Editors’ Choice Awards: The Best New Travel Shoes for Men 2018

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We sourced the best travel shoes for men, limiting our choices to pairs released in 2018. Each shoe was tested on the following criteria: weight, packability, style, comfort, number of miles you could walk comfortably while wearing them, arch support, versatility, and technology. These are our winners:

For our other Editor’s Choice winners, including the Best New Travel Shoes for women, click here. 

Editor’s note: For the latest version of this story, see The Best New Travel Shoes for Men 2019.

Winner: Timberland Cross Mark Oxford

Timberland’s Cross Mark Oxford sneakers earned near-perfect marks for their style, comfort, and versatility. Timberland has taken a traditional, comfortable sneaker and topped it with leather uppers for a stylish look that can easily transition from day-to-night. Our tester raved about the comfort level of these shoes, wearing them without pain or fatigue for many miles, likely due to the shoes’ OrthoLite comfort foam insoles (which wick moisture and provide long-term cushioning), and trademarked Aerocore Energy System outsoles, which return energy to the wearer.

Second Place: Samuel Hubbard City Legends

Fully lined with a buttery soft leather, Samuel Hubbard’s City Legends are comfortable to wear straight out of the box, molding to your feet and preventing blisters. These shoes were designed with long days on your feet in mind: a lightweight Kevlar shank provides bullet-proof arch support, and triple-density memory foam insole offers plenty of cushioning (and is easily removed in case you want to add in your own orthotics). On the dressier side, these are the shoes to pack if you’re planning on some nice dinners or business meetings on your next trip—or just want to add polish to your casual outfits.

Third Place: Chaco Davis Lace Leather

The Chaco Davis Lace Leather is a more casual option, but is still a style upgrade from a standard sneaker, thanks to the leather outer. These sneakers have plenty of arch support and cushioning (including a removable footbed) so you can customize your fit. These shoes performed well in wet-weather testing, with a trademarked CHACOGRIP sole that’s optimized for slippery surfaces.

Finalist: SWIMS Motion Wingtip Oxford

These everything-everywhere shoes just might be the perfect travel companion for urban travelers. At home in the city, the SWIMS Motion Wingtip delivers classic-with-a-modern-twist style plus surprising comfort that goes all day—and  well into the evening. Grippy soles and a breathable but water-resistant construction make these great shoes year round when you don’t want to look like just another sneaker-clad tourist.

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Finalist: Cole Haan 3.ZEROGRAND Wingtip Oxford

Cole Haan’s 3.ZEROGRAND Wingtip Oxford takes the brand’s patented Grand.OS comfort technology and infuses it into a Wingtip Oxford style that’s perfect for stylish travelers. These shoes offer targeted padding throughout, including a padded sock lining as well as skeletal lining built-in for midfoot and heel support. The soles have cushioning and traction pods that prevent slips and make walking a breeze. 

Finalist: LOWA Stanton

LOWA goes retro hipster with the Stanton Lo. These sneaker-style walking shoes were designed with a style nod to climbing shoes, but even non-climbers can appreciate the high-quality craftsmanship. Serious structure supports feet over long distances, though it’s worth noting that the shoes run a bit narrow so they won’t be great for anyone with wide feet.

Finalist: Merrell Bare Access Flex Shield

If you’re looking for the best travel shoe to pack for workouts, Merrell’s Bare Access Flex Shield shoe would be it. This minimalist sneaker folds down nearly flat for easy packing, and is perfect for both trail running and weight-lifting. At around 7 ounces per pair, these are also the lightest shoes on our list.

Finalist: Kenneth Cole Lace Up Kam Leather Sneaker

Kenneth Cole’s Lace Up Kam Leather Sneakers stand out for their patented 37.5 technology, which uses a blend of volcanic sand and coconut shell material to help regulate the temperature of your feet. The shoes are also moisture wicking and odor-preventing, and have a nicely cushioned insole.

Finalist: Xero Shoes TerraFlex

Billed as barefoot trail running shoes, the Xero TerraFlex didn’t, at first glance, seem like an ideal travel shoe. But tested revealed otherwise. Though they don’t have much in the way of structure, these shoes are remarkably comfortable, even after a full day of walking. They look like low-profile hiking shoes and fill in a surprising number of gaps—it’s easy to find yourself wearing them around the house like slippers, around town like sneakers, and on the trail.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Editors’ Choice Product Awards 2018
• Editors’ Choice Awards: Best New Travel Shoes for Women
• Editors’ Choice Awards: Best New Travel Gadget
• Editors’ Choice Awards: Best New Travel Pillow
• Editors’ Choice Awards: Best New Carry-on Bag
• Editors’ Choice Awards: Best New Packing Accessory
• Editors’ Choice Awards: Best New Travel Backpack

Editor’s Note: Some products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at [email protected].

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