7 Best Travel Shoes in 2023

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!

Spending dozens of hours of travel wearing Hoka Transport gave us nothing but indulgence, which is primarily why it is the best for all-day wear! Pleasure and protection - these are what Transport granted our feet during our day outs. It’s generously cushioned and padded everywhere that our feet feel like standing on pillows even when we’re really out on a trip on concrete, cobblestone, or even trail.

The whole time we walked in Hoka Transport, our feet were cradled with softness with just a hint of firmness. Upon checking in our lab, we learned that our durometer reflected 21.9 HA, which is 23% softer foam than the average. We found this plushness absolutely pleasing for uninterrupted city cruising. 

Our constant strolls on hardened surfaces got us craving stable walking shoes. Thankfully, with Transport, we met our match. We investigated more in the lab and discovered that what aids its stability is its stiff construction. Our digital force gauge punched in a 30.4N resistance to bending, making it 45% stiffer than average. 

Even though we logged in lots of mileage in Hoka Transport, its outsole didn’t sustain any damage. Using our caliper and durometer, we found that the outsole is thicker by 2 mm and firmer by 13% than the average, implying that the outsole is indeed hardwearing.

However, our main concern is the ventilation. Transport only scored 2/5 on our smoke test since it allowed minimal smoke to pass through its upper. Because of this, we best recommend wearing Hoka Transport in colder months. 

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 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.

While traveling, we require something that can get us through hours of leisure fun without obtaining bruises, blisters, and aches. We prefer walking shoes that can accompany us on vacays come rain or shine, with our feet still feeling at home. This is On Cloud 5 Waterproof but more, which is why we chose it as the best waterproof walking shoe for wandering. 

We roamed around streets in Cloud 5 Waterproof during inclement weather, and we confirmed that this walking shoe is completely impervious. Amazingly, our feet remained warm and dry on brisk and rainy trips. Backing up our conclusion is our smoke test, in which the shoe’s upper prohibited the smoke from breaking out, scoring 1/5 on breathability. We also brought out the big guns and viewed the upper through our microscope, showing an incredibly interlaced and thick fabric.

What kept us pain-free in a whole day of walking was the overall support we got from the shoes. We investigated more in the lab and found that the midsole has a 30.4 HA hardness, which is 10% firmer than average. Furthermore, we tested Cloud 5 Waterproof’s flexibility and our digital force gauge recorded 23.0N, 18% stiffer than average. The combination of both figures translated to more stable rides during our travels.

However, we found this shoe on the snug side. Accordingly, our caliper showed that the width of the widest part of the upper was 94.7 mm, sitting near the average at 95.9 mm. Therefore, we recommend Cloud 5 Waterproof best for people with medium to narrow feet.

Following our extensive on-foot travel and in-lab trials, we have reached the verdict that Skechers Summits is the best travel walking shoe for the budget-conscious out there. While the £70 price tag, which for the record is 26.6% cheaper than average, is truly enticing, its travel-perfect features make it exceptional.

We could carry the Summits the whole day on our legs without breaking a sweat, thanks to its feathery light construction. Additionally, it didn’t add much weight when we brought it along in our luggage. Reviewing our digital scale, it became evident why this was the case: an amazing 6.95 oz (197g) weight that’s 23% lighter than most.

Summits also felt so wonderful even when we covered miles wandering on the pair. Using our durometer, we quantified the firmness of the midsole, and it displayed a 21.1 HA, which is 16.3% softer than the standard. This level of softness shielded us from the harshness of the ground.

During our thorough evaluations, we learned that Summits is not ideal to subject to serious wear because its outsole quickly attained scuffing. We verified this through our durability test, in which we used our Dremel tool to introduce abrasion to the outsole. It left a 2.5 mm pit, which is 56.3% deeper than average. We recommend sporting Summits lightly if possible.