5 Best Travel Shoes

For excursions and longer trips, nothing can compete with the ultimate travel walking shoe, On Cloud 5. This is the pair that makes the happiest place on Earth double up on happiness because of how pleasurable it is on foot even after infinite hours! Considering that it’s a neutral shoe yet we never felt unstable whether on concrete or cobblestones is no less than amazing.

We didn’t have to overthink our decision if we would go sock or sockless every time we went out with Cloud 5: no blisters, regardless! Plus, no sweaty and stinky feet. Satisfyingly, our experience is coherent with the breathability test result we got in our lab. The shoe scored 5/5 on our smoke test, meaning the airflow is superb, perfect for day-long outings.

On our walks, we adored the shoe’s smooth heel-to-toe transition. Back in the lab, we tested for its flexibility using our digital force gauge, which indicated a low resistance (35% lower than average). This means it only took a small amount of force to bend the shoe, proving Cloud 5’s extreme flexibility. Carrying Cloud 5 on our feet and bags is also never a bother. Weighing the shoes, we discovered it’s only 7.5 oz (212g), 24% lighter than average.

The problem is, we found it to be really snug. We measured the forefoot’s widest part as 89.5 mm. This is not only 6.7% narrower than average, but actually the narrowest among all that we’ve tested. Therefore, we advise wide footers to skip On Cloud 5.

After thoroughly testing the Allbirds Tree Runners on our feet and in the lab, we came to the conclusion that it is the most comfortable walking shoe for travel. We picked it for this category because its construction unlocks so much value for those who are on trips. Plus, it has an accommodating toebox and an adequate stack height that turns dashing from one destination to the next into an enjoyable experience.

As we put the Allbirds Tree Runners to work in rigorous walking sessions, we were amazed at how weightless it felt. True enough, when we measured its weight in the lab, it came in at 8.6 oz (245g), making it 23.1% lighter than the average walking shoe. In addition to this, the same construction provides travel-friendly features that make it perfect for trips: namely, its easy-to-pack nature and its slip-on build, which are both afforded by its upper.

Having the Allbirds Tree Runners on foot really allowed our toes to splay out nicely. In the lab, we measured the width of its upper (at its widest part) to be 99.8 mm which is a whole 3.9 mm wider than that of the average walking shoe. This translates to adequate room for medium to wide feet. Say goodbye to squished toes!

Another great thing about the Allbirds Tree Runners is the fact that it proved to be a reliable walking partner for us even during our longer sessions. To take a deeper look into this, we cut the shoe in half to measure its key dimensions. What stood out to us is that despite its lightweight build, it still has a good amount of foam underneath. Its heel stack height of 31.1 mm is even a bit larger than that of the average walking shoe (31.0 mm)!

While the Allbirds Tree Runners proves to be a great partner for traveling for regular feet, we don’t recommend the shoe for those who need that extra underfoot support from the get-go. The insole is removable, though!

After testing and literally breaking down walking shoes, we established that the travel shoe with the best support is the On Cloudnova Form. Everything in this shoe just screams support – from the bottom to the sides of the foot – there isn’t anything to be insecure about! Plus, being out and about with Form all day is just straight-up awesome!

When we cruised towns with Form, it’s as if we forgot about the ground because of the substantial foam we felt beneath our feet, especially our heels. True enough, when we measured the stack heights using our caliper, it read 36.1 mm and 19.3 mm, which yielded a 16.8 mm drop. This is huge as it is, but relative to the average, this is 63.1% larger! 

We also measured how hard the midsole is and it turned out that it’s 35% firmer. During our tours, this translated to fantastic support that allowed us to last the whole day with no complaints! In terms of flimsiness, we experienced none. We discovered that this could be attributed to the stiffness of the shoe. Cloudnova Form withstood bending at 20.9N, making it 16% stiffer than average. Due to this, we are able to confidently shift laterally in the shoes. 

However, we don’t recommend traveling in Cloudnova Form during snowy seasons. We stuck it in our freezer for 20 minutes and it resulted in an even firmer (29.7% more) and stiffer (57% more) shoe. 

The Hoka Clifton 9 is a lightweight, cushioned, and versatile shoe, making it the ideal all-in-one choice for trips. Its plush and bouncy foam makes it comfortable for runs and strolls even during prolonged wear. In our lab tests, it emerged with the top cushioning among travel walking shoes.

Each landing feels well-protected as we have 32.7/26.6 mm of ProFly+ foam elevating our feet off the ground. Our durometer confirmed its blissful touch with a 20.4 HA, while our feet enjoyed its nice rebound. The midsole features a curved design for silky smooth transitions.

Traveling with Clifton 9 feels effortless because of its minimal weight and natural feel. Our scales confirm it’s only 8.9 oz (249g), 6.0% lighter than average. Its flexibility enhances its weightlessness as it barely resists our movement. True enough, it emerged 6.3% more malleable than average.

Underfoot, we found an outsole that can handle various surfaces: from rough roads to cobblestones. Its soft 76.0 HC rubber displayed excellent traction during testing and softened our landings further.

However, we only recommend packing this pair in colder destinations as it will feel too stuffy in tropical cities.

The walking shoe with the best design, in our opinion, is On Cloudnova. Outside, it is clean and refined, perfect for dressed-up and down fits. We love how Cloudnova combined casual and sporty into an insanely cool look. Inside, it feels sensational, making distant wanderings a divine experience.

We could walk on tours nonstop when we’re in Cloudnova, thanks to its footbed that didn’t cause us any fatigue. We investigated in the lab, and it turns out that at 29.9 HA, the midsole is almost as firm as the average: Cloudnova is only 4% firmer. This resulted in foam with balanced softness and firmness.

Walking in the airport or on the cobblestones is all the same to us with Cloudnova: no wobbly feel! We found in our flexibility test that it exerted a 29.9N force to counter the bending, making it 2.6% less stiff than average. We discovered that this, combined with the wide base, allowed for a steady shoe.

What we disliked was the weight that came with this stunner. At 10.7 oz (303g), we realized that it was 12.2% heavier than average. So if you prioritize lightness for your travels, we advise skipping On Cloudnova.