I must admit, I hate shopping. There I said it. But the thing I probably loathe the most is shopping for shoes. Especially when it comes to finding the most comfortable walking shoes for women like me who travel. Why?!?! I’m sure some of you think it’s strange for a woman to say that she detests shoe shopping. But for me, it’s because I’m not only picky…but I’m a perfectionist who only wants to spend my money on the absolute best. It’s not easy finding the right mix of comfort & functionality, and a long list of additional requirements. In short, my primary travel shoes need to tick a lot of boxes for whatever trip I’m planning!
This makes shopping for shoes a less enjoyable experience.
So when I found a pair of shoes that fit the bill, I was determined to not settle for anything less.
Finding an Unexpected, Most Comfortable Shoe
A few years ago before Josh and I set out on our around the world adventure, we were living in Atlanta. We’ve always been active people who enjoy going out and hiking, although we’re not die-hard extreme hikers. We’re more like casual hikers who just enjoy being outside and walking around in nature.
One day we happened to be rummaging around an end of season sale at REI when Josh noticed an awesome pair of ladies Solomon shoes at a great discount price. I protested at first because I didn’t need another pair of shoes. But I begrudgingly put them on to appease Josh (and shopper in the family) and immediately fell silent.
These shoes felt amazing!
The moment I put on these shoes I was impressed with the fit, feel & support.
Again, I’m not one to go crazy over shoes. But these shoes really got my attention fast. First of all, they were SO light! I mean, for being larger profile shoes it practically felt like I had no shoes on at all. Even with all the heavy traction on the soles, which could be used to play sports or get good grip outdoors on a trail.
Light, Comfortable Women’s Shoes With Fantastic Arch Support
Upon putting on these shoes, I could immediately feel that they had incredible arch support! I used to have quite high arches on my feet; however, because of all the ballerina flats I’ve worn over the years my arches had sadly fallen (yeah, those are actually pretty bad for your feet!). My fallen arches had caused quite a bit of foot pain over recent years, but the arch support on these Solomon’s felt so good. I could notice the difference right away!
I walked around the store, not really wanting to take these super comfy shoes off. I was sold. Except of course, I’m cheap. I didn’t want to pay for shoes that I didn’t really need. As usual, Josh talked me into the purchase.
Most Comfortable Travel Shoes With Versatility!
At the moment I purchased my first Solomon shoes, I didn’t know just how much I’d come to love them. But after I began traveling with them, then I realized just how valuable it is to have a versatile shoe that is comfortable for walking as well as more active adventures. I usually try to pack light for our travels, and this was especially true when we were heading ut on a multi-year trip around the world. I really wanted to save space when packing my backpack. However, Josh (again) convinced me that I’d want these shoes on the road. Being on the road long term now, it’s amazing how dependable you are on a good pair of shoes. Comfort is extremely important, but it’s more than that. You need real versatility in a good travel shoe.
Why These Are the Best Shoes for Walking and Travel
Light Weight
These shoes are SO light that they really don’t add weight to the bag. The material is also flexible, so I can cram them into a crowded pack too.
Soft, Breathable Material
I’ll be honest, my feet tend to sweat. So I love that these shoes have a very soft, breathable material over the toes and around the shoe in order to foster airflow and keep my feet cool in the heat. Great since we spend a lot of time in southeast Asia! This really helps so they don’t get all smelly and gross.
Great Traction for a Variety of Outdoor Activities
While the shoes are technically made for outdoor trail running, I’ve found that the traction on the shoe is great for all kinds of terrain; whether it’s dirt, rocks, pavement, etc. I have found these shoes to really get me around anywhere confidently (and I am clumsy…so this is important!). I always feel like I have a good grip, and my feet feel secure in the shoe.
No-Tie Shoe Laces Are Quick to Cinch Up
I admit, I’m also a bit lazy when it comes to shoelaces. I really do hate tying laces or having the laces come undone during the day. So one of the reasons I love these shoes is that I can just cinch them up and tighten them with this cool lace lock contraption (QuickLace I think is the technical name).
The great thing is that the laces NEVER come loose on me during the day, yet they are super easy to tighten or loosen up. I also have the option to keep them semi-snug so I can take them on and off without ever tightening or loosening it…I can just keep it the same tension. Great for lazy people like me! Also, they have a little lace pocket where you can stuff the end of the laces so the extra string isn’t flopping around when you are moving.
Lastly, the shoes don’t even have to be that tight for me to feel like my feet are completely secure in the shoe.
Great Arch Support and Comfort
These shoes are also amazingly comfortable for women like me. With my fallen arches, they hug my foot so well in all the right places. They also have a special type of Ortholite technology, I believe this is a special type of breathable cushioning for the foot and heel. Whatever it is, it feels great! All of this combined with the strong arch support for my feet, make my feet feel actually more comfortable with the shoes on than off!
Versatile & Functional
As mentioned, these particular Solomon shoes are technically for trail running. However, I’ve found that they serve as a really great women’s traveling shoe for when I’m out walking around all day. We tend to do a LOT of walking when we travel, and it could be over a variety of surfaces. It could be around a city or out in the countryside. My feel don’t hurt, even after 10 hours in these shoes…which is really important to me!
Plus, I can also use these shoes for outdoor activities that are more strenuous than just typical walking, like casual hiking or even a bit of climbing. I’ve found that these shoes can really handle just about anything I throw at them during our travels.
Being such a versatile and functional shoe, these shoes are perfect for the kind of travel we do.
The Saddest of Days, When These Most Comfortable Shoes Wore Out!
I really came to love these shoes so much during our travels. And it really hit me just how much I depended on these shoes for comfort when they began to wear out. After a couple of years (and 12 months of wearing them almost every single day), they started to show wear. A few small holes here and there, where the fabric had bent so much over time, as well as the interior being worn away in places around the heel and toe.
To tell you the truth, I could have kept wearing them. They actually still felt REALLY comfortable & they had just as much traction as ever.
I wanted to keep them. Unfortunately, we are long-term travelers who are currently residing in Asia. We are about to set off on an extended trip around Tibet and China, and space in our backpacks was limited.
Even though I really believed that these shoes still had more life in them, I couldn’t risk having a pair of shoes that were on their last legs — especially when we were going to some remote regions. So we decided it was time to replace them before we left civilization.
I Wouldn’t Accept Anything But These Same Exact Shoes…And I Found Them!
However, I didn’t want just any shoe…I wanted THESE EXACT SHOES! I was determined to get exactly what I wanted. Luckily, we were heading back to Hong Kong, so I made a trip to “sneaker street” where there are SO many shoe stores. And I was so excited to see my exact Solomon shoes available! After browsing a couple different stores for prices and sizes, I snagged a new pair. The only difference is that my old shoes were black and pink, while the new ones are black and green.
I can’t tell you how good if felt to put on a fresh pair of these shoes. My feet seriously love them!
I Recommend These as Some of the Best Supportive Walking Shoes for Women Who Travel!
So if you are looking for high quality, versatile, comfortable walking shoes for women who travel and explore like we do, I would without a doubt recommend these Solomon shoes. These shoes were 100% paid for by me (both pairs), and all opinions are my own. I am officially loyal to this brand, and hope I can always have these shoes when I travel. They are really some of the best supportive walking shoes that I have found, which are light and easy to pack and can do so much.
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