Choosing Travel Footwear

Shoes are the heaviest thing most people pack, and the hardest to get right remotely.

Take two pairs, wear the heavy one

Whatever the trip, two pairs is almost always the answer: one you can walk all day in, and one that is light and packs flat. Wear the heavier pair on the plane so it is not in the bag at all.

Fit changes during the day

Feet swell over a day of walking, and more so on a flight. Try shoes on in the afternoon, wear the socks you will actually travel in, and leave about a thumb's width in front of your longest toe. A shoe that fits perfectly in a shop in the morning is often half a size too small by evening.

Waterproof is not always the right answer

A waterproof shoe keeps rain out, and it also keeps sweat in and takes far longer to dry once water gets over the collar. For hot climates, or anywhere you will be walking through water rather than rain, a quick-drying non-waterproof shoe is usually more comfortable.

For cold and wet, waterproof wins clearly.

Break them in

Any shoe with real structure needs a few days of ordinary wear before a long trip. New shoes plus twenty kilometres of unfamiliar pavement is the most reliable way to ruin the first week of a holiday.

Socks matter more than people think

Merino socks manage moisture far better than cotton and keep some warmth when damp, which is what actually prevents blisters. Two pairs washed nightly beats seven pairs carried.

Packing them

Shoes go at the bottom of a pack, soles against the back panel, stuffed with socks and chargers so the space inside them is not wasted. A sleeve keeps the dirt off everything else.