BEST Travel Shoes for Backpackers • TOP Picks

Quick Answer: These are the Best Shoes for Travel in 2026

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To make choosing the perfect pair of travel shoe even easier, I have assembled my top picks into a few different categories. I do, however, want to make one thing clear before we begin.

I am a firm believer in practical, versatile, multi-use shoes. You won’t find any pair of shoes on my list that only offer a singular purpose. Backpackers are dynamic people with dynamic needs.

Of course, some traveling shoes will serve you better for certain specific applications, but generally speaking, you will be able to use any of my selected shoe options in a variety of different travel scenarios.

My goal in writing this review was to help each individual backpacker find the best travel shoes to suit their own individual needs. I am certain that there is a pair on my list for every type of backpacker.

Let’s now check out my top picks for the top shoes for backpackers in 2026…

Product

Description

OVERALL BEST TRAVEL SHOES FOR MEN

OVERALL BEST TRAVEL SHOES FOR MEN

The North Face Hedgehog 3

• Price > $150 / £112.58
• Weight > 1.9 lbs / 0.86 kg
• Waterproof > Yes

CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK ON REI

MOST VERSATILE TRAVEL SHOE (MEN AND WOMEN)

MOST VERSATILE TRAVEL SHOE (MEN AND WOMEN)

La Sportiva TX4 Approach Shoes

• Price > $189 / £142.05
• Weight > 1.8 lbs / 0.81 kg
• Waterproof > No

CHECK ON LOOM

BEST HIKING SHOES (MEN)

BEST HIKING SHOES (MEN)

Merrell Moab 3 WP Low

• Price > $165 / £124.01
• Weight > 2.11 lbs / 0.96 kg
• Waterproof > Yes

CHECK ON AMAZON View on REI

BEST SHOES FOR BACKPACKING IN HOT CLIMATES (MEN)

BEST SHOES FOR BACKPACKING IN HOT CLIMATES (MEN)

Adidas Terrex Swift R2 GTX Low Cut

• Price > $140 / £104
• Weight > 105 lbs / 0.7 kg
• Waterproof > Yes

CHECK ON AMAZON

BEST WALKING SHOES FOR TRAVEL (MEN)

BEST WALKING SHOES FOR TRAVEL (MEN)

Vasque Satoru Trail LT Low

• Price > $149.95 to $179.99 (£115 to £120)
• Weight > 1.25 lbs / 0.6 kg
• Waterproof > No

CHECK ON AMAZON

OVERALL BEST TRAVEL SHOES FOR WOMEN

OVERALL BEST TRAVEL SHOES FOR WOMEN

Salomon XA PRO 3D V9 GORE-TEX

• Price > $245 / £183.88
• Weight > 7 lbs / 3 kg
• Waterproof > Yes

CHECK ON SALOMON

TOP TRAVEL SHOES FOR HIKING (WOMEN)

TOP TRAVEL SHOES FOR HIKING (WOMEN)

KEEN Targhee III Mid WP

• Price > $190 / £142.60
• Weight > 1.8 lbs / 0.82 kg
• Waterproof > Yes

CHECK ON AMAZON View on REI

BEST WALKING SHOES FOR TRAVEL (WOMEN)

BEST WALKING SHOES FOR TRAVEL (WOMEN)

Oboz Sawtooth X Low Cut

• Price > $185 / £139.04
• Weight > 1.8 lbs / 0.82 kg
• Waterproof > Yes

CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK ON REI

Overall Best Travel Shoes for Men

Specs

• Price: $150 / £112.58
• Weight: 1.9 lbs = 862 g = 0.86 kg = 30.4 oz
• Waterproof?: Yes
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

For my overall top pick regarding the best travel shoes for men, meet The North Face Hedgehog 3 hiking shoes. If ever there was one single shoe to pack along for just about any adventure, the North Face Hedge Hogs are where it’s at.

The outside material of the Hedgehogs features polyurethane-coated leather uppers and a waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex membrane that does a good job of keeping your feet protected from water penetration.

For chaffing management and control, the abrasion-resistant, breathable textile mesh lining virtually eliminates unwanted movement and rubbing.

For a versatile, lightweight, tough waterproof shoe that is up for any adventure that you are, The North Face Hedgehog 3 shoes are a sure bet.

Even better is the price tag. For $150 / £112.58 you can score a truly excellent pair of waterproof hiking shoes without breaking the bank. These have got to be the best shoes for backpacking!

