When traveling with dance shoes, the safest option is to keep them in your carry-on luggage, each in a fabric bag, stuffed with paper and secured in a rigid container to protect the heels and soles. Once you arrive, let them air-dry every evening and never wear them outdoors. Here is the complete method, from choosing your luggage to returning home.
Carry-on or checked luggage?
Whenever possible, keep your dance shoes with you. Checked luggage can be delayed, and arriving at a festival or competition without your broken-in shoes can quickly ruin the trip. It can also be crushed or exposed to cold and moisture.
If you are traveling with a small carry-on bag, a pair of dance shoes takes up little space: slide them flat against the back of the suitcase. If everything must go in checked luggage, place the shoes in the center, surrounded by clothes, never against a wall.
What about security checks?
The shoes themselves are not a problem. Liquids, however, are subject to rules that vary by airport and year: the 100 ml limit per container remains the standard in many airports, even if some equipped with new scanners are more lenient. Check your airport's website before you leave. A solid anti-friction stick and plasters will prevent any issues.
Packing your shoes properly
- Brush and let the shoes dry before leaving. A damp pair left in a closed suitcase will smell bad upon arrival.
- Stuff the inside with paper or rolled-up socks to maintain the shape of the forefoot and straps.
- Slide each shoe into a separate fabric bag. The suede of one sole can mark the satin of the other shoe, and a thin heel can snag fabric.
- Protect thin heels: a heel cap, a piece of foam, or a sock pulled over the heel is enough.
- Secure everything in a rigid box, shoe bag, or dedicated compartment. Do not place anything heavy on top.
Do not put your dance shoes in a closed plastic bag for a long journey: moisture gets trapped, and neither leather nor suede soles like it.
What to pack in your travel bag
- A brass brush to restore the texture of the suede sole, especially if the venue's floors are dusty or waxed
- Hydrocolloid plasters and toe protectors: you will find equivalents abroad, but not necessarily the brand or size you are used to
- An anti-friction stick
- Two or three desiccant packets for humid destinations
- Slippers or flip-flops for walking between classes at a workshop
- A spare pair if you are going away for several days of dancing
For the complete dance bag list, our class bag checklist is also useful for travel.
On-site: adapt shoe care to the climate
Hot and humid climate
Sweat and ambient humidity do not dry from one evening to the next. Take the shoes out of the bag as soon as you return, open them, and let them air-dry with a desiccant packet inside. Avoid air conditioning blowing directly on them or the sun on the balcony: intense heat can cause a sole to peel off or harden the leather. If the suede sole becomes smooth or damp, let it dry completely before brushing it.
Dry or cold climate
Leather can become slightly stiff after a flight or a cold night. Wear the shoes inside for a few minutes before dancing, allowing them to regain flexibility through contact with your foot.
Festival and workshop floors
When traveling, you dance on everything: waxed parquet, hotel tiles, temporary dance floors, and sometimes outdoors. Suede soles are made for indoors. On an outdoor court, concrete, or patio, they wear out and get dirty very quickly. Plan for another pair if outdoor evenings are on the agenda, and read our guide on making your shoes more slippery if the floor is too grippy.
Table: quick tips depending on the trip
| Situation | Main tip | To avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend workshop by train | Fabric bag in the dance bag, slippers for walking around | Wearing dance shoes on the platform |
| Festival abroad by plane | Shoes in carry-on, rigid box | Shoes alone in checked luggage |
| Tropical destination | Air-drying every evening, desiccant packets | Closed plastic bag, direct sunlight |
| Outdoor evenings | Dedicated pair, sole suited for outdoors | Damaging the suede sole on concrete |
| Competition | Main pair and spare pair in carry-on | Leaving with a new, un-broken-in pair |
Buying shoes locally
Traveling to a dance-focused country can be an opportunity to try brands that are not widely available in France. In Buenos Aires, for example, the tango shoe brand Comme il Faut has a shop well known to dancers in the Recoleta neighborhood. Keep in mind that a shoe bought abroad cannot be easily returned, that sizes do not always follow the European system, and that it needs to be broken in before wearing it for a full evening.
If you prefer to leave with a new pair bought before departure, order early: at Dansezo, allow about 8 to 12 business days between payment and delivery, with free delivery in mainland France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. Our tango shoes and salsa shoes are in European sizes, and the automatic 10% discount on 2 or more pairs of shoes allows you to plan for a spare pair.
Frequently asked questions
Can dance shoes be put in carry-on luggage?
Yes, shoes do not cause any particular difficulty at security checks. It is actually the safest solution to avoid losing or crushing them. Only the liquids and creams you bring with you are subject to special rules, which should be checked according to the airport.
How to prevent the suede sole from getting damaged while traveling?
Keep each shoe in a fabric bag, never wear it outdoors, and let it air-dry after every evening. A brass brush in your bag allows you to restore the texture of the sole if the floor has smoothed it.
Should you bring two pairs for a dance festival?
It is advisable if you are dancing several evenings in a row. One pair can dry while the other is used, and you will have a solution if a strap breaks. Both pairs should already be broken in before departure.