Best Travel Shoes for Backpackers – for Men and Women!

Packing for Southeast Asia is all about keeping things light, versatile, and practical. One of the biggest mistakes backpackers make is bringing too many or the wrong types of shoes. The best backpacking travel shoes should be comfortable, breathable, and suitable for different activities.

In this guide, we’ll help you choose the best shoes for backpacking Southeast Asia, covering what to consider, how to pack them, and answering common questions about footwear for travel.

A little sandy trail in Pai, Thailand has many narrow trails that you want to have a good grip on!

What Footwear is Best for Travel – Summary:

Versatile: Choose shoes that can handle it all. City walks for hours, light hiking, muddy wet paths, and more.
Lightweight: Avoid bulky, heavy shoes. You’ll regret it for a long trip. Lightweight and minimal is the key!
Breathable: Southeast Asia is hot and humid—mesh or open designs are best. Think Close toed Tevas or something of that style.
Water-resistant: Sudden rain showers and beach trips are common.
Supportive: Good arch support will help on long travel days. Grippy bottoms help on the unpaved trails. Good cushion for carrying that 5-15kg backpack of yours for hours.
Easy to slip on/off: Many places in Asia require removing shoes before entering. Don’t deal with shoelaces.
Affordable Enough to Lose: You’ll have your shoes off either outside the hostel for the public to see, or in a hostel with roommates many times. Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of for backpackers to either mistake your shoes for theirs, or maliciously take a nice pair of shoes.

An old pair of Boat Shoes. Versatile enough to use in the city or on hikes, casual enough to wear anywhere, but good enough to go to a temple or rooftop bar. Not breathable or any support, but easy to slip on and off, had them resoled…twice.

The Best Shoes for Traveling Southeast Asia

I’ll go over many considerations later in this article. But to summarize,

A pair of hiking sandals are the gold standard for footwear. They are lightweight, breathable, water-resistant and easy to dry, have a supportive sole for lots of walking, grippy bottoms for trails, easy to take on and off with no shoelaces to worry about, and are affordable, often being cheaper than sneakers and especially hiking boots.

They’re not as fashionable, so maybe a pair of sneakers for backup will be good for looks, and also keeping your feet warm in the air conditioned areas of Southeast Asia, such as large malls in Bangkok, a 20 hour nightmare bus ride between Laos and Vietnam, or just to get access to nicer dress-coded places such as temples and rooftop bars in major cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City.

They are also not recommended when riding a scooter. Safety is number 1!

-Hiking Sandals are the best for Traveling in Southeast Asia! Light, breathable, water resistant, all terrain, supportive, the mazda miata of backpacking shoes. Just have a backup of shoes for nicer, colder places, and for foot safety on a scooter.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Shoe for Travel

Imagine exploring the bustling streets of Bangkok, hiking through the lush jungles of Laos, or strolling along the beaches of Bali—only to be held back by painful blisters, aching feet, or shoes that fall apart mid-trip. What if the wrong pair of shoes turned your dream adventure into a nightmare?

Foot pain, discomfort, and poorly chosen footwear can quickly ruin your backpacking experience, leaving you frustrated and sidelined instead of exploring. The right shoes can make or break your trip, so before you pack, let’s make sure your feet are ready for the adventure ahead!

Where You’ll Be Traveling

If you’re sticking to cities and islands, you won’t need bulky hiking boots. However, if you plan on trekking in the mountains of Thailand or exploring jungles in Malaysia, you’ll need something with more grip and ankle support.

Waterproofing

While full waterproof hiking boots aren’t necessary, it’s good to have shoes that can dry quickly after sudden rain or water activities.

Boat rides between Islands in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, will all have a chance of getting wet. Not to mention, Sticky Waterfalls in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where you will be able to walk through a waterfall trail, tipsy tubing in Vang Vient, Laos, and Boat Rides in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, or the cheaper secret, Cat Ba Island.

Quick-dry mesh sneakers or water sandals are great options.

Activities

Think about what you’ll be doing. Walking through temples? Beach-hopping? Jungle trekking? The best approach is to bring shoes that can handle multiple activities.