Our team rated these as their best waterproof shoes for travel because they seem to just cover all areas you’d want in a travel shoe. They were super impressed by how well these shoes kept water out whilst also being really breathable and felt they worked well in most non-extreme climates. They also loved how light they felt to carry around and also thought for technical shoes they looked pretty cool too.

Most Versatile Travel Shoe (Men and Women)

Specs

• Price: $189 / £142.05
• Weight: 1.8 lbs = 810 g = 0.81 kg = 29 oz
• Waterproof?: No
• Hiking Shoe?: Hiking and Approach shoe

Hiking, walking, scrambling, standing, moving. This is the ultimate durable, versatile movement shoe.

The La Sportiva TX4 is technically what’s called an “approach shoe”. Originally designed for backcountry climbers who need the all-in-one movement shoe, which is the ideal travel shoe.

Vibram rubber lines the bottom of the shoe. What does that even mean? Think of the rubber that comes standard on the bottom of climbing shoes. In most places general hiking shoes/boots will lose traction, the Vibram rubber allows you to commit to that delicate step without concern.

The wide fit of these shoes is also perfect for those of us out there rocking our Frodo feet in the wild! This is also great for climbers looking for shoes that have a bit more give than your average pair of rock shoes.

Our team reckon these are the best shoes for backpacking Europe due to their lightweight construction and versatile usage. They are comfortable pounding the pavements of Paris whilst also being able to hold their own on the trails of the alps. They’re also a good shout for the best travel hiking shoes with their super grippy sole and the team loved how functional there are on the trails.

Hey ladies! Interested in making this purchase for yourself? Thankfully La Sportiva makes the TX4 Approach Shoes for women too.

Best Hiking Shoes

Specs

• Price: $165 / £124.01
• Weight: 2.11 lbs = 957.08 g = 0.96 kg = 34 oz
• Waterproof?: Yes
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

The Merrell Moab 3 WP Low hiking shoes are also some of the best travel shoes for men on the market. Why? I really appreciate their versatility, comfort, and waterproofness.

I have been using some version of the Merrell Moab (either the Moab 3 WP low or the Merrell Moab 2 Mid WP) shoes for many years now and I have always been pleased by their performance.

On any given adventure, you never know when you might set off into the jungle, desert, or the mountains. With the Moab 3 WP low hiking shoes, you will be ready to take on most outdoor activities with confidence. They are also supremely comfortable for walking around cities too.

They feature waterproof breathable membranes that protect your feet from wet weather. The breathable mesh lining in the interior of the shoe allows for ventilation.

For comfort, the Moab 3 Wp low shoes come equipped with Merrell air cushion technology in the heels which absorbs shock and adds to stability/balance.

Like the North face Hedge Hogs featured above, the Merrel Moab 2 WP low hiking shoes are some of my favorite hiking shoes for men out there.

The Moab 3 low also comes in a non-waterproof version.

Our team rated these as their top packable hiking shoes due to just how well they performed on the trails and mountains. Merrell is a pretty trusted brand amongst our team when it comes to hiking shoes and they felt the Moab 3 really lived up to the quality they would expect. The only qualm our team had was that these shoes did look a little geeky.

For even more hiking-related awesomeness, check out my in-depth review of the best hiking boots to take traveling here.

Best Shoes for Backpacking in Hot Climates (Men)

Specs

• Price: $140 / £104
• Weight: 105 lbs = 700 g = 0.7 kg = 24.6 oz
• Waterproof?: Yes
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

In recent years, Adidas has expanded into a whole new line of adventure footwear. The Adidas Terrex Swift R2 GTX shoes are ultralight, waterproof, attractive, and designed to crush warm-climate travels.

Now I say that these shoes are best for backpacking South East Asia, but really they are perfect in any warm region of the world.

From my experience, I only wore actual shoes about 50% of the time I was backpacking around South East Asia. That said, when the time came to do some trekking, visit cities, or head to the jungle, I absolutely needed a decent pair to throw on.

A big advantage is that the Terrek Swift R2 GTX shoes is that they are light and super flexible. If you are only carrying a 40 liter backpack, you can easily strap them to the outside or if you don’t have a ton of stuff, even fit them inside the backpack.

Of course, the Gore-Tex lining will keep your shoes waterproof and breathable for the days where you head out into the mountains and jungle.

All said, the Adidas Terrex Swift R2 GTX shoes will keep your feet happy while you are backpacking your way around the warmer parts of our planet.

Our team loved that Adidas made some pretty cool-looking travel shoes that buck the trend when it comes to nerdy-looking shoes. They were also pleasantly surprised to find that these travel shoes were also really durable and super functional too. Having teamed up with Gore-tex they effectively kept their feet dry and comfortable and they found the sole mega grippy on slick rock too.

