What to wear on your feet if you're traveling this summer: the footwear you can't leave out of your suitcase
Packing a summer suitcase seems easy until the key question arises: what shoes should I bring? If you pack too many pairs, you lose space. If you bring too few or choose poorly, you end up with blisters, incomplete outfits, or footwear that isn't suitable for your actual travel plans.
The practical rule is simple: for most summer getaways, 3 well-chosen pairs are enough.
- One comfortable pair for walking
- One cool pair for everyday wear
- One more special pair for dinners or dressier occasions.
At XTI, you'll find urban sneakers, flat, heeled, wedge, or platform sandals, and espadrilles with different heights and styles to build a versatile suitcase without overpacking. The XTI sandal category includes flat, heeled, wedge, platform, and sports models for different summer plans.
The 3-pair rule: how not to fill your suitcase with shoes
When traveling in summer, your footwear needs to meet three needs: walking, keeping your feet cool, and dressing up an outfit. Therefore, a good formula is to bring light sneakers, comfortable sandals, and espadrilles or wedges for more special occasions.
This combination works because each pair has a clear function.
Sneakers are perfect for airports, urban tourism, and busy days. Sandals provide coolness for walks, meals, the beach, or the city. Espadrilles or wedges elevate dresses, linen pants, and dinner outfits without taking up as much space as formal shoes.
The key is not to bring many pairs, but to choose models that match several outfits. If all your shoes work with dresses, denim, linen, and neutral tones, you'll have more looks with less weight.
Light sneakers: for airports, urban tourism, and long walks
Sneakers are the pair that shouldn't be missing from a summer suitcase if you're going to walk, sightsee, or move between stations, airports, and unfamiliar streets. They protect your feet better, offer more support, and allow you to endure long days without relying on open footwear.
At XTI, women's sneakers are considered an urban basic that goes with everything, with sporty options for daily wear, dressier models, wedge sneakers, and heights from 0 to 7 cm depending on the model.
For travel, prioritize lightweight models with comfortable soles and easy colors like white, beige, black, or earthy tones. A white sneaker, for example, works with a shirt dress, wide-leg pants, denim shorts, or a linen set. If you want to gain height without wearing high-heeled sandals, wedge or platform sneakers can be a good alternative.
Avoid wearing new sneakers without trying them on. Even if they seem comfortable, a trip is not the time to discover if they rub, pinch, or don't breathe enough.
Comfortable sandals: coolness for the city, beach, and relaxed plans
Sandals are essential in summer because they allow your feet to breathe and adapt to many moments of your trip. They are suitable for strolling along coastal areas, going out to eat, browsing a market, going to the beach, or moving around the city when the heat is intense.
If you're going to walk a lot, choose sandals with good support: straps that hold the instep, adjustable closures, comfortable insoles, and grippy soles. Flat sandals work for everyday wear, sports sandals are perfect for active plans, and platform sandals add height without losing stability.
XTI offers women's sandals for different uses: flat, with heels, wedges, or platforms depending on the model, as well as urban, beach, and event styles. The collection also allows filtering by colors such as white, brown, black, gold, silver, red, or green, making it easy to choose a pair that matches your entire suitcase.
For a summer trip, a brown, black, or beige sandal is almost always a safe bet. It combines with dresses, shorts, linen, and denim without making you overthink your outfit.
Espadrilles and wedges: for dinners, terraces, and special occasions
Espadrilles are the perfect footwear when you want to dress up a bit without losing that relaxed summer vibe. They have that Mediterranean touch that combines with long dresses, midi skirts, flowing jumpsuits, linen pants, and vacation outfits.
The XTI espadrille collection includes espadrille flats, espadrille sneakers, and espadrille wedges, with flat, low wedge, mid wedge, high wedge, platform, black, and vegan options.
For travel, low or mid-wedge espadrilles are especially practical: they are stylish, take up less space than other dress shoes, and are more stable than a stiletto heel. If your trip includes dinners, terraces, or an informal event, they can be the perfect third pair.
Pair them with a white dress, a linen jumpsuit, a satin skirt, or palazzo pants. The esparto adds texture and softens the look, so you won't seem overly dressed up, but not too informal either.
Flip-flops: yes, but for the right moment
Flip-flops are useful in a suitcase, but it's important to know their place. They are perfect for the beach, pool, hotel showers, apartments, short walks, or very relaxed plans. They can also work for summer looks if you choose refined models, like slides, thongs, or platforms.
What I wouldn't do is use them as the only comfortable footwear for the trip. For walking for hours, exploring a city, or spending a lot of time on your feet, sandals with more support or light sneakers will be a better option.
If you have space, flat flip-flops take up little room and solve many practical situations. If you want them to also work beyond the beach, opt for black, brown, beige, or light platform models.
