Walking/hiking footwear for travelers?

November 27, 2023 6:36 AM

I'm going on a vacation that will involve some casual countryside walks over ground that can get muddy (it's the UK in winter). I don't want my one pair of sneakers to get covered in mud, but a separate pair of walking/hiking shoes seems like it would take up too much room in my luggage. Is there walking footwear that's suitable for travel and baggage packing? Or even some kind of shoe covers?
posted by cadge to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total)

You could get approach shoes or trail runners. They'll have better traction than regular running shoes but are lower profile than hiking boots. Some have gortex, so they are waterproof.

Otherwise, I usually wear my hiking boots on the plane so they don't take up luggage space.
posted by TORunner at 6:44 AM on November 27, 2023 [5 favorites]

Depending on your plans, can you go to a few charity shops when you arrive and pick up some cheap second hand boots or wellies that you could ruin on your walks and then dispose of?
posted by Tanya at 7:04 AM on November 27, 2023

Since I work outdoors in Wales mud is my constant companion through the winter, and I have tried nearly every option for footwear. For you I would say it depends on how muddy and on how casual. There's a spectrum from wellies to waterproofed hiking boots. Cheap wellies can be easily got for £20 and will keep your feet dry and you can just hose the mud off them, but they won't be warm or supportive or cushiony. Waterproofed hiking boots will keep you dry and supported and warm but are harder to clean and are more pricey. There are more premium wellies that are in the middle of the spectrum, more expensive but warmer and more comfortable. I have found the Muck Boot brand to be the most nice and comfortable but wear out too fast, but they would last for your purposes. None of the above is easy to put in luggage, I wouldn't think anything that works well would be unfortunately. If you buy something here and like it perhaps you could just ship them home, if you want to keep them.

Worth a look https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking-hub/ultimate-guide-best-walking-wellies
posted by Rhedyn at 8:02 AM on November 27, 2023

+1 approach shoes.
posted by Mid at 10:54 AM on November 27, 2023

An example of a traditional Hiking boot is this Salomon Quest 4
It's heavy, bulky very very stiff.

A lighter version is this Mid height boot
very, very light while still covering the ankle.

more like a runner is this low cut one

You could use a small short gaiter to keep crap out of the shoe
posted by yyz at 1:40 PM on November 27, 2023

If packability and waterproof are the most important criteria, Pokeboo FTW. They are very minimalist though; very thin soles, little to no arch support, etc. But they get small, and are quite waterproof.
posted by furnace.heart at 3:29 PM on November 27, 2023

You can get waterproof covers - search for "galoshes" or "shoe covers" but I wouldn't want to walk far in them, or anywhere especially muddy. I've never tried them, but I imagine that anything solid enough to be useful aren't going to be much less bulky than actual shoes.

I'd get approach/walking shoes. Wear them on the plane if they're more bulky than your sneakers, and pack your sneakers.
posted by fabius at 5:09 AM on November 28, 2023