. You can worry less about sweaty feet.
The synthetic outsole provides you with strong traction, keeping your feet from impacts. Also, this shoe is super lightweight. No worries about tired feet.
Lastly, the 5gen cushioning makes sure that your feet remain blister-free all day long.
|
Pros |
Cons |
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● Comfortable ● 5-gen cushioning ● Lightweight ● Breathable |
● Not true to size |
Price: $59
4- ECCO Women's Soft 7 Shoes
ECCO, a Danish shoe retailer and manufacturer, was founded in 1963. Ever since, the company has grown into one of the leading shoe manufacturers in the World.
By sticking to the production of high-quality shoes, ECCO has gained the trust of its customers. ECCO Soft 7 is our pick for one of the best shoes for traveling.
Product Highlights
With a soft leather upper and light synthetic sole, the ECCO Soft 7 offers you a contemporary look. You might think of it as just another pair of sneakers. However, this shoe offers a lot more than that.
Removable insoles, a wide range of colors and high-levels of comfort, this shoe checks all the boxes for a perfect travel shoe. Moreover, there is a leather lining for increased breathability,
The leather-lined insole has an ECCO comfort fiber system for better cushioning. Furthermore, like most sneakers, they also offer an adjustable laces closure.
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Pros |
Cons |
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● Comfortable ● Removable insoles ● Lightweight ● Easy-to-clean |
● Narrow toe box |
Price: $160
5- Vionic Women's Hattie Sneaker
Manufactured in China, Vionic brings you all the right features in their extraordinary shoes. At Vionic, highly qualified foot doctors and podiatrists work together to create a blend of comfort, flexibility, and durability.
The Vionic Sunny Hattie sneakers consist of a soft canvas upper, a twill-covered, removable EVA insole, and a long-lasting, espadrille-infused, rubber outsole. It is no doubt an amazing sunrise-to-sunset travel sneaker.
The podiatrists make sure that these shoes provide maximum comfort to those with foot problems. Hence, if you are the one with any special case, this might be the right choice for you. The shoe is designed to hug you in all the right spots.
This helps in making you feel as comfortable as possible. Also, Vionic’s Hattie is also an honorable receiver of APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) Seal of Acceptance.
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
● Comfortable ● Weatherproof ● Removable insoles ● Lightweight ● Recommended for people with foot issues ● APMA holder |
● Require a break-in period |
Price: $89.95
Conclusion
Buying the right shoes for traveling can be a real investment. While it might look like an insignificant step, getting the perfect travel shoes can literally make or break your trip.
If you think of it as a complicated process, simply follow our detailed buying guide, we hope that you will get it all right. There is not much to do if you follow the steps one-by-one.
Keep in mind to put your comfort first. Then, consider other features such as durability, flexibility, affordability, versatility, etc. Do not settle for less-quality shoes that can bring you trouble in an unknown land.
With our top five picks, we hope that you will find the best travel shoes for you. If you still cannot decide, we recommend Loom Sneakers. They are not only versatile, lightweight, and waterproof but are also super-stylish and chic.
