Our Favorite Shoes for Adventure Travel
Dirty feet = happy soul
It can be a huge headache trying to pick the right kind of gear to house your feet, especially when you’re traveling. Let’s just say it’s not easy trying to track down a new pair of shoes in rural Myanmar (we’ve tried!!). So best set yourself up for success before you leave.
It can absolutely ruin a trip if you’re uncomfortable walking. We hike a ton, but we also spend time on the beach, in the city, and of course on airplanes. In those instances it can be extremely frustrating to drag around clunky hiking boots.
We stick with three main types of for travel: trail runners, hiking boots, and sandals.
For us, hiking boots are only worth it if you're doing some serious treks, especially when the footing is uneven. Things like mud and rocks wreck our ankles and knees, and hiking boots provide a little bit of support.
Here are some of our favorite options after two years on the road:
Shoes
Asolo Evo Full Leather Hiking Boot
Stefan swears by his classic Asolo leather boots. These will last you AGES (Stefan’s are going on 5 years with months and months of continuous wear) and keep you dry as long as you apply a waterproof outer layer like Nikwax regularly. They’re expensive, but if you’re looking for a super tough and long-lasting option, then they’re great. They also look nicer than most synthetic options. Be aware, you do have to break them in or they will destroy your feet.
Salomon Ultra GTX Mid Hiking Boot
Tori prefers a light-weight (but admittedly way less durable) option. She uses the Solomon Ultra GTX mid. They’ve never given her blisters and don’t require any time to break in - so a good option if your trip’s coming up. They do include a waterproof Gortex layer, but unlike leather you will inevitably rip them and they will no longer keep you dry. Great tread and decent breathability.
Otherwise, we stick with trail running shoes. They’re similar to running shoes, but with a different tread that grips better on more surfaces. Sometimes they also have slightly more support and/or different levels of breathability. They’re great as long as you're not planning on doing too much walking/running on pavement: their soles break up quickly on hard surfaces and you should just go with regular running shoes in this case. They also look relatively normal so you don’t always have to seem like you’ve descended from the mountains!
Hoka One One ATR Trail Running Shoe
Tori LOVES her Hoka One Ones. They come in a variety of options, but all are extraordinarily lightweight (around 200g) with a very cushy sole. Most styles are not waterproof. Be aware that these also do not offer any ankle support at all, so are best suited to situations where you’ll be on fairly even ground and won’t be carrying too much weight.
It’s always great to have a comfy pair of sandals lying around in addition to your hard-hitters. Sometimes we go with cheap flip-flops and sometimes sturdier sandals, but you will certainly want something to rest your feet in on the road. Plus, they’re versatile for warmer destinations and can be layered with socks when it’s colder. Don’t let anyone tell you they’re dorky. They’re great 😎
See Our favorite shoes in all the cool places on instagram!
Chacos are our all-time favorite. They’re just simple, thick soles that never leave your feet sore, with durable climbing webbing straps. They’re really river shoes, so they’re more than adequate to hike most trails. Stefan actually trekked to Everest Base Camp in his (see above for their cameo in the Himalaya)! We wouldn’t really advise this - remember they’re still sandals and will leave your feet exposed and joints unsupported. He’s just a bit of a mountain goat.
You can wear socks with their classic style, which we prefer to some of their over-the-toe models. Only downside is that they’re quite heavy. If we’re not planning to do any hiking in sandals, sometimes we’ll opt for simple flip-flops for this reason. We don’t usually have trouble with blisters, but if you get sand underneath the climbing webbing it can be a bit of an issue. Just dunk them in some fresh water and they’ll be good as new!
Socks
Necessary, not that sexy. There are really two standouts:
Smartwool Performance Socks
These are classics. They actually look nice, keep your feet cool, and are lovely and thin. What more could you ask for?
Darn Tough Extra Cushion Socks
This brand is great, offering expensive but high quality socks with a LIFETIME WARRANTY. You read that right. We tend to like their warmer socks, because their thinner versions are just not as thin as the Smartwool alternatives.
What are your favorite shoes for travel? Leave your thoughts below!
