It took me years to find the perfect combination of women’s travel shoes. Every trip I would stare dubiously at my suitcase, trying to figure out how the heck I was going to cram in the number of shoes I needed to achieve the various activities I wanted to do – you know, adventurous things like walking without hobbling in pain or hiking without hobbling in pain – while also trying to maintain a basic level of not-hideous-ness.
Squeezing shoes into my luggage was a battle every time I went on a trip.
But today, that’s all changed. After trying on, returning, trying on again, and field-testing like crazy, I’ve found SIX absolutely amazing pairs of travel shoes for women. And what’s more, they’re all lightweight and easy to cram into your luggage without taking up a ton of room!
With these six shoes, I’m able to cover all of my bases and not think twice about what shoes to pack for trips. It’s changed my travel game, and I’m about to change yours, too!
This post was originally published in 2018 and was updated significantly in 2019.
Table of Contents
Psst: Looking for more travel tips to upgrade your next trip? Take a look at some of our other helpful posts, and don’t forget to read our men’s travel shoes guide!
- The 5 Best Travel Pants for Women: Functional, Cute, & Field-Tested
- The Ultimate Guide to Makeup & Beauty for Backpacking
- Long Haul Flight Essentials & Travel Tips for Economy Fliers
The Problem With Women’s Travel Shoes
I think a lot of the problems with women’s travel shoes actually mirror the problems that women generally face every day, namely the creeping feeling that society doesn’t want us to be able to move very quickly. While some of us are surely able to do things like run from a charging Tyrannosaurus Rex while wearing heels (by the way – if you haven’t seen this Jurassic Park YouTube parody yet, please stop reading right now and go watch it – I’ll wait), the vast majority of us really just need like, comfortable walking shoes. And while your cutest pair of flats may be perfectly adequate for a long day at the office, walking 10+ miles as you explore on cobblestones or sand is a whole different ball game.
Tell me if any of this sounds vaguely familiar in your search for your favorite pair of travel shoes:
✔ The shoes that give your feet cramps if you walk in them for more than 20 minutes.
✔ The shoes that you can totally walk in all day long! … But you have to pay for later with those miserable midnight Charlie Horses (UGH WHY) and a full day of post-exploring hobbling.
✔ The shoes that are absolutely perfect in every way except for that 1 very specific spot that rubs your skin until it’s a miserable, aching blister. You regularly carry around pieces of Moleskin, bandaids, and duct tape just to stave off the inevitable for as long as possible.
✔ The shoes that you loved to pieces … literally, you wore them on 1 trip and they fell apart. You can’t bear to get rid of them because they were so beautiful and perfect, so now you just have a pair of shoes with a giant, gaping hole just mocking you from your closet.
Yeah. Things are bleak.
So bleak, in fact, that I literally injured myself in my search for shoes I could wear to do what is currently my full-time job (that would be running around in heels being chased by t-rexes. No, just kidding, it’s travel blogging).
Story time! Years ago, back when this blog was merely a twinkle in my eye, I got myself a cute little pair of trainers and thought I’d pick up running as a hobby. It sounded fun. It sounded athletic. It made me think back nostalgically to scenes from Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, where Blake Lively gallops like a gazelle on foreign beaches, blonde hair flying behind her as every leg muscle rippled in beauty and power. I wanted that REAL bad. So I picked up the cutest pair of sneakers I could find, laced them up, downloaded the Couch to 5K app, and hit the road.
2 weeks later, I couldn’t walk. I was in SO MUCH PAIN. Every step felt like I was jabbing a nail into my heel, and the very arches of my feet were so cramped up I started rolling them on frozen water bottles every night just so I could hobble into bed. It got so bad that I started wearing sneakers to work. And I worked in the corporate fashion world, so that was a HUGE faux-pas.
Turns out I had a raging case of Plantar Fasciitis. I had it for nearly a YEAR. A year of ugly sneakers, hobbling around, rolling my feet on stuff every night, and waking up in horrible pain every morning. It was awful. I was desperate to find a solution, and I was willing to go extremes to relieve my pain.
No, this isn’t the story of how I developed a raging addiction to nutella. This is the story of how I found barefoot shoes. OK WAIT – I can feel you heading up to click that X in the corner because you’re imagining me wearing those ugly, awful 5-finger shoes. But that’s not what I’m talking about at all!
When I say barefoot shoes, what I mean are shoes that allow my feet to have a full range of motion – thin, flexible soles, WIDE toe-boxes, and no heel at all (the technical term is “zero drop”). When I first started testing these kinds of shoes, I was freaked out by both the fact that I could kinda feel the ground beneath my feet, and the fact that I couldn’t walk more than 5 minutes at a time without feeling like I had just run a mile – my calf muscles were so underdeveloped from years of wearing cute, fashionable shoes that my body had essentially forgotten how to walk. It was eye-opening.
But as I worked my way up by adding a few more minutes of walking in barefoot shoes every day, my plantar fasciitis started going away too. It was like just walking around was stretching my feet out in ways that the ugly foot-cast contraption I’d started wearing every night never could.
