Leaving on a jet plane or simply planning a road trip this summer, packing your bags is just part of the journey.
What many jet-setters don’t realize as they pack their bags is the unsanitary conditions shoes can present. Since footwear has likely traveled across miles of city streets and country roads, there are all sorts of harmful bacteria that can become trapped on soles.
While some shoes can be tossed in the washing machine, most maintain the dirt picked up both on the uppers and outsoles. So before tossing your footwear in the suitcase along with your clothes and accessories, consider packing it in shoe bags.
You may be thinking a plastic bag from the supermarket could serve the same function. But who wants to put their pricey Manolo Blahnik or Christian Louboutin pumps in a bag from Trader Joe’s?
These bags also do double duty when heading to the beach. Simply toss wet sandals in a nylon shoe bag and pull out a clean, dry pair to avoid getting sand in the car after a long day out in the sun.
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As a clean fanatic, I like to take the idea even further: After every trip, I wash the shoe bags to rid them of any dirt that may have loosened from the bottoms of the soles, getting them ready for my next journey.
Shoe bags can be fashionable and affordable, done in a range of prints to solids. And if more than one person is sharing luggage, it’s easy to determine their footwear by their shoe bags.
TGBranch Portable Travel Shoe Bags
These lightweight nylon bags come with transparent windows that allow you to easily see what shoes are tucked inside.
Earthwise Shoe Storage Bags
Made of cotton grown in the U.S., these bags are produced in Los Angeles and support local manufacturing and jobs.
Joyousbuy 10 Piece Travel Shoe Bags
Traveling with a big family is easy when you have these colorful shoe bags that allow everyone to identify their shoes by the color of the bag.
Zmart Portable Travel Shoe Bags
It’s easy to take these bags along even when heading to the gym, with their practical handles and identifiable prints.
mDesign Water-Resistant Shoe Travel Storage Bags
A quick zip up the front and it’s easy to store your shoes in these durable bags with easy-to-carry handles.
Gold Fortune 4 Packs Embroidered Shoe Bags
It’s easy to identify what’s in the bag with these novelty shoe carriers with pretty pump designs.
JJ Power Foldable Travel Waterproof Shoe Pouches
A two-layer design allows you to store two pairs of shoes in the same bag, making packing even easier.
Ailaka Portable Oxford Travel Shoe Tote Bag
This large shoe bag holds two pairs of women’s shoes or a pair of men’s shoes and features mesh side panels that allow air to circulate.
Luvan Portable and Waterproof Nylon Travel Shoe Bag
Featuring durable nylon and reinforced zippers, these sturdy bags are large enough to fit up to a size 14 men’s shoe.
All products featured have been independently selected and curated by our editorial team. If you buy something through the links included on our site, FN may earn a commission.
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