
15 Best Merino Wool Brands of 2026
From Unbound Merino to Darn Tough, these top merino wool brands deliver the absolute best performance from this amazing fiber.
Nick Reed
TravelFreak Writer

The Vessi Everyday sneakers are the best walking shoes for travel if you’re looking for shoes that can do it all. These sneakers are super versatile and can easily be your go-to shoe for trips that involve a little bit of everything: hiking, walking, camping, you name it.
The Vessi Everyday sneakers are made from breathable knit fabric to keep you cool. One major bonus is that the material is 100% waterproof, too. I love that the waterproofing comes from the fabric itself instead of a coating, as waterproof coatings tend to wash off over the years.
The herringbone grip on the sole will keep you grounded and keep you from slipping on smooth surfaces like river rocks. The knit is also warm enough to keep your toes from getting too cold if you plan to be in cold conditions.
I love that Vessi sneakers come with antibacterial insoles. Insoles are a fantastic addition in general because they provide additional comfort. But these insoles also come with a built-in anti-odor layer to keep your shoes smelling fresh even after getting damp and sweaty on a long day out walking or exercising.
The insoles also mold and contour to your feet for added comfort, and you can remove them quickly and pop them in the washing machine when need be.
Vegan buyers will be glad to know that the Vessi Everyday Sneakers are made entirely from vegan materials. Vessi even uses water-based adhesives rather than chemicals, which is undoubtedly a plus where the environment is concerned.
These shoes stand out as an amazing, comfortable, and vegan option for the eco-minded buyer. If you’re expecting to meet wet conditions, you should have no problem parting with your dollars for these everyday sneakers.
Click here for my full Vessi shoes review.
The Tropicfeel Canyon are versatile shoes for the traveler on the go and come in a range of different stylish colors. These include black, grey, green, yellow, and blue options for both men and women.
While the sneakers aren’t entirely waterproof, they are quick-drying for use in wet conditions and are suitable for walking, hiking, and everyday use. If you do get your shoes wet, at least you know they won’t be wet for long.
The sleek design of the Tropicfeel Canyon Shoes makes these a fashionable choice for the day-to-day. Added features like quick-drying technology ramp up functionality, too. Essentially, you get all the technical benefits of hiking shoes on top of the comfort of sports shoes.
Made with sustainably sourced materials, each pair of Tropicfeel Canyon sneakers uses eight recycled plastic bottles in the production process. Sustainability is one of the brand’s leading design principles. So, these are a good choice for the eco-conscious traveler who wants to support brands aligned with their own principles of sustainability.
The shoes come with something called an Agion treatment. This is a life-long treatment that prevents odor and funk, keeping your shoes fresh after a long, sweaty day. This is an excellent feature if you prefer to wear your shoes without socks. Plus, the sneakers are slip-on to make getting ready for the day that much easier.
I love that the Tropicfeel Canyon shoes have sprint laces with a shoe-tightening mechanism. The mechanism will help wearers adjust the sizing accordingly to get the perfect fit and keep the shoes’ tongues from slipping out of place. The insoles also come with a layer of non-slip rubber, which should help give wearers decent grip on any slippery terrains.
The Allbirds Tree Dashers are technically running shoes. But, for women on the move, all of the features that make these kicks great for long-distance runs also transfer to sightseeing for long hours. The shoes were engineered for performance, but they also make stylish walking shoes for travel.
The Tree Dashers come with a removable sock liner contoured to your feet for your comfort. They also add flexibility and arch support to the already comfy shoes. The liners will keep your arches from aching after a long day and reduce your chances of suffering from lower back pain.
The natural materials are also cool and breathable, helping minimize odor, sweat, and funk after long hours of wear. The fact that these shoes are machine washable is also a big bonus if you don’t have the time to get them cleaned or scrub them yourself. You can simply chuck them in the wash on a short cycle, and you’re good to go.
When it comes to sustainability, Allbirds have made every effort to be eco-conscious in making the Tree Dashers. The uppers are made from FSC Certified material made from eucalyptus trees, and the midsoles are made with the world’s first carbon-negative EVA.
For those who aren’t familiar, FSC certification means that the trees used in the making of the materials come from a forest managed under strict environmental standards. This is to ensure the production doesn’t support any deforestation efforts that could harm the environment.