A year later, my feet had developed muscles I never knew they had. I could stand and walk for miles and miles with no pain at all. I could do things at the gym I’d never been able to do before. And I even went full granola for a minute and started hiking and rail-running completely barefoot. Yes, that bit is definitely a bit nutty and no, you don’t have to go quite that far. Today, I even work at a standing desk: I stand all day long whether I’m at home on my computer or running around having adventures, and my feet NEVER slow me down.
So, here’s the point I want to make: every single shoe that I wear for travel allows my feet their full range of motion. So before you run away screaming from the word “barefoot,” consider trying something different – especially if you struggle with foot pain like I did before I changed my attitude towards shoes!
OK, now that I’ve given you my cavewoman spiel (I’m KIDDING they’re not that granola, I promise) let’s get to the actual shoes!
Lookin’ down into Oslo’s fjord like I’m about to dive right in … (which I totally did! But I took my boots off first.)
The Best Women’s Travel Boots
Here’s the thing about most boots: they’re adorable, but they’re totally impractical. There is NO GOOD REASON why I should need different boots for different conditions. Snow? Rain? Cold weather? Just cuz I want to look cute? I want the same boot for ALL of those things. Ain’t nobody got closet space for multiple boots.
Enter the VivoBarefoot Gobi Hi-Top, the lace-up ankle boot that does it all. I have literally worn these babies everywhere from professional events to the Arctic tundra to snow-shoeing.
Yes: I actually went snow-showing in these boots.
I slipped the snow-shoes right on top of them, and actually I was kind of terrified that it might ruin them. But it didn’t, and my feet stayed toasty warm and dry!
These are the kinds of boots that make you WANT to walk through puddles when it’s raining, just to show the world that you’re UNSTOPPABLE, dammit! They’re the kind of boots that make you excited for a cold day so you have an excuse to wrap your toes up in the cozy faux shearling lining. They’re the kind of boots that you wear every single day all season long, year after year after year.
- Note: Sadly, these boots are currently out of stock just about everywhere! In the meantime, I suggest trying out these warm winter boots by Xero instead. I’ve been testing out a pair and they’re a great alternative to the Vivobarefoot boots, although not quite as foldable or packable – but after all, you’ll be wearing them every day.
Wearing the exact same pair of Vivobarefoot Gobi boots, 2 years and 2 continents apart. These boots have lasted me through rain, snow, and everywhere in between. I love them so much!
Oh, how I love these boots. Let me count the ways:
✔ Legit adorable, especially with lil’ socks on some leggings or tights
I like to layer my boots over a pair of socks and pull them up over my leggings in cold weather for maximum adorableness and cozyness.
✔ Waterproof AF in both snow and rain
These are my ONLY snow boot. I’ve worn absolutely nothing else on any of my winter trips for the past 3 years. I’ve worn them snowshoeing in Lake Tahoe & Banff, reindeer herding in the Arctic tundra, Christmas Market-ing all over Europe, and everywhere in between.
That said: one day I did actually end up with slightly wet feet after spending a long day exploring Montreal, Canada through slushy freezing cold puddles of ankle-deep water. But hey, 1 damp pair of wool socks after 3 years is pretty darn good!
✔ Lined with faux shearling so it feels like you’re walking on a warm cloud of baby sheep
The inside of these boots are so soft and cozy! I love them! Not only are they lined with faux shearling, there’s a layer of warm, thin insulation to keep your feet EXTRA toasty.
✔ Comfortable enough to walk in for miles and miles
I have tested many times and I’ve never, EVER gotten sore feet in my boots! Not once. Standing, walking, snowshoeing, winter hiking, whatever – they’re comfortable for miles and hours and days on end.
✔ Lightweight and easy to squish up into your bag for travel
How many winter boots can you squish flat or roll up and stuff into your suitcase, taking up absolutely no room? Literally no other shoes that I know of. These are the most versatile, lightweight, flexible boots I’ve ever seen in my life, and that makes them ultra travel friendly!
The Bottom Line: If you live somewhere cold, plan to travel somewhere cold, foresee rain at some point in your life, or just get cold feet sometimes (hopefully not on your wedding day! Ba-dum-ssh, I’ll see myself out) the VivoBarefoot Gobi Hi-Top are the boots for you.
Psst: Use the code PW10 to save 10% off any pair of VivoBarefoot shoes!
Browse Vivobarefoot Gobi Hi-Top Travel Boots
Note: Sadly, these boots are currently out of stock just about everywhere! Until they’re back in stock, I suggest trying out these warm winter boots by Xero instead. I’ve been testing out a pair and they’re a great alternative to the Vivobarefoot boots, although not quite as foldable or packable – but after all, you’ll be wearing them every day.
I wore my white AllBirds allllll over Glacier National Park. They’re my new favorite travel shoes that are as comfy as sneakers but look WAY cuter!
The Best (& Cutest!) Travel Walking Shoes
I don’t know why I waited so long to finally try out a pair of Allbirds. I think I waited for like 3 years before finally taking the plunge. And I have nothing but regrets because my Allbirds Tree Skippers are AMAZING!
Y’all, these are hands down the cutest and comfiest pair of walking shoes I’ve ever owned! Let me break my obsession down for you:
✔ They are cute AF.
Was anybody else obsessed with Dirty Dancing growing up? These remind me of the shoe Baby wears in her little dance practice montage scene up the stairs (you know, this one). I feel like I’m channeling that movie every time I wear these, and it makes me feel ADORBS.
