Gear Review: Outstanding, Comfortable and Flexible Travel Shoes

Here at In The Loop Travel, we occasionally do product reviews for gear and accessories that we think would be of particular interest to our readers.

We received a sample of the new Town style shoe from the company A’rcopedico. Now, this is a shoe style for women, so I had my wife Colleen give the footwear a try on some of our recent travels.

A’rcopedico has a broad lineup of shoes that are designed to be “weightless,” simple and comfortable. Thus, they are ideal for travelers. They also are made from biodegradable materials, making the shoes a sensible, sustainable and eco-friendly choice.

The slip-on style shoes are made with a Lycra upper, removable insole and rubber sole. They are bendable, stretchable and lightweight. This flexibility allows them to conform to your foot and makes them easy to pack.

They are breathable and washable. You can just toss them into the washing machine on the gentle cycle and then air dry your shoes.

Here is what Colleen had to say about the look, feel and performance of the Town.

Q: What do you think of the look, fit and function of these shoes after your experience wearing them for a couple months?

A: One of the things I like about these shoes is the versatility. You can wear them on land when you’re touring or you can wear them on a boat.

They have nice non-slip soles which also are white and non-marking. Anybody who has spent time on a boat knows that you don't want to mark up the surface.

They’re extraordinarily comfortable. What I really found was that they actually got more and more comfortable the more I wore them. The more I wore them, the more they seemed to mold to my feet. I really like that sole is kind of angled so that the heel sits up just a little bit higher than the rest of the foot, and it creates some really nice arch support, which is something that’s often missing in a casual shoe.

Q: Do you think they are versatile? Can you get away with wearing them for different occasions, such as a dinner and touring around the city? I know they pack easily, but would they help cut down on your shoe count for a trip?

A: These definitely are casual shoes. Probably not great for a fancy dinner. I did go with the basic black color. My thinking behind this is that I wanted something that would go with pretty much anything, and they do.

You can wear them with a pair of jeans, a pair of capris, shorts, even a casual short skirt. This is great. That’s exactly what you want from your shoe. I might have picked a little bit lighter color because the black does absorb a bit of heat.

And, of course, because we travel a lot, being packable is extraordinarily important. These pack very well. They are super flexible, so you can bend them up, throw them in your suitcase and not worry about how they're going to survive the trip. They don't take up a lot of room.

Q: What else should travelers know about The Town shoes?

A: These are sized with European sizes, so I might have picked a half size too big. That's something people from the U.S. should realize. Also, when the shoes get wet, they are little more slippery and can slip off the heel if they aren’t the exact proper fit.

The Town retails for about $80 and comes in a range of colors. You can check out all the different shoes, boots, sandals and other footwear and accessories on A’rcopedico’s website to see what might be right for you on your next travels.

Thanks for reading,

JR