How to Choose the Best Travel Shoes for Spring & Summer
If you’re planning to travel this spring or summer, you may already be thinking about what to pack. 🧳 In my recent post, Smart Travel: Build Your 12-Piece Capsule Wardrobe, I mentioned that I always start with the shoes when planning my travel wardrobes. It’s a good time to start auditioning (and perhaps breaking in) your footwear for your next trip.
There’s no other component of a travel wardrobe that has as much power to make or break a trip as your footwear. If your feet hurt, or your shoes aren’t appropriate for your activities, it will (at best) diminish your experience. At worst, you’ll be miserable. And I speak from experience 😉.
How to choose spring and summer travel shoes
So how do you know what to look for in travel shoes? Here are a few of my guidelines:
Comfort, Comfort, Comfort!
If your travel plans include walking tours or other sightseeing, you’ll probably spend more time on your feet each day than you would at home. And you may be walking on a variety of surfaces. (Hello, cobblestones!)
- Your shoes or sandals should have plenty of support and cushioning in the sole and insole. We tend to lose the natural padding on the bottom of our feet as we age, and may need additional cushioning. If arch support is a requirement for you, be sure there’s enough, or that you can add a custom insert if needed.
- The shoes should not rub or pinch anywhere. They should be well broken-in, and you should “road test” for several hours on your feet if possible before packing.
- They should be secure on your feet. If your shoes are too loose, your legs and feet will have to work harder, and you may tire more quickly. If they are too snug, they can be uncomfortable if your feet swell up over the course of a day. (You may find shoes that lace or have adjustable straps are your best option.)
- Rubber soles will provide better traction and more cushioning than leather or other slicker materials. You can ask your cobbler to add a rubber half sole (and heels) to a favorite pair. This also extends the life of the shoes.
- I find a low heel/wedge is more comfortable and easier to walk in than a completely flat shoe. But everyone’s feet are different, so go with what works for you.
- Materials: some people find fabric or canvas shoes more comfortable in warmer weather. (I’m not one of them.) If leather shoes are your preference, look for tumbled or softer leathers, or be sure the shoes have been well broken-in. There are a lot of perforated leather styles offered this season, which allow for more air flow while still providing coverage.
Style
- Look for versatile styles that can go from day to evening. Loafers, oxfords, classic sneakers and many sandals will be able to make this transition.
- Dark colored shoes will be less inclined to show dirt, but may look and feel too heavy with a warmer season wardrobe. If you choose lighter colored shoes, you can always treat with a waterproofing spray, which may help them stay cleaner.
- Neutral colors will be more versatile, but a classic color such as red can add a nice pop. I also find muted metallics are extremely versatile.
- Unless you have a fancy dress event (e.g. a wedding) on your itinerary, leave the heels at home. “Smart casual” is as dressed up as you usually need to be (yes, even for a nice dinner in Rome, a play in London, or the opera in Paris).
- If you’ll be traveling somewhere that tends to be cooler and wetter, you may want to include at least one pair of water-resistant shoes or even ankle boots.
Here are the styles of shoes I’ve found work best for spring and summer travel.
Sneakers
Up until a few years ago, wearing sneakers, especially white sneakers, immediately flagged you as a tourist. But sneakers are ubiquitous now, and if this is your preferred type of walking shoe, no need to leave them at home!
Clean, classic sneaker styles in a single color will be the most versatile. (To keep white sneakers looking sharp, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. For travel, just snip off a small piece and pack with your clothing care items.)
I also find metallic sneakers can be quite stylish and versatile.
Classic Appeal
Cole Haan | Vionic | Paul Green | ECCO | Taos | Josef Seibel
Slip-On Styles
Naturalizer | ECCO | Sofft | Jambu | Ilse Jacobsen | Paul Green
Zip closure
Clarks | Paul Green | Taos | Munro | ara | Sole Bliss*
*Specially designed to comfortably accommodate wide feet and bunions. Save 15% with code SUSANFEMME15
Loafers And Oxfords
These styles will generally be easiest to dress up or down. Again, look for soft leather, a well-padded insole, arch support, and a secure fit. Styles with thicker platform soles are popular and may provide extra cushioning, but be careful that the platform is stable on irregular surfaces.
