dianneb

My husband and I will be in Italy and France for a month, from Oct. 11-Nov. 8. We are taking one small suitcase each. One week of our trip will be a walking tour through the hill towns of Tuscany. We are healthy, active mid-50's. We're not planning anything very fancy, but we will be going out to dinner in the cities we visit. My question: What shoes will I need---Can I get by with 2 pairs?

easytraveler

Yes, you can get by with two pairs of shoes.

You can pack the dressier shoes for more formal nights and wear the walking shoes onto the plane. The walking shoes would be the heavier shoes anyhow.

Happy travels!

dianneb

...Thanks, so you think regular walking shoes (same ones I wear sight seeing) will work on the walking tour, as opposed to hiking boots? I hate to bring those heavy hiking boots along if I don't have to. As for the "dressier" shoes, can I get away with flat heeled pumps that I might also wear for sight seeing sometimes? Thanks!

cmt

What do you mean by "walking tour through the hill towns"? If you will be walking from one hill town to the next, you need hiking boots. They don't have to be super-heavy mountain climbing boots, but light to medium hiking boots, with ankle support, would be a good idea. If you're taking a regular one-week walking tour, such as the ones offered by Italian Connection, Ciclismo Classico, Country Walkers, Wayfarers, ATG-Oxford, etc., the tour company should be able to advise you regarding footwear for the walks, but I'd VERY STRONGLY suggest NOT leaving the hiking boots at home, even though taking them does make it harder to pack light! I have taken several walking tours (NOT strenuous ones, NOT mountian climbing) and have made good use of hiking boots on all of them, and would've felt very insecure on some of the trails without them and would probably have gotten much more tired without them. You can wear the boots to the plane to cut down on packing space, and pack your lighter shoes in the carry-on to change into on the plane.

If you will merely be strolling WITHIN hill towns, any comfortable walking shoes (including sneakers/trainers/athletic shoes, if that's what you prefer) with decent support and good traction in the soles will be fine, plus a pair of less clunky shoes, but still ones you're not too likely to trip, slip, or turn your ankle in, for occasions when you want to look less "rustic." So, assuming you're going on a reaql walking tour and not just strolling within towns, I'd suggest three pairs (hiking boots, normal walking shoes, and something a little nicer) unless you can get away with hiking boots plus one pair of shoes that can double as both your casual strolling shoes and dinner shoes.

suze

Does your walking tour company advice you on footwear?

You could probably get by wtih 2 pair, but in this situation I'd go with 3. My packing philosophy is you can always wear a shirt a few more days but if anything goes wrong with your shoes, nothing can ruin a vacation faster.

So my advice would be 3 pair... the bulkiest one always on your feet when your suitcase is packed. Unless you're going with a suitcase smaller than a 22", you can fit your 2 other pair and still have plenty of room for your clothes and toiletries.

SusanP

I agree that you need two pairs for your daytime activites and maybe one other for evening if the daytime ones won't do for that. If it rains, you'll always have a dry pair, really important when you're doing a lot of walking. Also, sometimes your feet just need something different.

jules4je7

I just bought a deliciously comfortable pair of Josef Seibel shoes that I will be wearing to Europe next month. I've worn them every day to work, where I take the bus downtown and walk a lot during lunch. There hasn't been a day that I came home with tired feet. Yes, they're about $125, and for me that's a huge investment as I tend to be a budget traveler, but well worth it.

The last time I went -- for 23 days across Europe from London to Istanbul, I took some Merrells (a quality walking shoe, which I bought at Famous Footwear for $50 on sale), a pair of black Timberland walking shoes, and a pair of flats for evening. I found the Merrells were the only ones comfortable enough to get through a day of touring, and quickly wished I'd spared myself the space in my suitcase and not brought the others at all. Still, the Merrells were not as comfy as the Josef Seibels I just bought (my feet were still pretty tired at the end of the day), which is why I decided to try these high-end shoes.

