HealthyFeetBlog.com

For both you and your feet traveling can provide a much needed change in routine. Traveling often drastically changes your activity level. If you’re used to sitting or standing in one place all day, traveling gets you up and walking. Walking is good for your circulation and improved circulation is good for your feet. But if you don’t pack the right footwear, very soon your feet may need a vacation from your vacation. Read on as HealthyFeetStore.com Blog tackles how to select a vacation shoe and how to pack it.

What Makes a Good Vacation Shoe?

The first thing to realize about vacation shoes is that no single shoe will ever be the right choice for every vacation. Most discussions of vacation shoes assume that the vacationer will be traveling to a tropical or Mediterranean climate and engaging in typical tourist activities such as sight-seeing and shopping. Considering that a recent survey performed by the American Society of Travel Agents indicated that Orlando, Florida was the most popular family destination in 2008, perhaps this isn’t such an inaccurate assumption. There are, however; a significant number of Americans who are braving chillier temperatures to travel to such scenic locales as Alaska, the Swiss Alps, and Quebec.

Wherever your journey takes you; a good vacation shoe is easy to pack and comfortable to walk in.

For tropical climates you’ll probably want to wear an open-toe vacation sandal to keep your feet dry in the humid climate. A good vacation sandal has an anatomical footbed that provides proper arch and heel support, is stably anchored to the foot with either an ankle strap or a slingback strap, and (for custom orthotics wearers) accommodates a custom orthotic. Several Finn Comfort and Naot sandals fit this description. If you do opt for a more traditional walking shoe be sure to wear moisture wicking socks to reduce the risk of blisters. Blisters often occur when there is excess moisture at the foot’s friction points.

For cold climates you will need to balance the competing needs of support, warmth, and weight. Unless you are doing some serious hiking you probably won’t want a boot with a steel shank with you on vacation. It will be very stable, but it will also be very heavy. A boot with a TPR shank such as the PG Lite Men’s Boot, 1889 or the Naot Women’s Boot, Bobcat will also prevent excess flexibility in the footbed and be easier to carry through the airport. Consider investing in a pair of wool socks for your cold weather vacation. Wool socks naturally absorb moisture and also provide exceptional insulation. If you’ll be taking a walking shoe with you rather than a boot, consider fitting it with a sheepskin insole for added warmth and comfort.

Ideally you should buy a vacation shoe two weeks to a month before you plan to go on vacation and wear it when you’re out doing errands. This isn’t to break-in the shoe. Shoes don’t need a break-in period. They should be comfortable from the first moment you try them on. This is to test the shoe to make sure it fits your needs in terms of comfort and support. If the shoe causes ankle pain or heel pain after walking for 20 minutes you won’t be able to wear it on a tour of Europe. It is always better to discover such things before you leave home where you have access to your favorite shoe store, rather than after.

How Many Shoes Should I Pack?

You should always pack at least one reliable vacation shoe when you travel, but some vacations will require more than one set of footwear. To figure out how many shoes to pack, make a rough itinerary of your travels.

When deciding what shoes you will need for each part of your vacation the three factors to consider are: activity level, dress code (if any), and weather conditions.

First list all the cities you will be in and the types of activities you will be engaged in at each location. Don’t get bogged down with details. If you plan to tour points of interest you don’t have to list them all. Just write down that you’ll be walking rather than spending the day laying by the pool. Write down if you plan to engage in any outdoor recreation. Kayaking requires different shoes than touring a museum. Note if you plan to eat at any restaurants with dress codes or attend a formal event such as a ballet. If you aren’t traveling on a strict budget and want a bit more flexibility you should probably pack one set of formal wear and a pair of shoes to match it just in case.

At Weather.Yahoo.Com you can find an extended weather forecast with temperature, weather conditions, and humidity level for almost any major city in the world. Write down the predicted temperature and weather conditions for each place you are visiting. Even if you will only be in the city for a day, check the forecast for the week. If there is any chance of rain or snow the same week write it down. Weather prediction is not an exact science and you don’t want to be caught unaware.

After completing this shoe itinerary most travelers will find they need two to three shoes.

What Is the Proper Way to Pack Shoes?

Shoes are kind of the no man’s land of packing. You artfully fold your clothes into neatly stackable squares and rectangles, slipping the balled-up socks and hosiery in the spaces between the clothes. Everything fits to Tetris-like perfection, but then you glance down at your itinerary and realize that the shoes you are wearing won’t suffice for every moment of your vacation. You will have to pack at least one other pair of shoes and your suitcase is nearly full.

Here are some tips to make packing shoes easier:

• Select the shoes you are wearing on the day of your departure carefully. If you plan to bring a pair of sandals and a pair of shoes, sandals take up less space in luggage than walking shoes so wear the walking shoes. Closed toe shoes are often safer for airports anyway.
• If you have space in your luggage for shoes or sandals, pack them inside shoe bags to prevent one of the major annoyances of shoe packing – smudging your clothes with dust and dirt from the shoe’s outsole.
• sandals can be packed inside separate shoe bags and flattened. Pack them side by side and treat them as a layer of clothes.
• If you don’t have space inside your luggage tie the shoe bag to your carry on. The airport will most likely let you keep it with you.
• While casual shoes can be flattened leather shoes generally shouldn’t be. They’ll become creased and damaged. Use a pair of Woodlore Shoe Trees to ensure that your dress shoes maintain their shape throughout your travels. Either pack your clothes loosely around you shoes or use a shoe bag. Consider packing shoe polish to alleviate any scuffing that may occur en route.

For more vacation foot care tips read Top Ten Travel Tips for Feet.

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