A Guide to the Best Footwear for Travelling

Packing your suitcase is a bit like marmite, some people love it, but can be a mere an inconvenience to others. We all have our little tricks when it comes to packing but we never take into account the space needed to accommodate the items that always annoy us the most in our suitcases: shoes.

In fact, we never find the ideal footwear when it comes to setting off on our travels. Boots frazzle our feet, whilst they freeze in sandals. Trainers are not sufficient in snowy conditions, but we can’t go to smart places in climbing boots. So what do we do to find the best shoes for travelling?

Things to bear in mind:

1. We must prioritise the comfort and health of our feet
2. We cannot choose only one type of shoe when travelling for several days
3. On journeys where they space limitations, we choose only one shoe type, if possible, trainers

Following on from this we leave with you a definitive guide of the best shoes for travelling so that you know the most suitable type to take for each type of holiday:

For all seasons

THE SPORTY SHOE

Ideal for all types of sightseeing. The perfect type? Padded with insulation. When we get ready to go travelling where the priority will be city tourism, trainers will be a good shoe that will support our feet at a pleasant temperature and ventilation that suits the average amount of exercise we will be performing throughout the day. Also, nowadays it is a shoe that forms part of the daily outfit for many people, and so will be in line with the latest fashion.

Occasion: 24 hour city tourism. As much for men as for women, and in summer and winter (Austria, Portugal, Spain, England, Germany, Italy…)

THE SMART SHOE

It is this shoe that appeals to the most stylish of people. It usually consists of a platform or a heel, for the woman, and a deck shoe for the man. This category is ideal for high cost holidays and those for which sophistication will form part of the tourism. Photos will also come out much better if we wear these, but we have to bear in mind that these are not ideal for walking a lot around different cities.

Occasion: Dinner in a foreign restaurant, a smart cruise, a business trip.

Autumn/ Winter seasons

SUEDE BOOTS (Panama Jack, Safari etc)

Take great care with these shoes for travelling. These boots come in many different types and sizes. The women’s version are more related with the city chic and the men’s with the mountains, but as we started this article without a distinction between genders, we will leave this concept in the backgroud. This shoe will be dangerous in places with a chance of rain, as the water permeates the boots and spoils their fabric. They are suitable in places with a neutral temperature, but not hot, and in autumn time.

Occasion: Tourism in autumn, dry cities, level mountain ranges. (Spain, Portugal, Morroco, Tunisia…)

THE STANDARD BOOT

Leaving elegance to one side, these boots can also serve for a completely different occasion to that of the suede boot, and to be the best among shoes for travelling, we need shoes able to cope with rain. In this case, we opt for tall boots, plastic or rubber, and if possible with a fleecy inner lining to guarantee thermic insulation and protection from water seeping through. Even better, the sole of the shoe is designed to prevent one from slipping or falling over.

Occasion: Winter tourism, rainy cities, countryside. (Norway, Finland, France and England…)

CLIMBING BOOTS

Mountaineering shoes allude to their name: the mountains. Wearing them therefore in this context will be ideal. This type of boot will have to have characteristics that are specific and sporty that not all shoes possess. A good sole is imperative to avoid injuries and falls, and adequate thermal insulation will also be necessary to keep your feet warm!

Occasion: Mountain sports, skiing, trekking, countryside. (Alps, Pyrenees)

Spring/Summer seasons

SANDALS

Well enclosed and comfortable shoes can also be the ideal shoe for travelling in and around summery mountain environments, in the countryside and on the beach. In any case, sandals should not be the only shoe that we fit in our suitcase, since they do not cover the foot completely and it is dangerous to not take a shoe that fulfils all of these requirements. However they are perfect for warm climates and when walking short distances. We can’t forget about the beach and the pool!

Occasion: Beach destinations, countryside, low mountain ranges, summer. (Ibiza, Canary Islands, Caribbean)

MOUNTAINS AND THE HEAT

Sometimes we have the opportunity to hike in the mountains on surfaces that aren’t too rough on the feet and in warmer weather. In these cases we opt for a mountain sandal which is suitable for this type of activity, like those you can see in the photo above.

Occasion: Hiking in the mountains in the sun during the summer season in the countryside.

Do you want to know more about how to pack the perfect suitcase for your travels? Follow this link.

Translated by Rachel Bye