I am not very qualified to write a guide to good travel shoes, so that’s not what this is going to be. But I’ve read lots and lots of other people’s recommendations and travel shoe blog posts and usually been let down, cursing my sore feet. If you can relate to that, maybe I’m not as alone as I feel?

I’ve recently found a pair of travel shoes that worked really really well for me in Switzerland. But first, what else have I tried that wasn’t the best?

Slip-ons

Light-weight and great for airport security, these Vionics had good intentions. They were pretty expensive and had high arch support, but that is sometimes a negative for me. They were also the opposite of waterproof. Verdict: Okay, but not great.

Ankle Boots

These Tevas worked well in Morocco with all the sand. However what I had thought was good support was in fact… not. Despite them being pretty good with rain, they put my heels in so much pain by the fourth day in London that I had to buy something else to wear. I can’t afford to keep taking breaks during trips just because my feet are being wimps. Verdict: Not for heavy walking destinations.

Sneakers

I bought these in London because the boots I had taken (see above) were killing me. These felt like I was walking on clouds, but they look like clown shoes in Europe! The worst part; I’ve only worn them on two trips and they’re already tearing. Who wants to spend over a hundred dollars on a pair of shoes every other trip? No thank you! Also not waterproof. Verdict: Only in dry places and not in Europe if you’re fashion-conscious.

Flat Sandals

I wore these basic Target sandals (flat but squishy) in Hawaii. We rented cars here and didn’t do super heavy walking, so they were all right and still more stylish than hiking sandals to wear with dresses. I would NOT attempt these for much more than that. Verdict: Just for looks.

Which brings me to…

Forsake Lucie Mid

These are my favorite cold-weather shoes! My feet barely ever feel sore in these babies! They are holding up great and are WATERPROOF, so they are great in rain and snow! You can’t beat that! The only con is that my feet get hot if it’s not that cold out; at the end of the day, my feet stink to high heaven, which is a very new experience for me, but one I deem worth it. Verdict: YES, but only in cooler climates.

So I think I’m almost there. I just need to figure out a better shoe for warmer walking destinations. If you have a good one with some cush that isn’t a grandma shoe, PLEASE let me know! 🙂

Stay safe out there!