Rundefeated

Travelling as a runner is a little bit different from normal travelling. Most people pack clothes, camera, and maybe one comfortable walking shoes. But runners? We pack dreams. We pack routes. We pack the hope of waking up early in a new city and running before everyone else wakes up. And as a backpacker runner myself, I always try to run wherever I go.

For the past 15 years, I rarely travelled with full-service airlines. Instead, I often flew with low-cost carriers like AirAsia, Scoot, Jetstar, easyJet, and Wizz Air. These airlines are amazing for budget travellers, but they come with one major limitation: baggage allowance. Every kilogram matters. Every inch of space counts.

That means I usually only bring one pair of shoes. One shoes for airport walking, one shoes for standing in long immigration lines, one shoes for exploring the city, and yes — one shoes for morning running session. Sounds simple… but finding that one perfect shoes is surprisingly difficult.

After 15 years of travelling and running, I realized something important: not all running shoes are good for travelling. In fact, some of the most advanced running shoes are actually terrible travel companions. Especially modern supershoes with aggressive designs and high-tech features.

My first criteria for the perfect travelling shoes for runners is no plate shoes. No carbon plate, no plastic plate, no fancy propulsion technology. Carbon plate shoes are amazing for running. They make you faster, more efficient, and sometimes even feel like cheating. But walking in supershoes? That’s a completely different story. It feels awkward, stiff, and sometimes even painful.

These plated shoes are designed for forward momentum. They want you to move fast. But travelling is the opposite. Travelling is slow. Travelling is standing in airport lines, waiting for buses, walking inside museums, and strolling through unfamiliar streets. Walking slowly in supershoes just feels unnatural. And after a few hours, your feet will start complaining.

My second criteria is minimal rockered design. Rocker technology helps running gait by encouraging forward motion. It’s great when you’re running 5K or 10K. But travelling is not 10K. Travelling is often 20,000 steps, sometimes 30,000 steps in a day. And those steps include stairs, escalators, uneven pavement, cobblestone streets, and sometimes even slippery surfaces.

Shoes with aggressive rocker design can feel unstable, especially when walking down stairs. I’ve experienced this myself. Running shoes that feel amazing during a morning run suddenly feel uncomfortable when walking down subway stairs or standing inside a crowded metro. Rockered shoes want you to roll forward — but sometimes you just want to stand still.

My third criteria is durable outsole. Some running shoes sacrifice outsole rubber to reduce weight. This is great for race day. But when travelling, you never know what kind of surface you’ll encounter. It could be rough asphalt, wet pavement, muddy parks, uneven sidewalks, or even snow if you’re lucky enough.

Travelling is unpredictable. And your shoes must be ready for everything. Durable outsole gives confidence. You don’t have to worry about slipping on wet roads or damaging your shoes after a few days. A good outsole also means your shoes will last longer — which is perfect for long trips.

Another underrated factor is standing comfort. Runners often focus on running comfort, but travelling involves a lot of standing. Standing in airport queues, waiting for buses, riding crowded metro trains. Shoes that feel great for running sometimes feel terrible when standing still. This is something I learned the hard way.

Interestingly, the perfect travelling shoes for runners are usually not the most expensive ones. They are often simple daily trainers. Shoes that are balanced, comfortable, stable, and durable. Not too aggressive, not too minimal, not too fancy. Just reliable companions.

So if you can only bring one pair of shoes for your next trip, choose wisely. Avoid plated shoes, avoid aggressive rocker, and choose durable outsole. These three simple criteria can turn your shoes into the perfect travel companion. Because for runners, every trip is also a running adventure. And the best adventures always start with the right shoes.