The Quest to Find the Perfect Travel Shoes

This post was written by Amanda Williams|Last updated on: July 30, 2025

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After you've booked your flight, scoped out hotel rooms, and maybe bought a guidebook or two, it's time to tackle another potentially-stressful part of planning a trip: deciding what to pack!

I've already detailed my favorite luggage and bags for travel, but what you put IN that luggage is perhaps even more important.

And the part of packing that's always the most difficult (for me, at least) is deciding what sort of footwear to bring.

So many factors go into choosing the perfect travel shoes for any trip. What will the weather be like? What sort of activities are you planning? Will the shoes you need match the outfits you want to pack?

If you, too, are looking for the best shoes for travel, check out my tips for women below!

The Best Travel Shoes (according to me)

After years of traveling around the world, here are my favorite travel shoes for a variety of destinations and styles of trip. (And yes, I own all of these shoes, and have traveled with them all!)

The best sneakers for travel

When it comes to the type of shoe I generally recommend packing for every single trip, it's got to be some sort of sneaker. Sneakers (or tennis shoes or trainers or whatever you call them) are just the most practical shoe for protecting your feet while doing a lot of walking – which you're almost guaranteed to do while traveling.

And good news! Sneakers are “in” again as everyday footwear pretty much everywhere around the world!

3 girl friends in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris — White sneakers galore in Paris! (I'm wearing my Brooks in this photo)

My top sneakers and sneaker-like shoes that I travel with include:

Brooks Ghost Max – These athletic sneakers are what I wear to work out in at home, and I've also taken them traveling with me. They are wide-foot-friendly and have tons of cushion. I've worn these to walk miles and miles around cities like Paris and London, and even wore them to the Eras Tour!
- Great for: Active trips in spring or summer.
Orthofeet Wander – I have borderline wide feet and a high instep, making shoes tricky for me. I discovered Orthofeet kind of on accident, but they've become my go-to for leather sneakers. They are incredibly comfortable, are hands-free to slip into, and hold up well for lots of city walking.
- Great for: Year-round trips when you're doing lots of walking.
Vessi Weekend sneaker – If you want both lightweight AND waterproof without buying a leather shoe, I also have some of these Weekend sneakers by Vessi and really like them! They don't have much support on the inside, but they are a nice lightweight option.
- Great for: Wet weather trips in spring, summer, or fall.
SUAVS Zilker knit – And speaking of lightweight, my favorite lightweight shoes that I pack for any warm-weather trip are my Zilker knit shoes by SUAVS. These don't offer a lot of support, but they are SO light and breathable that it doesn't even feel like you're wearing shoes. These are so easy to pack, and they're also machine-washable! Elliot and I both have multiple pairs of these.
- Great for: Warm-weather (and dry) trips.

The best sandals for travel

I am also a big walking sandal girlie, and have been traveling with a pair of Tevas basically since I started traveling seriously in 2012!

Sandals in Morocco — My Teva Verras in Morocco

My top two pairs of Teva sandals are:

Teva Verra – My Teva Verra walking sandals have been to so many countries with me. They are comfortable and supportive, with a grippy sole that can tackle everything from city walking to light hiking. But they don't look like hiking sandals, and so I can get away with wearing them with everything from jeans to dresses.
Teva Hurricanes – These are actually even MORE comfy. They have thicker soles that are great for walking and even some moderate hiking. They aren't quite as dainty on your feet, but this seems to be trendy right now, and I've worn these with dresses, too! (I have them in the Sesame color, which is very neutral.)

The best ballet flats for travel

I don't pack flats for every trip any longer (if I can get away with sneakers and sandals, I'd usually rather wear one of those!), but sometimes you do need something a little bit dressier.

I actually used to travel with a pair of Crocs peep-toe flats (yes, really!), but sadly they don't make the style anymore (RIP Adrina flats). These days, my go-to travel flats are:

Vessi Market Flats – These cute flats have some cushion and are fully waterproof, which is so handy for travel. They look really cute with jeans, and come in lots of colors (though I currently just have classic black ones).
Rothy's Square Mary Janes – These are super cute and fit my borderline wide feet, but they don't have any cushion or arch support, so I save these for instances where I won't have to do a ton of walking in them. They are machine washable though, and come in lots of colors (I have multiple!).

The best hiking shoes/boots for travel

Hiking shoes/boots aren't something I always pack, but I frequently do need to if I'm planning a lot of outdoor activity on a trip!

The best hiking shoes I've tried include:

Merrell Siren Edge 3 – I have the non-waterproof version of these, which are great for warm-weather hiking. They are low hiking shoes that look more like sneakers, which is great if you don't want it to *look* like you're wearing hiking shoes.
Oboz Sawtooth X Low – On the other hand, if you don't care what your footwear looks like, these low Oboz hikers are excellent for wet weather. They have a lot of support and so much grip! I've worn mine in Norway, Scotland, and even hiked the Inca Trail in Peru in these!

Amanda at Machu Picchu — Me and my Oboz made it to Machu Picchu!

And the best hiking boots I own are:

Kodiak Surrey II – These boots are good for hiking, but are also fashionable enough to wear with normal outfits, too – which is super important in a travel shoe. They're made well, and mine have so far traveled with me to places like Iceland, Scotland, and Morocco.
Merrell Moab III – If you're in the market for serious hiking boots, I highly recommend Merrell's Moab Mid Waterproof boots. They're supportive and comfortable, but aren't heavy or clunky. They're not super attractive to look at, but they do the job they're meant for, and they do it well.
Columbia Newton Ridge – If you want waterproof hiking boots that are lightweight, offer ankle support, AND are kinda cute, then the affordable Newton Ridge boots by Columbia are a great option. I wore mine to hike all over Iceland!

Merrell Moabs in Utah — Hiking in my Moabs in Utah

The best winter boots for travel

Lastly, let's talk winter footwear! I do a lot of winter travel, and have tried lots of different types of boots to keep my tootsies warm and dry.

My current favorites are:

Columbia Minx Shorty – I am obsessed with these short winter boots. They are SO lightweight, but somehow really warm at the same time. These ones don't have a ton of cushion (and Columbia boots do run small!), but they are my favorites for milder winter trips. (I've taken these to Christmas markets, and winter city trips to places like London and Scotland.)
Columbia Ice Maiden – These are slightly heavier duty winter boots with faux fur at the top. They're still pretty lightweight, though!
Merrell Thermo Chill – For winter hiking boots, you can't go wrong with a good pair of Merrells. I actually have Merrell winter boots that they don't even make anymore (I've had mine for over a decade!), but these are really similar. They offer good support and warmth for winter adventures.

Christmas market outfit — Me in my Columbia Minx boots in Germany

Other travel shoe essentials

For winter travel, I recommend picking up some Heat Holders socks (seriously the WARMEST socks I own!).

For summer or hiking trips, you'll want some good hiking socks.

And for long flights, you can never go wrong with a good pair of compression socks to help prevent blood clots and combat swelling.

Do YOU have a favorite pair of travel shoes? I'd love to hear your recommendations, too!

Amanda Williams

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!

www.dangerous-business.com

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