The 7 Best Travel Shoe Bags Keep Your Kicks Fresh and Clean
Separating your running shoes from your clothes protects everything from dirt, grime and cross-contaminating odors.
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How many times have you packed your running shoes for a race, then opened your bag to find your clothes and anything else in there is now dirty and smells distinctly of feet? If you go on running trips, for competition or just for fun, using a lightweight, packable travel shoe bag can help you organize your packing, and more importantly, prevent the grime and foot funk coming off your sweaty kicks from contaminating everything else in your gym bag, duffle, or suitcase. Unlike throwing your shoes in a plastic bag, these breathable bags will let them air out and dry out while you’re on the road.
The Best Travel Shoe Bags
- Best Lightweight Shoe Bag: Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Shoe Sack
- Best Semi-Transparent Shoe Bag: pack all Water-Resistant Travel Shoe Bag
- Best for Cleats: Tracksmith Shoe Bag
- Best For The Gym: Case4Life Shoe Duffle Bag
- Ultralight and Sustainable: Peak Design Shoe Pouch
What to Consider in a Travel Shoe Bag
Shoe bags aren’t one-size fits all… literally. There are small bags that may not be able to hold a pair of size Men’s size 16 shoes. There are a few things to keep in mind as you pick one out. After spending years getting creative with our shoe-packing, we’ve discovered which factors really make for a great travel shoe bag, and which ones aren’t so important.
Size
Since shoe bags are designed to be packed within your luggage, it pays to look for the most compact bag possible that can actually accommodate your shoes. If you only want to carry one pair of Men’s size 10s, a big, bulky shoe bag will just take up extra space that you could use for other things. On the other hand, you want to make sure the bag is big enough to hold your shoes, especially if you wear a size 13 or higher.
Last, but not least: While most shoe bags are designed to hold a single pair, there are large models for people who want to bring a few–we’ve seen bags that carry four, or even six pairs.
Breathability and Waterproofing
If you’re packing your shoes on a camping trip or outdoor adventure, you may want to consider looking for a waterproof shoe bag. A waterproof bag has benefits and drawbacks: It’s helpful if you’re worried about your whole bag getting wet, or if you’re worried about excess water from wet shoes soaking through your bag and onto your clothes. On the other hand, waterproof bags are, by their nature, less breathable. That means more of the water and sweat from your shoes will stay trapped in the bag, which could make a smelly shoe stink more.
Given all that, we generally recommend looking for shoe bags with some light water resistance provided by a water-repellent coating, rather than a truly waterproof bag. That way, you won’t have to worry about soaked shoes getting your clothes wet, but can also pack lightly damp, sweaty shoes and let them dry inside.
Dealing with Odors
Some shoe bags are either made or treated with materials that absorb odors. That’s a luxury, but not essential: long-term, good odor-blocking technology can hold up the lingering odor of a well-worn shoe. Knowing that, we think it’s far more important to check your bag’s care instructions so you know how to clean it. A good shoe bag needs to be either hand- or machine-washable, because even good odor resistance can’t always beat the lingering odor of a well-worn shoe.
Casual or Formal?
At Runner’s World, we think of travel shoe bags as vessels for our trainer and race-day running shoes, but they are equally useful for formal footwear. For athletic shoes, a shoe bag just needs to be light and breathable, but you should look for a bag with more structure and padding if you plan to use it for more delicate shoes.
How We Selected The Best Travel Shoe Bags
We picked the best travel shoe bags for runners based on our testing experience and expertise, as well as user reviews and recommendations from experts at a number of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Travel & Leisure.
Our selections represent a wide range of sizes and styles to accommodate the needs of every type of runner. No matter where you’re going or what shoes you’re bringing, we expect there’s a bag on this list for you.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Mesh panels let shoes air out
- Big loop makes it easy to clip anywhere
Cons
- Mesh may let a little dust or grime through
Eagle Creek keeps it simple with this light and breezy shoe bag. Made from Bluesign-certified recycled 300D polyester and polyester mesh, it weighs just 3 ounces, and can handle shoes up to a US Men’s size 13, with room to spare for a pair of flip flops.
The breathable mesh panels on either side of the duffel-style central zipper allow for extra airflow, so your shoes will air out while packed. The large nylon handle on top is useful, and lets you hang it just about anywhere with a clip, like the outside of a gym duffel after a run.
Key Specs
| Sizes | One size (Up to Men’s size 13) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One pair of shoes, one pair of sandals |
| Weight | 3 oz |
Pros
- Breathable
- Multiple size and color options
- Good tote-style handle
Cons
- Regular size only fits up to Men’s size 11
Pack all’s water-resistant mesh shoe bag is fairly stylish–the compact, semi see-through bag comes in six bright colors that pair well with a flashy pair of running shoes. Breathable but water-resistant, it’ll keep your shoes from getting soaked in a storm, but also gives them airflow so they’ll dry out and won’t get too stinky. It’s also very lightweight and compact, and barely takes up any space when it's empty.