Also, white shoes are like, all over Instagram right now, so I’m technically insta-cool, to. (I’m really super not, though.)
The point is, these shoes go with everything: jeans, leggings, shorts, even dresses! I have yet to find something they don’t look good with, and I’ve been trying.
✔ They’re the perfect city walking shoe!
I’ve taken to wearing these on all of my long daily walks through my neighborhood, and on city exploration days while traveling. Normally I’d wear sneakers for long walks days, but my sneakers have been officially decommissioned because these are WAY cuter and just as comfortable!
Admiring the colorful rocks in Glacier National Park in my gorgeous, cozy AllBirds Tree Skippers!
✔ They’re up for a challenge.
True story: I took my gorgeous bright white Allbirds on a dusty hike. Yup. I didn’t want to, but I left my hiking shoes at home like an idiot and had no choice but to test ’em out. They got filthy and I had to throw them in the wash as soon as I got home, but my feet stayed comfortable the whole time.
That said: I don’t recommend hiking in these if you can help it. Traction on slippery, dusty slopes was a bit of a challenge, and like .. they’re way too cute to get that dirty. Don’t be me! But the point is, in a pinch, they can handle it, and that’s pretty amazing.
✔ They’re hella lightweight.
Because the Allbirds are made with lightweight knit fabric and flexible foam soles, they’re incredibly lightweight. Which makes them perfect for throwing into your suitcase or backpack!
✔ They’re perfect for both hot and cool weather.
The knit fabric is full of tiny, barely-noticeable little eyelets that help your feet breathe. Plus, the material of both the shoe itself (eucalyptus) and the insoles (merino wool) naturally helps regulate both temperature and moisture. Nature is pretty freakin’ high-tech.
I’ve worn my Allbirds in both hot weather and cold, rainy weather, and while I don’t recommend wearing them in the rain, my feet weren’t cold at all thanks to the warm wool insoles!
✔ They don’t get stinky.
By using high-performance natural materials like merino wool, Allbirds shoes fight that stinky shoe smell even when you don’t wear socks. And you really don’t have to wear socks – they’re THAT comfy.
✔ They’re made with sustainable materials!
Sustainability is incredibly important to us, especially since as frequent travelers, we need to go above and beyond to offset all of our carbon emissions. The Allbirds fit the bill perfectly!
The knit fabric is made from ethically grown & harvested eucalyptus pulp. The laces are made with recycled polyester. The insoles are made from merino wool (no sheep are harmed in the making of merino wool).
Plus, as a company, Allbirds is committed to fighting climate change as a fully carbon-neutral company from the ground up. We LOVE supporting companies whose values align with ours, and Allbirds is one of those special, responsible, ethical companies that we feel really, really good about supporting!
Plus, like, ya know … super cute, awesome shoes that we’re in love with help, too.
One thing to know: I loooove the all-white Tree Skippers, but one thing you should know: they do get dirty. After about 3 trips and one accidental hike, mine were fairly grungy looking.
Luckily, you can just throw ’em in the washing machine to clean them off – just be sure to lay them out to dry rather than throwing them in the dryer!
Ready to try out Allbirds?
Shop for AllBirds Tree Skippers
The VivoBarefoot Jing Jing travel flats are flexible enough to allow you to do things like jump on your husband’s back! They do not, however, fix clumsiness.
The Best (Two!) Travel Flats
Flats are the ideal travel shoe for 3-season travels. They’re perfect for exploring cities, going out at night (on the rare occasion that I manage to drag myself away from Netflix & drooling on myself to actually do something after dark, that is) and doing ~professional things.
I wear them on cobblestone streets and asphalt. I wear them at conferences, where I walk upwards of 15,000 steps per day as I hustle from booth to booth to beg brands to throw money at me (HAHA just kidding I love my sponsors being a travel blogger is so glamorous whee).
I wear them when I’m speaking onstage at conferences. I wear them when I attend the networking parties after the conferences that always last all night and cut into my Netflix & drool time. Y’all: I wear them constantly. Because they are adorable, and I can walk a zillion miles in them and never feel any pain whatsoever.
I have 2 pairs of travel flats that I absolutely love: the incredibly long-lasting VivoBarefoot JingJing flat and the much more budget-friendly but just as cute Ollio Faux Suede Ballet Flats.
PSA: Drinking and walking around comfortably is much safer than drinking & driving! I’m rockin’ the Vivobarefoot JingJing flat in Paso Robles, CA.
The Vivobarefoot Jing Jing flat is deceptively simple but masterfully created. I’ve had my pairs for 4 years now and worn them all over the world on multiple trips, and you guys, they don’t even have a scratch. I only recently discovered the Ollio Ballet Flat (pics coming soon!) but I’m thrilled to find something that’s just as cute & comfortable as the JingJings at a fraction of the price!
Here’s why I love each of these travel flats:
✔ Lightweight and easy to pack
The JingJing flats are incredibly thin and lightweight, and roll up so small they fit in the palm of my hand. I never give a second thought to packing them, because they don’t take up any room at all.
But unlike most thin flats, which wear through in a few months and inevitably fall apart, the Jing Jing is made to last. They feel and look just as good as they did the day I bought them.
