You Won't Regret Packing a Pair of These Travel-friendly Shower Shoes We Tested

Travel + Leisure

01-07-2025

Campground showers, gym locker rooms, and public bathrooms are all places we'd rather not be barefoot, and it's never a bad idea to bring shower shoes on your travels. This isn't just because someone left a clump of hair in the drain—these environments can be breeding grounds for bacteria and nasty fungi. I always make sure to keep a pair of shower shoes with me when I hit the gym, hot springs, or while traveling to lodging with shared bathrooms.
I look for versatile styles that I can wear to the yoga studio or stash in a travel bag for the beach. For this piece, I tested two pairs of shower shoes, and the Travel + Leisure team tried eight other pairs. We evaluated everything from outsole grip to overall materials to comfort while wearing, and took notes based on firsthand testing experience.
After conducting thorough testing, we recommend prioritizing waterproof, lightweight materials that dry fast and won't accumulate grime. Bonus points went to pairs that were comfortable enough to wear out of the locker room. Here are the shower shoes that impressed us most.
Credit: Crocs $40 at Amazon $40 at Nordstrom $40 at Zappos
Known for the iconic foam clogs, Crocs makes plenty of other footwear styles with similar foam and rubber materials. These shoes are stylish and convenient, with minimalist straps and a secure toe loop similar to the toe straps on hiking sandals. The TPU upper doesn't require any break-in period, and they have Crocs' springy 'Croslite' underfoot material that is both thin and supportive. We found them to be super comfortable in the shower, and they were easy to slip our feet in and out of without worrying about tripping.
Packability was a huge bonus here as well—the shoes pack down flat and are thin and lightweight, making them a great option for travel when we need to maximize luggage space. We noticed no signs of wear and tear on the bottom after the test period, and the water streamed off easily, then quickly from the bottom after we stepped on a towel. Finally, these shoes are stylish and versatile enough to be worn out and about, whether to the beach, pool, or errands. We wouldn't necessarily recommend wearing them all day, as the sole is a little stiff, but they're a versatile travel option for both lounging and staying clean in the shower.
The Details: Sizes 4-11 | EVA and TPU Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $75 at Amazon $75 at Zappos View on Dicks Sporting Goods
Built with a molded footbed and reinforced strap material, Reef's flip-flops are comfortable for longer wear compared to simpler flip-flop styles. They have a textured rubber outsole for traction on slippery tile floors, and the wider straps help with stability. The anchor placement for the straps sits in the middle of your foot at the arch, which helps reduce the chance of hot spots. The top strap is also quite wide, which distributes weight well and can make these a good option for walking around longer than just to the shower and back.
The fit was accurate to our normal size, and the toe post rubbed a lot less than other flip-flops we've worn. The textured pattern on the top and bottom of the platform helped keep our feet secure in the sandals while providing good traction underfoot, and we didn't notice any slipping on tiles or wet bathroom floors. We even wore these while walking uphill in the rain and had no slipping issues. Both the arch support and traction contributed to these, making the top ranking, and while they are on the pricey side, if you're investing in one pair of flip-flops, these are a solid choice. Like our best overall for women, these earned bonus points since they can be worn beyond the shower, which means one less pair of shoes to pack.
The Details: Sizes 7-13 | Rubber and synthetic Credit: Travel + Leisure
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These gender-neutral slippers are still easy to fit thanks to the generic shape and wide size range, and they're perfect for wearing on the plane and folding into a personal item. The EVA foam sheds dirt and rinses off in the shower, and they're simple to keep clean and dry. We found them to be surprisingly comfortable despite how thin they are, and they felt quite cushy underfoot. The tread pattern worked better than we initially thought, and we felt secure wearing them around a wet steam room at the spa.
The foam is flexible and easy to fold in half for travel, and repeated folding and packing didn't seem to put any undue pressure on the material. These are a versatile shoe for vacation travel, and while we wouldn't wear them to run around outside, they've held up well during all of our poolside and travel testing. We love that they come with their own cotton travel pouch, and the back of the shoe tucks neatly into the over-the-foot strap for travel.
The Details: Women's 5-12, men's 5-10 | EVA Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $50 at Amazon View on Freedomoses.com $50 at Shopbop.com
I am going through a fierce rubber and foam slides phase this season, and these lightweight slides have been the stars of the lineup. I have been testing these for the past few months in my gym locker room, sauna, and at the pool, and they've become my go-to pair for hitting the yoga studio, running errands, and walking my cat. They are remarkably light thanks to the air-injected PVC, and have a slightly molded footbed that feels comfortable for walking.
The traction has been decent on the pool decks and in the slippery steam room, and the colors are so fun and unique that it was hard to choose a pair for testing (I went with a metallic pink). The only thing I'd change is the underfoot cushion—they're so low profile and lightweight that they don't have a ton of squish underfoot like some of my plusher EVA shower shoes, but for portability and lightweight wear, I can't complain.
The Details: Women's 4-12, men's 8-13 | Air-injected PVC Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon View on Amazon View on Showershoez.com
These are a simple pair of flip-flops with a design dedicated to their use—the slip-resistant outsoles are perfect for slick shower tiles, and they dry fast with a quick shake. Like the Havaianas, the Shower Shoez are low-profile and packable, so you can tuck them into the outside pocket of a pool bag or stick them in your shower caddy for easy storage. We found these to be extremely comfortable, with a thick, soft, squishy feel that molded well to our feet. They required no break-in, and the strap didn't rub or leave marks.
