9 Shoes To Wear On Your Long Walking Vacations That Are Actually Cute And Comfortable So You Don’t Look Like Some Sneakers Tourist
Summer is coming.
by The Candidly Team
We have destroyed our feet way, way too many times in effort to look stupidly good on vacation. On old cobbled streets. Dirt sidewalks. Sticky sand beaches. By day 3, our achy, blistering feet are reduced to overpriced, rubber gift shop flips.
On the other hand, there have been an equal and opposite number of times that we’ve ruined our cute, carefully chosen vacation outfits with a deeply ugly shoe. A bulky sneaker. A platform flip flop.
It’s been a loooong-time mission of ours to find unbelievably comfortable shoes we could happily walk miles in that are actually attractive - shoes we would have chosen just for their looks but that happen to be orthopedically comfortable.
Turns out, there are 9. They are each special in their respective categories. They’re also versatile enough to wear with most of the outfits we pack so we don’t have to stuff in 9 pairs of shoes for a week-long vacation. We’ve been known to pack just 1 or 2.
Now, one small disclaimer: Good shoes that feel amazing and don’t fall apart after 8 blocks don’t cost $23 at Target. They just don’t. It’s not within our goal (nor within our net worth) to spend $300 on every pair of shoes we buy. But we will spend a little more on a specific shoe we know we will love and wear forever, and that is carefully made to be good for our feet.
Alright, let’s get to the shoes.
1. The Unbelievably Breathable Closed-Toe Flat
Rothy’s The Espadrille Mary Jane
Rothy’s is one of our ongoing go-tos for chic shoes that are absolute heaven to wear. They’re known for their flexible, breathable flats … and now, espadrilles! The comfort is almost hard to explain. The shoes themselves are light as air yet they’re also sturdier than so many of the flimsy espadrilles we’ve worn. The footbed is luxuriously plush with extra padding in the heel for sneaker-like support. This style is perfect for when we’re going somewhere hot but want to keep our toes covered. They’re also washable which is still just wild to us.
Price: $149
2. The Perfect White Leather Sneak That Matches Everything
Soludos The Ibiza Classic Sneaker
This is a pretty obvious solution to the “I want to look chic but still wear tennis shoes” feeling we all feel when about to walk our way across a new city. A low, white, leather sneak carries a good mix of elegance and coolness, and this one is our favorite little white sneak. It’s great with dresses and skirts and even our evening attire. Just look at the tan leather and stitching detail on the back. They also have a pretty perfect platform version if you want a smidge more height.
And you can use the code THECANDIDLY20 to get 20% off
Price: $139
3. This Luxe Leather Memory Foam Slide
Beek Pelican Leather Platform Sandal
Beek is entirely about making gorgeous sandals that think of everything in terms of catering to our poor, old feet. There’s a memory foam footbed and a molded arch for support and stability. They feel like your favorite slippers but the buttery leather and minimalist design makes them one of the most “quiet luxury” shoes on this list.
Use the code CANDIDLY10 to get 10% off.
Price: $280
4. The Minimalist Sandal With Actual Arch Support
This brand hand makes their shoes in Greece from rich, buttery, chemical-free leather. The wedge heel has a memory foam insole but the straps are so minimalist, we get to feel like we’re in the strappiest, sexyish heels. We honestly rarely get more questions about where we got our shoes than when we wear these shoes.
Price: $305
5. This New It Sneaker That Is, We're Sorry To Say, Quite Versatile And Chic
Even lighter and more retro than the Samba, this shoe is having a real moment. And while we’re not usually trend people, this has a more classic, sporty-chic sensibility that definitely works with so, so many outfits we already wear. Their slightness is great in warmer months not to mention it makes them extra packable.
Price: $100
6. These Ugly-Chic Sporty Sandals
Teva Original Universal Slim Sandals
Tevas get a bad rep for being uncool, but we could never say an unkind word about their surreal level of comfort. And the slim strap in a neutral color is kind of genius. We bring them to every poolside, beachy place we go.
Price: $60
7. This Cloud-like Espadrille That Thought Of Everything
Vivaia Round-toe Wedge Sandals (Sally Pro)
We wrote about Vivaia’s heeled boots being the single most comfortable heeled boots in existence. And frankly, the way Vivaia makes heels is confusingly good. They’re incredibly light with endless arch support and soft straps that don’t dig, so we can walk and walk and walk and not feel an ounce of foot pain. They’re antimicrobial and breathable and moisture wicking. They have an anti-slip outsole and even contain a natural herb that’s supposed to soothe feet. What is this sorcery? Because we’re obsessed with it.
Price: $97
8. The Controversial Slide That will Likely Be The Most Comfortable Shoe You’ve Ever Worn
4CCCCEES Add To Cart Buckle Sandals
Listen, we know this look isn’t for everyone, but (and this is a big BUT), nothing is more comfortable than this shoe. Not in the slide family. Not in the sandal family. Barely even in the sneaker family. And where sneakers can make you extra sizzly in the summer, you still have all that airiness of wearing a flip flop. But you also have height. And incredible support. It comes from the wild imagination of designer Sang-Min Park, and we truly get so many compliments on them that we could not not share them with you in case you unsure our appreciation for slightly unhinged, artful things that also feel like clouds.
Price: $285
Bonus: The F**k It, I just want to be the comfiest sneaker-wearing queen in all the land
Ultimately, of course, there is nothing wrong with fully embracing the single most comfortable sneaker being made and trotting it proudly around the world. We’ve written about this pair of shoes helped transform us into a walker, but if our word isn’t enough, it’s evened earned The American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, a title given to shoes that promote good foot health. So there’s that. And you can pick whatever color combo brings you joy.
Price: $150
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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