Best Walking Shoes for Travel (Men)

Specs

• Price: $149.95 to $179.99 (£115 to £120)
• Weight: 1.25 lbs = 567 g = 0.6 kg = 20 oz
• Waterproof?: No
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

If you are not a super keen hiker, but still want to have the best walking shoes for travel and a bit of light hiking, the Vasque Satoru Trail LT Low shoes make for a good balance.

If you have ever done even a little bit of backpacking abroad before, you know that you often walk. Like, a lot. Having the best walking shoes for travel—the Vasque Satoru Trail LT Low — will help your feet stay comfortable during all day sight seeing escapades.

Whilst not a shoe I would recommend for long distance hikes, the Vasque Satoru Trail LT Low is certainly up to the challenge of walking around cities and even extended day hikes.

I really like that the Grand Traverse shoes were meant to take a beating. The come equipped with Vibram Ibex soles which are molded with two grippy rubber compounds—Idrogrip for wet-rock traction and Megagrip for maintaining balance. I’m into that; you will be too.

For the best walking shoes for travel, look no further than the Vasque Satoru Trail LT Low.

Our team loved features such as the protected rubber toe box that added to the durability of these shoes when it came to taking them on rough terrain. They also loved how soft and comfortable these shoes felt right out of the box with virtually no break in time.

Overall Best Travel Shoes for Women

Specs

• Price: $245 / £183.88
• Weight: 7 lbs  = 3000 g = 3 kg = 106 oz
• Waterproof?: Yes
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

Well it is about time I cover the best traveling shoes for women in this review! Since, I am a dude, I have reached out to a few trusted female travel experts/friends of mine who have provided me with more than enough feedback to present you this my top picks for the best travel shoes for women.

First up on my list is my top choice for the best overall travel shoes for women: the Salomon XA PRO 3D V9 GORE-TEX hiking shoes. 

For long, tiring days of travel the Ortholite sock liners combine a specific Ortholite foam with the contoured EVA heel cups for enhanced heel support and cushioning. Furthermore, they were sculpted specifically for women’s feet with the intention of preventing slippage and chaffing after prolonged use.

To deal with some of life’s wild cards, the mud guards and integrated rubber toe caps provide durable protection from roots and rocks. These boots also come with Gore-Tex protection to keep your feet dry and happy.

For adventurous ladies seeking fully-functional, versatile travel shoes that will cover your bases from the city to the mountains, the Salomon XA PRO 3D V9 GORE-TEX hiking shoes are an excellent choice.

Our team were big fans of these shoes and loved them for several different reasons. They felt they hit the holy grail of keeping their feet dry and comfortable whilst being super light and portable. To add to that they also felt these shoes looked really cool and loved the different colourways they came in.

Th check out the cheaper, non-waterproof women’s Salomon X Ultra 2 Low hiking shoes here.

Top Travel Shoes for Hiking (Women)

Specs

• Price: $190 / £142.60
• Weight: 1.8 lbs = 816.5 g = 0.82 kg = 29 oz
• Waterproof?: Yes
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

For the best women’s shoes for hiking, my top pick are the KEEN Targhee III Mid WP boots.

Evolving from the beloved Targhee 2 model, the new Targhee III has received a few improvements that make these kickass boots even sweeter. The Targhee III Mid WP shoes are now leaner, tougher, and grittier for an even better hiking performance.

First off, the KEEN DRY waterproof breathable membranes keep feet dry while allowing perspiration to dissipate. Despite what society might tell you, ladies are just as prone to stinky, sweaty feet as men. To combat this the Targhee III shoes feature Cleansport NXT treatment to combat foot-funk odor.

The Targhee III provide great ankle support, traction, waterproof protection, breathability, and style points; it is easy to see why they are the best women’s shoes for hiking. Plus they are durable and can handle plenty of the inherent abuse any given backpacking journey will bring. Enjoy…

Our team felt that for those who want something more specific to hiking then these were a great option. Though there were bulkier than some of the lower-profile shoes, they felt they were still super lightweight being only a few ounces heavier than many of the smaller shoes on our list. For the extra size, they were really impressed by their performance on the trails when it came to being waterproof, durable and offering extra ankle support.

FYI I am not sure why these boots are so expensive on Amazon. Check out the KEEN website for the latest deals.

