Mesh slippers and thin strappy sandals may be the thing right now, but they’re not going to take you very far on foot. For travel, we prefer sandals that are truly supportive—and can put in their 10,000 steps, from beach to dinner. While Birks are of course the gold standard, we found several other elevated options to prove that support really can be beautiful!
1. A chic cross-cross strap option, this pair by Liberté have a cushioned sole and elegant gold hardware. We also love the minimalism of their Kyoto sandal, and with a thicker strap, the Aloha sandal is elegant and supportive.
2. This Birkenstock-inspired pair by Tod’s evolves the classic thong with a statement gold buckle.
3. We absolutely love these Sézane sandals—a shaped leather insole in deep chocolate, with gold hardware that dresses up to walk you from day to night. And another great Birk reinterpretation by Sézane is more “navigating the cobbled streets of a charming Italian village” and less ‘70s California commune.
4. We love the handwoven leather straps on these sandals with a thick molded sole and back ankle strap, perfect for pounding the pavement and then heading to dinner!
5. If you’re willing to shell out, this option by The Row is perfectly understated but still hugs your foot.
6. The Hermes Chypre Sandal pulls off chic-meets-comfortable in a variety of colorways.
7. With an oversized buckle and a contrast sole, these supportive J.Crew slides are available in suede and black.
8. A supportive yet delicate sandal can be hard to find, but this suede version by Emme Parsons is the perfect mashup.
9. These Loewe slides in a beautiful brown suede have a lot going on, including a very chic gold buckle.
10. We couldn’t not include a Birkenstock in this list, namely this elevated version of their classic Arizona style in a Bordeaux colorway with a hammered gold buckle.
11. These strappy leather sandals have a great supportive sole and a cute criss-crossing ankle strap.
12. The OG of orthopedic-chic footwear, Dr. Scholl makes these cork mules—a great riff on their iconic Pescura sandal, but with a suede upper and cork sole instead of the classic wooden one. This slide version in black raffia is super understated and cool—and on sale!
13. An affordable option, this pair has ample arch support and a velcro strap to secure your foot.
14. This pair by A.Emery—in a variety of leathers—is a striking twist on the gladiator, with good support. We also love their slide in cognac leather.
15. Our friend, Onda founder Larissa Thompson, swears by this James Perse pair for plane travel!
16. And while no one would call Tevas chic, we love these norm-core sandals in tan—they’ve got great arch support and don’t call attention to themselves.
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