Walking is one of the best ways to explore a new destination whether it is cobblestone alleys in Fez, checking out the shops in Paris or trekking the mountains in Peru. But the curse of the traveller is the fact that you only have so much room in your luggage to squish them in with everything else you wish to take with you. The Imelda Marcos imitators struggle the most of all when faced with an endless choice of shoes on parade in their wardrobes, even if they are going to a luxurious barefoot resort on a tropical island.
The dilemma for many is comfort versus style, let alone the fact that some shoes may be so much more comfy than the stylish hip shoes begging you to take them with you. Then you have to abide by curious laws such as no stiletto heels allowed trudging through the historical ruins in Greece or the fact that you need to slip on and off your shoes every time you enter a temple or someone's home in Thailand. This is definitely not the time to be bothered with shoelaces for the guys. Orthopedically designed shoes may have you cropping the bottom of your photographs when you return home and chunky boots for trekking will blow out your luggage allowance on the plane. Flip-flops won't get you into a Michelin-starred restaurant in London, nor will they do when you go for your morning run.
There are so many brands on the market today of shoes for men and women that are said to be the best for your nomadic feet, that this article is about what you should consider before putting that pair of shoes in your luggage, rather than trying to recommend a few from the ten million shoes on offer.
Tips when Packing Travel Shoes:
First and foremost think about where you are going and what you will be doing.
- Colour co-ordinate, preferably with a base of neutral colours in your clothing then match what shoes you wish to take. Ensure that whatever style you have is compatible with more than one outfit of your clothing - in other words chunky boots may not look the best with that slinky evening dress or super sexy tux.
- Unless you have an army of Sherpas at your disposal, pack no more than 3 pairs of shoes. If you are a super light travelling savvy soul, then 1 or 2 will do you.
- If you happen to have an overactive imagination in relation to how much you really work out whilst away from home, leave your athletic shoes in your wardrobe.
- For those heading off to the ski fields or trekking in the Namib desert, wear these bulky and heavy shoes on the plane, so that they are not taking up valuable space in your luggage or putting you in danger of being over the luggage allowance.
- You want comfort not agony, so never take brand new shoes, unless you have thoroughly broken them in prior to leaving.
- Ensure that you have the best quality "walking" shoes that you can afford as you will be surprised how far you will meander on your own 2 feet. Think shoes that are designed with technology such as shock absorption, breathable upper fabrics and memory-foam insoles.
- Make sure you have good quality socks, as without these you may find you get blisters - good shoes or not.
- Always stuff your shoes with small items so you are not wasting any space in your luggage - make sure the shoes are not of the stinky variety first though. If you are not into stuffing - then pack shoes tightly together with the soles facing out and the heels at opposite ends.
- Be proactive and realistic and pack a blister kit, just in case your feet can't cope and don't forget the inner soles if you need them.
If by some chance you screw up when packing your shoes, it will give you a good excuse to thrash the credit card plastic on some locally hand-made shoes that will have you dancing in the streets.
Brands to look out for (both men and women):
Ecco, Nike, Creative Recreation, Born, Chaco, Blunderstone, Timberland, Bensimon.
You might also be interested in some other Wise Traveller product reviews such as
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
