Can you imagine how easy packing would be without shoes? Many autistic people hate wearing shoes, so deciding what shoes to pack for travel seems like a double insult! One can dream, but in my experience of full-time traveling...

Can you imagine how easy packing would be without shoes?

Many autistic people hate wearing shoes, so deciding what shoes to pack for travel seems like a double insult!

One can dream, but in my experience of full-time traveling for four years, even the most minimalist among us probably still needs two pairs.

How do I (almost) achieve packing light? For me, it’s sneakers (comfortable walking shoes), flats, flip-flops, and slide sandals.

But if I had to narrow it further, I could get by with (1) sneakers and (2) walkable waterproof sandals.

Here's my equation for packing travel shoes: comfort + compact + practical = best shoe options.

So what are the best travel shoes? Read on for my shoe capsule wardrobe reasons.

You can also read about which clothes and tech gear I pack as a nomad.

The Wild Card For Packing Shoes: The Weather

Before we get into my full-time nomad packing tips, let’s discuss seasons and weather.

If you’re traveling year-round in a tropical location, then lucky you—you might get away with a well-built pair of sandals. Or, you might be nomading in an icy climate, which means you’ll pack winter boots.

Packing shoes for a Europe trip is a different matter, however. Even warm climates like Italy, Albania, Turkey, Portugal, or Spain have colder, wetter weather in the winter months.

Here’s my (imperfect) solution.

1. What Shoes To Pack For Travel: Sneakers

I’d love to have more stylish sneakers, but (a) I wear out sneakers very fast, (b) they need to be relatively inexpensive, and (c) they need to be light.

Since sneakers take up the most room of anything I own, I wear them on travel days (except for a few hot days in the summer).

Scottish weather is the reason I have this pair: a tiny hole in the bottom of my shoes led to soaked socks, which led to a desperate shoe-shopping expedition. They’re not my favorites, but I do like them because they have plenty of cushioning and that lightweight knit material on top.

Before these, I had a succession of the same pair from Vanvene (bought online) because I couldn’t try on shoes due to lockdown.

Because I walk so much, cheaper running shoes work the best. I don’t want to spend a lot on sneakers I’ll replace in a few months. The formula remains the same, even if the brands change: (1) knit fabric on top because it’s breathable and lightweight, and (2) maximum cushioning.

If you’re traveling for shorter periods, you can definitely take your favorite—heavier—sneakers. Just make sure you commit to wearing them rather than packing them.

When do I wear them?

Every day. Even in the summer, I’ll wear them for my early morning walk.

Would I buy them again?

Absolutely. I’d be lost without them!

2. What Shoes To Pack For Travel: Ballet Flats

I spent a chunk of change on these Allbirds flats thinking they would last me for years. I also wanted lightweight flats that would (a) not sweat, and (b) would be comfortable enough to walk for miles. These Allbirds are great because they have a removable wool insole that wicks away moisture, and the upper material on the shoe is woven so it breathes and can be washed.

As far as mileage goes, as long as I have applied my trusty blister block, I can walk for many miles without a blister.

When do I wear them?

Mostly summer. I don’t want to wear sneakers with a dress, and I can’t walk too far in flip-flops/slide sandals.

Would I buy them again?

Maybe. I keep them because they’re so easy to pack, but I really only wear them for a short period in the summer. I also wish they had arch support.

3. What Shoes To Pack For Travel: Flip-Flops

If you can find the right pair of sandals, you can use them as flats and flip-flops. I opted for flip-flops and flats over sandals because it’s hard to find a pair of sandals that can go through the shower and yet still look good enough as flats.

I’ve toyed with the idea of vegan Birkenstocks as a substitute for flip-flops and flats because they can do double-duty, are lightweight, and are waterproof. The problem is that they’re quite bulky. I’d definitely opt for them if I lived in warm weather most of the year.

I purchased these flip-flops in Portugal at a small shop for a few euros. I throw them in the washing machine and they come out as good as new.

We love to visit saunas, so that’s another reason I love them. They can also double as slippers.

When do I wear them?

