How to Choose the Right Shoes for One-Bag Travel
Shoes are and likely always will be one of the biggest barriers to minimalist travel; aside from being a style piece, different shoes serve different purposes, the best walking shoes aren’t good for dressing up, the best boots won’t work with shorts, the best trail runners aren't good for winter, etc.
My goal in this article isn't to convince you that one pair of shoes is possible (though it is for many!), instead, I'd like to help you define the type of travel you'll be doing, and how you might be able to narrow down your shoe selection.
Disclaimers
Regardless of anything I say, the most important thing when it comes to shoes is comfort; regardless of style, functionality, or use case; nothing ruins a trip faster than uncomfortable shoes; you’ll be walking a lot, so you don’t want to skimp on this, and it's something to get right before you travel. If it's Crocs, it's Crocs.
The Short Answer
For general travel, most one-bag travelers recommend a single pair of trail runners or light hiking shoes; trail runners offer a balance between being sturdy enough for hiking and comfortable enough for daily wear.
This is good advice for most travelers, but if you're traveling long-term, or need dressier options, you may need to add a second and/or third pair.
Decision Criteria
So how do you choose the right travel shoe?
Start by asking yourself what activities you'll be doing. The table below can help narrow down your needs based on activity.
Shoe Type / Situation | All-Day Comfort / General Travel | Light Hiking | Moderate Hiking | Heavy Hiking / Camping | Gym / Workout / Running | Upscale / Dressy Events | Cold Weather / Winter Travel |
Comfort Casual Shoes | Great | Maybe* | Poor | Poor | Poor | Neutral | Maybe |
Trail-Runners / Athletic Shoes | Good | Great | Good | Okay | Great | Poor | Poor |
Hiking Shoes | Neutral | Great | Great | Great | Poor | Poor | Good |
Minimalist Shoes | Neutral | Neutral | Poor | Poor | Neutral | Maybe* | Poor |
Dressy Shoes | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Great | Poor |
Winter Shoes or Boots | Neutral to Good | Neutral | Neutral to Poor | Neutral to Poor | Poor | Good | Great |
Comfortable, all-day walking shoes will see you through many, if not most travel activities, it's when you start hiking, camping, running, working out, or traveling in cold-weather/winter climates, that the need for something more functional comes into play.
This is where trail runners come in.
Trail runners, as mentioned, strike a balance between comfort and functionality, even if you need cute/dressy or winter shoes, trail runners are a great default "first" shoes.
From there, you can add shoes based on your needs.
Here are some popular packing combinations:
Option | Pros | Cons |
ONE pair of Trail Runners or Athletic Shoes | Comfortable enough for all-day wear - Good for light to moderate hiking - Good enough for gym activities - Generally durable and supportive | Not ideal for formal settings - May not be ideal for casual - One pair limits style options - Not suitable for cold-weather travel |
ONE pair of Comfort/Casual Shoes | Lightweight and comfortable for all-day, everyday use - Lots of options to match your aesthetic | Not suitable for outdoor or athletic activities - Limited functionality in rough terrain - Likely not ideal for cold weather travel |
Trail Runners (worn) + Comfort/Casual (packed) | Comfortable shoes for all-day wear - Multipurpose hiking/athletic shoes for outdoor activities/sports | Comfort shoes may not be suitable for classier/formal settings depending on style - Not ideal for cold weather/winter travel |
Trail Runners (worn) + Minimalist Casual Shoes (packed) | Multipurpose trail-runners for daily wear and sport/outdoor activities - Minimalist shoes for casual to upscale wear | Minimalist shoes may not be comfortable enough for extended wear - May not be ideal for cold weather/winter travel |
Trail Runners (worn) + Comfort/Casual Shoe (packed) + Cute/Stylish Minimalist Shoe (packed) | Comfort/casual shoe for daily use, trail-runners for sports/hiking/outdoor activities, cute/stylish minimalist shoe for formal or "going out" wear | Packing two pairs takes the most space (minimalist shoes should help), minimalist shoes have limited style options - None are likely good for cold weather/winter travel |
You may have noticed that none of these options are great for upscale/dressy occasions or cold weather/winter travel; that may sound limiting to first-time travelers, but it is important to remember that 1) no one cares what you look like when you travel, and 2) most of the places you go will be casual.
On my first 12-month one-bag journey, I packed a nice button-down, khaki travel pants and minimalist casual-to-classy shoes. I wore them ONE time before realizing that no one cared, I ended up shipping them home along with a host of other things I didn't need.
Cold-weather shoes are a different story. If your travel plans take you through winter climates, you’ll likely have to pack a winter-ready pair to go with your summer digs.
Tips and Considerations
Here are a few tips I've picked up from years of minimalist travel.
1) Neutral colors are your best friend, this goes for shoes and clothes. Most one-bag travelers opt for all black, all white, or, if packing two pairs, one of each.
2) The right socks can expand the use of your shoes, thick winter socks with hiking shoes may be all you need for winter travel, or waterproof socks like Seal Skinz paired with quick-drying trail runners for wet/rainy conditions.
3) Shoe inserts can give your old shoes some extra life, and they’re everywhere. It's an easy upgrade if you find yourself in a situation where you have to buy a cheap pair on the road, but they're not as comfortable as you'd hoped.
4) Consider ankle braces if you want ankle support but don’t want to pack ankle-high trail boots; ankle braces can turn your trail runners into functional, moderate to heavy hiking shoes without the extra bulk of ankle-high boots.
5) If you're traveling to hot climates (and only hot climates), you may be able to get away with just (comfortable!) sandals, assuming you pack the right pair.
6) The consensus on waterproof shoes is that they're too hot for regular all-day wear; they trap moisture inside which can lead to chaffing and unpleasant smells, and if they do get wet, they take a very long time to dry out.
Seasoned one-bag travelers often opt for quick-drying shoes with waterproof socks - unless your travels take you through snow, slush, and heavy rain, in which case, high-quality Goretex boots may be necessary.
7) You can buy shoes on the road, and you probably will, if you're traveling long term, but depending on where you are, you may run into sizing issues, and you run the risk of shoes that turn out uncomfortable a few days after you leave the store, so we highly recommend testing and investing in good shoes before your trip.
Conclusion
Trail-runners are the answer for 90% of travelers, as long as you're okay with looking like a hiker in most situations. If you need to look cute or stylish, you'll have to add a second shoe, and if you're traveling to hot and cold climates on the same trip, you'll have to add a third shoe.
Short-term travelers can usually pack a single pair of trail runners, long-term travelers expecting 4-season travel will likely need trail runners and a winter shoe. In either case, you likely be sacrificing style for functionality.
I hope this article helped, shoot me a note if you have any specific questions!
Read Next: How to Pack for Variable Climates
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