Which Shoes Are Best for One-Bag Travel?

Packing light should be the mantra of travelers who wish to steer clear unnecessary stress, exhaustion, and costs. It allows them to fly from point A to point B with an as little hitch as possible.

If you are planning to avoid excess baggage fees and the burdens associated with packing a lot of things, traveling with only a single bag is a fantastic idea.

However, certain sacrifices have to be made, such as limiting your shoes to the pair that you will wear while heading to the airport, sitting on the plane, and exploring the sights and sounds of your destination.

So, what type of shoes is best when you can only have one pair?

For most trips, men and women alike can opt for lightweight and comfortable walking shoes. Men may opt for leather walking shoes because they can easily go from laid-back to formal. Women, on the other hand, may go for slip-on walking shoes that can match most outfits and occasions.

Experts agree that the feet are some of the most used and abused parts of the body due to the many different physical activities that we have to carry out on our feet.

When traveling, most especially the adventure and budget type, your feet are subjected to a lot of standing, walking, hiking, sprinting, and running.

This is why it is of utmost important to wear the right shoes for the job. Continue reading if you are going on a one-bag journey. Below you will learn some of the most important matters about picking the best pair of shoes for your voyage.

Best Shoes For One-Bag Travel Must Be

Most people assume that hiking shoes are the best shoes for traveling. Although they are the perfect choice if the trip requires long walks in the countryside, hiking shoes are not the best pair of footwear for most other activities.

As soon as you get stuck in an airplane seat, you will realize that hiking shoes are great for hiking but not for traveling. Because they are primarily made to protect your feet from harsh terrains, they can feel restrictive and even cause your feet to overheat.

If you are not going to hike on your trip, it is a much better idea to leave your hiking shoes at home and instead don a pair of walking shoes, which is great for a one-bag trip.

But don’t just get any walking shoes. Opt for a pair that can go very well with your needs during your trip. Your choice of shoes should have certain qualities that can make your travel memorable instead of terrible.

Here are the top qualities that you should look for in best shoes on a one-bag travel:

Comfortable

From the time that you step foot outside your home to head to the airport to the moment that you board the plane en route to your hometown, you are going to get stuck with the pair of shoes that you are wearing.

This is why it is a must for it to provide comfort like no other, saving your feet from being achy and sore during your long-haul flight and while exploring your destination.

Look for a pair of shoes that fit very well, provide enough support, and offer protection against most terrains.

Stylish

There is no point in wearing comfortable shoes if you don’t feel nice because they look hideous! When deciding which pair of shoes you should wear on one-bag travel, always consider your personality and sense of style.

Don’t forget to take into account the reason for your trip, too.

Are you meeting an online crush? Are you going to seal a business deal? Are you applying to an international modeling agency? With the right choice, you can pack light and feel comfortable while looking your best.

Durable

Shoes are unlikely to fall to pieces after just a few days of use. However, if you tend to travel a lot and prefer to pack light each time, it is a great idea to get your hands on a high-quality pair of shoes.

Thanks to online ratings and reviews, it is easy to come across shoes that can really last.

For instance, if you are looking for some of the most durable pairs of sneakers, a website recommending tough and practical products suggests brand names such as Adidas, New Balance, Asics, Vans, Merrell, Wolverine, and GoRuck.

Sadly, you cannot choose just one of the above qualities of a pair of shoes best for a one-bag trip. It is possible, however, to make one a priority over the rest.

Just see to it that the shoes you are about to wear for your trip have all of these qualities to avoid unnecessary problems, especially those that concern the feet.

If Bringing a Couple of Pairs of Shoes is a Must

There are instances, unfortunately, where sticking to a single pair of shoes when traveling is not possible. This is especially true if your trip is the “hitting two birds with one stone” type.

Having at least a couple of pairs of shoes is recommendable if you are meeting a business associate in person in a foreign city that you haven’t visited before and would like to explore, or if you are a fitness buff who cannot avoid a quick trip to the gym each day while experiencing the sights and sounds of a popular tourist destination for a week.

Usually, the need to bring a couple of pairs of shoes when traveling means that there are at least two activities that the person has to carry out, each one of them involving a different attire or accessories.

Regardless of the reason for bringing two different pairs of shoes, remember to wear the bulkier and heavier pair to the airport and on the flight, and place the smaller and lighter pair in the luggage.

This can help save you from lugging around a heavy bag as well as running out of space for your other travel essentials.

Just Before You Choose The Best Shoes for One-Bag Trip

Your shoes are some of those that can take up a lot of precious space in your luggage and make it weigh a lot, too. This is especially true if they are a pair of those bulky and heavy hiking shoes, which many people deem as perfect for traveling.

While they can protect your feet alright, unfortunately, hiking shoes are not the most comfortable footwear around. Additionally, they are not ideal for anyone who plans on traveling with a single bag only.

If you are about to embark on a one-bag journey and have to limit your shoes to just one pair, it is a great idea to stick to a pair of walking shoes. They are comfortable and stylish, and some styles are highly versatile as well.

With the right walking shoes, you can carry out your trip from start to finish feeling comfortable and looking your best. Men can choose from an assortment of walking shoes out of leather, genuine or fake.

Women, on the other hand, can choose from a wide variety of materials when shopping for walking shoes, from wool to suede. When deciding which shoes to wear for your one-bag travel, go for a comfortable, stylish, and durable pair.

Related Questions

Is it advisable to tie my shoes to my backpack using their shoelaces to save space?

It is a bad idea to tie shoes to the handle or strap of a backpack using their shoelaces. They can easily get caught on the conveyor belt at the airport, thus causing the shoes to end up either damaged or lost.

Where should I place an extra pair of shoes in my bag: bottom, middle, or top?

A pair of shoes is best placed in the bottom to help maintain the shape of a frameless bag. Some people who need to pack a lot of things place their extra pair of shoes in the middle to compress the items below, thus leaving plenty of room for more.

Photo credit: ©canva.com/pandakimchi, ©canva.com/Leonid Yastremskiy

Reed Harris

Reed is a traveler and blogger. He's planning to visit all states in the USA. He's been in 31 states so far.

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