In a first for this footwear company with a scientific focus, the Siesta shoe provides whole-foot coverage with a casual twist. Spenco is known for its sandals that provide an excellent base for the heel of the foot especially for those with an active lifestyle or who might spend quite a bit of time on their feet.

As a business traveler, it is this focus on solid support for the foot that caught my attention. For a long time, I wondered why the soles of my shoes developed holes in them so regularly. Since I do a great deal of walking from one client site to the next, my shoes (and feet) take a beating. The only difference is that my shoes show their wear while my feet bear the pain underneath the skin.

These shoes are a great option for those who do a good amount of walking although they are not suitable for formal business occasions. Still, they are very comfortable for travel days with the added bonus of being slip-on shoes that can be grabbed in a hurry at security or on board a flight when it is time for a nap. A small tab at the back is easy to grab to pull them on in a jiffy (a built-in shoe horn of sorts).

The tradeoff between the straw-colored fabric’s leisurely look is that it is breathable. That is a welcome fact for my seatmates when I need to remove my shoes and for me when I need to pack them deep into my suitcase (too much information?).

Spenco claims to have a biomechanically accurate footbed that makes the shoe so comfortable. While comfort is important, so is weight. And this shoe is very easy to tag along in your bag. It squishes into a corner without taking much room or weight. Your toes are not squeezed together like a dress shoe giving it the added edge of being great travel-day footwear.

It keeps its shape and look even when wet, and it dries easily. This shoe is the perfect travel companion for those who do a lot of walking or who want more arch support in their shoe.

It is available for sale at the Spenco’s website for about $75 or on Zappos or Amazon.