Do you see what happens when you wear a sneaker in the Alps?

August 28, 2019 11:37 AM

Light hiking in the Alps! What sort of footwear is necessary for easy trails?

We're going to spend two days out of a longe trip doing some trails rated "easy" on AllTrails. When I do easyish trails here on the US East Coast, I just wear sneakers and I'm fine. Will I need to bring heavier hiking boots, or will I be okay with sneakers? Basically: what footwear should I have for this? Asking with enough time to break things in before we go if I end up needing to buy something. I just want to hit the right balance between being prepared for these hikes/walks and packing light. I've googled around a but, but the results all seem to be geared towards people who are doing longer, more difficult hikes.

posted by everybody had matching towels to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (16 answers total)

If you're using something like AllTrails, you can get a sense of how "Easy" differs by looking at the elevation maps, and looking at people's photos to get a sense of the trail conditions. The total elevation change can be misleading, but the map view is pretty useful.

I don't know about your specific trails, but I do mildly ambitious day-hikes while wearing [hiking sneakers](https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/shoes-mens-hiking/mens-ultra-fastpack-iii-gtx-woven-nf0a3mkw?variationId=CD0#hero=0). I like that the tread works in a variety of trail conditions, they keep my feet dry, and they aren't big clunky boots.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 11:57 AM on August 28, 2019

In general I have found that an "easy" Swiss hike is a bit harder than an "easy" East-Coast hike but not so much so as to require a change of footwear.
posted by mskyle at 12:02 PM on August 28, 2019 [3 favorites]

You would survive in sneakers but it it’s wet it won’t be very pleasant. In the summer in the Alps if I’m not going near snow then trail runners would be my choice, and they usually need very little breaking in. But maybe it’s a bit excessive to buy new ones for only two days of hiking. Otherwise light hiking boots/ hiking shoes would be a good choice.

I like these trail runners best:

Have a great time!
posted by Lucy_32 at 12:26 PM on August 28, 2019

First link didn’t work

https://www.amazon.com/Salomon-Speedcross-Trail-Runner-Black/dp/B017SQWZJW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=salomon+gtx+speedcross&qid=1567020125&s=gateway&sprefix=salomon+gtx+spee&sr=8-3
posted by Lucy_32 at 12:28 PM on August 28, 2019

I did a multi-day (3 days hiking) hut-to-hut hike in Swiss Alps with Vasque light hikers with SmartFeet insoles. They were nicely broken in by all the walking I'd already been doing all over Italy the previous 2 months. But they were very comfortable. Most people we saw had hiking boots and trekking poles. This was about 15 years ago though so grain of salt. I still think I'd go for light hikers, maybe with some ankle support. The weather is a factor. We were above the treeline but it was mostly overcast with a little drizzle and fog. We were able to avoid snow patches. This was late summer. If it had rained heavily, I don't know that my shoes would have kept my feet totally dry. If it had been hot as blazes, a heavier shoe probably would have made my feet sweaty. I really credit the inserts, though, to how comfortable I was.
posted by amanda at 12:46 PM on August 28, 2019

Usually "easy" stuff can easily evolve into a boulder trail (elevation not an issue but the clambering will be) or slippery roots or a mushy path, especially in the northern Alps when it gets rainy. So IF you're using sports shoes, do use a kind with a bit of grip in wet weather, and good support for your feet; stuff that can be tied well. Hiking boots (if they're good) are better, of course, but you can get along without, unless you're doing something silly (like taking that path that's "only for experienced hikers").
posted by Namlit at 12:51 PM on August 28, 2019

On one hand, in the Alps hiking is an identity thing, so everyone wears hiking shoes or boots, and they will worry needlessly about people in sneakers. On the other hand, even light trails often have little streams to pass where you have to deal with wet, slippery stepping stones. If it's warm weather, you can just take off your sneaks and say you are doing a Kneipp Kur. Otherwise, I'd prefer waterproof footwear with a good grip. The trails are mostly well-managed and easy if they say they are, so absolutely sneaker friendly.

For me, hiking in sneakers has never been an option, since I'd be forced to wear my sister-in law's old boots if I didn't bring my own. I brought my own. I I reluctantly have to admit that I love my hiking boots and shoes and even use them regularly for walking the dog in suburban parks all year round. The good grip, the waterproofness and the lack of stinkyness all make me happy, as does the endless durability. Give the current styles a look, maybe you can find a hiking sneaker you could use all-round.
posted by mumimor at 1:16 PM on August 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

On one hand, in the Alps hiking is an identity thing, so everyone wears hiking shoes or boots, and they will worry needlessly about people in sneakers.

