The Best and Worst Shoes for Travel (Says a Flight Attendant)

Flight attendants arguably log the most miles crisscrossing the world, which means the rest of us can learn a thing or two from these experts about making travel as painless as possible. At the top of our list is comfortable travel shoes. Since we've lived through the hassles of TSA and the misery of swollen, cramped feet mid-flight, we're all ears when it comes to anything that might take the discomfort out of travel.

To fill us in on what we need to know, we tapped flight attendant Danny Lam to share the tips he's picked up along the way. So what does a flight attendant wear to travel off-duty? "When I'm off-duty and traveling for leisure, comfort is key. For shorter, domestic flights, I'll usually wear my Nike trainers. The Roshe Two, in particular, are super comfortable," he notes. "For longer, international flights, I'll also pack a pair of slides to change into because it's nice for some wiggle room for your toes."

For Lam, fit is a crucial part of picking the right footwear. "Anything that is constricting is a no-go for me. Because of the altitude change, lots of swelling can occur in your ankles and feet, so you want to have something on the looser side," he says. "I would avoid anything with lots of laces or [that] takes a small army to put on/off." So whether you'll soon find yourself on a long-haul flight or a short-and-sweet trip home, make sure you're armed with the right footwear.

Read on to shop shoes to help you travel comfortably and in style!

Wear: Roomy Sneakers

Avoid: Constricting Shoes 

Wear: Simple Slides Flats

Avoid: Anything Too Complicated

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Up next, the best winter shoes to wear with skinny jeans.