Properly packing shoes into a suitcase ensures the safe transport of footwear without creasing or damaging its components. It also protects against dirt or contamination of the rest of the carry-on luggage. By securing shoes in the suitcase, we can extend their lifespan and, as a result, enjoy our favorite heels, sneakers, or trainers for many seasons. Let’s check out the best tips on how to pack a suitcase for a traveler open to the world!

Tip 1: Make sure you can take the chosen shoes on your trip

If you are planning to travel by plane, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the regulations regarding the weight and size of checked and carry-on luggage allowed by the chosen airline. By visiting the carrier’s website to check baggage weight limits, you can avoid extra fees for so-called excess baggage. Before deciding to add another pair of shoes to your luggage, consider whether you really need them. If you are flying, also estimate how many pairs of shoes, clothes, and accessories your suitcase can hold.

Tip 2: Match the type of footwear to the nature of the trip

Planning a hike or trekking in the mountains? Or maybe you intend to go to the forest on vacation? To avoid exceeding the baggage weight limit, you can wear sturdy and heavy trekking or outdoor shoes before the trip. Worried they might be uncomfortable? Pack a spare pair of lightweight sandals or flip-flops in your bag, foldable backpack, or carry-on suitcase to wear on the plane. This simple trick lets you use every centimeter of your luggage while maintaining your comfort during the flight. Travel comfort is also increased by shoes with a wide toe box, which reduce the risk of painful blisters on your feet and toes.

Tip 3: Protect shoes from damage

To ensure your favorite sneakers, ankle boots, or flip-flops arrive at your destination in perfect condition, transport them in the original boxes from the manufacturer. No space for them in your airplane suitcase? Try packing shoes in a plastic bag or cotton protective bags, which will protect them during transport from unwanted dents and scratches and safeguard your clothes and cosmetics from dirt or color transfer, for example, due to high temperatures.

Tip 4: Fill the insides of shoes

To prevent shoes from deforming during transport, fill the inside of the shoes with socks. You can also use rolled-up clothes for this purpose: thin t-shirts or undershirts. Roll them up and place them inside each pair of shoes. Another option is to put a rolled-up belt inside the shoes. This is a great trick to gain extra centimeters in your suitcase! More clever ways to save space in your suitcase and tricks on how to pack for a small suitcase can be found in other articles on our blog.

If you have large checked luggage where you don’t need to save space, to effectively protect the insides of your shoes, you will need travel shoe trees. These are special inserts shaped like the shoe shaft, placed inside the shoes to maintain their proper shape even for a longer time. Using shoe trees is especially recommended for footwear made of natural leather that is prone to deformation. This solution is also advised for people wearing shoes with more classic styles and stiff shafts, such as oxfords, derbies, Chelsea boots, or moccasins. To function properly, shoe trees should be matched to the model and size of the shoes you own.

Tip 5: Pack shoes smartly!

As important as choosing the type of footwear and protecting it from damage is the skillful packing of shoes into the suitcase. The heaviest shoes are best placed at the very bottom of the suitcase, filling the space around them with socks or other soft clothing. To minimize the risk of shoes shifting, arrange them similarly to how shoe manufacturers pack shoes—so that the toes of the right shoe point toward the heel of the left shoe and vice versa.

Arranging shoes this way allows you to use space efficiently and ensures their stability during travel. Lightweight shoes with a more delicate construction, such as ballet flats, sandals, or pool flip-flops, are best placed along the edges of the suitcase. This way, you protect them from moving during transport or airport transfers. The layered method of packing shoes has another advantage: upon arrival, it’s easier to find the shoes, clothes, cosmetics, or travel accessories you need at that moment.

Tip 6: Don’t forget shoe care accessories!

Is it worth taking additional shoe accessories on your trip? Absolutely! Thanks to them, you can quickly and effectively clean dusty or mud- or rain-stained sneakers. You can pack, for example, a short plastic or wooden shoehorn to help put on shoes and leather insoles that reduce unpleasant odors that develop during shoe use. You can learn more about how to get rid of unpleasant odors from your suitcase in another article on our blog.

Planning to bring suede or nubuck shoes? A special soft-bristle brush will help you care for them by removing everyday dirt. In strategic moments, for example, when your heels or boots are slightly too big, heel grips can also be helpful, and during particularly intense sports activities—extra shoelaces or glue to quickly and easily fix a detached sole or other shoe part. Better safe than sorry!

How to pack shoes and care for them while traveling – summary

Remember that when packing a suitcase or travel bag for a trip, it’s worth dividing shoes into different types based on their weight and size. The heaviest ones are best placed at the bottom of the luggage, and lighter ones along the sides of the suitcase. It’s also worth supplementing your luggage with accessories related to shoe care and maintenance to keep them in pristine condition. Heels or sneakers transported in original boxes or protected with shoe trees can accompany us on many trips! It’s worth taking care of this—after all, comfortable shoes let you explore the whole world!