Your feet are your best friends so the best travel shoes offer comfort and practicality but are also stylish walking shoes.
That’s a deliberate order for me because, for the traveller who wants to properly explore a destination, comfortable feet are essential. The style is important because you want to look as though you fit into any location rather than stand out because your travel shoes scream tourist. Practicality comes down to how the shoes pack into your suitcase. They need to be as light as possible and take up little space.
So, for my money, Arcopedico shoes are my best travel shoes but I also don’t leave home without a pair of Birkenstocks EVA sandals. Made from a lightweight plastic, these are ideal for the beach or places where it rains a lot. They make comfortable but stylish walking shoes for tropical climates.
Comfort in travel shoes
This brand has comfort nailed with a cunning twin arch system. I’ve been known to walk up to 20,000 steps in a day while exploring a city (New York 2015) and I wish I had my Arcopedico shoes then. Wearing Arcopedico shoes, I find I’m the one in the street who is faster than the others, weaving in and out so I can make the early bus home. I can’t wait to put these to the test in Europe in October.
Having experienced the pain of plantar fasciitis, (inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament most commonly caused by strain injury causing micro tears to the ligament as it attaches to the heel bone or other areas of tightness on the sole) which had me hopping around my hotel room in Munich unable to go out to enjoy a pork hock dinner (insert extreme sad face here), I am extremely conscious of giving my food the right support.
These Spanish shoes were designed by Professor Elio Parodi who wanted to create footwear that would be synonymous with comfort. The result is a combination of a Techno-Elastic upper, an anatomic footbed, and the twin arch support system. Arcopedico says wearing their shoes will exercise your foot, strengthen the muscles, and ensure more comfort in walking. The tops of your feet will breathe easy, and your soles will want to keep walking long after you’ve stopped. In my experience, this is entirely correct.
Stylish as well
My leopard print boots top the list when it comes to compliments. People see them as funky and fun. I see them as comfortable and so easy to team with my wardrobe of basic black.
Adding a splash of colour with a pop of red or orange is another way I liven up the blacks.
Here’s my collection of Arcopedico shoes.
So practical
These shoes are all-rounders for me, and I wear them everywhere, from tramping through muddy rainforest paths to walking city streets to work. The other shoes in my cupboard are feeling very neglected! So light, they are nothing to pack and fold down to a small size. Water-resistant as well, they make the perfect travel shoes.
The inner soles are removable, and the whole shoe is washable. I put mine in the washing machine on a short cold wash, and they are doing fine.
Wondering what else I take travelling?
Packing a bag and heading off is something I do quite frequently, but it’s still hard to get it right. Here are some tips from my travel writer friends about what to wear when you travel.
Disclaimer:
I bought my first pair of Arcopedico shoes because my feet were aching after standing all night at a Doobie Brothers concert. The second pair was a sale find. Since then I’ve bought some summer flats and I am now tempted by the new season styles.
DRUM ROLL – There were so many great comments on this post explaining which shoes would match your favourite travel outfit, so I asked an independent veteran traveller and shoe lover to pick the winner. She chose Claudia Griffin’s combo of LBD travel dress and the stylish black Lolitas with white soles. Congratulations Claudia and happy feet!
The next travel stop is hiking through Tassie followed by some relaxing time strolling around Launceston……khaki would fit the theme. After I’ve ditched the boots I’ll be needing some smart casual comfort to allow me to check out the shops/restaurants/markets 🙂
I absolutely L❤❤❤❤ve these shoes. They are perfect for work and play!! Khaki will be great for summer⛱
Off to India later in the year. Already own (& love) Acopedico shoes. Today when getting my first shots, the nurse gushed over my red (really bright red) shoes. Walked miles in(&worn out several pairs) over the years. So light and the comfiest shoe ever. Khaki or black probably most practical but one can never have enough red shoes
I’ve just discovered this brand and I’m excited! Thanks for your great review. It confirms I need a pair (or 5!). For once, I would choose a striking colour – orange I think. I always go for black and I’d love something different.