Sandals are definitely recommended when visiting waterfalls. Especially ones you are allowed to scale such as the sticky waterfalls in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Shoe Weight and Packability

Backpacking Southeast Asia means traveling light. Bulky shoes take up too much space in your backpack. Opt for lightweight and collapsible options like trail runners or sandals.

Comfort vs Fashion

While style matters to some travelers, comfort should be the top priority. You’ll be walking a lot, and sore feet can ruin your adventure.

Versatility

A good travel shoe can be worn in multiple settings. Sandals that double as water shoes, sneakers that look good at a casual dinner—these are ideal.

Socks

Breathable, moisture-wicking socks are key. Even the best backpacking travel shoes can cause blisters without the right socks. A pair of merino wool socks are great investment. They’re antibacterial socks that won’t stink up that you could use for days of hiking without a wash.

Cost

Expensive doesn’t always mean better. There are budget-friendly shoes that work just as well as high-end brands. But don’t walk around in $5 flip flops from the market.

Break-In Shoes Before Leaving

Never take brand-new shoes on a trip without breaking them in first. Wear them for a few weeks before leaving to avoid painful blisters.

It might be a good idea to bring a newer pair of shoes. You may walk enough to wear the soles down and need a repair like mine.

Support Level

Consider arch support if you plan on long walking days. Some lightweight shoes lack proper support, which can cause foot pain over time.

I made the choice to wear Sperry Top Siders for my whole trip. Light, leather, all terrain table, close toed shoes, but the soles are not great support for a long backpacking trip.

How to Carry Shoes When Backpacking

Limit yourself to 1-2 pairs: I would have one main pair of shoes to use for almost all situations. Walking around the cities, something you can bring to the beaches, rivers, and anywhere wet.

One you can use for hiking mountains. You don’t necessarily need hiking shoes if you have strong ankles. Just something that can grip in the not so paved trails.

Then a pair of sandals or flip flops for easy carry as a backup that are still versatile.

Use a shoe bag: Keeps dirt off your clothes.
Clip them outside your bag: If wet or muddy.
Stuff them inside each other: Saves space.

Travel Shoes FAQs

Do I Need Hiking Shoes for Asia?

For general backpacking, no. Trail runners or sturdy sneakers are enough. However, if trekking in places like Sapa (Vietnam) or Chiang Mai (Thailand), hiking shoes or boots could be useful.

If long hikes are part of your itinerary, bring a light pair. If not, I highly recommend trail sandals as a go for Southeast Asia.

I personally hiked for hours in boat shoes that were falling apart, hungover, and high as a kite on many occasions, and have witnessed many do it in flip flops. Not recommended, but you don’t need clunky hiking boots for most hikes.

How Many Shoes for Southeast Asia?

One to two pairs are ideal:

Comfortable walking shoes (sneakers or trail runners)
Sandals (for casual wear and water activities)

You could even wear comfortable sandals as your main shoe for the whole trip, and buy a pair of nice sneakers as a souvenir to use when you need close toed shoes for some places such as a luxurious rooftop bar in Bangkok.

thailand_scooter_safety — Trail Sandals are my favorite pick, but as you can see from this old rental scooter in Pai, Thailand, a lot of people have accidents. Wear some shoes on a scooter to save some skin. Stay safe!

Are Crocs Good for Backpacking?

Yes, they are lightweight, water-friendly, and breathable. However, they lack proper arch support for long walks. I didn’t see many people wearing them on my last 8 month backpacking adventure through Southeast Asia, but it’s not a bad idea.

Are Tevas Good for Backpacking?

Yes! Tevas are durable, comfortable, and work well for walking and water activities.

Are Birkenstocks Good for Backpacking?

They’re stylish and comfy, but not ideal for wet conditions. If you love them, bring them, but have a backup pair.

Are Sandals Good for Backpacking?

Yes, if they have good support. Avoid flimsy, unsupportive sandals.

Are Flip-Flops Good for Backpacking?

Yes, but only for short walks, beach days, and hostel showers.

Choosing the right backpacking travel shoes will make your trip much more comfortable. Pack light, choose wisely, and enjoy your Southeast Asia adventure!

For more ideas on what to pack, visit the Backpacking Packing Guide: everything for Long Term Travel

Best Shoes for Backpacking Travel -Packing Southeast Asia