Traveling Foot Loose
Travel footwear guide
You’ve packed. Everything fits relatively nicely – not as nice as your mum might have made you pack, but nice enough. And then you stop. Annoyance grips you. You’ve forgotten shoes.
Ah shoes, the bane of all packing. They are awkward, rigid, and unavoidably space taking. You’re disgusted with the way they look in a suitcase, never fitting in with the corners of your already assembled Tetris masterpiece.
If you’re moving about, constantly repacking and unpacking your bags, you need some malleable footwear.
I searched for shoes not just good for travel, but useable in everyday life while you’re traveling AND when you return home. There is no use bringing your best clothes only to find they don’t travel well, just like there is no use spending money on shoes for a specific trip, only to be discarded after because you wouldn’t wear them anywhere else.
Barefoot and minimal shoe companies are popping up everywhere and are making quality products. Here are some tested choices from great companies you can both travel and bring home to live with.
Xero Shoes – Z – Trek
Sole and strap, that’s all. I always feel like an ancient Roman or Greek when wearing them – ether a politician or warrior, depends on the day. The Z-Trek’s actually look like sandals and this is important. A lot of other minimal sandals look odd because they are almost too non-existent.
These cover your sandals, thongs (flip flops for the un-Australians, which is everyone in the world, except for Australians), slippers, Crocs, and slides.
But you can also hike in these. If you’re into strengthening your feet, take them for a spin. I have worn sandals from Xero Shoes up mountains in places like France, Spain and Italy, and I love how my feet feel after unstrapping for the day – exactly the same as before I put them on.
You know you’ll like your Z treks when you start developing a sandal tan.
Xero Shoes – Chelsea Boot
You need a pair of boots. Most boots, particularly the nice vagabond/hipster boots, are rigid and tough, even more so if well-made and high quality. It’s a trade-off people take with good boots, knowing they are going to be uncomfortable and unsustainable if worn for too long.
For ages I was looking for comfortable boots, something for the everyday but still formal – a pair I could wear with a suit (not that I wear suits).
Finally Xero shoes came out with these Chelsea Boots. They are simple and brilliant, light, flexible and good looking. The best thing is being able to wear them for long periods of time without any rubbing or rashes – it’s all any of us want for high cut footwear.
Wildling Shoes – Tanuki Niji
The Tanuki models are really special. Japanese washi paper has been used for a variety of purposes for over 1000 years, but now, Wilding shoes have found a way to weave this into footwear.
These actually don’t feel like shoes. They feel wearing a clothing prop from a movie set somewhere ancient with flute music playing in the background. It is one of the lightest shoes in the world, almost sock like, rather clothes for your foot. I never wear socks with my Tanuki’s so I save lots of time and money on clothes washing.
They are as minimal as one can get for shoes and because of that, are perfect for warmer countries and weather/environments that don’t fluctuate.
Wildling Shoes – Haldy
I was always a big fan of Converse high tops. But Converse, like many other shoe brands, were too skinny. If I ripped the soul out and loosened all their laces and kept the shoelace knot as flexible as possible, then just maybe I’d be able to wear them without any discomfort.
These Haldy’s are the healthier Converse and a healthier high-top shoe. They have some padding around the upper ankle so nothing rubs or causes rashes or blisters, and because of this extra padding, you can take them in some diverse environments.
For barefoot shoes, while you generally want as minimal as possible, it’s still important to have a more substantial pair to keep your feet warm and your adventures unhindered by lack of proper footwear. Dress them up or rough them up, Haldy’s can do both.
Softstar Shoes – Adult PRIMAL RunAmoc
Softstar hand makes all their footwear in Oregon, USA. I came across these RunAmoc’s, and with such a great name I had to try them. These are all-rounders, the culmination of putting your lifestyle, training and smart wear into one shoe.
Leather bound, durable and lightweight, they are fantastic for general movement and sport, but also look great and can be worn on a hot date, which will be easy to get when you’re wearing these (hot date not a buyer’s guarantee).
If I had to only pick one shoe to bring with me traveling, it would be these. For any occasion, you are never really out of touch, function or style with RunAmoc’s.
Vibram – El-X Knit
Vibram has been making footwear for over 80 years. They are renowned for their quality and durability, worn by some of the best athletes and professionals. I tried the El-X Knit and it was something different altogether.
These are for serious barefoot wearers as they are as far away from conventional footwear as you can be. They don’t try looking like normal shoes because they aren’t.
The split toes make your feet feel amazing and actively contribute to your toe splay. Everything feels climbable when wearing these, like you just want to jump on things and start climbing. They encourage activity.
In terms of getting serious about feet strengthening, these are pinnacle. If you like their separate toe look and don’t care for the aesthetic of conventional shoes, get yourself some Vibram’s.
Magical Shoes – The Cameroon
Barefoot shoes have been making their way into every aspect of living. However, while most of the barefoot companies out there are still getting together a formal wear line, Magical Shoes are bounding ahead.
No matter where you travel, you’re always going to need formal footwear, always going to need to step up your attire for an important occasion. There are also many people who spend at least eight hours a day five days a week in formal work shoes. It’s even more vital for them to have appropriate shoes.
Once you start barefoot shoe wearing, you’ll realise the huge difference when you squish your feet back into tight formal wear. You simply need a pair of these. The Cameroon’s are the closest to ‘normal’ looking formal shoes I’ve found, with the flat sole (zero drop) actually making them even better looking.
Skinners Compression 2.0
Free your feet and step out for adventure without bounds in the latest revolutionary footwear collection from Skinners.
Developed in 2016 and the recipient of several international global design awards*, Skinners shook up the industry by developing and patenting the fusion technology that merges the best features of shoes and socks into one compact and truly innovative product. With a vision to inspire every person to experience the freedom of natural movement, Skinners serve as a portable yet protective solution that respects and adapts to the needs of your feet.
Crafted with a compression fit around the ankle and foot, this model provides additional support, structure and balance for more dynamic activities and sports, giving lightweight support perfect for barefoot runners, minimalist hikers, gym-goers and yoga lovers. Provided with a handy cloth storage bag, stash them in a gym bag or backpack and be ready to step from town to trail in comfort and convenience.
The great thing about buying from these companies is the extra level of care and understanding they all have. Yes they are shoe companies selling products, but they all are doing it from a place of authenticity and compassion – wanting to improve the health of their customers.
I have no doubt all these companies’ employees wear barefoot shoes, representing what they sell, believing wholeheartedly in their products and their benefits. This fact, over anything else, means I’ll probably never buy conventional footwear again.
All these companies and their shoes can be found here:
Xero Shoes https://www.xeroshoes.co.uk/
Wildling Shoes https://www.wildling.shoes/en
Softstar Shoes https://www.softstarshoes.com/
Magical Shoes https://magicalshoes24.com/en/
Vibram https://www.vibram.com/uk
Skinners www.wildbounds.com
