When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreMark Marino/Business InsiderIf there's one thing that can ruin a great trip, it's the wrong travel shoes. I learned this the hard way while vacationing in Rome about 10 years ago. I was wearing sneakers that always served me well in New York City, but walking for hours on cobblestone streets in the Eternal City was another story. My feet ached, and the back of my heels chafed. I ultimately had to stop and buy Band-Aids and a new pair of sneakers to make it through the remainder of my vacation.That's when I really started paying attention to the walking shoes AI chose for travel. It wasn't just about finding ones that looked good and were the right size. They needed to be built for comfort, with cushioning and padding in all the right places, and appropriate for specific activities and climates. A travel shoe I'd wear to London to go to dinners and the theater with friends would be quite different from one I'd wear for a 40-minute uphill walk to Italy's beautiful city of Ostuni.To find the best travel shoes for men, I tested 20 pairs in a range of styles, including sneakers, dress shoes, slip-ons, and sandals. The final picks are both soothing and stylish, and most are versatile enough that you won't need to pack multiple pairs. Whether you're exploring a new town, attending a destination wedding, going on a beach getaway, or heading somewhere where there's always a chance of showers, these are the travel shoes that will keep your feet in fine form.For more of our extensively tested men's shoe coverage, see our articles on the best men's dress shoes, best men's sandals, and the best men's boat shoes.Advice from your testerSuzanne O'Sullivan/Business InsiderWhen choosing the best travel shoe, start with your destination. Consider the terrain — paved, rocky, or hilly — along with the weather and whether you'll need something dressy for dinners or other occasions. These factors will help determine the right style.Comfort is just as important, so pay attention to fit and construction. Look for enough room in the toe box to prevent blisters without excess space at the heel, which can cause chafing. Supple leather, canvas, or stretchy mesh uppers offer some give and help prevent pinching, while a shock-absorbing foam midsole adds cushioning, and a flexible rubber outsole provides reliable traction.Lastly, the best men's travel shoes are versatile and should work with most of the wardrobe items that you've packed. I'm all about the carry-on, so I travel light, with just a few pairs of travel pants and a mix of long- and short-sleeved shirts. Whatever shoe I'm wearing has to pair well with everything, so I try to stick with one in a solid color and minimal design."Fewer design details mean more pairing options," agrees men's personal stylist Turner Allen. "Instead of working against your look, minimal sneakers will help support it." If you're wearing dress shoes, oxblood or burgundy-leaning tones work with black and brown accessories. "This enables you to pack one less pair of shoes and have one less thing to think about," says Allen.There are many brands that make excellent travel shoes, but here are three that stood out in my testing:Kizik: The sneaker brand specializes in hands-free footwear for work and play, and has a collection of travel shoes in a range of styles. The Vegas 2 is one of its best. It's sleek, comfortable, and has an understated design that suits casual and smart occasions.Diadora: The Italian sportswear brand is known for athletic shoes like the Nuceleo 2. The running shoe is actually the best walking shoe in this list because it's light, breathable, and provides a springy, soft landing with every step.Keen: Based in Portland, Oregon, Keen knows a thing or two about rainy climates. So it's no surprise that it excels at making fantastic water-repellent footwear like the Hightrail Waterproof Hiking Shoe. Available in six cool colorways, the athletic shoe uses waterproofing technology on the exterior and interior to guarantee that feet stay dry.How I tested the best travel shoes for menMark Marino/Business InsiderI have a wide foot and typically wear a standard size 10. To determine the best travel shoes for men, I did a lot of walking over the course of two months in sneakers, walking shoes, dress shoes, slip-ons, sandals, running shoes, and trail shoes. I gave each pair a run-through at least two times in New York City, testing them on smooth sidewalks, cobblestone streets, grassy and uneven park terrain, and subway stairs. A few even journeyed with me on a two-day business trip to Seattle.After testing the shoes, I evaluated them using several different criteria. First and foremost, how comfortable they were. I considered whether the upper felt stiff or flexible, and if the outsole was rigid or moved with my foot. More importantly, I noted how much cushioning the shoe offered and whether walking on roug
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