travel shoe for south america

i would get this. would be rather heavy but indestructible.

http://www.epauletshop.com/servlet/the-982/Thorogood-for-Epaulet-/Detail

None of those boots will last on any hikes in the mountains caffed. You need something with a rubber sole and better stability for your ankles, otherwise you could end up injuring yourself. I would never set foot on rough terrain with a leather sole. The Alden's are nice boots, but only made for city life and walking in the park. You should bring a pair of chucks, sandals for the beach, a pair of dress shoes for the evening and some decent hiking boots for the mountains. You could even just pick up a pair of hiking boots when you get towards the mountainous regions and ditch them when you get to the beach. have fun man...s.a. is fantastic.

really leaning toward these and if i start getting into some big hiking i'll just have a cobbler put on a rubber sole, does that sound reasonable?



fullycaffed said:

really leaning toward these and if i start getting into some big hiking i'll just have a cobbler put on a rubber sole, does that sound reasonable?

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Yes, except the part where you buy a new shoe with a sole you're not happy with. Try a shoe with a commando or vibram sole.



auggie said:

None of those boots will last on any hikes in the mountains caffed. You need something with a rubber sole and better stability for your ankles, otherwise you could end up injuring yourself. I would never set foot on rough terrain with a leather sole. The Alden's are nice boots, but only made for city life and walking in the park. You should bring a pair of chucks, sandals for the beach, a pair of dress shoes for the evening and some decent hiking boots for the mountains. You could even just pick up a pair of hiking boots when you get towards the mountainous regions and ditch them when you get to the beach. have fun man...s.a. is fantastic.

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4 pairs of shoes? He's backpacking or something like it where weight and space is an issue.



rohde88 said:

4 pairs of shoes? He's backpacking or something like it where weight and space is an issue.

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I think that is one reason why a lot of the suggestions in this thread aren't super practical. If you're not going to wearing them most of the time (he seems to like to actually travel in chucks) it's a pain ********** to pack and carry heavy boots. At least it is for me. i usually sacrifice fashion and make a pair of approach shoes my principal footwear then bring flip flops for the beach/sketchy showers, etc. when I'm in Latin America, but I also tend to be more outdoor and less evening out focused on my travels.

I think you're crazy wanting to carry around a big pair of heavy boots whilst travelling, especially if they're not going to be your main pair of shoes. I did South America (before I started caring about what I wore) in chucks, flip-flops and a pair of Hi-Tec hiking shoes which were super ugly, but light and appropriate. Worked pretty well and my pack wasn't full or heavy. Compromise on aesthetics for comfort and convenience whilst travelling, I reckon.

ya, i may have gotten a little out of hand with the boot choices. i was trying to combine a going out shoe with a boot that could survive a day hike, sounds like it's not going to work out. to put things in perspective i am only bringing 2 t-shirt/under shirts on a 4 months trip, so 4 pairs of shoes really isn't an option. I was hoping to find a light durable shoe but it looks like a pair of $40 chucks (which i put well over 600 miles on during my last trip) are a better option than these boots for traveling.

i'm going to do some looking around once i get back to a city and let you guys know what i decide on.

and I'm back! I ended up taking with me; a pair of leather lowtop converse (grey), some Clarks desert boots, some Ecco high tops, and a pair of flip flops, and I was pretty much set. i got orthodics for the desert boots and converse, which were a big help.
this was a pretty great set up and i was ready for everything except glacier hiking in patagonia, i wore my eccos but they didn't really have the structural support for crampons. i know this is an old thread, just letting people know what i did and how i liked it.