What shoes should I take on a three month backpacking trip?

  • Thread starter Thread starter allthewastedtime
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allthewastedtime

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My friend and I are going to be traveling in Europe for three months. I am only taking one pair of shoes (aside from shower sandals), and am having a hard time deciding what to buy. We're not planning on doing a lot of serious hiking, but we're definitely going to be doing a lot of walking and exploring. I have flat feet and weak ankles. I was thinking of getting a nice pair of waterproof hiking boots - that way I'd get ankle support and stay dry when the weather's bad. But I've never had hiking boots before. Would they be uncomfortable to wear every day for three months straight? Would it be better to just get a pair of motion control running shoes (what I normally wear) and forget about waterproof? I backpacked in South Africa a couple of years ago and climbed a couple of mountains in running shoes, and remember really wishing I had hiking boots. I'm just concerned about the 'every day for three months' thing.

Any recommendations from fellow travelers/casual hikers/people with flat feet?

Thanks!
 
I went to REI and splurged on a good pair of hiking boots ('Vasque' was the brand), and I find that they're surprisingly comfortable for day to day wear. I have also found that they are generally preferable for 'I'm going to be spending all day wadering around a major city' type walking as well. I generally cram both a pair of hiking boots and a pair of sneakers into my 'pack when I can.
 
sturdy boots or tennis shoes. i have flat feet and tennis shoes really help and you could get water proof ones. to help your feet try taping them or getting insoles to put in your shoes.
 
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