Best Walking Shoes for Travel (Women)

Specs

• Price: $185 / £139.04
• Weight: 1.8 lbs = 816.47 g = 0.82 kg = 29 oz
• Waterproof?: Yes
• Hiking Shoe?: Yes

Like I said before, us backpackers spend a TON of time just walking around. I am going to invent a statistic here, but I don’t think it is to hard a stretch to say that over the course of a 3-month trip, you probably will walk well over 80 miles (at 5-10 miles/week)!

For that, you’ll need the best walking shoes for travel even if you are not into hiking much. Enter the Oboz Sawtooth X Low Cut shoes.

Like any good walking shoes for travel, cushion and support are very important. The supportive BFit deluxe insoles are engineered for fitting and comfort. Also, the dual-density EVA midsoles and nylon shanks provide cushioning and ankle support. The ankle support is not as good as a higher cut shoe, but the Oboz Sawtooth Low model provides decent support all the same.

When considering all your daily walking needs, you can’t go wrong with the Oboz Sawooth Low hiking shoes. Even better – when the opportunity to do a couple of day hikes presents itself, you’ll be ready. Very ready.

Our team loved the fit of the Oboz shoes including their roomy toe box and wider profile size which they felt was quite rare in Women’s footwear. The larger footbox also made them much more comfortable when it came to hiking on tough terrain. Another feature for comfort and functionality was the additional arch support which made them feel much more suitable for longer hikes.

For women travelers, the Oboz Sawooth X Low shoes are the best walking shoes for travel on my list. Get stoked!

The best present of all… is CONVENIENCE!

Now, you could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

Buy on REI!

Best Travel Shoes Comparison Table

The best travel shoes aren’t necessarily the best hiking shoes, walking shoes or sneakers. They’re the shoes that make sense for your trip.

If you’re heading to Nepal or New Zealand with some serious hiking planned, you’ll want something supportive with decent grip and weather protection. If you’re backpacking around Europe and clocking up 20,000 steps a day between cafés, museums and train stations, comfort and low weight probably matter a lot more.

Most backpackers need something somewhere in the middle: comfortable enough for long days, grippy enough for an impromptu hike and light enough that you don’t resent carrying them when they’re not on your feet.

Here are the main things we look for.

Match Your Shoes to Your Trip

Start with what you’re actually going to do.

For hiking-heavy trips, prioritise grip, support and durability. A proper hiking or trail shoe such as the Merrell Moab makes a lot of sense when your itinerary includes rough trails, mountains and questionable weather.

For city breaks and long-term backpacking, versatility becomes more important. A lightweight walking shoe or sneaker will generally be more comfortable pounding pavements, easier to pack and won’t look quite so much like you’ve wandered into a restaurant directly from Everest Base Camp.

Then there’s adventure travel, where you might spend Monday walking around a city and Tuesday scrambling up a mountain. This is where trail shoes and hiking/travel crossovers really earn their keep.

There’s no single perfect travel shoe. Be realistic about where you’re going and choose accordingly.

Comfort and Fit

You can buy the most technically impressive shoes on the planet, but they’re useless if they murder your feet.

Fit varies considerably between brands and models. Some shoes run narrow, others accommodate wider feet, and the amount of cushioning and support can differ dramatically. Your feet can also swell after hours of walking, especially in hot weather.

You want enough room around your toes without your foot sliding around inside the shoe. If you’re buying hiking footwear, try it with the type of socks you’ll actually wear on the trail.

Personally, I’ve come back to the Merrell Moab 3 WP Low again and again. They fit my feet well and I’ve always found them comfortable pretty much straight from the box. That doesn’t mean they’ll fit everyone the same way.

If possible, try your travel shoes properly before committing to them. Fit beats specifications every time.

Weight and Packability

Travel shoes don’t only have to perform on your feet. At some point, you’re probably going to have to carry the bloody things.

That makes weight and bulk particularly important for backpackers. A huge pair of boots might be fantastic in the mountains, but they’re less appealing when you’re trying to squeeze them into a 40-litre backpack.

For Southeast Asia and other hot-weather trips, we’d generally go as lightweight as possible unless serious hiking is on the itinerary. For trekking trips, a little extra weight can be worthwhile for better protection and support.

Think about your whole packing system. If you’re only travelling with one small backpack, a relatively flexible low-cut shoe is considerably easier to deal with than a chunky mid-height boot.

Waterproofing vs Breathability

We’re big fans of waterproof footwear, but you don’t automatically need Gore-Tex just because you’re travelling.

Waterproof shoes make a lot of sense for wet climates, colder trips and hiking. Dry feet can make an enormous difference when you’re several hours into a trail and the weather turns against you.