What footwear to bring depending on the type of trip
An urban getaway doesn't require the same as a week at the beach or a trip with many dinners. Before closing your suitcase, think about your actual destination and not an idealized vacation that won't happen.
Urban trip: walking a lot without sacrificing style
For a city, bring light sneakers and comfortable sandals. Sneakers will be your base for museums, long walks, airports, and busy days. Sandals will serve you for meals, quiet afternoons, or informal dinners.
A good combo would be: white sneakers, black or brown flat sandals, and low-wedge espadrilles if you want a dressier option.
Beach trip: freshness, lightness, and easy footwear
For the beach, prioritize flat sandals, flip-flops, and espadrilles. Flip-flops are great for sand, the pool, and showers. Flat sandals are for walking or going out to eat. Espadrilles elevate evening looks without losing the summer vibe.
Choose natural colors: beige, camel, white, brown, or black. They combine with light dresses, sarongs, shorts, and linen outfits.
Getaway with dinners or events
If your trip includes special dinners, celebrations, or dressier plans, add platform sandals, wedges, or mid-wedge espadrilles. They will give you height and presence without forcing you to wear uncomfortable heels.
To optimize space, choose a color that works with everything: soft gold, black, nude, brown, or beige. This way you can repeat footwear with several looks without it looking like the same outfit.
Road trip or busy trip
If you're going to change cities, drive, walk, and have varied plans, you need practical footwear. Bring comfortable sneakers, sporty or flat sandals with good support, and a light pair to rest your feet at the end of the day.
Avoid very delicate footwear, thin soles, or models that you cannot easily clean. On this type of trip, comfort is key.
How to combine 3 pairs with your whole suitcase
A smart suitcase is built by colors. If you wear clothes in neutral tones—white, beige, black, denim, camel, or navy blue—you can combine the same shoes again and again.
A very useful combination would be:
- White sneakers for walking and traveling.
- Brown or black sandals for everyday wear.
- Wedge or platform espadrilles for dinners and more special looks.
With these three pairs, you can create looks with a shirt dress, linen pants, denim shorts, a midi skirt, a flowing jumpsuit, or a two-piece set. You don't need more; you need each pair to have a clear function.
Common mistakes when choosing footwear for summer travel
- The first mistake is to bring too many shoes "just in case". Most of the time, they take up space and return unused. It's better to choose versatile pairs that combine with each other and with several garments.
- The second mistake is wearing new footwear during the trip. Even if it looks good, you don't know how it will behave after several hours. Try it on at home or on a short outing first.
- The third mistake is to only bring open sandals if you're going to walk a lot. In summer, you crave coolness, but your foot also needs support and rest. Alternating sneakers and sandals prevents overloads and chafing.
- The fourth mistake is to forget about the terrain. Walking on a cobbled city is not the same as moving along a promenade, an island, a rural estate, or a huge airport. Choose with where you're going to step in mind.
Tips to make your feet last the whole trip
Try on all pairs before putting them in your suitcase. Walk in them, check if any straps rub, and make sure the sole doesn't slip. Bring transparent bandages in case of chafing and alternate footwear: don't wear the same pair every day if you're going to walk a lot.
Store sandals and espadrilles in separate bags to protect your clothes. If you're bringing wedges or platforms, place them at the bottom of the suitcase so they don't crush light garments. And when you return from the day, let your footwear air out before storing it.
Small gestures like these make the trip more comfortable and your shoes last longer.
Frequently asked questions about summer travel footwear
How many pairs of shoes to bring on a summer trip?
For most trips, three pairs are enough: comfortable sneakers for walking, cool sandals for everyday wear, and espadrilles, wedges, or dressier sandals for dinners and special occasions.
What footwear is best for walking a lot in summer?
Light sneakers or sports sandals with good support are usually the best option. If you're going to explore a city or walk for many hours, avoid very thin soles, basic flip-flops, or sandals that don't support your foot well.
Can I travel with only sandals?
You can if the trip is very relaxed, but it's not the most advisable if you're going to walk a lot. Ideally, you should bring at least one closed or more supportive pair, like light sneakers, to alternate and better protect your feet.
What shoes to bring for a summer dinner during a trip?
Wedge espadrilles, platform sandals, or wedges are very versatile options. They elevate the look, combine with dresses and linen, and are more comfortable than thin heels for walking in tourist areas.
What footwear takes up less space in a suitcase?
Flat sandals, flip-flops, and some espadrilles usually take up little space. Sneakers take up more, so it's best to wear them during the journey and pack the lighter pairs in your suitcase.
Discover XTI footwear for your summer travels
Explore XTI's collections of sneakers, sandals, espadrilles, flip-flops, and wedges to pack a practical, comfortable, and stylish suitcase. Choose versatile pairs that are easy to combine and designed to accompany you on every plan: airports, walks, beach, dinners, and summer getaways.
