The Best Walking Shoes For Day Trips & City Breaks

This post will share the best walking shoes for day trips.

I recently parted ways with my Nike Air Force 1s, which I have been wearing since 2022.

Scrolling down my posts to 2022, you will see all the trips I’ve taken over the past three years.

I walked and climbed, and then walked and climbed some more.

From regular 20,000 steps on city breaks to hiking to panoramic viewpoints, those shoes have been there with me through thick and thin.

I never felt the need to replace them because they were functional.

Also, as someone with a capsule wardrobe, I’m not a fan of multiple shoes.

This is why I wore my Air Force 1s everywhere with everything.

Which is why, since I won’t like to admit it, it has been beaten up and needs to be replaced.

So it has now been retired to an exercise/gym/sports shoe.

Meanwhile, I have spent the last month searching for a suitable replacement.

My conditions were pretty simple;

• It had to have some arch support. As someone who is 30+, this is very important to me, especially since I walk a lot on my trips.
• It had to be functional. This means that the colourways need to work across all the outfits in my wardrobe, from wide-leg pants to skirts and dresses.
• Lastly, it needs to be cute on MY feet. After testing out different shoes, it is crucial for any shoe I wear to fit the shape and structure of my feet.

After researching what people are wearing, testing various options, and making a choice, I’m happy to share my findings.

Here Are Some Of The Best Walking Shoes For Day Trips & Everyday Casual Wear

For context, I’m a size 5 with narrow feet.

I’m also petite and 5’0.

So my body frame and foot size absolutely determine my choices.

For easy classification, I’ll be splitting the recommendations based on their brands.

Let’s get into it!

Nike

• P6000s

Naturally, the first brand I had to return to was Nike.

I’ve been wearing them for years and would happily continue.

The first model I absolutely fell in love with was the P6000S.

I ordered a pair, and walking in it felt like a dream.

It was incredibly comfortable with just enough support.

While the foot was a bit narrow, that didn’t bother me as much.

My only issue was the colourways.

I hated all the metallics in the available ones I saw, so I eventually had to give it up.

• Zoom Vomero 5

After trying to find a non-metallic P6000 to no avail, I had to find other options.

I did hear about how incredibly comfortable the Zoom Vomero 5 is, but I bought the Air Max Moto 2K instead and immediately hated it.

While I went into the Nike store to return them, I used the opportunity to try out the Zoom Vomero 5 and fell absolutely in love.

I’ve tested shoes in-store and at home, and I’ve had two different experiences.

However, with the Vomeros, I didn’t need to try them at home.

I immediately decided I was going with them.

This turned out to be an excellent decision.

It was delivered in time for my trip to Helsinki and Tallinn, and it was incredible.

Like someone said, it feels like you’re walking on clouds with these shoes.

They are roomy enough to maintain that level of comfort for my narrow feet, and it reminds me so much of my Air Force 1s.

The arch support is excellent, and most importantly, it looks adorable with my skirts and dresses.

Plus, I got the best neutral colour way, which was another major win for me.

ASICS

• Gel Keyano 14
• Gel 1130s

Another brand I tried was Ascis because everyone and their mother swears by it.

I did try both models, but they felt too snug, so I had to size up half a size.

When I eventually did, I still didn’t feel right.

I felt super bulky on my narrow feet and looked like it would suit people with wide feet better.

The arch support was great, and it felt comfortable enough for long walks, but it just wasn’t for me.

Both models have a similar structure, so they naturally gave me the same results.

I did find a neutral colour way with the 1130s, but it still wasn’t convincing enough.

New Balances

• 530s
• 740s

One thing about me is that I never like to go with trendy items.

Immediately, I noticed that everyone was wearing New Balances, particularly the 530s.

I just knew it wasn’t going to be for me, and I was not wrong.

But for the sake of testing out trainers, I did try it on in one of the stores, and it was a no for me.

I’m not sure if it was the biased opinion I already harboured, but it just didn’t feel and look the way I wanted it to.

Again, it felt more suited for wide feet compared to my narrow feet.

Despite having the best neutral colourways out of the bunch, I couldn’t bring myself to like it.

But many people swear by it, especially for long walks and casual wear, so it is definitely worth trying out before deciding.

Salomons

• XT 6
• XT-6 GORE-TEX

Another brand I tried out in-store was the Salomons, which are apparently hiking shoes.

You’re better off choosing outdoor shoes than indoor shoes like Adidas Sambas or Onitsuka Tigers for long walks, particularly on day trips.

You want a pair of shoes that you can wear come rain or shine.

If you’re an outdoorsy person, Salomons have waterproof shoes you can try.

If I were a hiking person, for instance, I would definitely get a lot of Salomons that I could wear with my Seasalt Cornwall waterproof coat, but I’m not, so I did not feel the need to invest in one.

Also, the bottom of the shoes felt super weird; maybe I just needed to break them in, as I got the same sensation with my Vomeros, and it eventually went away.

It goes without saying that I didn’t like them either.

Birkenstock

• Arizona

Worth mentioning is a pair of Birkenstock Arizona, which I have had for three years as well.

I currently have four pairs: two for outdoors and two for indoors, with one for Spring/Summer and the other for Autumn/Winter.

Once you break into your Birkenstocks and your feet mould into them the way they’re intended to, you’ll be unstoppable.

You can walk out up to 20,000 steps without feeling a thing.

Every summer, I pack up all my footwear and wear my Birkenstock Arizona from June to August.

Even when I go on holiday, I take them with me as well as my Birkenstock Boston, and those are the only footwear I wear all Summer.

Get a pair, break them in over a few weeks, and you will not regret it.

In Conclusion,

If you travel frequently, like I do, and go on a lot of trips that require walking, these are some of the best shoes to try out.

I’m pleased with my Nike Zoom Vemero 5; it’s like a warm hug for my feet, and I hope you find something that makes you feel the same.