The main draw to these is the unique holes in the bottom of the shoe, which let the water run out and airflow back in. We still wiped them down with a towel after use, but it was nice to have a shoe that didn't pool water underfoot. The traction in these shoes also really impressed us, and even the most slippery locker room floor was no match for the grippy outsole. We would love to see a design with a less obvious logo, though, as we probably wouldn't wear these to run errands with the contrasting brand name stamped onto the strap.
The Details: Women's 6-12, men's 7-13 | Rubber Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Crocs $50 $33 at Amazon $50 at Backcountry $50 $38 at Zappos
For the uninitiated, Crocs Classic Clogs were the original foam clogs that took the world (maybe just the camping, gardening, pool-going world) by storm a decade ago. With a slightly raised heel, pivoting heel strap, and enclosed toe with dozens of drain holes, Crocs are a classic, lightweight shower shoe that you can also use for gardening, travel, and boating. The most recent edition is lighter than ever and uses 25 percent recycled materials in the EVA foam.
We found the fit to be accurate, though if you're between sizes, sizing up isn't a bad idea. The texture on the bottom can be hit or miss—some people love the pebbly underfoot texture, while we found ourselves wishing for a smoother foam. The outsole has a patterned texture as well, and while it was helpful for some surfaces, we still found these to be a bit slippery. However, like all good shower shoes, the water drained from the holes quickly after getting wet, and we could easily take them off and shake them out to speed up the process.
The Details: Women's 4-17, men's 2-15 | EVA foam Credit: Travel + Leisure
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While the woven construction on these shoes looked unconventional, we were impressed right away when we tried them on. They are soft, comfortable to wear for hours on end, and provide plenty of cushion. They don't have any specific tread or separate material on the bottom, but the woven material kept us from slipping on the pool deck and in the locker room, and the water practically disappeared after getting wet. We were able to toss these in our gym bag just minutes after use. It's hard to beat the affordable price, too. 'I would expect to pay a lot more for these shoes. They have quickly become my favorite poolside shoes, and everyone in my house wants a pair,' our tester gushed.
We saw no signs of wear and tear despite heavy use during the test period, and were amazed at how soft these felt compared to stiffer foam and rubber shower shoes. These aren't the most packable shoes on the list, so if you're trying to maximize luggage space, we'd recommend a more low-profile pair. But for long-term comfort and easy-to-wear materials, look no further.
The Details: Men's 8 -13 | Rubber and PVC Credit: Travel + Leisure
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These sporty, fast-drying, lightweight slides look at home on the side of a football field or in the locker room, and we felt fine pairing these with white tube socks or on their own with swimwear. They have a slightly pebbled rubber underfoot for slip-proofing, and the footbed is contoured for more comfort and arch support. We found the fit to be a little tight, and they didn't break in immediately, so plan ahead if these are going to be your own travel shower shoes.
We did love the zig-zag tread on the bottom, which helped us stay on our feet on a range of surfaces, and the material was quick-drying, which enabled faster packing after use. The single wide, synthetic strap over the top was easy to rinse off and keep clean, and they dried quickly both indoors and out. We were also impressed with their packability: the shoes nest into each other (just slip one heel into the other strap) and you have a compact set of shower shoes to toss in your gym bag or luggage.
The Details: Women's 5-19, men's 4-18 | Rubber and EVA Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $50 at Amazon View on REI View on Zappos
Columbia's Creeksider is similar in closed-toe style to the Crocs we loved (listed above), with an extended heel like my other favorite foam clogs from Merrell. The Creeksiders stand out for their extra durability, though, with a thinner, denser foam than the Crocs or Merrells. This translates to more longevity underfoot, as the foam is less likely to compress and punch out.
The outsole is made from a ground-contact-specific foam with more abrasion resistance than standard EVA but a lighter compound than rubber, and the traction is excellent on slippery surfaces. These aren't as easy to slip on as my favorite slides, but they are more secure to wear in the water, and have been my choice for everything from hot springs to casual walks at the dog park and pulling my kayak out at the reservoir.
The Details: Women's 5-12 | Rubber Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Credit: Amazon $26 $10 at Amazon $30 at Nordstrom $30 at Zappos
Havaianas were some of our first 'nice' pairs of flip-flops, and we were happy to see they're still around. With a sleek, lie-flat silhouette and a thin-but-durable footbed, these flip-flops are several steps up from the Dollar Tree variety without being overbuilt. We felt like we could wear these to the pool during the day and dinner at night, and loved how easy they were to pack in a small carry-on.
These dried faster than some of the other shoes we tested, and the tread on the top and bottom worked well to keep our feet from sliding around as well as provide traction on the pool deck. The fit is a little on the slim side, and we recommend ordering a half-size up if you're between sizes. The build is thin but sturdy, and they have enough heft that we didn't notice any 'slapping' sound as we walked around. The color range is fantastic, and overall, the stiffer underfoot material impressed us with its durability during the test period, and we predict these will last a full season of heavy use.
The Details: Women's 5-12 | Rubber Credit: Travel + Leisure
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