Loafers and Flats
Vionic | L’Amour des Pieds | AGL | Pikolinos | ara | Paul Green |
Børn | ara | ECCO | Sole Bliss*
*Specially designed to comfortably accommodate wide feet and bunions. Save 15% with code SUSANFEMME15
Oxfords and Boat Shoes
Cole Haan | Dr. Martens | Kork-Ease | Cole Haan | Johnston & Murphy | SoftWalk
Sperry | Vionic | Kelsi Dagger | Naturalizer
Sandals
Not everyone is comfortable traveling with sandals, but I find them a necessity on warmer days. (Though I wouldn’t advise wearing them on flight or travel days…better to have the protection of a closed-toe shoe.)
Styles with adjustable straps over the toes as well as around the ankle will provide the most secure fit. Though I often wear backless sandals at home, they’re not the best for travel. I’d also be wary of “strappy” styles with just a few, skinny straps. For travel sandals, sturdy carries the day.
I’ve worn the style shown above all over Paris during two of our summer visits, and found them extremely comfortable.
More Sandals
Eileen Fisher | ECCO | Clarks | Vionic | Teva | Mephisto |
Naot | Pikolinos | Sofft | L’Amour des Pieds | Birkenstock
What are your favorite shoes for warm weather travel?
This article was previously published on March 26, 2024, and has since been updated to provide more relevant product suggestions.
Thanks for reading! If you found this article helpful, please follow me and share on Pinterest or other social media. And be sure to visit my Travel Wardrobe Hub for more packing articles, tips, and travel outfit ideas.
Stay in touch
Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.
I adore your superstar sneakers by Sole Bliss. Only they say on their site that they are for wide feet. And mine are small.
Greetje
Good morning! I was wondering what you would pack for Scotland … 2 week trip in mid June. Touring from Glasgow up the coast to Orkney Islands and then down to Edinburgh.
Hi Diana, I’d definitely bring lightweight layers, good walking shoes, and something water-proof or water-resistant. Check out my spring travel capsule ideas here: Smart Travel: Build Your 12-Piece Capsule Wardrobe
Dianna, if I may suggest Hokas. Just before our trip to Scotland last year, they came out with a light weight waterproof style. They also came with the option of a corded lace. So easy to slip on.
I have worn my Sole Bliss star sneakers so much, I had to have them resoled. I don’t have wide feet but the laces are adjustable. I wore them almost everyday on a 2 week trip to Italy.
Last summer while taking our teenaged nephew on a trip to DC and NYC, my feet revolted. Shoes that had always worked for me no longer did, and I was eventually diagnosed with hallux limitus (a type of big toe arthritis). I stopped into a comfort shoe store in DC and came out with two pairs of shoes that saved my trip — cork sandals from Josef Seibel (the Tongo 25) and perforated white sneakers from OluKai (Pehuea Lī). Both have great support and have been in regular rotation since. And neither, miraculously, required any break-in time.
Susan, does your capsule travel wardrobe fit in a carry-on, or do you take an additional/larger suitcase when you go to Europe?
Hi Dianne, the capsules should fit in a carry-on sized suitcase. I packed in a carry-on sized spinner last spring What I’m Packing for 2 Weeks in Europe & the UK: My Spring Travel Capsule but I will sometimes take a medium-sized checked bag if I’m planning to do more shopping while I’m there. (My travel capsule takes up 1/2 the space in the checked bag.)
Thanks, Susan. I’m impressed with your packing skill! Regarding comfortable shoes, I discovered the Hoff sneaker brand in Spain last year and now own several pairs. Their City line has stiffer soles and is good for narrow feet and arthritic toes.
Definitely seconding the magic eraser if you travel with white tennis shoes. I cut one in half, and then put it in a soap box together with a small nail brush. The brush is handy if you get mud (or other yucky things) on your shoes or soles. This has saved me more than once! Buy a bright colored soap box so it’s easy to find in your suitcase. Happy travels!
Thanks so much for this article. Heading to Salzburg early May & wanted a 2nd pair of comfy shoes that weren’t sneakers. I’m a Vionic fan for sneakers but didn’t realize they made anything else! Just bought their uptown loafer that you pictured in this post. They might be the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned and a tad dressier than a sneaker.
Just recently found you & love your style & brand choices. 🙂