The best shoes for travelling in summer

Whether you’re walking the length of the Champs-Elysees or spending the day at a theme park, you don’t want sore feet cramping your style. When the weather is hot and you’re on your feet all day you need something with endurance, comfort as well as plenty of style – the very best shoes for travelling in summer.

In winter I am very partial to boots. Flat boots, perhaps with a biker edge, for general touristing, and something with a heel – some fabulous knee high boots or cute ankle boots – for a more dressed up vibe. But warm weather is coming (very very slowly here in Sydney!), and it’s time to pack your winter boots away and find something new to put a spring in your step.

Shoes for travelling

Sports sneakers

The ultimate in practicality and comfort is a sports shoe. After all, they are designed to put in some serious miles. But not the chunky exercise type. Leave them at the gym.

The big brands have some surprisingly stylish and lightweight options that were massively popular amongst our fellow visitors at the Orlando theme parks recently. So many people were wearing these that I felt like I’d missed the memo! But given that most people were very practically dressed in shorts with either a t-shirt or singlet, then they were a great choice.

I was amazed at the number of women who wore full on workout gear. They seriously looked like they were about to go for a run, in running shorts, sports bra and running singlet. I guess it’s comfortable in the heat and will dry quickly after wet rides, but still, it’s not for me.

I’m not a practical girl. I like to dress up, I like to wear dresses and skirts, and the only shorts I own are running shorts that I only wear when I’m at my thinnest so I don’t chafe. And only when I’m actually running.

Nike appear to have this market cornered and have some very cute colour combos. I’m quite fond of the classic 3 stripes of Adidas too.

1   Adidas ZX Flux
2   Nike Zoom Fit
3   Nike Juvenate
4   Nike In-Season TR5
5   Rollie Tropical Mash

 

Casual sneakers

But perhaps a sports shoe is a step too far. Maybe it’s not going to look good with your outfit, or perhaps it marks you out as a tourist.

Very popular and still practical are casual sneakers from brands like Converse and Vans. The good thing about these is that you can wear them with socks, which is a very good idea when you’re in them all day doing a lot of walking and liable to get a bit heated.

Key is to think about what you’re going to wear them with. If it is mostly jeans or other dark pants then go ahead and buy the dark colour sneaks, but if you’re planning on combining a summer dress with a cute trainer then a lighter colour is more your thing.

 

1   Vans Old Skool
2   Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Ox
3   Witchery Liam
4   Wittner Beckett
5   Country Road Filipa

 

Slip on sneakers

I was planning on taking my Converse to the U.S. until I tried them on with the summer skirts and dresses that I was packing. My Converse are black. They did not look good. So I took my white and gold Walnut slip ons. These looked super cute, but if you’re going to do a lot of miles they may not handle them as well as some of the options above. But for usual day to day wear they’re perfect.

1   Nine West Lildevil
2   Target Norlene
3   Seed Amber
4   Witchery Petra
5   Walnut Euro Elastic Plimsole

 

Sandals

If you’re holidaying somewhere lovely and warm then sandals are essential. But rare is the sandal that can stand up to some serious touristing.

I know some find thongs just fine or maybe a slide. I wore white Birkenstocks around Turkey and Greece way way back in another lifetime. These are valid options if they work for you. However if you own Teva sandals then I’m not sure we can still be friends. (Kidding!)

After wearing them day in day out, walking endlessly, and only alternating with my Walnuts above, Saltwater Sandals are amazing. I am indebted to my darling friend Vanessa from Style and Shenanigans for putting me onto them (she has quite the collection!).

If you don’t have any, then buy some. They are not expensive and are all kinds of comfortable. I bought gold first and recently bought a white pair.

I love them with a passion that makes me smile.

If you’re comfortable buying shoes online then Lark is awesome (pop some retro toys in your cart for the kids!), or The Iconic has amazingly quick delivery. Buy a couple of sizes and just return the ones that don’t fit.

Alternatively, if you would like to try them on first, Glue stocks them and even occasionally puts them on sale (hence my white ones!). (Sorry, Sydney only.)

Sweet dreams winter boots

Before you relegate your beautiful winter boots to the back of your wardrobe, take them down to Mister Minit for a Shoe Revival Package.

Those shoes have done you proud over winter and might be looking a little worse for wear, so get them cleaned, polished up and waterproofed, and they will be ready to serve you well again next year.

My much-loved Diana Ferrari boots (pictured) are still going strong after many years of wear, but they haven’t looked this good for a long time!*

Find your closest Mister Minit here.

* Thank you to Mister Minit for gifting me this service.

 

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I’m sure there must be other stylish and comfortable sandals that are not Saltwater or Teva. What do you like to wear when pounding the streets of a new city in the heat?