This is true - there doesn't seem to be a culture of lightweight hiking in the Alps the way there is in the US, so the vast majority of the people will be wearing heavy boots, and at least some of them will think that if you are not wearing heavy boots that it's because you're some kind of unprepared rube. But your actual feet/legs/back will be no less comfortable than they would be in the US! When I did the 10-day Tour de Mont Blanc hike a few years ago, complete strangers would greet me as "the American woman with the pink shoes" when we encountered each other in a hostel or town. And those were hiking shoes, the heaviest ones I own! Pink was on sale! Some New Zealanders doing the same trip in running shoes got even more attention than I did.
posted by mskyle at 1:35 PM on August 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

I used my trusty Merell Moab 2 hiking shoes to traipse all over the Swiss Alps. They were comfortable and gripped perfectly, even when I had to clamber over some rocky terrain.
posted by Everydayville at 1:42 PM on August 28, 2019

I hiked the Harder Kulm trail from the top of the tram back to Interlaken Ost (which is apparently rated medium on AllTrails, although I think that's referring to climbing rather than descending) in a pair of Asics sneakers with no problems whatsoever.
posted by kevinbelt at 2:03 PM on August 28, 2019

I completely agree that there's a lot of identity stuff in play and people will tut and stare at footwear they consider insufficiently sturdy. Especially the Swiss, in my experience, who culturally like things to be just so. However, all these trails are hugely popular with trail runners who do them in trainers, and the moment you are running, no-one bats an eyelid at even lightweight race shoes. I've done significant portions of the Tour du Mont Blanc in sandals (NB not recommending this, certainly for trails that you haven't done before, but much of it is perfectly doable). A lot of these trails are really not technically difficult, certainly anything rated as 'easy' will be fine in trainers.

However...if you turn an ankle over on a mountain path you are looking at a long and very painful walk down at best and a ruinously expensive (in Switzerland) helicopter ride at worst, because a seriously sprained ankle can completely incapacitate you. So I'd always recommend light boots with some ankle support when you're there on holiday.

I much prefer lighter shoes - you really don't need heavy boots. But I have seen an awful lot of holidays ruined by ankle injuries, and would always always go for something with ankle support. I have these Montura Yaru Tekno light boots which I am really happy with, or you can probably find some trainers with ankle support.

Always take Compeed or similar in case of blisters - no matter how much you use them beforehand, the action may well be different on the new terrain. Another excellent blister preventative is to use two pairs of socks. One thin silk pair under a thin wool pair. Enjoy!
posted by tardigrade at 2:30 PM on August 28, 2019

Everyone on those trails seems to have a pair of light Vasque, Scarpa, or Salomon shoes, but decent sneakers should be fine. What you absolutely, 100% will need, is a pair of trekking poles. They are an absolute must.
posted by Cobalt at 5:25 PM on August 28, 2019

Haha, "easy" trail you say? As mskyle points out above the Swiss have a different in interpretation of "easy" and "family-friendly" than most American trails I've been on. The trail can quickly turn to a hill scramble without warning, although hopefully AllTrails would note anything like that. Our hike wasn't on there so I had to rely on the regional site instead and it had no way markers noted.

I'm sure people thought I was crazy walking around in Nike Roche cross trainers and a sweater but I had been training with different shoes and wore a pair that had good stability and didn't let my ankle turn. They even got wet and dried out pretty fast (wear wool socks tho). The key was I'd been hiking with this pair of shoes quite a bit and knew they provided the support I needed. The original insoles sucked so I replaced them with a different pair.

My DH wore a pair of trail runners from La Sportiva. We should have had trekking poles, my knees were almost shot after our hike.
posted by fiercekitten at 6:17 PM on August 28, 2019

I just got back from doing this (3 days of easy and medium hikes along the Via Alpina) on Monday. Agree that Swiss easy is not US easy and some of the trails we were on were fairly narrow/rocky/somewhat overgrown/crossed streams at times. I wore trail runners and had no problems, from either terrain or hiking identifiers, but I appreciated the extra grip from trail runners over regular sneakers.
posted by ohkay at 6:32 PM on August 28, 2019 [1 favorite]

in the Alps hiking is an identity thing, so everyone wears hiking shoes or boots, and they will worry needlessly about people in sneakers

Having friends in the Alps, "stupid Americans in trainers" are at least not as looked down on as "stupid Germans in sandals", so there is that (I know you are not stupid, neither are sandal-wearing Germans, I am reporting assumptions here). "Worry" implies benevolence; it's more that if they are local, they will know the people who have to go up the mountain and bring down the people who have gone up there unprepared and got lost/stuck etc. They are judging via footwear that you are inexperienced, ill-prepared, and likely to cause needless bother. Again, not saying this is true, people know their feet/ankles and their capabilities, just reporting attitudes.

Personally I'd want hiking boots of some description because of loose/rocky etc sections which I very easily turn my ankle on, but I have a low threshold for preferring ankle support while walking.
posted by Vortisaur at 11:25 AM on August 29, 2019

Since AllTrails has elevation profiles with slope indicated, you should be able to compare the hikes you're looking at with the ones you've done here. Me, the only time I hurt myself on a hike because of my footwear, I was crossing a stream wearing appropriate Vasque boots. They turned out to have no traction in that circumstance, and the stiff soles (with steel shank) meant they didn't conform and give me any additional grip. Down I went. I've since given up on boots and hiked some strenuous trails in minimalist trail running shoes. I know somebody who did about a quarter of the Appalachian Trail in regular running shoes before specialized trail running shoes were popular. You know your own feet and ankles and your propensity towards injury, but I'm on Team Sneaker if they've worked for you before. If you've previously felt like you just barely survived without hiking boots, then maybe look more closely at elevation and comments about terrain.
posted by fedward at 4:46 PM on August 29, 2019 [1 favorite]