Looking for the best travel sneakers? These are….IT. The most recommended by y’all as the best travel shoes and I can see why!
Let’s talk about shoes for a second — specifically, white travel sneakers. Because if you’re heading to a city like New York or a theme park like Disneyland or Disney World , you better believe your feet are going to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Between the subway stairs, sidewalk dodging, wandering through parks, chasing coffee in the rain (yes this happened while I was on my trip) , and trying to act like a local when your phone is clearly open to Google Maps — what’s on your feet matters. You need the best walking shoes for a trip like this!
And after testing out way too many “good for travel” sneakers over the years, I finally found the ones I’ll be packing (and wearing) on every city or theme park trip moving forward: Vessi sneakers. A great pair of white sneakers are a travel requirement!
Why Vessi Sneakers Are My Ride-or-Die Travel Sneakers
Let me walk you through (pun fully intended) why I fell hard for these shoes — and why they totally saved my feet in New York City (even with walking almost 20,000 steps a day).
The Travel Sneaker Situation: Why Travel Shoes Are So Hard to Get Right
Here’s the thing: travel shoes have to do a lot.
You want them to be comfy enough for all-day walking, cute enough to wear with everything, supportive enough to prevent the dreaded arch pain… and let’s not even get into what happens when it rains and you step off the curb straight into a mystery puddle (and yes, it did rain on my trip….a lot).
So I was on a mission. I wanted a travel sneaker that was:
- Stylish enough to wear from the airport straight to dinner
- Supportive enough for 15,000+ steps a day
- Actually water-resistant (not just “dries fast” — like, keeps your socks dry in a rainstorm)
- Lightweight enough to not bulk up my suitcase
- Easy to clean (because: city streets. Enough said.)
Enter: Vessi. These were by far the most recommended pair of shoes when I asked on my instagram stories and I can see why.
My Vessi Travel Sneakers Test Drive: 5 Days in NYC
I decided to test these shoes where it really counts — on a five-day trip to New York City. And listen, NYC will expose your footwear faster than anywhere else. If your shoes suck, the sidewalks will tell you by lunchtime.
Here’s what happened.
Day 1: Travel Days
I landed mid-afternoon, checked into the hotel room , and walked around lower manhattan for a bit. The shoes? Yes I wore them on the airplane. Perfectly comfortable for travel days and being in the sky. Zero blisters. No sore arches. And honestly? I kind of forgot I was wearing new shoes straight out of the box. No breaking in these travel sneakers!
Day 2: Rain and Ellis Island
Cue the NYC spring weather — gray skies and steady rain. Normally I’d panic and reach for boots or just resign myself to soggy socks. But Vessis are waterproof, so I stuck with them. And thank goodness — my feet stayed completely dry.
I took the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, explored Ellis Island, strolled around the Battery (mud and all), stopped at a café and ended up walking back to the hotel instead of Ubering because my feet felt so good. Who chooses to walk in the rain in New York? I did. Because my most comfortable walking shoes let me.
Day 3: Downtown Adventures — Battery Park, Stone Street, and the Oculus
Day three was all about exploring Lower Manhattan — and if you’ve done this route, you know it’s a marathon, not a sprint. We walked to The Battery to see the Statue of Liberty from the waterfront, walked along the southern edge of the city (hello, sea breeze!), and wandered into Brookfield Place for a coffee stop.
From there, we went to the Oculus — that stunning white, spaceship-looking structure that’s part mall, part subway station, part photo op. And surprise: more walking. After a short break, I walked to Stone Street for dinner.
What stood out this day was how grippy my Vessis felt on different and uneven surfaces — cobblestones, wet subway steps, slick marble floors in the Oculus. No slipping, no sore feet. Just steady, comfortable steps from morning to night (this is amazing for brand new travel sneakers )!
Day 4: Central Park to Broadway (aka The Ultimate NYC Day)
This might’ve been my favorite day (and also a VERY long day on my feet). I attended my conference early in the day and then took a cab north from our hotel into Central Park, stopping to people-watch, grab a coffee, and explore some of the quiet corners of the park that somehow feel miles away from the city.
