It’s inevitable.
As soon as I mention that I only bring a carry-on suitcase when I travel somewhere, no matter the length of the trip, I hear it from almost everyone.
“How can you do that? I mean, the shoes alone would take up all the space in my carry-on bag.”
I get it – I totally do. I’ve succumbed to the promise of excess and all the “must-haves,” and what if I have nothing to wear? I’ve been there – it’s stressful – and I’ve decided it’s no longer worth it to carry around my life in my suitcase while traveling. I took my first trip to Europe with my grandmother in my senior year of college. We each checked two large suitcases, carried on a bag, and brought a purse. Less than halfway through the trip, we each packed up our largest bag with all of our shouldn’t-haves and shipped both all the way back to the USA.
That, and add in the fact that checking a bag can cost upwards of $50 or more, and it’s never been more worth it to be a light-packer.
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So how do I do it? How do I keep my carry-on bag from being filled with shoes? I carefully choose the ones I bring. For most trips, I only bring two pairs; every once in a while, a third pair sneaks in if I feel it is necessary. I check the weather, I search street-style photos, and I take a look at the color palette of the clothes I’m bringing (most often it’s gray, white, and black). I think about how comfortable my shoes are to walk in – if I get blisters after a few hours at home, my feet are going to be dying after walking ten miles on cobblestone streets. I’m sorry to say unless it’s a road trip and we have space in the car, heels are always out. Here are my five most reached-for travel shoes, awarded the honor because of their comfort and because of their adaptability to most situations.
Shop the post:
–Manhattan Waterproof Ballet Flat, Cole Haan
–Modern Loafer, Everlane (linked to current version; similar style)
–Chuck Taylor All Star Leather, Converse
–Evan Waterproof Short Boot, Cole Haan (no longer available, linked to current version)
–Avalanche Snow Boots, Lands’ End (no longer available, linked to current version)
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What are your go-to travel shoes?