Saunas, swimming, getting out of the shower. Anything that involves water.

Would I buy them again?

If I didn’t have the slide sandals (discussed next), then it would be a definite yes. They’re washable, lightweight, and easy to pack, so I’d say they’re almost mandatory. Of course, if the design doesn’t work for you, a slide flip-flop is another option, though they’re bulkier.

Even if you’re not going to lounge by the pool, they’re very handy to have when you get out of the shower or the bath.

4. What Shoes To Pack For Travel: Slide Sandals

April in Mallorca suddenly turned hot. And I wanted something more comfortable than flip-flops.

So these sandals were an impulse buy. I didn’t even think about the fact that they were leather, which I normally wouldn’t buy.

When do I wear them?

Believe it or not, every day! They’re my house slippers. It’s hard to wear flip-flops as house slippers if you have socks on—with these lovelies, you just slide right into them.

Would I buy them again?

Yes, but a different version. If I found a pair that were vegan, I could also get rid of my flip flops, because they wouldn’t stretch out (and are much lighter than) leather.

But it’s very hard to find a vegan slide sandal that isn’t too bulky and looks decent. Let me know if you find one!

How Should I Pack My Shoes?

Excellent question.

For my flip-flops, I pack them in this ziploc bag. What you can’t see in the photo is that there are small holes in the bag so it breathes. I also pack my leather slides in a loose plastic bag since they’re flat.

I don’t need to pack my sneakers, so all that leaves are the flats. I stuff socks in them, clean the bottoms, and put them in one of my compression organizing bags. That’s it!

Shoe Failures: Barefoot Shoes, Canvas Shoes, Tall Boots, and Ankle Boots

Here’s what I’ve tried and left behind.

Barefoot Shoes

I soon gave up on these because my feet couldn’t adjust. They’re also impractical because you’ll inevitably step on pebbles and sharp rocks. Ouch!

Even if you’re a fan, I would think twice about them for traveling—though they could serve as a backup pair of shoes instead of sandals or flats.

Canvas Shoes

I wanted shoes that looked better than my sneakers, so I tried canvas sneakers and flats.

They’re heavy, dry slowly, and can create blisters. Epic Fail.

Tall Boots

Comfortable tall walking boots are great in mild-to-colder climates because they function like comfortable walking shoes. They protect you against the rain, look good, (can be) warm, and if you wear leggings, can be indispensable. At my old job, I’d wear them almost every day in the winter.

Obviously, these are a no-no for long-term travel (unless you’re okay with giving them away during warmer seasons), but if you could find a pair that roll up and are comfortable, they might be worth it.

Ankle Hiking Boots

In anticipation of a winter in Cappadocia, Turkey, and a long-distance walk in the Scottish Highlands, I bought two different pairs of boots sequentially.

In both cases, I bought ankle-length hiking boots that looked pretty good. I knew buying hiking shoes was pointless since they were neither boots nor regular lightweight running shoes. It’s hard to find any that are waterproof, lightweight, decent-looking, and also somewhat inexpensive. So I opted for cheaper options and completely regretted it.

It turned out that running shoes worked just fine for my long-distance hike in Scotland, and we never went to Cappadocia because of multiple winter lockdowns!

For seasonal or one-time items like this, it’s a great idea to shop in the country where you’ll need them—and buy them used, and then leave them behind. It’s like renting camping or hiking equipment like a tent or skis.

The Shoe Packing List Solution: Experiment and Let Go

Because shoes are so important and yet so difficult to pack, I recommend experimenting and letting go of whatever doesn’t work—immediately.

Blisters and aching feet aren’t worth the sartorial sacrifices you might have made when you were living in one place.

It’s true you can’t pack fancy shoes, but you can’t pack “practical” bulky ones like hiking boots, either.

And, as with other things you wear, your shoes will wear out twice or three times as fast as they would at home. That’s true not only because I have fewer shoes in rotation, but because I’m also walking more than I would at home.

Experiment and let go because happy toes make happy travelers!

The post What Shoes To Pack For Travel: A Nomad’s Solution appeared first on The Autistic Traveler.

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