If you’re planning to go on a mission trip, or any international wandering for that matter, people will try to convince you that the battle of the best walking shoe is between Teva, Chacos, Merrell and the like. This is simply not true. I invite you to broaden your horizon. The most useful shoe I’ve ever taken on a trip is this one.

1. It’s good for walking in the city because it blends quite well. You can tell a lot about a foreigner by her shoes, and when I’m walking around in these, they look like any other common flat you’d see downtown.
2. It’s good in the village because it suddenly dresses down once covered in dust. They just don’t stand out no matter where I have them on. One exception, in the gym. You should wear actual sneakers to any sports activity. Speaking of sneakers…
3. In case you’re not doing sports but want that comfy sporty feeling, Cole Haan Nike Air technology let’s you wear sneakers without actually wearing sneakers. They are very comfortable and good for walking a lot on paved sidewalks, paved roads, dirt roads, rock paths, tiled floors, carpeted hallways. These are actually YEARS old which only makes them fit more and more like a sock. AND you can also do THIS if you need to.
4. Closed toe shoes win in dirty environments. Period. If you don’t want animal or human waste on your toes, keep them covered. For example, people spit a lot here. Full hack and snot spit. One girl was walking in her scandals and a man spit directly on her toes…on her skin. Well if you don’t want to have to bleach-burn the flesh off of your foot after coming in contact with such waste, again I say keep them covered.
5. And in case they come in contact with waste, these come clean with a simple wipe (they might also burn pretty well, in case you’re like me and just refuse). As mine have not yet come in contact with fresh waste (only the dried waste that eventually becomes part of the dirt roads and sidewalks), this perfect shade of brown has allowed me to wear them endlessly and rarely wipe. I think in 3 months of wearing in a dusty dirty muddy part of the world, I’ve wiped them only once.  A clorox wipe, and a couple of lazy swipes later, they’re good as new.
6. This style/color matches with 95% of the things I’ve packed/purchased. From local ethnic gear to typical western clothes, I’m good. I can wear them with almost any color dress, jeans, leggings, kurtas, dhotis, chitengas…pretty much everything. And think about it, do Tevas ever look nice with a skirt?? NO.  In fact, 9 times out of 10 you just look awkward wearing those other shoes if you try to wear them with anything other than cargo pants.

So next time you pack up for a week in Guatemala or a year in southern Tibet, consider a non-traditional “mission” shoe. Cole Haan has some great walking flats that do the job, sensibly and reasonably fashionable. There may be other brands that are equally or more comfy/stylish. My point in this is to let you know that you don’t have to go with the default recommendation of Teva/Chacos just because you’re going into a “rough” terrain. You can get one shoe that allows you to move in and out of diverse terrains and social situations.

Do you have a favorite shoe that has taken years of abuse and is still holding together? Feel free to suggest if you’d got any tried and true recommendations!