Back-up shoes for light packing

Vessi shoes are cute, waterproof and very lightweight. Also they have an arch and are comfy for walking.

You could try spraying your Tom's. Any good shoe store would have the proper spray, depending on whether the uppers are leather, suede, or canvas. For the latter, you would want to test it to see if the spray affected the color.

There are lightweight waterproof and water resistant sneakers available. Both DD and I currently have Vessi sneakers and really like them. I find mine just as comfortable as my Sketchers.

Peruse the Keen website. I swear by the brand for durability, comfort and how light weight they are.

Have 8 pairs: low cut hiking shoes, slip ons, lace ups and sandals. Shoes have been to London, Havana, Grand Canyon, Belfast, San Francisco, Yosemite to name a few spots they’ve been worn.

For something compact to fit into a carry-on, I don't think you can do much better than a Tom's style shoe, as they squish flat. I would consider picking up a leather pair, then spray with a leather-appropriate spray (whatever they have at a shoe store will suffice--Tom's sells their own).

I have had good luck with Kiwi Camp Dry heavy duty water repellant.

I have never found a spray that was effective for more than an hour. Shoes seldom get wet through the leather but at the seams and penetrations between the sole and upper part. The spray cannot fill the holes. Get a water proof shoe and not water resistant.

I can’t recommend a shoe more highly than the Vessi weekend. I have it in the oak brown color and I get so much use out of it, for travel, casual wear, etc. I am a former elementary school teacher who spent 35 years on her feet, so I am very particular with shoes that are comfortable now that my feet are fairly vintage. These shoes are awesome. The waterproof feature is just a bonus to me. They are also very light. I have them packed as my second pair for our upcoming trip. Compress well in the roller case.

Here’s a link to them. Hope this helps!

https://vessi.com/products/womens-weekend-ray-white

Great recommendations. Thank you, everyone.

I have been using Cadillac Shield waterproofing spray for 20+ years and swear by it.

Check out Allbirds Mizzles. Made of wool, repels water, light weight, and they pack flat. So comfy after a full day hiking or site seeing!

Am I the only person who’s never bothered to worry about waterproof shoes?

I do also like Allbird Mizzles. They work well, though eventually, your feet can get wet. We had an all day heavy rain in Matera, and we had a tour scheduled for the day. I wore the Mizzles with thin wool socks. My feet did eventually get completely wet, but not soaked, and still fairly comfortable. Looking forward to trying Vessi for our upcoming trip to England.

@Carol, do you ever go places that tend to be on the wet side? Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, etc.? Also, wet feet with cooler temperatures can really become miserable. I kind of follow the no bad weather, just bad clothes philosophy.

I have two questions--are there better super compact shoes that would do suit my needs?

Really it comes down how they feel and fit to you. If Tom's work work for you, spray them and go on your trip. No need to reinvent the wheel. Just make sure whatever spray you use does not make the colors run.

Teva sandals have always worked for me as a waterproof option for many trips both overseas and domestically. On this last trip the sole of one of them became unglued. I also love Keene boots but not the bulky toe on the sandal. Docs sound very reliable.

How about wearing your backup shoes on dry days?

I don't know what Tom's you have, but my Tom's slip-ons would not be comfortable for miles of walking. They are fine for a short walk to dinner or the boulangerie in the morning, but not supportive or cushy enough for 6-8 miles or more of Paris sidewalks.

I can’t see Toms keeping your feet warm enough in the winter. They are strictly a “no socks” warm weather shoe for me. I second the Allbirds Mizzles.

Maybe I need to clarify again that these will not be my daily walking shoes. I understand that there are better shoes, but I'm putting eleven days of clothes in one backpack and will not be doing laundry. My daily walker will be my docs--which are tried and true. I need a mashing pair of shoes that will take up almost no space in the bag. And if there's not a better option than Toms, then I need to make them a little water resistant because there might be some snow on the sidewalk. I would be running to dinner in them--that's it.

Okay, I just went to my closet and squished down a pair of black leather Toms and a pair of gray Mizzles. Since both shoes have a back that will fold in, they come out pretty similar in depth—2-3/4” for the pair of Toms and 3” for the Mizzles since they have a thicker sole (I have the original Toms with the CloudBound sole.) The leather Tom’s would be a bit water resistant on their own. The Mizzles will be warmer (wool vs leather) and are also water resistant. So it really comes down to personal preference.