Machu Picchu Travel Forum

Hi, I am walking the Inca Trail (4 days) mid September and am very confused about appropriate footwear. All my research indicates a preference for hiking boots as oppopsed to runners and I wondered if any readers could recommend a good pair that I can purchase in Australia. With the best of intentions I purchased a pair in June and have been wearing them constantly. To cut a long story short, the boots started to pinch a nerve in my left foot (too tight I think!) and I have had to return them. I now have less than 3 weeks to wear in a new pair, so would appreciate some advice re boot to buy quickly. Thanks. J

Hi Jan,
Search for a hiking boot that is waterproof but still breathable and has good traction. Boots that fit the bill, is highly rated and does not cost the earth include the Columbia Packus Ridge Omni-Tech Hiking Boot, Garmont Kiowa Vegan Day Hiking Boot, and Timberland Cadion Mid Gore-Tex XCR Membrane Hiking Boot.
Slightly more expensive but a very good brand is the Salomon Explorer GTX.
A tip: don't restrict your purchase to Australian stores; have a look at some fabulous international online stores to compare prices.
We did for our trip to Vietnam and was extremely happy with the outstanding quality and cost of our acquisitions.

A friend just hiked the Inca Trail a couple of months ago with Salomon and she says wonders of it.

It is impossible to generalise that a certain brand is good for everybody. The same applies to jogging shoes. Everybody's feet are different, and somebody will love a brand and another person gets achilles problems or whatever.

I have tested some different hiking boots and have always come back to Meindl shoes. They are not only sturdy but also hard wearing. Their life span is sensational - whereas, for example, the soles of my Raichle shoes were worn off after two seasons, and were rather slippery.

I find my Columbia boots more than adequate for multiday treks. The more serious the trekker you are I guess the more you should invest in your boots but if this is going to be the only time you'll be treking then some simple Northface/columbia/Soloman boots will probably do and you wear them in very quickly. I've seen those heavy leather boots in the store and they look like far too much effort to get worn in.

One of our porters in India happily trodded away in his pink flip flops (chumples) when we were in the Indian Himalayas a few years ago!