These shoes are also lightweight, which means they won’t put too much of a dent in your limited luggage space for overseas travel. In my opinion, the Tree Dashers rank highly in terms of ethical production, stylishness, and comfort. However, they are neither waterproof nor cheap.
If you’re going to be walking a lot on your travels, it’s absolutely essential to choose a shoe that’s up to the task. Nothing takes the fun out of a day of travel quite like sore, aching feet from bad shoes.
Walking shoes for travel need to be comfortable, lightweight, and breathable.
The Kizik Athens is a fantastic choice for a travel shoe if you know you’ll be on your feet a lot. The plush cushioning underfoot and breathable mesh upper make this a shoe that feels good for all-day wear.
These shoes are built on thick soles that provide a nice cushioned footbed to keep your feet comfortable even when you’re walking all day. Kizik uses their proprietary “Rabbit Foam” in the midsole, and it is seriously cushy.
The most innovative feature of this shoe is Kizik’s patented spring-back heel. These shoes are designed to let you step in without untying the laces. Instead of crushing the heel fabric (like would happen on most shoes), it springs back up, holding your foot snugly in place. It’s super convenient to just step in and not worry about bending over to tie laces or adjust the heel.
The uppers on these walking shoes are made with a one-piece knit fabric. It’s very breathable, comfy, and stylish. I also love that you get a wide range of fun colors to choose from. The only complaint with the style of these shoes is that the spring-back heel design looks a bit funky.
Overall, the Kizik Athens is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for the most comfortable walking shoes for travel.
If you’re traveling to Europe, expect to spend a lot of time on your feet. Whether you’re going to Rome or London, you’ll probably be getting around a lot by train, bus, or just plain old walking, and cobblestone streets can really take a toll on your feet.
That means your shoe choice is more important than ever.
When I travel to Europe, I also generally try to avoid looking like an American tourist as much as possible. Can you wear your neon orange tennis shoes to travel in Europe? Sure, but expect to stand out like a sore thumb.
The Wolf and Shepherd SupremeKnit Trainer strikes a fantastic balance between all-day comfort and sophisticated, understated design.
These Portuguese-made sneakers are built with premium materials and excellent craftsmanship. The upper is made with 100% cotton melange with Italian Leather trim detailing. These shoes look and feel high-end, and with the understated color options, you’ll fit right in on European streets.
The cotton upper is very breathable and keeps your feet cool, but it isn’t great for wet, cold weather. It’s. For a winter in London, you’ll probably want a warmer shoe made with either water-resistant or quick-drying materials.
One thing to be aware of is that these shoes have a pretty narrow, pointed toebox. If you know you have wider feet or like a more roomy fit, I’d look for something different.
If you’re heading to a cold, wet destination, it’s a good idea to get travel shoes that are waterproof and more protective than your typical sneakers.
The Vessi Stormburst is designed to merge the comfort and style of travel shoes with the protection and grip of lightweight hiking shoes. While I personally wouldn’t pick them as a dedicated trail shoe, they excel as travel walking shoes for wet climates or adventuring farther from the beaten path.
The highlight of these shoes is definitely the waterproof performance. They use Vessi’s Dyma-tex waterproof membrane, which does a fantastic job at keeping moisture out while still offering decent breathability.
These shoes also have a soft, sock-like ankle collar that extends the protection up your ankle. I’ve used other shoes with waterproof construction and a low-top design, and water always seemed to get in through the top. The ankle collar on the Vessi Stormburst makes these travel shoes much better at keeping your feet totally dry.
The Vessi Stormburst also comes with improved grip and support. I definitely wouldn’t choose them for trail use over hiking boots or trail running shoes, but the slightly more aggressive tread gives a confidence boost when you’re walking over wet, muddy, or icy streets.
These definitely are the best travel shoes if you’re going somewhere cold and wet and want to make sure your feet stay comfy and dry.
Going on a run straight from the hotel is one of my favorite ways to experience a new city when I’m traveling.
While I love bringing my running shoes along on trips, sometimes it isn’t easy to make room in my bag for an extra pair of shoes. I personally prefer to bring only one pair of shoes whenever possible, so I like to look for running shoes that can double as my main kicks when traveling.
