Women's Health July 27, 2026 0 Comments

The 3 Game-Changing Shoes I Swear By on Every Single Trip — And Why You Should Too!

Ever tried packing for a trip, only to find your suitcase overflowing with shoes you’ll probably never wear? Guilty as charged, right? I get it — as a style writer who cherishes options, my suitcase used to be a chaotic shoe jungle. But here’s the kicker: no matter how many pairs I cram in, I never actually wear half of them. So I flipped the script and crafted a “capsule wardrobe” for my feet — a smart little rotation featuring just three pairs: a trusty sneaker, a comfy sandal, and a chic kitten heel. The result? A lighter bag, quicker outfit choices, and feet that aren’t screaming by the end of the day. Intrigued? Let me walk you through why this minimalist shoe lineup works wonders for nearly every getaway, from city jaunts to island retreats.

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I’VE NEVER BEEN someone who can pack a single pair of shoes for vacation and call it a day. After all, I’m a style writer who loves having options from head to toe. But since shoes are among the bulkiest items to stuff into a suitcase, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I’ll never wear six pairs of shoes on a weeklong trip, no matter how convincing I am while packing. Now, before every flight, I challenge myself to build a travel shoe rotation instead of stuffing my suitcase with every “just in case” option. A capsule wardrobe for my feet, if you will. The result? My luggage is lighter, getting dressed is easier, and my feet are happier after long sightseeing days.

After visiting nearly 30 countries, I’ve found that I almost always come back to the same three types of shoes: a supportive sneaker, a comfortable sandal, and a versatile kitten heel. Together, they cover just about every outfit and occasion without taking over my suitcase. Of course, every trip is different—a hiking vacation calls for trail shoes or hiking boots instead of heels, and an island getaway might mean swapping sneakers for water shoes—but for most city breaks, trips to the Caribbean, European vacations, and long weekends, this simple shoe rotation has never let me down.

1. A Supportive Sneaker

If I could bring one pair of shoes on a trip, it’d be a supportive, comfortable sneaker. This is the pair I wear on the plane (saving valuable suitcase space), rack up 20,000-step sightseeing days in, and even use for hotel gym workouts. I look for a sneaker that can keep up with a full day on my feet while blending seamlessly with the rest of my wardrobe, whether I’m wearing jeans, trousers, shorts, or a casual dress.

Since this pair does most of the heavy lifting, it’s worth prioritizing comfort features like responsive cushioning, solid arch support, and a stable platform. Neutral colors also make them much easier to style with everything you’ve packed.

Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Sneaker

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Adidas Samba OG

Reebok Club C 85 Vintage

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2. A Comfortable Sandal

As much as I love sneakers, there are plenty of destinations where I don’t want to wear closed-toe shoes all day. That’s where a supportive sandal comes in. Whether I’m exploring a beach town, grabbing dinner outdoors on a warm evening, or simply giving my feet a break after a few days in sneakers, this pair gets just as much wear.

The biggest mistake I see people make is packing flat fashion sandals with little to no support. After a full day of walking, they can leave your feet aching. Instead, I look for sandals with cushioned footbeds, adjustable straps, and enough support to comfortably spend hours exploring.

Steve Madden Mona Sandal

Credit: Steve Madden

Olukai Hila Sandal

Archies Arch Support Flip Flop

3. A Kitten Heel

I rarely pack high heels anymore, but I almost always make room for a pair of kitten heels. They’re polished enough for nice dinners, rooftop bars, weddings, or theater nights while being dramatically easier to walk in than stilettos. They also elevate outfits I’ve already packed, making it feel like I brought an entirely different wardrobe without adding much weight to my suitcase.
A low heel also takes up very little room in a carry-on, making it an easy addition when I know I’ll have at least one dressier evening planned.

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Cushionaire Quiz Kitten Heel

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Athlefit Kitten Heel

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Why This Rotation Works

I’ve found that this three-shoe formula eliminates the “what if” packing mentality that usually leads to an overstuffed suitcase. Every pair has a distinct job: sneakers for long walking days and travel, sandals for warm weather and casual outings, and kitten heels for dressier occasions.

The exact shoes will change depending on the destination. If I’m heading somewhere with hiking trails, I’ll leave the heels at home and pack hiking boots instead. For a ski trip, winter boots replace sandals. But the strategy stays the same: build your shoe lineup around the activities you’ll actually do, not every possible scenario you can imagine.

Since adopting this approach, I’ve stopped checking bags just because of shoes—and I honestly haven’t missed any of the extra pairs I used to pack.

What to Consider

Comfort

If you’re packing sneakers for long sightseeing days, look for pairs with ample cushioning, reliable shock absorption, and enough stability to keep your feet comfortable from morning to night. Breathable mesh or knit uppers help keep your feet cool, while flexible soles are less likely to feel rigid after hours of walking. For warm-weather getaways, sandals and flip-flops are a must, but don’t settle for completely flat styles if you’ll be spending time on your feet. Instead, choose pairs with supportive features like contoured footbeds, built-in arch support, and secure straps that provide a more stable, comfortable fit for everything from beach strolls to sightseeing.

Versatility

Prioritize styles that work with multiple outfits and can transition between different activities, whether that’s a pair of sneakers that complements both dresses and cargo pants or sandals that are comfortable enough for sightseeing yet polished enough for dinner afterward. Neutral colors naturally pair with more of your wardrobe, but practicality is just as important. I want shoes that work just as well with my go-to travel uniform (easy travel pants and a plain white tee) as they do with a travel dress when I’m trying to look a bit more put together. Ask yourself whether you could comfortably walk several miles in them, breeze through airport security, or wear them in a variety of settings. The best travel shoes pull double (or even triple) duty, so you can leave the “just in case” pairs at home.

How I Chose

I first left the East Coast in 2019, when I swapped my upstate New York college campus for a semester in Prague, igniting my love for travel. Since then, I’ve remained constantly on the go for both work and fun, visiting nearly 30 countries so far. That means I’ve had plenty of real-world experience figuring out what footwear actually holds up on the road. But as a style writer, those shoes also have to look cute with all of my carefully planned vacation outfits. Which brings me to my three-shoe travel rule—a formula I’ve perfected by logging serious miles across all types of destinations, prioritizing comfort during long days, and evaluating how my go-to shoes perform from both a style and versatility standpoint.

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Shannen Zitz is the Associate Style & Reviews Editor at Women’s Health, where she covers all-things sneakers and activewear. Previously, she was an assistant editor at Prevention. Shannen graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.

Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men’s Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.