Footwear for Backpacking

[TigerFaith]

Hi...

I'm sorry if this is a ridiculous question, but I'm planning on backpacking a little of Europe (Greece, Italy, German, and France) this June and July and I'm not sure what type of footwear I need to take. Would it be reasonable to get a really good pair of sandals and just not take any shoes/hikers, or would it be advisable to wear hikers? Any experiences or advice would be very welcome.

Thanks!

[Allyssa]

I would advise to go with as little as possible in your pack, so if you can avoid carrying an unnessasary pair of shoes, do!
I backpacked Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, and some of UK last summer and I had a great pair of sandals that I took for everything. (I assume you mean back pack travelling and not actually mountain climbing!) I'd been having major arch trouble with my feet just a week before I left, so on Dr. recomendation, I also bought a pair of insoles and took with me materials to tape my tha arch of my foot as needed. If that isn't an issue for you, you should be fine with just good sandals. I brought a pair of very light flip flops too just to wear on the train, in public showers, by pools, with a skirt, etc.
Have a great time! Enjoy all the sights. Get off the beaten tourist path (the best things we saw and the greatest expereiences were in the out of the way places!), make a difference in each place, and have fun!
Allyssa

[TigerFaith]

Thanks, that's a great help. Do you have any recommendations for a brand of sandals? I also have some arch problems (namely I have high archs and most footwear isn't designed for that), so it was nice to hear that things worked out good for you.

[wallpaper]

Try on some Birkenstocks, theyre a bit pricey but they are solid and will last you forever so definately worth it. Every time you pull out your birks you will remember where youve been with them. They are also much more supportive than flat flip flop sandals, so if that type of support is important to you then you should definately try a pair on - they should do the trick.

[carebrennan]

Hi Tigerfaith
I agree with the other post in just taking the sandals. I have done a similar trip, taken the hikers too and ended up not wearing them! A brand of sandals I love and can wear day in and out are "Naot". They come in all kinds of styles. I also like the Teva brand. Good luck and happy travels!

[Soles]

Hey there,

I used to work at a camping/backpacking store and my best bet for you, like carebrennan said are Teva's. They're great, they're a wrap around sandal that offers great protection (including a toe cap, very handy!!) fully waterproof, lightweight, and they don't look to goofy.

Birkenstocks are also a good choice, and the two brands are similar in prices. Have a good trip!