For an epic journey, top-notch shoes are essential. These shoes should be able to take you anywhere and handle everything. When travelling, the right shoes are versatile, comfortable, protective, and high-quality.
From casual outfits to elegant ensembles, an adaptable pair of shoes is one of the best travel hacks. It cuts down on travel space and saves time putting outfits together, so you can spend more time getting out there and experiencing the fantastic things your journey holds for you.
To get your travels started on the right foot, we’re going into detail about how you can shop for the perfect pair of walking shoes for long-term travellers. Keep reading below for recommendations to guide your shopping experience and help you make the right choice.
Shop for Your Journey
Every adventure is a little different than the last, so keep in mind what you plan to do, and where you plan to go and shop accordingly. A trip spent in the Amazonian rainforest might call for different needs than a backpacking trip through Europe, for example.
Get started by asking yourself these two questions:
- Where am I going?
- What am I doing there?
Then, consider these recommendations:
- If you are spending time on sidewalks and pavements, look for running shoes or tennis shoes. These will serve you well as you traverse the hard concrete.
- If you are spending time on more rugged terrain, look for a reliable pair of hikers or trail runners.
- If you’ll need to dress up, look for a dress shoe that prioritizes comfort over style
Prioritize Comfort and Function over Style
Finding the right footwear isn’t about practicality alone—it can prevent painful foot conditions like Haglund’s deformity, which can result from wearing the wrong shoes.
While everyone wants to look their best while exploring new places and meeting new people, style usually has to take a backseat for these lengthy travels. These kinds of shoes are not about looking cool – they’re about feeling good even on hour 11 of exploring the streets of Venice or on day five of your hike.
If you can find a shoe that meets all of your other travel needs while still being stylish, then kudos to you! That’s wonderful, but it’s not necessary. Don’t get hung up over the look of your go-to travel shoes. Instead, spend that time planning all the exciting activities you’ll be doing on your journey.
Give Them a Test Drive Before Signing
Just as you would test drive a car that you’ll be driving everywhere, give the shoes you’ll be walking everywhere in a chance to prove their stuff. Give your shoes a thorough test drive in the store, or find online shoe stores that will let you order a product and return it for free if it doesn’t fit.
To test your shoes for support, follow these steps:
- Bend the shoe upward by the toe and see where the bend happens. For proper support, it should bend beneath the ball of the foot.
- Twist the shoe and feel for resistance. For walking shoes, you will hopefully feel a moderate level of resistance.
To test for fit, follow these steps:
- Walk at a decline and see if your toes reach the front of the shoe. If so, try a new pair or a different size.
- Walk at an incline and check for a lift in the heel area. If you’re lifting too much, that’s a blister in the making.
Invest Wisely
Your shoes should be long-lasting, comfortable, and equipped for travel and work with just about any outfit. They’re not likely to be cheap, but that’s a good thing.
Be realistic and understand that you’ll get what you pay for because shoes are one of the few apparel items that are indeed an investment. To ensure you’re investing in a good pair, research highly-rated options and look for reviews on sites like Boot Bomb in order to give yourself an easy head start. There is no sense in wasting your money on shoes that end up not living up to their expectations when you can simply inform yourself upfront and for free online.
While the initial cost might be a bit of a sacrifice at the moment, it will save you so much time and energy in the long run. It will also open your travels up to endless possibilities when your feet aren’t hurting at the end of the day.
Bon Voyage
Once you have armed yourself with the perfect pair of walking shoes for your long-term travels, there’s nothing that can bring you down. You’ll feel comfortable and confident wherever your journey takes you, and it will all be because of your choice to invest in the right shoes for you.
Learn More About Travel Shoes
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