The trade-off is that waterproof membranes generally add weight, cost and can reduce breathability. In hot climates, a lighter non-waterproof shoe that breathes well and dries quickly may actually be the better choice.

Thankfully, many of our favourite travel shoes are available in both waterproof and non-waterproof versions.

As a rough rule: wet weather and regular hiking favour waterproofing; hot climates and city travel favour breathability.

Break Your Shoes in Before You Travel

Don’t make the first proper outing for a new pair of shoes the day you land.

Wear them around home and take them on a few decent walks before your trip, particularly if you’ve bought hiking footwear. This gives you time to identify rubbing, heel lift, pressure points or sizing problems before you’re halfway up a mountain.

Some modern hiking and trail shoes require very little breaking in — I’ve found my Merrell Moabs comfortable almost immediately — but everyone’s feet are different.

A few test walks before departure are a lot easier than dealing with blisters on day two of your trip.

There’s only so much you can learn about footwear by reading a specification sheet. To test these travel shoes properly, we actually put them on our feet and walked in them.

Our team tested pairs in different countries, climates and conditions, using them for everything from city walking to proper trails. Every shoe was walked in for at least 5km before we made an initial judgement, while longer-term testing helped us assess how well some pairs held up over time.

Here’s what we paid particular attention to.

Comfort and Support

Comfort is the big one.

We looked at how each shoe felt once we’d actually spent some time walking in it, including cushioning, arch and ankle support, heel security and general fit.

We also considered the intended use. A lightweight city shoe doesn’t need to offer the same level of support as something designed to carry you along rough mountain trails.

Breathability and Weather Protection

Travel can throw everything from tropical heat to torrential rain at your feet, so we paid close attention to how each shoe handled moisture.

For waterproof models, that meant seeing how effectively they kept rain, puddles and wet trails on the outside. We also considered breathability, particularly when wearing the shoes for longer periods or in warmer conditions.

Waterproofing isn’t much fun if your feet end up soaked in sweat instead.

Weight and Packability

First, we considered how heavy each shoe actually felt while walking. Extra weight becomes surprisingly noticeable after a long day on your feet.

But this is a travel guide, so we also looked at how practical each pair was when not being worn. Lightweight, low-profile shoes are considerably easier to squeeze into a backpack than bulky boots.

We judged that in context: we’d tolerate more weight from a serious hiking shoe if the additional support and protection justified it.

Traction

Grip matters whether you’re walking over wet rocks, muddy trails or slippery city streets.

We tested how confident each shoe felt on different surfaces and considered whether the outsole matched its intended use. Hiking and approach shoes naturally need more aggressive traction, while an urban travel shoe needs to balance grip with everyday comfort.

Versatility scored highly here. We particularly like travel shoes that can handle an easy trail without feeling ridiculous when you wear them around town afterwards.

Quality and Durability

Finally, we looked at overall construction.

That includes the upper materials, stitching, eyelets, laces, midsoles and — importantly — the condition of the outsole after repeated use.

Where we’ve used a shoe for several months or longer, that experience also feeds into our assessment. Travel footwear gets abused, and a great pair of shoes should survive more than one backpacking trip.

Good socks help too. Moisture-wicking socks can make almost as much difference to comfort as the shoes themselves, particularly when you’re walking long distances or travelling somewhere hot.

And if a quality pair eventually starts looking battered, don’t automatically throw them away. A decent cobbler can sometimes squeeze a surprising amount of extra life out of well-made footwear.ding the right balance of performance is crucial and they key to long term happiness on any backpacking adventure.

Still have some questions about the best travel shoes for 2021 and beyond? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

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Final Thoughts

Well there you have it amigos. We have arrived at the final act of my best travel shoe review.

As you now know, finding the absolute best pair of shoes for traveling in an ocean of footwear is a challenge. The last thing you want is to end up with a shit pair of shoes for backpacking around God knows where!

I want your traveling shoes to be so damn comfortable and practical that you forget about them completely. That way you can focus on what’s really important: exploring new places, conquering new mountains, and make awesome memories along the way.

After reading this review, you are now in full possession of the absolute best, most versatile travel shoe options around. Which ever travel shoes you end up going with, you can purchase them with the confidence knowing that I have turned over every stone in search of only the best shoes for backpackers.

If you are still unsure about which traveling shoes to go with, I recommend going with my top picks for the overall best…

Don’t agree with my choices? Post your own favorite backpacking shoes in the comment section below and tell me why you love them!