The bag comes in two sizes–a standard bag for up to a US Men’s size 11, and a “plus” size for up to a Men’s size 16. (We don’t love that the standard bag is so small, but it’s a very minor nitpick.)
Key Specs
| Sizes | Regular (Up to Men’s size 11) and Plus (Up to Men’s size 1 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One pair of shoes |
| Weight | N/A |
Pros
- Heavy canvas can withstand track spikes
- Shoulder strap
- Classic look
Cons
- Not waterproof
- No XL size for bigger shoes
Like all things Tracksmith, this elegant canvas shoe bag has a timeless look. Unlike many of our ultra-lightweight picks, it’s made from sturdy canvas so it can hold cleats without any risk of tearing. That makes it perfect for track runners, as well as golfers, football and soccer players bringing their spikes from point A to point B. We love the cross-body shoulder strap, which is perfect for bringing cleats from your hotel to the event.
We do have our gripes with the bag. The thick canvas is perfect for cleats, but isn’t waterproof so it may absorb more water and sweat than our other picks. Also, there’s only one size, which fits up to a US Men’s size 13 shoe, so bigger guys are simply out of luck. Still, it’s a well-made and luxurious bag that you’ll want to show off at the track.
Key Specs
| Sizes | One size (Up to Men’s size 13) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One pair |
| Weight | N/A |
Pros
- Reinforced sides
- Double-zipper
- Big hangable loop
Cons
- Not very breathable
Case4Life’s water-resistant Nylon shoe bag has a little more padding than most of our picks, though it isn’t fully structured like a shoe box. Double-zippers make it easy to access and fully visualize your shoes in the bag.
It’s large enough to accommodate a US Men’s size 13, with a little room to spare for a small gym towel or an extra pair of socks. The extra large handle makes it easy to clip it to the outside of a gym bag or luggage.
Key Specs
| Sizes | One (Up to Men’s size 13) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One pair |
| Weight | 3.5 oz |
Pros
- Big enough for two pairs of shoes
- Made from Bluesign-certified recycled fabrics
- Packs down into 3 x 5-inch pouch
Cons
- Small carry handles
- Not made for large shoes
Weighing in at just 1.7 ounces, Peak Design’s shoe bag is the lightest pack in our guide, and it’s made to hold two pairs of shoes. This stylish 6L bag is perfect for a pair of trainers and race day shoes, or perhaps a pair of bulky hiking boots and some extra gear.
That’s assuming you wear small-to-medium size shoes. This bag is made to hold up to US Men’s size 12 shoes, and customers with larger feet reported that they struggled to pack their kicks. On the plus side, the bag’s small footprint makes it remarkably compact: It even packs down into a small internal pouch that’s about the size of a soda can for easy, efficient storage.
At the same time, it boasts some strong sustainability credentials: Peak Designed uses 100 percent Bluesign-certified recycled nylon, which is solution-dyed to reduce water use. (There’s also an even more eco-friendly dye-free “raw” colorway.)
Key Specs
| Sizes | One (Men’s size 12 x 2) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Two pairs |
| Weight | 1.7 oz |
Pros
- Compression adds more space in luggage
- Internal divider
Cons
- Drawstring
This unique shoe bag has external straps that you can tighten to compress it into its smallest size possible. It’s helpful when you need to get your shoes into a full suitcase. The bag is made with a resilient 210-Denier ripstop Nylon, which should be fairly water-resistant, if not for its drawstring closure.
One little interesting flourish: It features an internal divider to hold each shoe in place so they don’t scuff each other up. It’s a solid pick if you’re worried about maximizing every inch of space in your luggage.
Key Specs
| Sizes | Medium (Up to Men’s size 7.5), large (up to Men’s size 16) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One pair |
| Weight | 2.8 oz |
Pros
- Two for the price of one
- Multiple sizes and colors available
Cons
- Fairly flimsy
If you’re looking for quantity, these simple shoe bags come in two- and four-packs. Each set comes with both “regular” and XL bags, which fit a US Men’s size 8.5 and US Men’s size 12.5, respectively.
The bags have an easy to grab and clip onto loop for carrying or stashing on the outside of a pack or luggage. As you might expect, given the price, these are not the most durable or stylish bags, but if you need shoe bags for the whole family, this gets you what you need.
Key Specs
| Sizes | Standard (up to Men’s 8.5) x 2 and Extra Large (up to Men’s 12.5) x 2 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | One pair per bag |
| Weight | N/A |
Chris Meehan is an internationally published writer, author, and editor with more than two decades of professional experience. He has authored multiple adventure guidebooks with Falcon Guides and his work focusses primarily on the nexus between sustainability and outdoor adventure. He is an experienced gear reviewer, tester, and travel writer who has explored multiple continents.
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