My dreams have just come true. After a recent holiday in Japan, where my husband and I walked and walked, I ended up leaving my so called ‘walking shoes’ in the hotel bin on the last day. They were certainly not shoes designed for walking, leaving me with blisters and aching soles after a day out. I swore my life mission was to find a lightweight, extremely comfy pair of shoes before our next holiday….and here they are. I would start with the black/white sole Lolita B, then if they are as comfy as they look probably progress to the other colours.
I just love the black, but any colour would be such a comfy experience on my feet! There’s nothing better than comfy shoes.
Dilemma, dilemma which colour to choose, so many pretty colours. I think I would go the blue to match my blue floral sundress to wear in Hawaii. They would be perfect for a walk along the beach, or enjoying coconut shrimp in a cafe over looking the blue ocean. Soaking up the sunshine and tropical breezes.
I once wore comfy red shoes on a month-long jaunt around China… I teamed them with a bright red overcoat and felt fab. I also stood out in a sea of khaki and navi and had Chinese tourists and locals asking me for photos much to the delight of my travelling companions. These days red shoes are a staple in my travel kit. The Arcopedico ones (you know, the pretty ones with the chunky white sole) pictured are just gorgeous so pick me, pick me Miss Eat, Drink & Be Kerry.
Red shoes make you go faster too!
A shoe competition? One can NEVER have enough shoes and comfortable shoes is an added bonus. As to colour, basic black is always stylish. Of course black also comes in handy when accidentally spilling wayward drops of wine or crumbs from café or restaurant meals onto said feet (spilled by other guests/friends/husbands of course, never tidy moi). Eat, drink and Arcopedico!
I would love a pair of Lolita shoes in red We are travelling to Uganda next year for my sponsor son’s wedding
Ok – so let’s talk about your shoes first. They are too cute! Such a shame they aren’t on the list to choose from. I’m big on arch support these days given my *ahem* age range. I have orthotics but sometimes you want to slip into something that’s smart and stylish and I’m afraid orthotics don’t tend to fit into those type of shoes. So yes, I’m always looking for good arch support. I’d choose Lolita black sole in red (size 38) from the range and pair them with my khaki linen wide leg pants and a simple black T-shirt and my black denim jacket, with red stitching. Smart but casual. I’m doing the Loire Valley next year so these would be a great addition for those cobbled streets.
Oh yes, those cobbled streets. So cute to look at and so hard to walk on. It would be worth trying some of the styles that have slip in liners to see if your orthotics would work, otherwise you might just get by with the twin arches.
Our glamorous princess, the Poodle, likes a long walk everyday. I need a pair of blue comfortable travelling shoes not to be upstaged by her on a daily basis.
You know what, as travel shoes…and I do like to travel! I would love any as long as there’s no white! I’m anchored to the Northern Territory at the moment as my passport has expired and I’m 1/2 way through my PhD as a very poor student, I’ll be treking through the wilds to collect data….with the vibrant soils and dust of the territory white will never stay that way!
As soon as the studies are over my passport will be renewed and I’m off to Europe to cycle the Eurovelo6 -east to west in its entirety. Light weight, comfy and stylish will be a necessity…..
Arr, they look fab, a khaki Lolita would take my toes in camo prime condition in the very best style to any garden show, There are lots at this time of year so it is the very best timing. Comfort is foremost when on your feet all day and this style beats my garden boots hands down toes up!
These are the perfect shoes for tackling a garden show Carmen.
I would love to win the simple but stylish choice of the black Lolita’s ballet flats. Recovering from a foot fracture and almost ready to board for my cruise through the South Pacific, I believe these would be my foot saver!
Ooh, sounds painful Rhondda. Hope it heals quickly. A balmy cruise should help 🙂
I know they might seem a little less exciting, but without question I would get the Black Lolita B white sole ballet flats. I can see these babies going from day to night with my favorite little black travel dress. Just bling it up with some statement jewellery and I’ll go from beach babe to bar hopper, all in complete comfort!
Nice choice Claudia.