[kerouac]

This is one of those things that I always wish I'd thought about when I start traveling. Especially when backpacking, shoe choice can be the difference between an uncomfortable time or a good time.

Some qualities I think make for a good backpacker shoe:
Dark color (wearable at night)
Breathable
Comfortable

So with those guidelines, what are some shoes you guys recommend for backpacking? I'm hoping there are shoes out there I can use during the day and for a club. Any ideas?

I typically brought one pair of day shoes and one pair of night shoes, but I want to save some more space this year in my backpack for some other essentials.

[The_CEO]

Yeah.. this is always a dilemma... i used (like 10 yrs ago) to just take a pair of Rockports b/c they're pretty versatile but, depending on your style they may come off as a kind of geriatric choice.

For me...now i just bring a couple of pair of sneakers (the kind that you can dress up or down) but that's what I'd do stateside as well.

For backpacking I'd maybe check out a rockport or timberland type of style. something along those lines.

[speakeasy]

Since shoes are very bulky and completely uncompressible in your limited space, you have to choose smartly. Here is what I brought:



The burgundy shoes are kind of a casual shoe/sneaker hybrid that's as comfortable as a regular sneaker. You can clean them off and wear it with jeans, or slacks or anything for just walking around town during the day or going out at night. I brought a pair of black reeboks sneakers, just plain straight up black. I used these for hiking or any sort of outdoor stuff, and sometimes even just as a casual show with jeans if I cleaned them off. Since they are plain black, they almost look kind of semi-casual and not your typical white overly-decorated athletic sneaker so these didn't look too bad either if I wanted to look casual, you'd have to look hard to tell they were not sneakers because of the solid color. Then I brought a pair of flip-flops(not these pictured) that I would wear in the sometimes grubby hostel showers or just lounging around. And then I had a pair of sandals with straps(not pictured here) that I would wear with shorts. So I brought 4 pieces of footwear all together, though there only 3 in the bag at any given time of course and I'd try to wear the black sneakers when I was actually going from city to city since those were the bulkiest and the burgandy shoes, sandles and flip flops didn't take up much room combined. Also, use your shoes to store stuff in. Since you can't compress them, take advantage of the space inside them. Things like charging units and electronic stuff, I'd stick it inside the shoe to save space.

So this is what worked for me and I think it was a good balance between style and utility for a backpacking trip.

[thegmanifesto]

This is a great topic, and a constant dilemma that I am not sure has an easy fix.

"I'm hoping there are shoes out there I can use during the day and for a club."

Realistically, I would say no. Especially is you are talking about any self respecting top tier nightclub. Unless of course your choice of day shoe is a Gucci Loafer, then that would work for night as well.

As you guys already know, I am not really a "backpacker".

But here is what I generally travel with (with variations depending on locale):

Running shoes (got to Enter The Dragon: http://www.thegmanifesto.com/2006/07/ent...ragon.html )
Dope Loafers (brown)
Lace ups (Black, Hand crafted)
Fresh Kicks
Flip flops (beach)

That can usually suffice. But is also kind of bulky.

On a City trip with biz involved I go:

Running shoes
2 pairs Dope Loafers (brown, easier to take on and off for plane travel)
Lace ups (Black, Hand crafted)
Flip flops (beach)

On last trip in Dominican Republic (where I was going very low key) I just brought:

Running shoes
Dope Loafers (brown)
Fresh Kicks
Flip flops (beach)

If I was to do it again there, I would have actually not brought the loafers and gone two pairs of Kicks. The clubs and nightlife there were so casual, it did not require it. And I was trying to maintain a low profile as to not attract too much attention. Except attention from fly girls of course.

[College Game]

Both times in SA I brought a pair of runners (for soccer), casual sneakers (for the day to day) and a pair of hiking boots (for trekking through the jungle, sierra, etc.) I never bring dress shoes or loafers because most parts of LA have local shoe makers /industry that will sell you a pair of loafers / dress shoes from anywhere between 10 - 200 dollars. This saves space, but for the me key is the hiking boots, also good for the motorcycle.

[deadgabacho]

Look into the brand KEEN. I got a pair of shoes I'm confident look good enough to go to work, a bar, cumfy for daily walking, and enough of a hiking shoe to run, jump and waht have you. Water proof, breathable. awesome.

(i bought them to be my EVERYTHING shoe, I'm 10,000 miles from home and got a one way ticket.)

[kerouac]

Nice tip on the Keen! I just checked it out and I think it fits the multipurpose criteria pretty well.

Let me post some pics of shoes I've found so far:
Northface Hayden


Keen Oslo


Patagonia Loulo


Clarks Roar


These are a few that I've found so far that I imagine would work well in the day and evening, as long as the place isn't super fancy I suppose.