The Ollio flats are also flexible enough to roll or fold up, and don’t weigh very much at all, making adding them to my suitcase or backpack a no-brainer (you never know when you might need to look halfway decent).
✔ Super cute with everything from jeans to dresses
Both pairs are a pretty classically styled ballet flat – no painful pointy toes, no ribbons or bells or whistles. But they look good, add a nice pop of color to my outfit, and frankly if I’m on the go and running around a city or conference, I care a lot more about comfort than style.
They’re cute enough, super comfortable, and that’s all I need!
✔ Roll up or fold down into teeny palm-sized mini shoes
The VivoBarefoot JingJing flats are some of the most flexible shoes I’ve ever owned in my life and literally roll up to fit in the palm of my hand.
The Ollio Ballet Flats fold in half (much like Tieks), making them just as conveniently tiny!
✔ Comfortable enough to walk in for miles and miles
Both of my favorite flats are made from soft material, are wide enough to fit my feet, and offer plenty of comfort for me to stand & walk for miles without sore feet or next-day hobbling.
That said: be aware that the JingJing flats ARE barefoot flats. And if you’re not used to barefoot shoes, that might feel really, really different. I promise you: even if you can feel every crack in the pavement between your toes, nothing is going to puncture the sole – I’ve had my flats for 4+ years now and there’s not a single scratch or hole on them. (Psst: Vivobarefoot does have a 100 day trial so you can test out that crazy barefoot science for yourself, risk-free).
If you prefer a little more cushion and aren’t quite into the whole barefoot thing, the Ollio Ballet Flats have a still-flexible but much thicker sole for added padding.
- Wait! Here’s a Very Important Tip for your travel flats: I, errr, tend to get kind of sweaty feet on hot days. Especially when I’m walking several miles and standing for hours and hours. So I found a really good little sock to wear with my flats. They’re made from wool, which is naturally antibacterial (aka anti-stink) and absorbant in a not-gross way, and they’re the perfect size and shape to fit seamlessly (and secretly) into any pair of flats! Pick up a pair to take with you on every trip.
Browse Jing Jing Travel Flats and Browse Ollio Ballet Flats
Psst: Use the code PW10 to save 10% off any pair of VivoBarefoot shoes!
If you wear these travel flats you’re guaranteed to land a really great husband! … JK, but they are really great shoes. Kissing like the disgusting marrieds we are in Savannah, Georgia.
FAQ: Are Tieks and Rothy’s worth it?
Possibly the 2 most popular brands of travel flats, both Tieks & Rothy’s have almost a cult following. Everyone who loves them SWEARS by them, so I figured I’d give them each a try.
They … did not work for me, y’all. Not at all.
The Rothy’s were uncomfortably narrow and rigid and gave me blisters. Being made from recycled plastic is a super awesome and sustainable, but also not breathable and honestly kinda painful. Not worth the insanely high price tag, in my opinion.
The Tieks were a bit more comfortable. They’re made from real leather, which is a lot softer and more breathable, but ultimately they were far too narrow for me and I couldn’t walk in them for very long without pain. They also do that thing where they kinda show toe cleavage, which makes it feel like my feet are going to slip out of the front of my shoes and rubs my little toes uncomfortably. Sooo, also not worth the insanely high price tag IMO!
The verdict? Overpriced & over-hyped.
For the price each of those shoes cost I was expecting miracles, like a self-pedicuring foot massaging travel flat or something. But nope. They are just ordinary flats. And like … can we do the math? I can buy 7 pairs of the Ollio Ballet Flats for the same price as ONE pair of Tieks, or 5 pairs for ONE pair of Rothy’s. That’s nuts.
My advice? Try one of the 2 pairs I recommended above instead!
Modeling my latest pair of Teva sandals, in Sassy Red (that’s not the actual color name) at Disneyland!
The Best Women’s Sandals for Travel
My love for the Teva Ysidro Sandals can only be described as “cult-like.” I’m currently on my 4th pair of these babies. They comprise the entirety of sandals in my closet, and when I bring them on a trip to somewhere hot, they’re all I wear.
I wore pair #3 for 6 months straight during our year-long honeymoon. I hiked in them. I rappelled down a waterfall in them (and then got rescued in them). I went white water rafting in them. I stomped through cities and frolicked on beaches in them. We had some really good times together, but every couple of years, it’s time for a new pair.
I’ve been buying leather Teva sandals regularly for the past 8 years. Here is a photo of my very first pair of Teva sandals, taken 8 years ago with a cutting-edge cell phone camera on a trip to the Grand Canyon:
My very first pair of Teva sandals on our very first trip together to the Grand Canyon!
I still have those sandals in the back of my closet. I couldn’t bear to throw them away – we’ve been to so many places together! I’m slightly verging into hoarder territory with the Teva shoe cemetery in my closet…
It’s not just me who’s obsessed with these sandals, either: one time I was getting mani/pedi and noticed that someone else was wearing the same pair of Teva sandals. We struck up a conversation and spent a solid 20 minutes loudly fan-girling over how much we loved these sandals, much to the irritation and bewilderment of the rest of the salon.
