On my last trip, I took only the set of shoes I wore. On my next trip, I'd like to take another pair so I can rotate them (and have a spare pair). Trying to pack light, this means I need to find a really lightweight shoe. I want to find something that doesn't look too strange and can tolerate a lot of walking. For that reason, Crocs or something similar won't work. I'd also prefer a lace-up shoe for stability. Finally, I need a shoe that will work in hot and cooler weather. Any recommendations? I have looked at a pair of Nike trainers, specifically the Lunarfly shoe that weights a bit more than 9 ounces for each shoe. That's about the lightest one I've been able to identify. Because I made this assessment only by lifting all the shoes at a local store and seeing which felt like they were lightest, I suspect that there is a better way. If there's a way to do an Internet search for the answer, however, I haven't hit on it yet. Thanks.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
I highly recommend Clark's shoes. They are incredibly comfortable, more so than my athletic shoes. Wouldn't walk in Europe without them.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Paul, I'm not sure you'll find any shoes less than 9-ounces. IMHO, the design and comfort are more important criteria in selecting a travel shoe, as it will need to be very comfortable during long periods of walking. I packed along a pair similar to These Shoes on my last trip for "spares", and didn't really notice the weight (these particular shoes weigh 15.7 ounces). These are my primary travel shoes, and on many trips I only take this one pair. Good luck with your search!
Posted by
Fontainebleau, France
893 posts
I second the recommendation for Clark's. I love the un.structured line. Converted my husband to their shoes as well. They do make some ultra-light models. Zappos.com will list the weight of the shoes, but I don't believe you can search based on weight as a criteria. HTH.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
When I shop for shoes now, weight is always a consideration. It's not hard, simply pick the shoes up and compare them with the weight of other shoes. Some online sites show the weight but most don't. It's better to start in a store to make sure the shoe fits you well. My two pair of shoes are most commonly a pair of Ecco walking/dress shoes and a pair of trail runners. The Ecco shoes I've been packing are really light and wear amazingly well - I've put a ton of miles on them and they still look almost new. Trail runners work well because they are light, have a little more support than normal running shoes, and are usually in gray, black or tan so they can double as a casual shoe without looking too far out of place.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
I really like Keen's shoes. They're priced well. They have a wide toebox which I find really helps keep my feet comfortable when I walk in them all day. Their website shows the exact weight of each style. www.keenfootwear.com
Posted by
Seattle, USA
990 posts
Propet makes quite a few kinds of walking shoes, and are appreciably lighter than most. My husband swears by their wash-and-wear slipons in basic black. Nice enough to wear to the opera or at upscale restaurants, rugged and supportive enough for a day of 'urban hiking.'
Posted by
Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
629 posts
Rockports, light weight, good looking and water RESISTANT. You can get caught in a downpour almost anywhere!
Posted by
Phoenix, AZ
76 posts
We got caught in a surprise very short but very heavy rain storm as we walked through Palatine Hill and the Forum in Rome. (Nowhere to hide out of the rain!) Packing light we had only had the one pair of walking shoes each. We spend a good part of the afternoon back at the hotel room drying our shoes out with a hair dryer before we could go anywhere. From then on we always make sure to pack a second pair each and deal with a little extra weight. I wear a pair of black Ecco, that I really like, and pack a cheaper pair of New Balance 780 walking shoes as a spare.
Posted by
OP
Tuscaloosa, AL
1152 posts
Thanks for all the replies. I am familiar with some of the shoes recommended - I regularly wear Rockports - but some of the others sounded interesting and I'll check them out. It doesn't appear that any beat the light weight of the Nikes I mentioned, though, so I may stick with them. If I'm carrying a second pair - extra weight from what I've carried in the past - I want to be adding as little extra weight as I can. I'd go with only one shoe, but I want to avoid a situation such as the one Mark described. I know some of my Rockports are advertised as being waterproof, but I've never tested that to the extreme. If they truly could survive a dunking, it might be safe to just go with one pair. Anyone else willing to test this for me? I'd hate to ruin a good pair of shoes if they failed a water test.