These packable travel shoes are my new must-have for every work trip

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Nisolo

• Packing shoes can be a hassle when you're traveling, since they take up so much room in your suitcase. This is especially true when you need to bring a pair of work-appropriate shoes with you.
• Nisolo Travel Derby shoes ($128) offer a perfect solution, with comfortable, stylish shoes that pack down to about an inch thick.
• We tried the men's Travel Derby shoes and found them to be comfortable and durable. Nisolo also makes a version for women.

As a fairly frequent flyer and amateur travel photographer, I've had to get packing down to a science. I may not always pack lightly, but I'm usually able to get exactly what I need to fit into one bag - depending on the length and type of the trip, sometimes I'll bring an extra bag for camera gear, too.

The one thing that continues to vex me when I pack is shoes. In theory, I like to bring just a single pair of shoes for every trip - which I wear in transit - but this is easier said than done. I usually want comfortable, walking-around sneakers - my go-to is Allbirds Wool Runners - but sometimes I need something more supportive (these Merrell trail-to-street shoes do the trick).

An issue I run into is when I have meetings on a trip. While I may not need full dress shoes, I don't usually want to wear sneakers - but I still need something appropriate with jeans or chinos, which are comfortable enough to get me through the day if there's a lot of walking involved. Usually I give up and sacrifice precious suitcase room to a pair of dress shoes.

Recently, though, I found the perfect solution: the Nisolo Travel Derby shoe.

The Travel Derby is a stylish and adaptable shoe that can look equally fitting with a pair of jeans, khakis, or a modern-cut suit. Built around a sole made from XL Extralight - a unique shoe material engineered to be lightweight and flexible, yet supportive and comfortable - the suede uppers are designed to fold down, or essentially collapse, when you aren't wearing them.

This makes for a comfortable, light shoe that's comfortable and stylish enough to wear for a busy day of walking and meetings, and can fold down to a flat, inch-thick slab of rubber and suede to fit in any spare corner of a bag.

Insider Picks' VP of Commerce, Breton Fischetti - another frequent traveler - and I both spent a few weeks wearing the Travel Derby shoes to see if a packable shoe could really be substantial enough. The answer is: yes.

Read on for both of our thoughts.

Nisolo

"Having an easily packable, work-appropriate shoe was hugely helpful."

Nisolo has been on my radar for a while since I've seen the company's Instagram ads a few times. I like their look and was excited to try their travel shoe.

My principal issue with traveling, especially for work, is that the shoes I need for meetings take up the most space in a bag, but I don't want to wear them trekking through the airport. Having an easily packable, work-appropriate shoe was hugely helpful. It's low profile, comfortable, and great because it doesn't draw attention to itself. I can happily cruise around the airport in sneakers without having to sacrifice precious carry-on space for quick work trips.

$128 is a bit of a steep price to pay for a nice-to-have shoe, but it's well made, high quality, and adaptable; and it is made at Nisolo's ethical factory in Peru, so for me, I still feel it presents a really solid value for the price. - Breton Fischetti, VP of Insider Picks

Nisolo

"I found that they actually offer plenty of support."

When I first saw the shoes, both online and in person, I was worried that they wouldn't be supportive enough. I love soft, flexible shoes like Allbirds for office days or walking around the city, but those have more padding, structure, and arch support than the Nisolos seemed to offer at a quick glance.

However, when I actually wore them I found that they actually offer plenty of support. Sure, I wouldn't want to wear them hiking in the woods, but for a day of standing, heading into meetings, walking, and exploring, they're perfect when I tie them nice and snug.

I really can't overstate how packable they are. They fold down almost instantly, and I can stuff them in any corner of a full roller bag or put them at the bottom of my carry-on backpack.

I treated them with some stain and weather-resistant spray, and while they aren't waterproof, they compare well to any other similar shoe. They've also held up well so far, which makes me feel better about the $128 pricetag.

I got my usual size, and found that they fit true - they might have been a tad snug, but they molded to my foot almost right away. - David Slotnick, senior reporter

Click here to buy the men's Nisolo Travel Derby for $128 in three colors.

Click here to buy the women's Nisolo Sedona Travel Derby for $128 in four colors.

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