But you guys: they’re SO GOOD. Here’s why I think the Teva Ysidros are the best travel sandals:
✔ Durable leather straps and a flexible cork sole make these one tough, rugged pair of sandals
My Tevas last, on average, 3 years before they need replacing. And I wear them HARD. They’re pretty much my only pair of sandals, so I take them on every hot-weather trip, wear them into the ocean, and go hiking in them. They get beat up by sand and dust and saltwater, but they hold up like champions! When I do end up replacing them, it’s usually because I want prettier looking shoes, not because they’re no longer functional (unlike a cute pair of cheap sandals from somewhere that shall remane namless which I once wore an actual hole into after just 2 weeks in Bali).
✔ Legit cute.
I know “Teva” used to be synonymous with those unattractive sandals at 8th-grade summer camp, but they’ve grown up and matured and blossomed into some truly adorable, stylish shoes! I love the leather straps because they’re not only chic and stylish looking, but they mold to the shape of my foot and never, ever give me blisters.
✔ As good at being water shoes as they are at being walking shoes and city shoes.
These are not only my favorite city sandals: they’re also my (only) water shoes. I wear them whitewater rafting, snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, and on hikes through streams and puddles. They don’t slip thanks to the velcro ankle strap, dry off entirely in the sun after a few hours (or overnight), and the treated leather handles the water like it’s nothing!
✔ The most comfortable sandals for travel that I’ve ever tried – and I’ve tried SO. MANY.
I truly have. There is a reason I’ve owned Tevas every year for the past decade. They’re the best!
✔ Will give you the coveted “Teva Tan” which is like a wearable souvenir from all of your travels (at this point I think mine is permanent)
Is Teva Tan the new Hydroflask? Maybe not, but I rock mine every year like a badge of honor.
I’m obsessed and I want you to be obsessed too! Grab a pair and try them out. You’ll never go back to regular sandals again!
Browse Teva Ysidro Travel Sandals
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- Rocking my new Born Sandals in Cartagena, Colombia!
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- The couple that wears sandals together, stays together. Jeremy in his Tevas, me in my Born sandals, Cartagena skyline lookin’ fierce in the background!
The Best Women’s Sandals for City Travel
So I have to make a confession. I cheated on my Teva’s.
I bought a new pair of sandals this summer, and brought them along with me for a month in Colombia & Panama. I was going to two hot, tropical destinations and I knew I wouldn’t want to wear anything but sandals for a month straight.
So I found a new pair of travel sandals. To be fair, I also brought my Teva’s! These definitely aren’t replacement water or hiking sandals.
What I found was that my new sandals, the Born Tusayans, are the perfect city sandal! They make a great alternative to my go-anywhere, do-everything Teva’s on the days where I just want a cute sandal for running around a city exploring.
Here’s what I love about them:
✔ They’re super cute and come in a bunch of adorable colors.
✔ The thick, stretchy, soft strap on top holds everything in place so I never slide around while I’m walking.
✔ The sole is thick enough to cushion my feet on long walking days but flexible enough to allow my feet to move and stretch naturally while I walk.
✔Now I can add fun new tan lines to my pre-existing Teva Tan, which is going on its 9th straight summer.
Want to try out a pair? You can scope out all the fun colors on Zappos!
Balancing majestically on a log in my Altra Lone Peak trail runners after a hike in Lake Tahoe, California!
The Best Women’s Lightweight Hiking Shoes
I used to think you needed big, chunky boots to go hiking in – for ankle support and snake protection or whatever – and I thought that the best boots of all were waterproof and cost hundreds of dollars for good reason. For years as I explored the best hikes in Northern California, I wore whatever clunky hiking boots I found on sale at REI, nursing my feet after long hikes, aches and blisters and sore calves and all.
I assumed that my problem was that I couldn’t afford to drop bands on a pair of good waterproof hiking boots, not hiking boots themselves. And I avoided taking my hiking boots with me on trips, because they weighed a zillion pounds and took up half of the space in my suitcase.
Then somebody told me about trail runners, and it changed everything.
Trail runners are like the shoe that sits directly in between regular sneakers and massive, clunky hiking boots. They have the grip of hiking boots with the light-weightedness of sneakers. They’re built to stabilize your foot as you run through forests and unstable terrain, leaping over logs and probably doing the occasional Tarzan swing through the trees, and they’re excellent for hiking.
Once I laced up my Altra Lone Peak Trail Runners – with some lacing tricks I’d learned in my years-long quest to make hiking boots actually work for me – and hit the trails, I knew I’d never hike in clunky, inflexible boots again.
Without the weight and bulk of those boots on my feet, I felt light and free – and yes, I even went trail running a few times out of sheer excitement. (It’s actually REALLY fun, and I usually hate running! Don’t believe me? Read Born to Run and tell me it doesn’t make you want to gallop off into the mountains somewhere for a casual 50-mile run.)
Finally at Machu Pichu after attempting to hike Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in my Altra Lone Peak trail runners, my favorite women’s lightweight hiking shoes for travel! And, yes, Jeremy and I have the same pair (we have a shocking number of the same shoes).
Here are a few of the reasons why I love my Trail Runners:
✔ They’re zero drop, so there’s no risk of re-aggravating my plantar fasciitis.
Too many hiking boots have a little heel, which may look cute, but 12+ miles in, your feet will be screaming! These trail runners are zero drop, so my feet stay pain-free.
✔ Flexible sole, so my foot can move with full range of motion and flexibility to keep me stable even on tricky terrain.
