What to Wear Through Airport Security When Every Second Counts

There’s a very specific kind of chaos in airport security lines and it almost always comes down to shoes. Someone’s balancing on one foot trying to untie tight laces. Someone else is forcing bulky boots into an already full tray. And then there’s that one person in slip-ons, already through, calmly grabbing their bag on the other side.

If you travel often, you know this isn’t a small detail. The shoes you wear can genuinely change how smooth (or stressful) your airport experience feels.

The best travel sneakers tend to have a few things in common: they slip off and on in seconds, they’re lightweight enough to forget you’re wearing them, they stay comfortable through long walks and waits, and they don’t cause any issues at security anywhere in the world.

Simple in theory, but surprisingly hard to get right.

• Slip-on shoes with no laces or buckles are the fastest way through airport security
• The lighter your travel shoes, the less fatigue you’ll feel throughout the day
• Hemp is a natural, anti-microbial, temperature-regulating fiber and 100% legal worldwide
• The SunSlide by 8000Kicks weighs just 50g and features a collapsible heel for instant wear (explore the men’s collection and women’s collection)
• Sustainable travel footwear now exists: 100% vegan, built for daily use, and produced with just 4.1 kg of CO2 per pair (read the full sustainability story)

Most people think airport stress comes from long lines, delayed flights, or tight connections. And sure, that’s part of it. But a surprising amount of friction actually comes from something much smaller: taking your shoes off at security.

Shoes with laces take time to loosen and tie again. Boots with buckles are even slower. And anything stiff or snug can be a real struggle to remove quickly especially after sitting for hours on a plane, when your feet tend to swell a bit.

The people who move through security the fastest are almost always wearing something simple. Shoes that slide off in one motion and go right back on the same way. No laces, no buckles, no unnecessary hassle.

And beyond the whole security process, lightweight shoes make a bigger difference than most people expect. A travel day means walking across terminals, standing in lines, waiting at gates, and navigating new places. Every extra gram your shoes carry is something your feet feel over time.

Not all slip-on shoes are created equal especially when it comes to travel. The best ones don’t just skip the laces; they solve multiple problems at once. And usually, it’s the small design details that make the biggest difference.

The SunSlide by 8000Kicks was designed specifically with this use case in mind. It’s described as “perfect for travel,” and when you look at how it’s built, that makes sense.

The most noticeable feature is the collapsible heel patch. Fold it down, and it works like a relaxed slipper. Fold it back up, and it becomes a more structured, moccasin-style shoe. At security, that means you can take it off in one quick motion and slide it back on just as easily. No hopping, no struggling, no holding up the line.

At 50g per shoe (0.11lb), it’s also one of the lightest travel options out there. It’s the kind of weight that disappears in your bag and barely registers on your feet.

The hemp upper plays a big role here too. It’s naturally durable while still being lightweight, and it has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. That means the shoes stay fresh even after long travel days, flights, or extended wear without socks which is exactly how most people end up wearing slip-ons when traveling. You can read more in the introduction to hemp shoes.

Hemp also helps regulate temperature. It adapts well whether you’re in a cold, air-conditioned terminal or walking through a warm city, which makes it more versatile than it might seem at first.

This is something people ask quite often — and the answer is simple: no.

8000Kicks shoes are 100% legal everywhere in the world. The hemp used is industrial hemp, containing less than 0.3% THC, so it has no psychoactive properties at all. In practice, it’s treated just like any other plant-based fiber, such as cotton or linen.

The 8000Kicks team has traveled through Italy, France, the USA, Canada, Morocco, Portugal, and many other countries wearing their hemp shoes without any issues at security or customs. They don’t trigger drug-detection dogs, they don’t raise flags on scanners, and they don’t require any special documentation.

You can wear them, pack them, and travel with them anywhere without having to think twice. For more details, you can check the FAQ page.

For travelers who also care about their environmental impact, this is where the SunSlide stands out even more.

A typical pair of running shoes produces around 14 kg of CO2. Leather shoes can go as high as 100 kg. In comparison, the SunSlide comes in at just 4.1 kg of CO2 per pair.

That’s achieved through a combination of factors: hemp cultivation that doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizers, manufacturing partners that use between 30% and 55% renewable energy depending on the factory, and a production process that uses upcycled plastic for the sole instead of virgin materials. The full sustainability breakdown is worth a look.

The shoes are also 100% vegan, with no animal-derived materials or glues. They carry OEKO-TEX certification, meaning no toxic substances or dyes are used.

And thanks to the anti-smell hemp insoles, they stay odor-free even after days of continuous wear — something synthetic materials usually struggle to match.

For travelers who care not just about where they go, but also about what they bring into the world, that combination makes a real difference.

Are slip-on shoes the best option for airport security?
For most travelers, yes. Shoes without laces or buckles can be removed and put back on in seconds, which makes the whole process faster and less stressful. The best travel slip-ons also adapt easily to different situations, whether you’re moving quickly through security or just walking around all day. See the full FAQ page for more tips.

Will hemp shoes cause any problems at security or customs?
No. Hemp shoes are 100% legal in every country in the world. Industrial hemp contains less than 0.3% THC and has no psychoactive properties. The 8000Kicks team has traveled across multiple countries including the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Morocco, and Portugal with their hemp shoes without any issues at security or border crossings.

How light should travel shoes be?
As light as possible without sacrificing durability. The SunSlide by 8000Kicks weighs 50g per shoe, making it easy to pack and comfortable to wear all day. Hemp helps achieve that balance, offering both lightness and strength. Check the size guide to find your fit.

Are these shoes durable enough for frequent travel?
Yes. Hemp is one of the strongest natural fibers available. 8000Kicks also tests their shoes extensively, including testing multiple types of glue to ensure long-term durability. Customer reviews consistently highlight comfort and performance over extended use, with one reviewer noting he was wearing his SunSlide almost every day and that it had exceeded his expectations for both comfort and durability.

The best travel shoe is the one you don’t have to think about. It should get you through security without slowing you down, stay comfortable across long days, and feel just as natural on a city street as it does in an airport terminal.

The SunSlide by 8000Kicks was designed with exactly that in mind. At 50g, with a collapsible heel, breathable hemp upper, and a proven track record at security checkpoints worldwide, it’s one of the most practical travel slip-ons out there. Add to that its low environmental impact and fully vegan construction, and it becomes an easy choice for anyone looking to travel a little lighter in every sense.

Explore the SunSlide and the full hemp shoe collection available for men and women at 8000kicks.com.