Confessions of an Overpacker

Been to Hawaii or any tropical destination in your lifetime? If so, and correct me if I’m wrong, you know that casual is the most common dress code. And, from experience, I also know that, if you are there to relax, you spend a large portion of your time in swimsuits, coverups and flip flops. I wish someone would have reminded me of this a couple weeks ago.

I am an overpacker. Always have been, probably always will be. I like options. A lot of options. My packing job for my most recent trip to Lana’i and the Big Island set a new personal record for the worst packing I’ve ever done.

I could go over all the unnecessary clothing items I brought but showing you the shoe situation will give you a clear picture, I think.

I wore these Vince sneakers on the plane. I love them for running around at home but they have zero give and once my feet swelled they were close to unbearable. Noted.

 

These Vince sandals were probably the best sandal and probably the only sandal I really needed. Comfortable and practical as they went with most of what I’d packed. Check.

 

I’d been searching for a neutral wedge to wear out for dinners but couldn’t find any that didn’t have the jute footbed and I find that really uncomfortable so I brought these. I wear them all the time at home. Never made it out of the suitcase. 

 

These were a good find at Nordstrom Rack just a couple days before departure. Loved the wedge and the leather footbed (see above). I wore these a couple times, once with a  long sundress and once with a pair of black dressy shorts. 

These are really some of the most uncomfortable flip flops I’ve ever worn and I feel like I’ve given them multiple chances to redeem themselves. The straps rub on the tops of my feet and cause blisters. I’ve had them a couple years, maybe longer. They will not be making a repeat appearance. In my humble opinion, nothing beats good old Havaianas.

I bought these a little more than a year ago and have worn them a lot. They have basically no support but are surprisingly comfortable. I wore them to the pool, to the store and to dinners. Two thumbs up, Tory Burch! I would have brought the same pair in black but my puppy ate them a couple months ago.

Finally (I think), I brought these Asics for hiking and working out. I didn’t do either of those activities as often as I’d planned but I always bring a running shoe of some type on vacation.

Any shoes I’m forgetting? Let me know what you bring on a tropical vacation.

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