These are the only shoes I need to pack on a trip—and they're under $75

As a seasoned fashion editor who considers LaGuardia Airport a second home, I've spent years perfecting the ever-elusive casual-cool airport fit. And the secret, I’ve found, lies solely in one’s shoe choice. For me, there’s no more useful option than a pair of high-comfort silver sneakers. Their innate versatility helps notorious overpackers, like myself, optimize suitcase space and vacation outfit potential. I wear them on the plane and then throughout the rest of my trip, too, for sightseeing escapades, concerts, solo dinners, and more.

Unlike most athletic shoes, metallic styles have an elevated aura that makes them feel more like a piece of jewelry than a function-first walking shoe. The right pair of silver sneakers will keep you comfortable on 20,000-step days, but still feel appropriate for fancy evenings out. (And, speaking from first-hand experience, they look great in every photo along the way.)

My favorite pair of silver sneakers, the Adidas Court 3.0, have comfortably carried me through the bustling streets of London, Reykjavik, and Copenhagen in style. The proof is in the Instagram post. If you’re still not sold, allow me to convince you why silver sneakers might just be the hardest-working staple on your packing list.

Silver Court 3.0

$75.00, Amazon

A brief history of the silver sneaker

Thanks to an influx of fashion-forward shoe trends—like narrow sneakers and hybrid styles (looking at you, sneakerinas and Mary Janes)—statement sneakers have never been more popular. Chromatic designs, specifically, are one of 2026’s leading fashion trends.

Their industry-wide takeover first began in 2025, with what I like to call the Puma Speedcat boom. The retro, streamlined look lent itself well to a brazen metallic finish, and the colorway quickly became one of the brand’s leading styles among celebrities and shoppers. The trend earned stamps of approval from celebrities like Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Emily Ratajkowski, and Bella Hadid.

Before long, the flashy colorway began cropping up in collections from high-end fashion houses and athletic brands alike, dominating the sneaker universe as a whole. Every major footwear manufacturer got in on the trend, spanning from Nike, Adidas, and New Balance to Golden Goose, Prada, Saint Laurent, and more. Heritage styles, like Adidas Sambas, Nike Air Max, and New Balance 740, all got the high-shine treatment. Finally, the plain white sneaker had a worthy opponent.

Why I love them for travel

As a rule, I never travel without a pair of silver kicks—to me, they’re as essential as my phone charger and packing cubes. I’ve worn my silver sneakers to music festivals in Barcelona, on matcha runs in Brooklyn, for shopping trips in Boston, and beyond. My silver Adidas Courts, specifically, are among the comfiest sneakers I own (and this is coming from a girl who has more than 20 pairs and counting).

Now, I’m aware that for white sneaker devotees, a pair of silver sparklers might feel a little intimidating. But after slipping on my first pair, I soon found they act more as a neutral than anything else. My beloved Adidas Courts first entered my sartorial orbit last year, and have been a constant presence in my wardrobe ever since. They’re so hardworking and adaptable, they’ve virtually erased plain white sneakers from my everyday lineup—anything they can do, my silver sneakers can do better.

Through hundreds of thousands of miles of travel, I’ve found that silver sneakers wear just as well with fleece-lined sweatsuits as they do with midi skirts, dark-wash jeans, and even my most cherished pair of leopard print Damson Madder cargo pants. Unlike their white counterparts, my silver sneakers add an element of polish and glamour to every look they punctuate (a necessity for a fashion editor on the go). They’re equal parts function and style, saving me time and time again from wasting precious suitcase space on multiple pairs of shoes.

More silver sneakers I recommend

Now that I’ve been introduced to the wonders of the all-mighty silver sneaker, I run through styles pretty quickly. At this point, my go-to pairs are extremely well-traveled, and I'm always looking for a new hero pair. These styles are next on my to-buy list.

Samba OG shoes

$100.00, Nordstrom

Speedcat ballet metallic

$90.00, Nordstrom

Soft 11 lace up

$170.00, Amazon

Speedcat silver

$110.00, Nordstrom

Mexico 66 sneakers

$136.00, Far Fetch

Relay Fly Vent metallic se

$120.00, Amazon

Pacific Football slim sneaker

$650.00, Nordstrom

TB 490 Rife sneakers

$225.00, Bloomingdales