How to Pack Light After 60: A Week Away With Only Two Pairs of Shoes

Every holiday it is tempting to pack a third pair “just in case”. Shoes take up more room than almost anything else in a small suitcase, and they are among the things you regret most when you packed the wrong ones. For a warm weather week, two well chosen pairs can cover more than a suitcase full of almost-right options.

Here is a simple way to pack for the kind of trip many of us actually take: a week by the coast, a visit to the grandchildren or a few days exploring somewhere warm. The aim is to feel comfortable in the shoes you brought, not to spend half the trip deciding between them.

Step 1: Choose your colours before you open the shoe cupboard

The biggest packing mistake is choosing shoes without thinking about the clothes going in the case. A lovely pair that only works with one outfit takes up the same space as a pair you wear every day.

Start with two neutrals and one accent colour for your clothes. White, navy and coral work beautifully; so do sand, denim blue and soft green. When everything belongs to the same little family of colours, a neutral sandal and one comfortable walking shoe go with far more outfits. A scarf or jewellery can carry the personality and weigh almost nothing.

Step 2: Let your daily plans choose the walking pair

Think about the day with the most walking, not only the evening with the nicest dinner. If you are spending hours sightseeing, visiting markets or moving through airports, the pair you wear on the journey should already feel good on your feet. Do not use a holiday to break in new shoes.

Two things matter more when you travel than they do on a quick errand at home. The first is a secure fit: you do not want a slipping heel halfway through a long day. The second is room for your toes, especially when you have been on your feet for hours. Read the size guide for the particular shoe and try the pair on well before departure.

Step 3: Pack one sandal that earns its place

The second pair should do more than one job. A sandal that looks right with a casual dress, light trousers and a slightly dressier dinner outfit saves you from packing separate shoes for every moment. Choose a colour that belongs to your whole travel wardrobe and a fastening you can live in all day.

If the trip involves a garden party or a meal somewhere lovely, simple and polished usually travels better than a shoe you would only wear for that single occasion. The sandals in the Comfy Coast collection are a place to compare shapes and colours, but check each style's details and choose by your own plans and fit.

Step 4: Think about surfaces, not only outfits

Travel days are hard on shoes. There are airport floors, uneven paths, grass, a wet boardwalk and perhaps a beach. A smooth indoor sole might feel different outdoors; a very delicate upper might not suit a day of exploring. Ask where you will actually walk and choose the pairs that can handle those surfaces comfortably. You may still take your shoes off at the beach, but you will want to get there easily.

Step 5: Wear the bulkier pair in transit

Shoes are the heaviest, bulkiest part of a warm weather wardrobe. Wear the pair that takes up more space on the plane or in the car, and put the lighter pair in your case. Place the packed sandals in a simple bag to keep the soles away from your clothes. If your walking shoes have room inside, tuck small items such as socks into them.

Step 6: Give each pair a rest

The secret to getting a week out of two pairs is not wearing the same pair from dawn until bedtime every day. Let one air out while you wear the other. Wipe away dust or sand before it settles, and allow damp shoes to dry naturally rather than leaving them closed in a suitcase overnight. A little care makes two pairs feel like enough.

My seven day warm weather packing list

Here is the shoe part of the list in full:

• One comfortable walking pair, already tried on a real day out
• One easy sandal that works with casual and dressier outfits
• A colour story that lets both pairs go with most of your clothes
• Socks if your walking pair calls for them
• A small bag for the packed pair and a soft cloth for dust
• Room in the toe and a secure fit checked before you leave

The mindset that makes it work

Nobody at your destination is keeping track of whether you wore the same sandals to lunch twice. What people notice is whether you look comfortable and at ease. Pick the two pairs that make the most sense for your actual week, wear the heavier ones on the journey, and enjoy the extra space in your case. The lighter bag makes moving around easier too.

The Comfy Coast Style Desk