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Wondering what shoes to pack when the temperatures are sky high? To help you choose, we’ve created five sets following the three-shoe rule. Take a look at our round up of vacation shoes for summer!
Vacation Shoes for Summer
Written by: Niki Landry
Travel shoes are my packing weakness. I always strive to pack only three pairs, but a fourth inevitable makes it into my bag last minute. A sensible fourth pair that always gets worn, but one that I’m sure I could do without.
In the quest to be better, I’m always on the look out for a trio that will work for any type of activity that may come my way.
I paired up five sets of vacation shoes for summer that will get you through your travels this season. You can also use these for any year round trip where you’ll be experience hot weather. Which one will you choose?
Resort
The ever-popular resort style vacation is the ultimate in easy fun and relaxation. Usually situated in some tropical locale or beach this type of trip typically focuses on food, sun, and lounging at the pool or beach.
Footwear for a nice resort should be an upgraded version of what you might bring for a week at the beach.
Choose vacation shoes for summer that are suitable for nice dinners and drinks, but also a pair that you can wear on the sand. I’m not a huge fan of womens flip-flops and I avoid them unless absolutely necessary, so if you want to switch out the first sandals for a pair of thongs that’s another option.
Similarly a wedge or block heel may not be essential for your particular trip. Consider replacing it with stylish dress sandals that are flat.
Lace-up sandals are lovely for spring and summer this season!
Hiking
Many travelers may be setting their sights on the National Parks this summer, or a more outdoorsy kind of trip. I’m included in this lot, and I’m packing something similar to the following three pairs.
A good hiking shoe or boot is essential if you will be doing some serious trekking. I have a lightweight pair that I love from Salomon.
Also consider bringing along a pair of sandals so you have the option to rest your feet from the confines of your hiking boots. They also work well for activities on hot days where you don’t necessarily need a closed toe shoe.
Lastly, a pair of less technical womens’ casual sneakers for everyday causal wear.
Read these tips to learn how to choose the best hiking shoes for women!
Mixed
More often then not this is the perfect set for my travels. Most trips involve a little bit of everything. Usually combination of city, countryside, and beach, and this set will work for any of the many activities that may come up along the way.
A shoe in both black and nude will be your workhorses, and then a metallic flat for when you need/want to dress up a bit. The slide-on sneakers are a great option for light hikes, but can also be worn with skirts or dresses.
Read our ten step guide to packing for trips with mixed weather for more ideas!
City
By now you should be noticing a pattern arising in the selections, something comfy, something stylish, and something versatile. Learn more about this strategy in this guide:how to choose travel shoes.
The same goes for a trip to any city. Of course if you are planning to attend an event then you may need something dressier, but these options will work for typical sightseeing.
I love the animal print sandals because they will easily coordinate with just about any color outfit. They’re the perfectneutral color! The slip-ons are a lightweight walking shoe, and the pointed toe flats give you stylish option for dressier dinners.
Check out these cute and comfortable walking shoes!
Beach
This last set of vacation shoes for summer is dedicated to all things sun, sand, and water. You could probably get away with one pair of sandals for your beach trip, but for a girl who likes options, I went ahead and selected three.
The slides can easily be replaced by flip-flops like these if you prefer, but these feel a little more chic to me. If you are going to be doing a lot of water activities you may opt to bring a plastic pair of sandals instead.
The woven espadrilles are nice for days spent away from the beach, and the strappy sandals are for any days where you may have to walk quite a bit. I prefer an ankle strap when know I’ll be on my feet for a while.
Take a look at the styles our readers votes as the best beach sandals!
What’s your recommendation for vacation shoes for summer? Please share it below!
For more ideas on travel shoes, please read:
- Comfortable and Cute Walking Sandals
- 10 Best Sandals for Travel
- Stylish Womens Espadrilles
- The Best Walking Shoes for Travel
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Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs. nikilandry.com nikilandrydesigns niki-landry-designs-llc
Thanks for sharing all your tips, my feet always give me a problem. I will definitely try some shoes from here.
Thank you for the tips.
Thanks Julie!
I am also a big fan of ballet flats, I find them very comfortable and they go with just about everything. I recommend Lacoste “Marthe” ballet flats for casual comfort, Geox “Lola” ballet flats for something a little more dressed up, but still comfortable enough to walk around in. For a third, I usually bring simple pumps with a kitten heel mine are Jimmy Choo “Lizzy”. I can wear those all day long!
Thanks for sharing these tips Alexandra 🙂