We’re going to be going to Switzerland on vacation in September and hope to do some hiking on the walking trails in the Jungfrau region. No rock climbing or anything, but enjoying the outdoors. Ideally I’d like to use the same shoes/boot for the whole trip which includes not only the mountains but time in cities as well as 2 days in Paris since we fly out of CDG.
How serious a pair of shoes do I need? Is an ordinary waterproof shoe going to be enough or do I need something more in the boot category?
Is there a shoe/boot you can recommend? I was looking at the Rockport Cold Springs Elkhart Boot http://www.rockport.com/rockport/cold-springs-elkhart-boot/elkhart.html but I’m not sure how great it would be in cities. What do you think? We don’t plan on dining at Michelin star restaurants or anything, but still I don’t want to look like a total fool.
My opinion is that you will need another pair of shoes. Your feet will not like those boots in hot cities walking a lot through museums and cities. Bring a nice looking pair of flats to give your feet a break and dress up a bit.
In general, hiking boots are heavy shoes to be carting around Europe. Maybe you can get away with a light weight lace up with good grip sole
Uhm… are you a guy? If so you MIGHT get away with wearing these in the city with pants long enough to cover the top half. You’ll look like the American tourist you are, one who doesn’t quite realize sporting footwear is for sport and not city (They think we’re clueless anyway.)
If you’re a woman, forget it. It won’t work. Bring another pair for walking in town.
If you truly mean walking trails then you just need a good pair of walking shoes/athletic shoes with a deep tread and and a good fit. Often there is a need to replace the liner with a better and more expensive one.
Do you have and REI nearby? That would be a great place to go.
Look at Columbia or LL Bean.
You are looking at backpacking on rugged rock trails with those boots. AND they need to be seriously broken
in if you are using them for hiking.
I hike rugged walking trails in Teva’s on Mt. Hood. But then I simply hate shoes/boots ever.
H just bought a pair of LaSportiva at REI that he is in love with. Broke in easily.
Attractive. He has a narrow foot. Best he has ever had.
Honestly I think all the hiking I did in Germany and Switzerland I did in sneakers. Now that I am old (60) I like to have ankle support, but back in my 20s I preferred the lighter weight. I think you could wear those boots in town, but I know I really like getting out of my boots after a long hike. I like the Merrell slip on for touristy stuff in cities. You can do some decent hiking sort of walking in them too. Or you can do what my kids do and get black sneakers and pretend they are also dress up shoes.
Thanks all, some good points! How about some waterproof shoes like these? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZX0XQS/ I have some non-waterproof Rockport shoes and like them, so perhaps these give me what I need?
We have an REI nearby, I’ve already gone there. Unfortunately I have wide feet so none of what they had in stock would fit except the ones that screamed “outdoor shoe”, and I’m hoping to find one I can wear both for casual hiking and in town.
You almost certainly should NOT take boots that are brand new. If it is at all possible you should buy boots at least a few weeks in advance so that you have time to break them in before leaving home. Also, how much of a shoe versus boot your will need for hiking is going to depend on what sort of trail you go on. There is a wide range of trails (and a wide range of boots to match).
Regarding wearing boots on a plane: When I have taken boots on a trip, I usually wear them on the plane simply because they are too big to put in luggage. However, I think that it is worth taking a pair of light shoes also to give your feet a break. You should be able to find shoes that fit into luggage without taking up too much space.
Finally, if you are hiking at a high altitude, then you are going to need to spend a few days at altitude before you do anything strenuous. I learned this the hard way on a business trip to Boulder Colorado when I had some free time the day that I arrived.
@badgolfer I like the rockport shoes you linked to. My H has a pair and he wears them everywhere.
I would bring another pair of shoes though. You will really want to alternate shoes when doing a lot of walking. I know with men’s shoes they take up a lot of room. But really 2 pairs of shoes and good insoles will help a lot.
Do you have a Merrill outlet anywhere near you. When I went to Europe I went to a nearby Merrill outlet and they were so helpful about a comfortable pair of shoes and sizing. Here is a pair that might work for you and come in a wide width http://www.zappos.com/p/merrell-moab-2-vent-walnut/product/8807424/color/714
We walked up to 12 miles everyday when we went to Europe and cobblestones!
See how you feel about hiking sneakers. Merrell and Salmon have lots of choice. These are like a sneaker but typically with more aggressive tread and more stability (at the expense of being lightweight). They don’t have ankle support but if you are hiking popular trails, you are probably fine without as they are pretty well maintained and even. They come in dark colors that you could easily wear for walking around town without having people wonder where you’ve left your rucksack. My husband uses these as his every day shoe, btw.
I would break in whatever you buy at home first. I’ve learned to wear my summer shoes around my house in the winter a week or so before I go on vacation so I don’t get blisters,sore feet, etc. Tired and sore feet can be somewhat avoided with a little planning.
I think it really depends on the trails you’ll be hiking. If they’re groomed (e.g. gravel or smooth dirt) then those Rockports would work. For more rugged trails that usually involve a little rock scrambling, I have a pair of Merrells similar to this: http://www.zappos.com/p/merrell-moab-edge-deep-red/product/8620427/color/4734
Either way, personally I’d take the hit and pack a second pair that’s lighter and more comfortable for all-day walking around a city. I’m definitely a light/minimalist packer, but this is something I’d bite the bullet on. Or if I was bound and determined not to pack extra shoes, maybe I’d just mail my hiking shoes to the hotel, then either toss them or mail them back home.
If your hiking will be on walking trails, I doubt you will need serious mountaineering boots. Merrell makes some great shoes in men’s W. Zappos and Nordstrom ship for free! You will still time to break them in if you order a few pairs, find a couple you like, and return the ones that don’t fit. Absolutely second having another pair. We got rained on in Paris so badly my flats were full of water. Had they been my only pair, I would have been in trouble.
I don’t know the range of hiking options at Jungfrau. But as I said, what we took was straight up. The dirt path had cross beams, the sort often used to abate erosion. These were spaced just out of normal gait. That meant reaching and lifting, not usual “walking” up.
Also, having hiked other high spots (those were the days, no more,) the issue is also coming back down, especially if the trail is muddy or soft.
I’d explore the reviews of the hiking options, see what other wanderers have to say. And most trails should be rated.
(They think we’re clueless anyway.)