The Altra Torin 5 Luxe is based on Altra’s award-winning Torin road running shoe, but with a stylish and comfortable knit upper that doesn’t just look like a running shoe.
This shoe starts with Altra’s signature “FootShape” design, which features a wide toe box so your forefoot has plenty of room to spread out. Trust me when I say this makes a massive difference in terms of comfort compared to most running shoes. It also works great for keeping your feet comfy on long flights.
What makes this shoe stand out from other Altra running shoes is the unique 3D-knit upper. This upper is ultra-breathable and comfortable, making it perfect for long days while traveling.
The Torin Luxe is a capable running shoe that looks good enough to wear around town and is comfy enough to wear on long-haul international flights.
For me, there’s nothing quite like a high-quality leather shoe. Leather is durable, water-resistant, and comfortable, and it has a timeless style that’s hard to beat. I love that leather shoes can look better over time as you wear them in.
The Samuel Hubbard Flight combines premium leather craftsmanship with a simple sneaker style. It’s a super versatile shoe that’s easy to dress up for a night out or dress down for just hanging out. You can wear it with almost anything.
I personally love shoes that can fill multiple uses, and these stylish shoes hit a great sweet spot for me between dress shoes and athletic shoes.
These are also very comfortable shoes, with a soft sock-like liner, a lightweight and flexible sole, and nice heel cushioning. This is great for travel when you may be on your feet all day, and your shoes can be make or break when it comes to enjoying your trip.
One thing to be aware of is that leather does require more care than synthetic materials.
These are definitely the best travel shoes for anyone who likes high-quality leather craftsmanship in a casual sneaker style.
There’s nothing quite like a high-quality dress boot for helping you look and feel your best. The Amberjack Chelsea is a modern take on the classic Chelsea design, with durable materials, functional design, heat-moldable arch support, and fantastic comfort.
The outside of these shoes is made with a durable, soft, and water-resistant Italian suede leather that is designed to perform well and look better in all conditions. These aren’t fully waterproof boots, but they do a great job at repelling weather from unexpected downpours or walking through wet streets. I personally love suede for shoes because it’s easier to keep looking good over time and doesn’t show scuffs and scratches.
Inside, your feet will be wrapped in a super soft sheepskin lining. The lining feels really comfortable and it’s been laser perforated to increase breathability. While that sounds great in theory, I still found these boots to be much less breathable than most (which is to be expected with leather boots). I think these are great for cool, wet weather, but I’d probably look for something else for warmer months.
These are definitely more dress shoes than hiking boots, so if you’ll be heading off the beaten path on your adventures, you’ll want something a bit more rugged.
I don’t know about you, but one of the hardest things while flying is keeping my feet comfortable. Walking and standing on concrete floors in airports makes them sore, and then sitting for hours in an airplane seat makes them swell up uncomfortably.
I’ve found that the right shoes can make a huge difference in my comfort during air travel. I need something that is soft, roomy, and breathable, while providing good cushion for those hours standing in lines.
The SUAVS The Zilker is a fantastic shoe that’s designed specifically with travel in mind. It is super lightweight, flexible, and very comfy—perfect for long days spent traveling.
The highlight of this shoe for me is the one-piece knit upper. It is made from a super breathable material that has a bit of stretch, making it very comfortable. Since it doesn’t have any stitching, I’ve found that I’m much less likely to get blisters.
The breathability means your feet don’t get sweaty after wearing them for hours. Bonus? These are machine washable, so it’s easy to get rid of any
Even though they have laces, these shoes are also designed to be super easy to slip on and off. This saves a lot of hassle when you have to take off your shoes going through airport security.
One thing these shoes don’t have is substantial arch support. That’s a plus for me personally, but some people may prefer having more support underfoot.
Shoes are odd-shaped objects, and packing them in your suitcase can be a challenge. Here are some of my top tips
As a Manchester City fan, he made it his mission to catch matches at legendary stadiums from Camp Nou to the Etihad. But Nick's travels go beyond football. He's explored 20+ countries across Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, always chasing authentic experiences over tourist traps. Nick lives by a simple rule: the best stories come from saying yes to the unexpected. And TravelFreak is his biggest yes yet.

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