I’ve scrambled down rocky mountainsides and up sandy cliffs in these, and the textured, flexible rubber sole can handle it all.
✔ The upper is made of lightweight mesh, which is incredibly breathable, keeping my feet sweat-free.
This does, however, mean that whatever socks you wear might get a bit dusty! I sometimes have to stop and empty out my shoes on sandy trails in California.
✔ Who needs waterproof boots?
My trail runners dry lightning-fast, so that if I have to wet-foot portage (that’s hiking nerd speak for “walk through a puddle or something”), my wool-blend hiking socks and shoes are dry not even 15 minutes later. If I end up hiking in the rain, I just pull out the pair of waterproof socks I keep in my Camelbak and pull them on over my regular wool hiking socks to keep my feet completely dry (yes, I’ve done a full submerge test just to check).
✔ Have never given me even close to the inkling of a blister.
Never. Not even on our very first hike! They’re soft and comfortable and lightweight and wonderful and nothing rubs or sticks out or irritates my feet at all!
✔ The perfect hiking shoes for travel.
They’re lightweight and the mesh upper collapses to nothing at all, so you can smush these in your bag (or in my case, in the mesh cup-holder on the side or the front pocket) and hike anywhere your heart desires! I’ve taken my trail runners hiking everywhere from the Andes Mountains to the Inca Trail and they’ve never once let me down.
Oh, and as for ankle support? Turns out that the whole thing is a myth, much like the concept of “arch support.” When you let your feet do their thing naturally, your feet and calf muscles develop into the super-strength Wonder Woman feet you were born to have, and your muscles do the job of stabilizing your ankles just fine.
And arch support? Since when have arches, the strongest shape in the world, used throughout the history of mankind’s greatest architectural achievements, needed support? What happens when you stick something under an arch? Does it help make the arch stronger? No. It does not. The term arch support is a non sequitur!
If you’re still hiking in hiking boots and take for granted the fact that your feet will hurt after a long day of hiking, let me tell you: it doesn’t have to be that way! Trail runners changed my attitude towards hiking and helped me develop a 1-hike-per-week habit during the year leading up to our year-long honeymoon (which I haven’t exactly picked back up again now that we’ve returned, but it’s not my shoes fault – they’re miraculously as good as new).
Give them a try and let me know if your hiking game changes the way mine did! You can pick them up from REI or on Amazon.
*This version of trail runners has now been replaced with the 4, so if you want more variety in sizes check them out here
Shop for Altra Lone Peak Travel Hiking Shoes
If you’ve struggled finding the women’s travel shoes, vent to me in the comments! What are your frustrations? What are your concerns? What questions can I answer for you about the best travel shoes for women?
Psst: Looking for more travel tips to upgrade your next trip? Take a look at some of our other helpful posts – and don’t forget to read our men’s travel shoes guide!
- What to Pack for a Beach Vacation: the Curvy Girl’s Beach Vacation Packing List
- The 3 Best Travel Pants for Women: Functional, Cute, & Field-Tested
- The Ultimate Guide to Makeup & Beauty for Backpacking
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Disclaimer: This post was originally created in partnership with VivoBarefoot, a shoe brand that we’ve actually high-key fan-girled for years (dreams came true writing this post, y’all). That said, we purchased all of the shoes in this post with our own money several years ago, and have been testing them on trips ever since, slowly becoming more and more obsessed. All opinions, bad jokes, and strong feelings about shoes are 100% our own and absolutely nobody else’s fault.
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As a former runner who has also suffered Plantar Fascitis, I feel your pain! Exploring for hours when travelling always leaves me with sore feet and I too have struggled to find shoes that are both comfortable and fashionable. Will defintely look into purchasing a couple of these travel shoes! Thanks for the information.
Yesss give them a try!!! They made such a huge difference for me.
I swear by Ipanema’s travel sandals! They are very comfy and cute as well. These suggestions sound so good. I definitely need a pair of good travel boots so I will check out VivoBareFoot. You crack me up with that Jurassic Park commercial LOL so random yet hilarious.
I always struggle with what shoes to wear when traveling! I always want them to look good but I need to be able to walk in them for hours and that is hard to find! Thanks so much for sharing this. Seriously considering those flats and the trail runners!
It’s such a struggle to find good ones! I’m so glad I found these and my feet have been happy ever since, too 😉
GIRL YAASS! I have a pair of barefoot shoes from Merrell that I friggin love and never ever want to stop wearing. Last year I got a pair of waterproof hiking shoes and wore them around Philadelphia in the winter. Cut to me having blisters the size of literal em-effin’ half dollars. Those puppies were promptly returned and I’ve never cheated on my Merrells again. Though those Gobi boots are little temptresses…
The Gobis are PERFECT for winter weather! And they’re hella cute, too. Get themmmmmmmm 😉
I need to add a new pair of boots to my winter wardrobe for Michigan and these sound perfect. Do they run true to size?
Because they’re barefoot style shoes, they’re a big bigger than what you’re probably used to – there’s WAY more room for your toes than probably any other boot you’ve ever tried, but that’s totally normal and all part of the barefoot shoe thing. My boots are actually a half size up from what I usually wear (their sizing is European and I’m a weird US half size) and they fit just fine. Also that extra space means more room for nice thick socks if it’s super cold out!
