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AIBU?

Wearing trainers on a hiking holiday - AIBU?

241 replies

RangeTesKopeks · 23/07/2017 14:42

Hi everyone,

I'm on a hiking holiday with friends at the moment, although it's all very relaxed and we can do our own thing if we like.

Everyone else has walking boots that they've brought with them and i haven't. I own a pair, but couldn't get it before the trip (long story, but it's somewhere in my parents' house, which is 6 hours' away from where I live).

I've brought a pair of trainers instead with me, but am a bit worried about hiking with these on. (All of the other people in the group are really keen walkers, and I'm not really).

AIBU to wear trainers on the hikes instead of buying another pair of walking boots? I don't go on walking holidays at all really, and don't really want to pay for another pair of boots as they're quite expensive. But I don't think it's very safe to walk up mountains in trainers and I'm quite nervous about the walking aspect in general (scared of heights etc.)

WWYD? Would you buy a new pair of boots?

OP posts:

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KickAssAngel · 23/07/2017 19:52

How far/strenuous are the hikes? If it's about 5 miles on well-trodden ground then trainers will be fine.

If you're doing 10 miles a day and scrambling over rocks, then good grips and some support on your ankles will make it much easier.

In walking, the rule is that you go as fast as the slowest person. If that's you, that absolutely should NOT go off ahead without you. If they do, turn around and fuck off home without them. They can work out what happened to you.

how come you're kind of held hostage if they go out? Are they keeping hold of the key like they're mummy & daddy and you're the naughty child? The couple sound a bit controlling & I'm not sure I'd want a week in their company. Maybe you could lounge around at the house, amble around the shops, then eat all the avocados.

She's not weirdly protective of "her" avocados - she's just plain weird. And selfish. And rude.

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helpfulperson · 23/07/2017 19:54

I mountain walk in Mountain Warehouse walking shoes. It does really depend on what you are doing but they are only about £20 so I would suggest getting those and persuading the group to do a couple of short walks to start with. I'd also try and get another key. Nothing worse than not being able to to go out if you do decide the walking bit is not for you (and nothing wrong with that even in the lake district)

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w12newmum · 23/07/2017 20:01

I'm not a hardcore walker but I only ever gone on walks/hikes in trainers. In uk I use my sturdier ones if possible. But I have also used very light weight running ones for 3 day hikes up US mountains (no scrabbling involved) when that was all i had space for on the back of a motorbike. AIBU to think all this gear people seem to have isn't really needed for essentially a long walk?

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HappyDaddy05 · 23/07/2017 20:03

Unless you are carrying a pack and going cross-country, you should be fine in trainers. Just be sensible. Humans walked barefoot for a long time.
Boots with ankle support comes from the military where you are carrying 70 kg + packs over rough ground.
I would avoid scrambling over wet rocks.

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lljkk · 23/07/2017 20:12

Boots are superior on scree slopes. Just saying.

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lljkk · 23/07/2017 20:14

That said... the porters that take you up African mountains only started wearing boots in the last 15 years, and some still don't have boots. They'll be carrying 40kg of stuff FAST at 3000+metres on scree slopes.

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Dumbledoresgirl · 23/07/2017 20:14

Ambleside shops sell everything from 4 season boots to heavy trainers. I personally think it was daft to turn up on a walking holiday without your boots if you have a pair, but, that said, it is the summer and there are plenty of cheaper options for footwear than boots. I shouldn't be surprised if you could even find somewhere that rents out second hand footwear. If not, try a pair of sturdy goretex trainers. Loads of people dont wear heavy boots on the mountains these days. I took my kids up, for long, all day hikes, in street desert boots, when they were little and money was tight.

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frenchysummersun · 23/07/2017 20:16

User - lol, where do you live?? I would have said it's a spectrum and they're not that different. My point was that attempting anything like that requires the correct kit. Anything else is foolhardy at best and downright dangerous at worst. Nothing controversial about that.

I've already said I was getting off my soapbox maybe you should too.

Good luck trying to pick a fight

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caffeinestream · 23/07/2017 20:21

Did you have any luck finding anything, OP?

Hopefully you got back before the rain started!