I'd suggest buying the best walking shoes you can, and take a pair of evening shoes. If your feet aren't all tired out from walking during the day, you'll be able to wear dress shoes for a few hours in the evening without discomfort.

Happy travels.

Jules

bill_boy

How about taking the ones that you're comfortable in.

easytraveler

I'd second Jules suggestion of Merrells.

I have two pairs now. That's because my first pair (slipons and nothing to tie) were wonderful for walking over all kinds of different surfaces in Europe such as cobblestones, hiking trails, paved streets, mountain slopes. The slip ons have no ankle support, but I didn't need any, despite very weak ankles. I wear the old pair for hiking at home now over all kinds of trails. I wear them gardening.

My new pair is my "fancy formal" flat shoes - lo!

My two pairs of hiking boots now sit in my closet unused for years.

Whether you get Siebels or Merrells or whatever, get a good pair of walking/hiking shoes. Break them in before going. Sporting goods stores will urge you to wear the shoes at home and, if they are in any way uncomfortable, take them back and exchange for something else.

Last time I was in Europe, I had a pair of formal shoes, a pair of tennies, my beloved Merrells and some cloth slippers. The pair of tennies was absolutely unnecessary. The pair of formal shoes I wore only twice. Most of the other times I was either walking in the Merrells or relaxing in the slippers.

SweetKate

Jules, where may I ask did you find the J.Seibels? And has anyone tried Dansko or Earth Shoes? This is a big projet, this finding the perfect shoe for lots of comfortable walking. Im still working on it. Kate

nytraveler

I always take 2 pairs of walking shoes. I know they're heavy - but there's nothing worse than walking in the rain - and the next am all you have to wear are shoes that are either still damp - or totally stiff from being soaked.

For restaurants I usually take just one pair of light flats - or almost - so they take up hardly any room.

lyb

SweetKate,

You can find joseph siebel shoes at Nordstrom. If there are not in your area, on the internet at www.shoebuy.com I have 2 pairs and though my feet were tired after walking all over the place, they weren't in pain. I absolutely love them. I recently also bought a pair of shoes from SoftWalk, I haven't worn during a trip but so far walking around town, they are extremely comfortable.

kswl

I would definitely take 3 pair of shoes, Dianne. As NYT points out, if one pair of your "day" shoes get wet, you'll have spares.

Will you be on an escorted walking tour, or is this something of your own devising? I have friends who went on an escorted walking tour of Tuscany and found it to be a very leisurely, easy walk. You probably wouldn't need hiking boots for that. They are in their mid-60's, also very active.

Ecco shoes are very comfortable. I took two pair on my non-hiking (but lots of walking) trip to Europe last November. One pair is a sturdy, lace up shoe. The other, a Mary Jane style I wore with the one nice skirt I took. They were also fine with some trousers, and were just as comfy to walk in. Both leather and did not require a lengthy break-in period.

jules4je7

I bought my Josef Siebels at Dillards or Foleys (I can't remember, since I'm newish to Denver and can't tell them apart). But I did first try them on at Nordstrom, where they were the same price...they just didn't have my size.

I would NOT recommend buying them online. They are handmade, and my size 40 (9 in US) fit differently in a couple of different pairs before I found "The Ones". I cannot recommend them highly enough though.

Happy Travels,

Jules

dianneb

Oh, thank you so much, everyone who responded to my question! When I came home tonight at 10:15 p.m. CA time, I was so surprised and happy to see all your responses! I am printing out your feedback, and will definitely look into all the brands and suggestions you gave me. The walking tour is a guided tour, and they suggested "hiking shoes". I'm not sure what that is. Right now I own hiking boots and tennis shoes---nothing in-between. However, I am willing to buy the exact shoes I need to be comfortable on this trip. I agree with you that I can scrimp or make-do with other items of apparel, but the shoes have to be perfect! So, I will probably go with three pairs, as per your recommendation. Thanks! Dianne