Then it was time to live out every millennial girl’s rom-com fantasy: walking the Upper East Side to visit the famous stoop (yes, that one). I wore my Vessis with a flowy dress and leather jacket — and not only did they look great, but my feet weren’t screaming by mid-afternoon like they usually would be.
Later that evening I had dinner at The Plaza (a little treat-yourself moment), and then saw Wicked on Broadway. Total steps for the day? Over 17,000. Feet? Still fine. Absolutely dry. And definitely stylish.
Day 5: Conference Mode & One Last Walk in my Travel Sneakers
On the final day, I was in full conference mode — meetings, panels, sitting for long stretches, and then walking to dinner with a few fellow attendees. My Vessis handled the shift from sitting all day to walking all night with zero complaints.
I walked back to the hotel feeling a little nostalgic that the trip was wrapping up — but also completely sold on these stylish shoes. They had carried me through the wild variety of NYC terrain and weather without once making me think, “Ugh, my feet hurt.”
What Makes Vessi Stand Out?
Let’s break it down, are these travel sneakers worth it? First of all, they’re COMFORTABLE thanks to the built in extra cushion and flexible materials. No blisters. No rubbing. Straight out of the box. They might just be my new favorite walking shoes .
Shop Vessi Sneakers:
100% Waterproof
Vessi’s patented Dyma-tex® knit is the real deal. I stepped in puddles, got caught in rain, walked through wet grass in Central Park — and my socks stayed bone dry. It’s kind of magic.
Ridiculously Lightweight
They’re featherlight. No joke. You’ll barely notice them on your feet, and they take up minimal space in your bag. Great for carry-on travelers.
Breathable Yet Cozy
Even though they’re waterproof, your feet never get hot or sweaty (important in warmer weather ). The breathable mesh and knit material lets them breathe, and I wore mine with both no-show socks and regular ankle socks comfortably.
Super Stylish
They give minimalist, effortlessly-cool vibes. They’re great casual sneakers. I wore them with leggings, joggers, jeans, and dresses — and they worked with every single outfit.
Machine Washable
Spill a coffee? Step in a questionable city puddle? No problem. Toss them in the washing machine (cold cycle, air dry), and they come out looking like new.
Vessi Styles I Recommend for Travel Sneakers
If you’re ready to give them a try, here are a few styles to consider:
- Soho Sneaker – This particular style is my favorite and the most simple design . Casual, comfy, and easy to slip on and off. Perfect for city exploring. They come in a variety of colorways but I opted for a minimalist design and white color
- Boardwalk Slip On Sneaker – Sleeker and more low-profile. A great option if you want something a little more polished.
- Stormburst Low Top – More athletic ( a bit more like a running shoe ). Offers extra support and grip if your travels include hikes, uneven terrain, or full-on theme park days.
Real Talk: Any Downsides?
Very few. But here’s what you should know:
- They aren’t made for formal occasions, these are day wear only. Pack something dressier if you need it beyond this perfect travel shoe option.
- If you wear custom insoles for arch support or have specific orthopedic needs, you may want to double check that your Vessi style works with inserts ( for the record, I do wear inserts and they were perfect in the Soho Sneaker).
- Popular colors and sizes of these travel sneakers do sell out. I had to wait a bit for the color I wanted — but now that I have them, I’m fully obsessed.
Final Thoughts: Are They Worth It?
YES. If you’re planning a trip to New York — or anywhere with lots of walking — Vessi travel sneakers are one of the smartest things you can pack. They saved my feet, have great support, kept me dry, looked good in photos, and handled five full days of new city chaos like pros.
They’re stylish, lightweight, comfortable (thanks to the built in shock absorption ), and waterproof. What else do you need? They’re the perfect shoe for travel!
Planning Your NYC Trip? Trust Me On This One…
Pack Vessis. Your feet will thank you. Rain or shine, Broadway or Battery Park, puddles or plaza dinners — they’ll keep up with you every step of the way. We love a supportive shoe that also looks cute! These are honestly the ultimate travel shoe !
And if you’re anything like me, by day five you’ll already be planning your next adventure — and making sure your new favorite Vessis travel sneakers are packed first.
