Wearing trainers on a hiking holiday - AIBU?

[RangeTesKopeks]

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?

[SoPassRemarkable]

www.walkingenglishman.com/lakes12.htm

[thegoodnameshadgone]

Depends what your comfy in. I climbed snowden in sketchers memory foam trainers. They were a godsend on the way down. No blisters.

[RangeTesKopeks]

Thanks so much everyone :) I'll probably go by myself somewhere tomorrow as apparently the couple want to go on a 'romantic walk'. Fine - but I just feel like I haven't spent any time with the friend who I came to see. Oh well.

[VinIsGroot]

Stop stressing .... I've walked 8 miles in a pair of fit flops!!

[2rebecca]

Friend sounds awful and selfish. I've been on group holidays with just one key. You can always find somewhere to hide the key. I wouldn't stay in just agree on a mutual place. It sounds as though it just isn't your sort of holiday though

[Silvercatowner]

Stop stressing .... I've walked 8 miles in a pair of fit flops!!

*Whispers
I walk in Birkenstock sandals. I wouldn't walk away from a pavement but I walk miles in my Birkies and never have blisters.

[livefornaps]

God, these people sound trying.

Usually Walker people are lovely & encouraging to those who are less experienced!

As for the avocado fascist: no comment.

Keep us updated as to what you do. Don't let her spoil your week.

[viques]

Re the key, can't you all agree on a safe hiding place for the key so you can come and go as you want?

Shame they don't have a key safe, something to put in the visitors book when you leave.

Agree modern boots don't need breaking in, but wear good socks. My merrells fitted like a dream from day one.

[HipsterHunter]

Holiday accommodation with just one key sucks!

But yeah I would defo agree on a safe place to hide it.

[MagdalenNoName]

I think serious walkers aren't so keen on gentle strolls.

Often they're people who have jobs in the city and/or live in flattish or built up areas. So when you get to the hills you really want to get up to where the air is clear and the view is good. To get that stretch in the back of your legs. There's also the question of weather. If there's a clear day on the first full day, but the forecast for the rest of the week is not good, that's the day when you really want go up into the mountains - even if one member of the party says, 'Okay can't we do a gentle stroll, please' It's also worth noting that in the Lake District the short easy walks around well--known beauty spots are likely to be very full of families, day trippers etc.

It seems to me that there's the not been great communication in advance. If someone invited me on a hiking holiday, if I wasn't a regular hill walker with a good level of fitness I'd ask about likely length of walks, planned itinerary, kit required - and then consider if I'd be able to do it.

If somebody said to me, 'Oh we're hiring a cottage near Grasmere and then the two of us can chill out, and you can meet my friends, and we might take a lakeside walk or two' that would be quite different. (And that's when I'd assume my trainers would do.)

[lanouvelleheloise]

I am at these people!

But to answer your original question, I often chose to walk in trainers and not boots because they are lighter. However, ordinary gym trainers can be slippy - you really want trail shoes or (my favourite) fell shoes. They won't keep your feel dry if you're hacking through off-path bogs, though.

[RangeTesKopeks]

2rebecca you're absolutely right - it's not really my ideal kind of holiday.

Re: the key, I spoke to them about it this morning. They said they had been leaving it in a key safe (which they hadn't told me about), but now I know. So we'll all just leave it in the key safe now when we go out, which sounds fair.

Everyone's walking on eggshells to please Avocado Girl as well. It just feels a bit shit. She begged me to come but I wish I'd felt like I could say no.

[RangeTesKopeks]

All of the other people in their group and their families are really outdoorsy, and I'm just not really. I do actually love walking, but gentler walks with a couple of challenging bits rather than having to pick your way across really rocky, unforgiving bits (for example).

I honestly don't mean to sound whingey and pathetic (promise!), but I regret coming a bit.

AG and her DP have gone out walking, and the other two guys have been relaxing in the cottage. They're nice, but no one said good morning to me or anything. I do get quite bad depression, so maybe I'm just not seeing things fairly, but I feel a bit stupid as I was worried that the week wouldn't go very well and it's not, really.

I think on walking holidays (or any kind of holiday), it's lovely to go with someone and share things with them. And I feel quite left out. When they all sit together at breakfast or dinner, they're nice enough but they have loads of in-jokes, and AG often talks about things that she's done with her DP, which we can't really join in with.

Both pairs cook together, so I tend to cook on my own, and by the time I've finished cooking, they're all finishing their meals.

