18 Best Walking Sandals for Women (2024)

Behold, my go-to summer sandal. Rothy’s Weekend Slides are comfortable and pair well with everything, from jeans and linen pants to sundresses and maxi skirts. The two crossover knit straps give off an effortlessly chic look, while keeping your feet secure and making the sandal easy to slip on and off. The thick, contoured footbed offers nice support, making them a solid option for office commutes, lunch dates, or standing courtside. More things I love about this neutral slide: It is machine washable and made from eight recycled plastic bottles.

Mercedes Bleth, Condé Nast Traveler’s global associate director of social, raves about these classic sandals for when you want to slide into something casual and breezy. The footbed is made of cork and latex and is lined with suede. The upper portion is made of the durable material Birko-Flor that lends the sandal its name. If you’re looking for a neutral, choose from the dark brown or black—or switch it up with a bright white pair.

The Elle criss-cross sandal from Keen is as versatile as a walking sandal gets. Whether you’re headed to a concert, strolling down the boardwalk, or sitting poolside, these sandals have you covered. They’re designed to follow the contour of your foot for a snug yet comfortable fit and feature a shock-absorbing foam insole. The heel strap can be easily adjusted and the sandal offers great arch support, keeping your feet feeling good all day long.

I wore this pair of lightweight raffia sandals nonstop on a trip to Tuscany last summer. This flat sandal doesn’t have much of an arch, so while I didn’t wear them on any long vineyard tours, I relied on them for afternoon strolls and to dinner in Lucca when I wanted to look put together while avoiding heels. They’re elevated enough to wear with sundresses and skirts yet simple enough to toss on with a swimsuit cover-up or denim shorts. I was running low on space in my suitcase for that trip, and these took up almost no packing room. I also love how chic they look paired with a straw tote bag.

If you really do prefer the simplicity of a classic flip flop that you can easy slip on and off, opt for this cushioned pair from Reef. With a soft compression-molded EVA footbed and added arch support, the Cushion Cloud sandal provides a lot more comfort than that paper-thin plastic pair in the back of your closet. These casual shoes are lightweight, packable, and will match most any casual vacation outfit you might pack.

If you’re looking for a pair of sandals you can actually hike comfortably in, Lara Kramer, Traveler’s former global director of audience development says these are for you. The cushioned padding absorbs shock impact and the contoured midsole gives you plenty of added arch support for walking on uneven terrain. These durable sandals, made from recycled materials, are designed to work in wet conditions, provide traction, and feature a hook-and-loop closure for easy adjusting.

Ideal for active days spent on walking trails or bike rides when you don’t want to wear sneakers, the Bravada sandals from Merrell are lightweight and supportive. The ankle strap keeps your foot secure while the mesh upper offers plenty of breathability. The outsole is designed to give added grip and the hook and loop closure makes adjusting them to your exact fit a breeze.

Teva knows a thing or two about designing quality hiking sandals. Another favorite of ours from the brand is its Universal Sandal. Simple and classic in design, these bestsellers are so versatile—making them a worthy packing essential. They offer a contoured EVA footbed and midsole, adjustable straps, and enough cushion for a full day on the trails.

If you prefer to have your toes covered when you hit the trails, Keen’s Newport H2 sandals offer the breathability of a sandal and the protection of a sneaker, thanks to a durable toe bumper. The quick-dry linings of the shoe and grippy soles allow you to navigate through steams, puddles, and rain without a worry and the insoles give you the arch support you need for a full day of movement.

Senior editor Megan Spurrell raves about these somewhat ugly, somewhat perfect recovery slides. As a marathon runner, she regularly turns to these bad boys to soothe her tired feet after pounding the pavement. While Spurrell mostly wears these around her apartment to aid in muscle recovery, these Oofos slides are also ideal to slip on for a walk around a cruise ship or to grab a coffee at a nearby cafe. Are they the sexiest shoe on our list? No, but they just might be the comfiest.

An updated model to Hoka’s original Ora slides, another favorite of Spurrell’s, these recovery sandals feature four air flow channels for maximum breathability and are more lightweight. The soft foot bed provides plenty of cushion for your feet after an intense workout or day hike. These futuristic slides come in a variety of vacation-ready colors like Citrus Glow, Sherbet, Violet Bloom, Passion Fruit, and Vibrant Orange.

I’m currently eyeing these chic, textured sandals from Margaux. The croc-embossed Italian calf leather gives them a sophisticated and effortlessly cool look. From business meetings and lunch dates to backyard parties, these handmade sandals will quickly elevate whatever you’re wearing without the need for a heel. Equal parts fashion and function, these are the perfect addition to your summer vacation packing list.

As a devoted wearer of Rothy’s Weekend Slide for everything from lunch dates to the office, I was thrilled to hear the brand recently debuted a slightly more elevated version, The Lightweight Wedge sandal. Designed with a stretchy heel strap to keep your foot secure and soft footbed, I knew right off the bat these would become my new favorite spring sandal. More pros: Extra cushioning, a rubber outsole for added traction, and a lightweight design that lends the appearance of a wedge sandal without the bulk in your suitcase. And as always with Rothy’s, these new travel-friendly wedges are sustainably made and 100 percent machine washable. Grab them in ivory, brown, or black.

If it’s the formal night on your cruise or you’re headed to dinner in Florence where cobble stone streets are unavoidable, you might want to consider this lug sole sandal. Offering a one-inch platform and two-inch heel, these stylish strappy sandals are polished enough to wear with dresses, but won’t leave your feet covered in blisters. With a padded insole and stretchy, elastic upper, these are the perfect alternative to wedges or block heels. Research director Alexandra Sanidad swears by them for every type of trip. Did we mention their machine washable?

We all want the ease of throwing on a simple pair of flip flops or slides while headed to lunch or the pool on vacation. For a more elevated look than your classic slip-ons, these neutral, sporty slides from Tory Burch are worth a spot in your suitcase. The chic leather sandals feature Tory Burch’s signature double-T logo and pair well with bathing suit cover-ups or casual dresses.

If you already have a go-to pair of neutral-toned walking sandals, senior commerce editor Madison Flager suggests a pair of colorful Birkenstocks to switch things up from your everyday shoe. Not only are they great for the pool and comfortable enough for all-day wear, they also add a pop of color to even the simplest outfits in your suitcase, like a plain white T-shirt and denim shorts. The classic double-strap sandals come in colors like lavender, dusty blue, pink, light green, and white; however, black is the easiest one to dress up.

A sandal that’s cute, comfortable to walk in, and water-friendly? The Reef Water Vista sandal really does it all, making it an ideal pair to pack for a cruise or a beach vacation. These are a favorite of commerce producer Paris Wilson—and it’s easy to see why. This pair with an adjustable velcro back strap keeps your foot secure, offers great support, and looks a lot more stylish than classic pool shoes. Choose from a variety of colors including blush, hot pink, blue, brown, and black.

A comfortable upgrade to standard flip-flops worn to the pool—this soft, lightweight pair of sandals features water-resistant synthetic straps with a quick-drying jersey knit lining. The rubber outsoles have traction ridges inspired by a coral reef that give plenty of grip to avoid slipping. Plus, the sandal is available in plenty of fun summer colors like coral, orchid, pink, marine blue, and more.