7 Best Travel Shoes in 2026

During our city tours and long hours on foot, we found the New Balance 1080 v15 to be the top travel walking shoe. Lab tests show it’s because of the plush cushion, breathable upper, and grippy outsole that ensure we feel comfortable and safe all day long.

Even during our initial wear, the shoe feels comfortable straight away. With a generous amount of foam underneath us, specifically at 37.0/30.6 mm, it's a great platform to stand on. Our feet don’t feel too sore after back-to-back days of exploring, since the heel absorbs a large amount of the impact, backed up by its high 147 SA score.

Further adding control to our steps is the reliable traction 1080 v15 provides. It boosts our confidence to go on with our day, rain or shine. Our traction test shows a solid friction coefficient of 0.56, making it 12.0% grippier than average. 

We have no issues with hotspots and sweat as the knit upper offers strong airflow, allowing us to feel the breeze during warmer days. Our smoke test proves its breathability with a strong 4/5 rating.

However, the midsole’s extreme plushness may cause instability. Those who need more arch support should find more structured walking shoes.

For only $75, the Adidas Questar 3 gave us lasting comfort through its breathability and forgiving midsole. It prevents the onset of fatigue during countless hours of exploring new places through its dependable support. Being 37.0% cheaper than average, it’s our best budget travel walking shoe.

Questar 3 handles tired feet well by stabilizing our footing and helping us maintain balance, especially with its broad 95.7 mm rear. Its stiff heel counter keeps us centered without too much discomfort, verified by its 4/5 stiffness score in our assessment.

Questar 3 avoids any form of twisting through its maximum torsional rigidity (5/5). However, it drives smooth forward movement with its bendable midsole. In our flex test, it’s 7.8% more pliable than average, making it ideal for activities beyond walking.

Scoring 4/5 in our smoke test, it’s the ideal shoe for year-round use. It’s breathable enough for the summer, and can retain some warmth during colder seasons.

While it’s light in the pocket, it’s sadly heavy on the feet at 10.4 oz (295g). Travelers who value weight savings should find another pair.

The ASICS Dynablast 5 is a highly cushioned, breathable, and versatile shoe, making it the ideal all-in-one choice for trips. Its protective and sky-high foam makes it comfortable even for runs or prolonged strolls. In our lab tests, it emerged with the best shock absorption among travel walking shoes.

Each landing feels well-protected with the massive chunk of foam elevating our feet off the ground. Comfort is undeniable with its 39.4 mm heel since the average is 4.5 mm lower! In addition, its top-tier shock absorption keeps our joints safe. Based on our test results, it emerged with a high 156 SA score, 20.0% better than average.

Traveling with Dynablast 5 feels easy because of its breathable comfort. The jacquard mesh is plush yet offers strong ventilation, backed up by its 4/5 rating in our smoke test. This result indicates suitability for all seasons.

Given its ventilation, we were surprised to find the toebox also resists wear, as it scored a solid 4/5 in our Dremel test. Underfoot, the outsole also performed well with a minimal 0.8 mm dent, proving it can last many trips.

Unfortunately, the toebox has limited room, so we can’t recommend it to folks with wider or high-volume feet.

The ASICS Gel Kayano 32 stands out for its supportive ride, with cushioning and ventilation that add comfort to every step. Lab results back up the steadiness we enjoyed through its 4D Guidance System, stiff midsole, and wide base, which leads it to the top of the stability category among travel walking shoes.

GK32 prevents early fatigue during back-to-back days of walking for long hours. We explored new cities and towns without losing our balance since the 4D Guidance System in the midfoot prevents our arches from collapsing. Moreover, the tall sidewalls make it twist-resistant, backed up by its 5/5 torsional rigidity score.

Not only that, the base runs wide at 119.8/97.2 mm to keep us centered. The extra space explains why we feel steady despite GK32’s tall and plush stack. Reaching 39.9/30.6 mm in height, we had bottomless cushioning for all-day wear. Moreover, the heel cushion softens impact effectively, as seen in its above-average 133 SA shock absorption score.

Even in the summer, our toes could enjoy the breeze, as the upper allows steady airflow. Our smoke test backs us up with a high 4/5 breathability rating, which indicates readiness for all seasons.

However, the midsole is also stiff when bending our feet forward. People who prefer a more relaxed sensation underfoot should go for more forgiving options.

The Brooks Glycerin 22 made exploring new cities less taxing on the feet, as it provides us with luxurious and lasting comfort with its soft cushion, flexible midsole, and breathable mesh construction. Ultimately, it’s our best breathable travel walking shoe. 

Wrapping our feet is the mesh upper that allows air to flow freely. In our smoke test, the air we pumped escaped almost instantly, earning the top 5/5 breathability score. Our feet remained cool even during summer days, with no sweat or heat build-up.

Our feet appreciate the plush, cloud-like foam that allows us to move around comfortably. We measured its stack height at 38.5/28.2 mm. It also delivers strong shock absorption of 133 SA in the heel, which explains why our legs feel fresh again the next day. 

Despite the thickness of the foam, it maintains a forgiving feel, emerging 3.2% more flexible than average in our bend test.

However, its traction performs best on dry roads. Therefore, those who frequently encounter rainy or snowy conditions should opt for a shoe equipped with better grip.

After city tours and further analysis in the lab, we claim the On Cloud 6 is the best slip-on travel walking shoe. It embodies minimalism, both in its looks, function, and structure, which offers a wear-and-forget experience. It’s light, stable, and keeps us in control.

On foot, Cloud 6 literally feels like a cloud with its low resistance. It flows with our natural foot flexions and emerged 7.9% more pliable than average in our bend test. Plus, our scales show it’s only 9.7 oz (274g), which shows it’s not a burden on the feet during the latter part of the day.

Its fluid ride comes from its low profile, with caliper measurements of 28.3/19.5 mm. Sitting closer to the ground compared to average, it naturally enhances stability and control. Thankfully, the minimal cushioning doesn’t feel dull. With an energy return score of 54.1%, it offers a nice little spring in our steps.

However, ground feel is emphasized in this shoe, even more as the miles go by. Travelers seeking maximum impact protection should find a more cushioned shoe.

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 54.5 AC, the midsole is 13% firmer than the average. This resulted in a somewhat firm yet supportive ride.

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 13.0N force to counter the bending, making it 6.5% 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.