11 Most Comfortable Walking Sandals, According to Our Travel Editors

Once considered a “dad sandal,” the fisherman sandal has made a serious comeback. For commerce director Madison Flager, this leather pair from Bared Footwear has become a staple, whether she’s pounding the pavement in New York City or jetting off on sunny getaways to Florida and the Mediterranean since she can “easily walk around all day in them.” She especially loves the nearly one-inch lift to give her soles a little distance from the ground. That said, she did have to spend some time breaking them in, wearing them with socks a few times to avoid blisters.

For an upgrade to the classic flip-flop—plus a touch of style—commerce editor Meaghan Kenny’s longtime favorite is The Weekend slide from Rothy’s. The sandal is stylish and versatile enough to be worn with everything from jeans and linen pants to sundresses and maxi skirts. “The Weekend slide has been my most-worn shoe every summer for the past three years, accompanying me to the office in New York City, a cruise through Northern Europe, and strolls down the Jersey Shore boardwalk,” says Kenny. “Plus, they’ve held up so well.” The knit crisscross upper, made out of natural hemp and recycled plastic bottles, is gentle against the skin for a comfortable fit. The best part? They’re machine washable in cold water.

When wearing unsupportive shoes on my no-arch feet led to several years of foot pain, my doctor told me to wear sturdy arch support shoes, even around the house. So Birkenstock’s Arizona Birko-Flor became my constant footwear. I rotated through a black pair as my house shoe, a dark brown one as my everyday sandal, and a gold pair as my special occasion shoe. The famous style of the classic 1973 sandal is both a throwback and a style statement, but more importantly, its contoured cork latex footbed is tough enough to elevate my arches, while its EVA sole is flexible and lightweight enough to keep me going on a busy travel day.

There’s a reason Teva has a reputation for designing quality hiking sandals—they go the distance! And the best-selling Universal style is a prime example. When I first strapped them on, the soles felt large, like my feet were standing on platters. But once I really started to move, I realized it’s that extra space that provides stability and durability.

These classic Tevas are beloved by several editors at Traveler for their supportive feel and sleek look—senior commerce editor Hannah Chubb has worn them for six years and counting. “I feel like I’m going barefoot when I’m wearing these bad boys—and I love that they’re waterproof, so I can get a little muddy or stroll along a rocky shoreline without worry,” she says. “I took them on a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago and they tackled the rainforest like a champ.”

Here’s my overall issue when searching for the right pair of walking sandals: The athletic styles offer stability and grip, but often look bulky and simply aren’t that cute. But then the more trendy choices seem to always be less supportive and more uncomfortable. That’s why I loved landing upon Kuru’s Coda Muse sandal. There’s a simplicity to its design, with three straps that really hold my feet in place. The elevated heel and contoured footbed trace my sole so precisely in a way that feels natural—which translates into an effortless walk. Plus, they look great paired with a summer dress.

Recovery slides are designed to provide feet with some relief after intense activities. And after training through an injury and finishing the Boston Marathon, the Ooaah Slides were exactly what I needed for my travels back to New York City. But when I had to jet off to Seattle a couple days later, my feet weren’t ready to go back to regular shoes. I ended up wearing these through most of my trip, softening the impact of every step while still providing a solid base. The brand recently launched the Ooaah Plus with 6 mm of extra foam. While I prefer the original, some may crave the extra cushioning.

When my arch-less feet went through their first running injury, I thought I’d be confined to orthotic shoes for the rest of my life—until I discovered Vionic. Every shoe in the brand’s line features a podiatrist-approved footbed, which includes arch support for alignment, a heel cup for stability, and cushioning and flexibility to ensure every step that keeps me light on my toes. This one-inch high slide with a woven upper exudes a trendy vibe despite being extremely comfortable.

After global audience development manager Abigail Malbon took a tumble in her flimsy flip-flops, she turned to her favorite boots brand Grenson to see what summer styles the brand made. “I figured its sandals might offer the same support and quality—and I wasn’t wrong.” She was especially drawn to the ankle and foot support, which came in helpful while vacationing in the Greek Islands, withstanding rocky beaches and light rock climbing. Now they’ve officially become her most comfortable walking shoes for travel.

When it comes to outdoor adventures, these tough sandals are ready to tackle any surface, from the trails to the sand. Made using premium leather with one sidebar and three-straps, these Ecco Offroad sandals feel as supportive as a pair of sneakers. I’ve mainly used them as water shoes, stepping right onto uneven surfaces with ease. If the grippy outsole can give me the confidence to walk over slippery rocks, then they’ll surely work well for multi-terrain hiking and urban adventures.

If there was a prototypical walking sandal, this would be it. At heart, it’s a performance shoe, ready to do the work, whether it’s walking over uneven surfaces (even gravel!) at the local park, or spending a long day meandering around a city. The nitrogen-infused sole adds support and additional flexibility to its 1.8-inch heel.

Oliver Thomas is best known for its fashionable, lightweight bags—and that reputation transfers over to these slip-ons. Though the Wingwoman is technically a recovery slide, it’s turned into my most dependable warm-weather travel shoe, especially since it’s so packable. These slides have come along with me as I island-hopped through Fiji, attended a beach wedding in St. Martin, and enjoyed the COMO Parrot Cay resort in Turks and Caicos during a tennis clinic weekend with top-ranked tennis player Carlos Alcaraz (read about it here!).

The quilted footbed feels like walking on an airy yet supportive cloud. But that’s all by design: The footbed is podiatrist-developed using InSite Contoura technology to help alleviate plantar fasciitis. The vegan slide can also be tossed in the washing machine. Most importantly, compared to other slides, they are super cute!