This was THE BEST guide ever! Thank you so much & I will be sharing this with everyone I know!
Wow you described the exact same issues and injuries I have. Been walking heavy bc himing boots for years, created several foot problems. Discovered trail runners this year nd never going back. Topo Athletics specializes in wide forefoot shoes. Their zero drop shoes made my short calve muscles get more flexible. Too bad their not suited for normal walking as they started to rib at the bend point after only few months and strangly the soles are slippery when walking on wet streets. Saucony peregrine 8 has amagingly rugged soles and I can almost walk a rock vertically with them. Too bad no zero drop or not too wide forefoot but they still walk like you walk on clouds, can bearily feel blind guides stones and besides the sole the shoe itself is flexible, breathable but gives more ankle support than the topos. Will definately look into your suggestions as well because you litterally wrote down my years and years of struggle with feet problems and finding fitting shoes as I have a wide front foot but small size. A shoe salesmen actually told me we have more foot problems here in the west because its fashionable to have pointy shoes (yes even the average sneaker is too narrow). Keep up the great work, love your blogs
OMG the pointy shoes! I wore pointy shoes for YEARS, they were my go-to flat style. And it was a pair of sneakers that gave me my killer plantar fasciitis injury (those stupid Nike free runs that are SUPER cute, but terrible for your feet, which I learned after going running in them for 2 weeks)! Sounds like a lot of the shoes here will be a GREAT fit for you, and I’m excited to check out the ones you mentioned too!
This post is great! I’m going to Switzerland and Eastern Europe at the beginning of December, do you think I have enough time to break in the barefoot Gobi boots? Also, would you mind sending me a referral link–we both get $30 off if you do! 🙂
You don’t need to do any breaking in for the Gobis themselves, it’s more about making sure YOUR feet are comfortable in them. For me the biggest issue was that my calves were undeveloped from wearing shoes that didn’t allow my feet to move naturally for years, so I couldn’t walk in them for more than a few minutes without my calves aching from effort. It took me a few months to build up my calf muscles to a point where it didn’t feel like I was going on a jog just from walking around barefoot. If you’re more athletic than I was, like if you already go running and have strong calf muscles, you should have no problems – my husband was able to put them on and walk miles in them immediately because he bikes and has stronger legs than I did, for example! I hope that helps!
Hi Lia, thanks for your great tips!
I am a bit skeptical about the Teva sandals.. can you really immerse them in water with no damage? I am looking for some sandals that I can also use for showering in hostel/camping sites.
Thanks a lot!!
Yep! I wear them as my water shoes too. I’ve worn them for snorkelling, kayaking, white water rafting, etc. You’ll just want to leave them outside to let them dry overnight before you wear them in the city or out of water again, or you’ll be slipping and sliding a bit! Teva is the original water sandal and these definitely hold up to that reputation IMO.
I love this article! I just bought some of the Gobis for my European travels post-Africa (realised I didn’t have any warm shoes, just sandals!). Do you think they will be too hot for Europe in March/April? And I hope my calves survive! (read that bit after I pressed “purchase”…!) Thanks for such a fun article!
I wear mine on chilly and rainy days here in northern California, so I think you’ll be fine! They get too hot around 70 degrees or higher but personally I find anything under 70 to be freezing 😛
Thanks!
Also, have you heard anything about a similar style to the TEVA Capris? It looks like they aren’t selling/making them anymore!
They’re still available on other sites, like on Amazon, which is what’s linked to in this post! They make a new version every so often that’s slightly different. It looks like the current version is called the Ysidro, which is available on their website.
This post was super useful! I’m in the market for trail runners and definitely going to check out the ones you recommend. I thought I needed waterproof, but I like your idea of using waterproof socks instead. Do you prefer that to the shoes being waterproof? What are your tips for lacing up hiking boots so they work for you?
The thing about waterproof shoes is that during the 1% of the time when I need waterproof shoes they are great, but 99% of the time when I’m not actually hiking through water or rain, they’re just sweaty and uncomfortable. I’d much rather have a pair of waterproof socks on hand for the 1% of the time rather than deal with the sweaty misery for the 99% of the time, so yes, I definitely prefer that!
As for lacing up my trail runners, I do a triple twist/surgeon’s knot on my top lace before just tying my shoes like normal. I find that’s enough for me to prevent heel slip while hiking downhill. I don’t do anything else terribly special! Here’s more info about the surgeon’s knot: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/lacing-hiking-boots.html
Hi! So I clicked on all the links to look at the shoes, and almost all are sold out! Such a bummer! Maybe it’s this post that has everyone running out to buy them. Guess I’ll have to keep checking for them to be restocked! Thanks for a great list!
Hey Kayli! Thank you for letting us know! I’ve updated the post with alternate versions, hopefully you can find what you need there! Happy shopping! 😉
Great post! I plan to check out the shoes you recommended. Are there any particular shoes you recommend to build up my calf muscles? I am not athletic at all so I feel like the barefoot shoes will cause some pain unless I do some foot / calf conditioning first. Thank you for all the helpful tips and advice!
