IMO, yes. The are tougher and generally more comfortable to walk in depending on the pair. If you don't plan on doing extensive walking or walking on rougher surfaces off the bike, you can probably get away with flip-flops. I did just that during my September tour across PA. A few years ago, while riding in MT, I took a pair of cheap sandals from PayLess because I anticipated more walking and walking on rougher surfaces. They were lighter than my Keens but tough enough for the job.