Travelling shoes

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Julia9054

Legendary Member
Location
Knaresborough
Having just come back from a very soggy week in the Netherlands, I'm also looking for a light squashable pair of trainers that are also waterproof!
My Adidas trainers that I usually take are very much not waterproof!
Soggy feet make me cross and miserable!
 

Pat "5mph"

A kilogrammicaly challenged woman
Moderator
Location
Glasgow
I cycle in flat walking shoes, Scarpa are my favorite.
If I'm on tour and the shoes I wore on the bike got soaked, I'll change into Crocs.
Crocs are very light, you could hang them from our rack thus saving pannier space, you can use them indoors or going to restaurants, etc.
I also own a couple of pairs of waterproof socks, nothing fancy, just the Aldi ones.
They are very effective, your shoes can be wet but your feet will be dry.
 

tyred

Squire
Location
Ireland
I ride in hiking shoes. For touring, I carry a pair of these as evening wear so I always have something else to change into. I don't particularly like this type of shoe normally, but I like them for touring as they can be easily squashed down flat without damage so take up little space.

Screenshot_2025-06-04-21-49-23-559.jpg
 

andrew_s

Legendary Member
Location
Gloucester
Sandals, no socks. SD50 if cycling, basic Tevas if not.
If they get wet, they dry out quickly, and they are so well ventilated that stinkiness doesn't happen. No secondary footwear saves on packing space too.

I find bare feet are OK down to about zero, my feet having become acclimatised over the years (either that, or it's the benefits of unrestriced blood flow).
 

HelenD123

Legendary Member
Location
York
Croc flip flops similar to these. I'm often camping and they are great for slipping on for a trip to the toilet block but are also fine for a few miles of sight seeing.
 
OP
OP
Gwylan

Gwylan

Guru
Location
All at sea⛵
Croc flip flops similar to these. I'm often camping and they are great for slipping on for a trip to the toilet block but are also fine for a few miles of sight seeing.

Not too keen on Crocs or their look alikes
Goes back to boating, they offer little grip on wet surfaces and we're dangerous. My opinion, based on experience.
Think a light pair of plimsolls are edging into the lead.

What do people call plimsolls? They were known as daps at school and pumps at home.
 

Pblakeney

Senior Member
Goretex walking shoes if not travelling light so size and space are irrelevant.
If travelling light then forget waterproof, you just want something that'll dry quickly. I use basic canvas Vans or walking sandals.
 

YMFB

Well-Known Member
Avoid crocs and wet surfaces of any kind. Having gone down like I’d been shot by a sniper walking in crocs at a campsite the owner told me they had more accidents caused when wearing crocs than anything else.

SPDs for cycling, sliders in the shower and evening
 

presta

Legendary Member
I used Stead & Simpson Hobo black leather shoes for cycling in, and carried a pair of M&S espadrilles for the evening, but they rarely got worn. Back in my walking days I developed a liking for going barefoot in the evenings because it gave the skin on my feet a chance to dry off and harden after being in sweaty boots all day.

The espadrilles got torn by the wire on the boardwalk in the garden at Tanners Hatch YHA, but I carried on using them because despite years of looking I never found any replacements that packed down as small. Plenty of espadrilles in the shops, but they were all about twice as thick when flattened. For that matter, I never found a satisfactory alternative for the Hobos either when they stopped selling them.

What do people call plimsolls? They were known as daps at school and pumps at home.
Pumps. The ankle high version were called bumpers.
 

kabman

Regular
Location
Warwick
I only go on trips in warm weather so just take flip flops. If I can't avoid riding in the rain I'll just ride in the flip flops and keep my shoes dry. It's quite refreshing :rain:
 

Gillstay

Veteran
SPDs for cycling and espadrilles in the evening if its summer or a warm country. Lightness is best.
Once had some thin suede trainers that did for both and wee super comfortable. Never seen the same again.
 

Daffs

Regular
I use sandwich bags!
I wear walking shoes for cycling during the day (clipless). I find water/rain runs down my leg soaking my shoes from my ankle (Toes are usually dry). So for an evening I just need to get from my accommodation in my evening wear to wherever I'm eating and back again.
With dry socks on I put sandwich bags on my feet and back into the wet shoes, hide as much of the plastic as possible. Fine for a short walk.
When I'm back at my accommodation shoes off to dry overnight.
 
OP
OP
Gwylan

Gwylan

Guru
Location
All at sea⛵
I use sandwich bags!
I wear walking shoes for cycling during the day (clipless). I find water/rain runs down my leg soaking my shoes from my ankle (Toes are usually dry). So for an evening I just need to get from my accommodation in my evening wear to wherever I'm eating and back again.
With dry socks on I put sandwich bags on my feet and back into the wet shoes, hide as much of the plastic as possible. Fine for a short walk.
When I'm back at my accommodation shoes off to dry overnight.

A creative approach.

I have a pair of cheap rubber overshoes. They are great and very effective.
They don't always meet my travelling companion's demanding fashion sense for evening wear.
 
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