Honestly, walking in barefoot shoes will do that for you! It’s incredible how different it feels to walk in them versus regular shoes, and you’ll notice your calves tiring in the same way you’d feel while running or doing calf workouts. Each day you’ll be able to walk for longer and longer without that feeling until you never feel it at all! That said, if you’d prefer to do some prep work and aren’t a runner or hiker, I recommend weighted calf raises (or unweighted calf raises). Just do as many as possible until you feel that burn! They’re not techincal – you’re literally just standing up on your tippy-toes and then going back down again. You can also do them on a step or stair (or curb, or any ledge you find) so your heels dip beneath the step on the way down for maximum effort. Weighted calf raises are just regular calf raises, except you’re carrying stuff. Maybe it’s a barbell on your back, maybe it’s just a really heavy backpack 😉 I used to do weighted calf raises while waiting for the train on my way to work with my laptop in my backpack! I also like to turn my toes to face inwards and outwards as well as straight ahead to work different parts of my calves. Again, super easy and non-technical, and I’ve just gotten in the habit of doing calf raises while I wait around for stuff now. (Fair warning: if you’re used to having smaller calves, you’re in for a fun surprise when boots stop fitting around your legs. RIP, cute fall boots!)
Thanks so much for the tips! I have planta as well and it’s a pain in the butt! I often find I have to wear shoes with a heel or put a heel raiser in my hiking shoes and I’m good to go. I’ll definitely check of some of these though, as I’m heading to Europe /UK in winter. 🙂
I have these ugly pair of sketchers which are super comfortable and I carry them everywhere on my trips. I think the biggest issue I face is finding shoes that go with every outfit, and yet are comfy for long hours of walking.
I’m the same way! No shoes made this list without me walking for hours and hours and hours in them first 🙂
I absolutely love my Rothy’s! I’ve been considering them for years and I’m SO glad I finally did it! You won’t regret it. I have never been able to find a flat as comfortable and cute. They are super easy to dress up or down! You can toss them in the washer and they look brand new again. They have some super cute new sneaker styles as well – will def be my next purchase.
Well sh*t this is making me want to try them again 😛
YES GIRL. I learned this the hard way when my first big trip was to Europe for a month and I was only focused on looking cute and ended up missing out on some activities because my feet got SO sore in cheap flats! Now I always bring comfy walking shoes but I still haven’t found the perfect balance of cute/practical so I definitely appreciate the recommendations!
Omg yes you are me! If I had to pick only ONE cute/practical recommendation at this point, it would be my white Allbirds. They are perfect 3-season travel shoes and I love them! But I really love all of the shoes on this list 🙂 I hope you find The Shoes you’re searching for!
Thank you for these in-depth reviews! (I actually love my Rothy’s, though — washable, pack flat, and comfortable — but I had to learn the hard way to size up.) FYI, your Vivo discount code no longer works. Do you have another? I’m planning a European Christmas trip and they seem like a good fit. Thank you!
Hey Crystal, thanks for the review! I think sizing up might have helped us – maybe I’ll give them another try! I’m currently in communication with Vivobarefoot to get that code re-activated, so stay tuned!
I’m going on a month long backpacking trip to Thailand and Vietnam in February. It’s going to be hot! I’ve been looking a lot into what shoes to bring that will be comfy to wear all day for all the walking and exploring I will do without my feet sweating like crazy though. I think I want a sandal and an actual shoe. What would you recommend as a shoe option for the hot weather? Thank you for this in-depth review!
HANDS DOWN, get the Tevas we linked. They’re amazing and they’re made of leather and cork so you won’t even notice the sweating. That’s what I wear on all of our hot trips and they’re fantastic! For actual shoes, I’d recommend a pair of the Allbirds we linked. They have tiny little holes so they let your feet breathe, and they’re made with natural fibers and absorbant, anti-microbial wool inserts to help with the sweatiness. Hope that helps!
Hello! I recently got turned on to your blog as I was researching for our 10 day honeymoon trip to Europe. I was curious to confirm what shoes you best suited you when you were walking through Europe. We dont plan on doing any true hiking. But everyone I speak to says to buy hiking shoes for walking the cities. I dont really want to if I can help it. We plan to walk a LOT around paris, Italy, Prague to name a few. Any recommendations? Thanks!
For long days of walking through the cities, my pick is definitely, hands-down the Allbirds I included in our post. They’re fantastic and they’ve completely replaced my sneakers for city days! So freaking cute and absolutely up to the task of very long days and lots and lots of walking. Hope that helps!
Wow, so excited to see this post as someone that is also very into the barefoot shoe life (also had the plantar fascitis plus achilles issues in my past). I am incredibly picky about what I will wear on my feet. I love Vivos, I love altras. I love the look of the Tevas you feature but they seem to have a little heel? Do you notice this or does it seem aggravating?
Hayyy, barefoot fam! While my beloved Tevas aren’t 100% flat, the heel is made of cork and is so soft and flexible that I personally have no issues and don’t really notice it much, even on very long days with lots of walking and standing. My feet are pretty sensitive, so even though these aren’t technically barefoot, they definitely work for me!
Because of this article i quickly found the Allbird laceups for an upcoming trip to Japan. They feel really good on the foot and are dressier than running shoes. I found my used pair on Poshmark. Though used they weren’t cheap; they seem like highly quality footwear.
Dang that’s such a good find! They are def made to last. Enjoy your travels in Japan!