[RangeTesKopeks]

They all went to the same uni and know the same people, and I'm trying to join in, but struggling. Which I feel q bit hurt by, as when o invited AG to something I was doing with my university friends, she mentioned afterwards how included and welcome I'd made her feel.

[MagdalenNoName]

I see where you're coming from OP. I'd suggest that if you are not comfortable with the people and aren't enjoying exploring by yourself, you should consider cutting the holiday short.

If that feels awkward, a white lie about problems at home, could be an excuse.

[RangeTesKopeks]

Thanks Magdalen (and everyone else who's posted)

[lanouvelleheloise]

I think tough walking - involving huge amounts of scrambling/hacking through heather or brush, off-road - is not many people's cup of tea! It's very different from a (so-called) 'easy' Lake District walk up a straightforward route! To be honest, it sounds as though this woman is rather showing off her prowess rather than looking to have a nice time with you as a friend. The way she's behaving when not walking isn't covering her in glory either. She sounds very lacking in social grace to leave you out like this. If she wanted to do challenging things beyond the reach of others in the group, she should have gone by herself! (I say this as someone who likes a challenging walk/run myself - but I would never, ever take a friend who wasn't into that kind of thing. Partly because they might be scared or tired or uncomfortable, and partly because the point is to spend time together doing something mutually enjoyable. Anyone who can complain about the views from the 'easy' walks in that part of the world lacks eyes!

[2rebecca]

It sounds odd to be together in a cottage and not have group meals, even if one is vegan, you can usually do say a curry meal with meat and veggie curries. If I've been on group holidays and we've done our own thing during the day we've all cooked and eaten and drank together in the evening. Sorry this is all so crap. it sounds like the friend is the only one you really know and as she's coupled up that's not much company.

[Whathaveilost]

YY Frenchy I agree, but it does depend on the mountain.

There's a big difference between wearing flip-flops and trying to climb Helvellyn, and taking all the correct kit and wearing trainers up Catbells
I won't allow my D of E group to do Catbells in trainers!
There is scrambling to do and depending on the way down there can be a long descent. The Lake District weather can be very localised. I allow walking shoes where there is some grip but no trainers that have a smooth sole.

[IHateUncleJamie]

Ugh. AG sounds like the sort of person who would make you go invite you to a skiing holiday then insist on doing black runs all week.

No offence, OP but she doesn't sound like a good friend at all. I would think twice about agreeing to another holiday with her.

Are you a National Trust member? IIRC there are oodles of NT properties near you. ❤️

[RangeTesKopeks]

Exactly IHate! (maybe make that into a half-crying half-laughing emoticon?!)

You're all absolutely right. AG dictates everything, and everyone lets her go along with it.

I suggested a curry night but she said, 'no, were doing a Mexican-themed night' (fine). We're also going to a vegetarian restaurant on one of the nights.

And on two nights, we're having her family and friends over to dinner at the cottage. She's already picked the menu in advance - two meals from Deliciously Ella's cookbook.

Last night, she asked everyone if they were okay with those two meals. One of them has cauliflower, which I'm not really a huge fan of, but I didn't want to say anything. One of the guys said that he wasn't really keen on cauliflower, and she just said, 'oh well, it's already been decided anyway.' And he backtracked and was like, 'oh, thanks so much for cooking - I'm sure it'll taste lovely.'

*

[RangeTesKopeks]

The point is to spend time together doing something mutually enjoyable.

Exactly heloise - I feel a bit upset because whenever I've hosted her and her DP, I've cooked them vegan meals and really taken on board their other requests, but when I go on holiday with them, they seem to please themselves really.

[elfinpre]

If you haven't got sorted re boots, I bought these and walked up Pen-y-fan in them with no breaking in at all. They are very comfortable and my feet really do not get on with traditional walking boots.

m.millets.co.uk/product/grey-merrell-womens-azura-mid-waterproof-hiking-boot/129883/?option=749281&istCompanyId=b238823a-59fd-4816-9c36-7dd47877f2a8&istItemId=raxrmtrat&istBid=tzil&gclid=CjwKCAjw2NvLBRAjEiwAF98GMXcMwBjchrnibB1m6rvPJ75R_vWbQjb37PDu3LENFVDYt6kIIuHnCBoC-W0QAvD_BwE

Also get good socks.

[SoPassRemarkable]

And as for the trainers issue everyone who walks the 2660 mile Pacific Crest Trail including through the Sierra mountains and up Mount Whitney inc through a lot of snow all wear trainers. Im planning on hiking the Pct and will wear trainers.

[IHateUncleJamie]

I'd buy myself a massive steak and eat it in front of her. 😂