Shoes

You may not have given much thought to your travel shoes, but your shoes are one of the most important articles of clothing you will wear on your trip.  Think about it, you will wear your shoes everyday.  You want them to fit correctly, be comfortable and broken in. 

When you travel, you will find that you walk far more than you are probably used to.  Being a tourist can be hard work and at the end of the day your legs and feet will probably be quite tired.  The last thing you want to do is struggle through your vacation wearing uncomfortable shoes.

Some important features to consider when purchasing your shoes are described below.

Important Features to Consider
Style: We recommend a normal low/mid-high ankle shoe, similar to a running shoe. If you are not doing serious hiking, you will not need a shoe that covers your ankle.  These types of shoes are heavier, bulkier and less comfortable than a shoe similar to a running style shoe.

We also recommend a trail running/hiking type shoe offering more support than your typical running shoe.
Break In: It's very important to properly break in your shoes.  Do not take this lightly.  You will need to walk miles in new shoes to properly break them in.  Wearing them to work or down the block to check your mailbox is not going to cut it.  With all the walking you may do on your trip, wearing shoes that are not broken in can cause blisters making your trip miserable.
Waterproof: If your shoes get wet, your sox get wet and it may take days for them to dry out. It’s no fun putting on cold damp shoes to wear around all day.
Breathable: Don’t make the mistake of purchasing shoes that are waterproof but not breathable.  These types of shoes may be less expensive and you may think you are getting a deal, but you will be very uncomfortable wearing them around all day if you feet are sweating.
GORE-TEX®: Our recommendation is to look for shoes utilizing GORE-TEX® Technology.  Products engineered with GORE-TEX® fabric are durably waterproof and windproof, combined with optimized breathability and comfort.

https://www.gore-tex.com

Don’t skimp on your shoes, expect to spend $80-$120 for high quality hiking/walking shoes.  If you can, make these shoes dedicated to your travels.  Once you have broken in your shoes and have returned from your travels, stow them away in their box waiting for their next travel adventure.  Your shoes will become special for travel and simply putting them on will bring back memories and put your mind in the travel mode.

We recommend the North Face Mens/Womens Hedgehog Fastpack GTX Shoes.  We have worn these on most all of our travels and continue to wear them.


There are many different styles of shoes to choose from.  Find the pair that works for you.  Shop around visiting your local stores trying them on making note of the model, size and price. Once you have found the shoe with the features and comfort you like, check on-line for internet deals.


Popular internet shoe shopping sites
Zappos: http://www.zappos.com/
Shoebacca: http://www.shoebacca.com/
Overstock: http://www.overstock.com