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M0stlyBowlingHedgehog · 23/07/2017 20:38

IME it depends very much on terrain and experience. I've done Crib Goch in a pair of trainers, but I'm a rock climber, and it was a bone-dry hot summer's day. I'd want boots in the rain. Probably the silliest thing I (and a couple of mates) did was a rock route in the Chamonix Aiguilles which turned out to have a snow descent off the other end - glissading on snow in trainers is... interesting. And not to be recommended. Though it is quite good fun (you don't half work up a good turn of speed).

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SuperSunday23 · 23/07/2017 20:43

New walking boots should be worn in before the holiday. However if you do buy new walking boots. Suggest wear 2 pairs of socks, stops blisters. If you get a sore, put a blister plaster on ASAP they are padded with gel.

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Cantseethewoods · 23/07/2017 20:48

I'd try to get a pair of trail running shoes as they're more versatile so a better investment. People fell run pretty much everywhere people hike, right?

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amousehaseatenmypaddlingpool · 23/07/2017 20:49

Entirely depends on the trainers and the location and the weather.

I've done a week in Spain entirely in my runners because I found my hiking boots a bit sweaty - it was crazy hot. They are really good supportive trainers though.

If it's dry and they're supportive you should be fine.

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BarbaraofSeville · 23/07/2017 20:57

Walking/trekking/scrambling/climbing can be considered a spectrum but people use the terms interchangably and often incorrectly. For all we know the OP is going up a well defined, reasonably well surfaced and not too steep path that has no more risk of falling than when using the stairs at home, so can safely be carried out in trainers.

Scrambling and climbing involves exposure and ropes/equipment and is a different beast altogether.

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RangeTesKopeks · 23/07/2017 23:09

Thanks everyone :) - sorry for the late update!

I went out this afternoon and got a pair of boots and some hiking socks as well.

Thanks so much for all of your help! :)

OP posts:

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5foot5 · 23/07/2017 23:25

Glad you did get boots.

A few years ago we were walking with friends in relatively gentle terrain (Dovedale) when one of the women slipped and fell on her side. She was the only one of the group not wearing boots. Anyway to cut a long story short she turned out to have badly broken her ankle and we had to get rescue services to her. I am sure this wouldn't have happened if she had had proper ankle support.

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NevermindtheBollocks · 23/07/2017 23:32

I'm a fell runner and only ever wear trainer in the hills.
BUT they are good grip hiking/fell running trainers.

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NapQueen · 23/07/2017 23:36

I hiked in Ambleside recently in my trainers. We did the Coffin Route and went from there round the lake to the caves. Perfectly nice hike, im an unhealthy fatty and only got a bit out of puff on some of the uphills at the start of the Coffin Route.

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2rebecca · 23/07/2017 23:45

If they're trail type trainers they're fine. I've given up on walking boots as I have bunions but I can run up hills in hiking trainers no problem as they're more stretchy. Most walking paths are so well trod and/or eroded that walking boots aren't necessary.
Hill runners and orienteers charge around the wilds in stud based trainers.

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2rebecca · 23/07/2017 23:48

If you can fit in 2 pairs of socks your boots/ trainers are too big for you.

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nothruroad · 23/07/2017 23:50

I hope you have a good holiday and that things get better with your friends. Enjoy the hiking!

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Sashkin · 24/07/2017 00:08

I do crosscountry running, and I regularly run past people on the South Downs in summer in full waterproofs, big rucksack, four-season hiking boots, gaiters, and hiking poles. They are making a massive meal out of it IMO. Totally unnecessary, it's a walk not a polar expedition.

I wouldn't head up a peak in a pair of Vans, but as long as your trainers are reasonably grippy and supportive they should be fine for summer hikes.

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KickAssAngel · 24/07/2017 01:24

I'm waiting with baited breath for an avocado update.

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tosto · 24/07/2017 19:31

For anyone dismissive of trekking poles... I'd be interested to whose joints are in better shape for hiking in latter years. Can always spot the Brits in the hills on holiday who don't think they're necessary, whilst the locals of all ages use them.

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charliethebear · 24/07/2017 19:45

Glad you got boots in the end, I would wear them first on a shorter walk just to make sure they are okay. I would say that you probably would've been fine in the lakes with trainers, I have done lots of lake district walks in trainers over the years and always been fine but it does depend if theres scrambling or not.
Also I wouldn't bother with a walking pole for one holiday, they are really annoying unless the terrain is really smooth.

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