To let my son wear trainers for his Silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition?

[Sparrow7]

I just mentioned to a friend who's son is also doing the expedition this weekend that my son will be wearing strong comfortable trainers and she was shocked and appalled! As a family we do a lot of walking and we all wear trainers as I have always hated walking boots. On the bronze trip all the kids with walking boots ended up with horrendous blisters and tired feet, whereas my son's feet were fine. The weather is going to be dry but I am now second guessing my decision as it does say walking boots are essential on the kit list (as it did on the bronze one).

I think it's more about protecting the ankle, Trainers do not provide any support to the upper ankle if you step on stones or uneven ground, walking boots should provide this essential support.

I bought some new ones to take on holiday last week and didn't even have to break them in. Modern ones are so light and comfortable. We got sick of our way being blocked by people who didn't want to get their trainers dirty!

When my son did bronze and now just about to do silver, walking boots rather than trainers or walking shoes were mandatory due to the ankle support needed for carrying the heavy bag over long distances, not necessarily the terrain

People run up and down mountains in trainers, why can't they walk in them too?

I have read elsewhere that 100g weight saving on footwear is equivalent to 500g in a backpack. So the difference between a massive pair of leather boots and some trainers could be significant over a day's walking.

I think Nike air trainers are a bit unsuitable on grounds of grip. Get him a pair of gortex fell running shoes.

Yes, the technology has improved immensely.

Trail shoes and “walk in” ones can be brilliant options for some conditions.

Air max are wildly unsuitable.

Because you got a blister as a child wearing borrowed shoes, you think It's acceptable to send your child out in dangerous footwear?

There's trainers, trainers and trainers. Nike Air Max are very different to specific hill walking/ trail running trainers which have increased protection from stubbing toes, grippy lugs on the sole and designed to stop grit and debris working in around the tounge and eyelets.

Silver terrain is rougher, open country. It's 3 days of 10mile walking, with the pack containing additional food and clothes from the extra day.

DS1 is no fan of boots and we discussed footwear with school early on (Bronze) and he was approved with a sturdy walking shoe. He's used to cross-country running which will have strengthed his ankles. While he's hypermobile which increases sprain risk, the additional bulk of a boot affects his balance and fatigue too.
Ultimately he can only wear what the school clears with their risk assessments.

I was not keen on the old leather hiking boots I had as a teen. But modern boots are much better. And you can get walking shoes, similar to trainers but with good grippy soles, now as well. I have a pair of boots for heavy duty walking but use my proper hiking shoes for most types of walks/hikes nowadays. I’ve seen too many people having fallen from wearing trainers without enough grip in my time (lots of hillwalking as a family and also a Cub and Scout Leader for over a decade) to not wear proper soles shoes - but getting ones that fit well and are comfortable, with sufficiently thick socks, is a key to success. And having enough time to break them in to be comfortable wearing them for 2 solid days of walking…

Well fitted trainers with a decent sole will be better than ill fitting boots especially with odd feet. (DH has odd feet, and gets all his boots from a specialist company, but thats a bit excessive for just one weekend!)

I did break my foot hill walking once... but ironically just outside the car park, tripped on a rabbit hole!

Fuck no, then. You need proper tread. If he hates boots due to his bone spur, then ankle length hiking trainers would probably be ok. Hiking trainers have the same kind of tread as boots and are often waterproofed. Personally I need the ankle support of boots.
My school’s rule was always good trainers with decent tread are ok for bronze (day walk training then an overnight trip) but boots were a must for silver (overnight training trip then 3 day qualifying hike).
Buy 2 pairs of decent hiking socks when you get boots/hiking trainers.

Depends on weather and terrain. I wear New Balance trail running shoes during summer on moderate terrain. They are mesh and drain quickly if wet. If it’s going to be really wet then I wear sealskin socks too. If the terrain is more challenging and had loose scree, I wear Innov8 roclite boots. They are very lightweight and don’t need breaking in. The boot form is for ankle protection and not support. Winter is usually Karrimor SF boots that are thinsulate and goretex lined and have a stiff sole that will take a crampon if necessary.

Just to be clear it wasn't one time I was forced to wear hiking boots and got blisters. it was many, many times. But I can see the boots available in the 1980s were different. We regularly walk long distances as a family, all in trainers and have never had any issues, including over rough terrain. I have emailed the leader to check. I think trail shoes could be ok but I think walking in boots when he is not used to it will be more likely to cause problems for him.

My husband has odd-shaped feet and he buys a walking shoe/trainer hybrid, a bit like this:https://www.hoka.com/en/gb/kids/anacapa-2-low-gore-tex/196565573377.html?srsltid=AfmBOoq0kiiYDvJtkwBZTia242RUORfgexGzZJkhISafsr_BtZStrVI5g8o

Fell runners run for a couple of hours then go home; they don't wear their wet trainers all day.

The need for ankle support is massively overstated and unless you have humongous 4 season leather boots they won't provide any support anyway.
Regarding wet feet, I can be prone to blisters but I've just returned from a nine day tramp in New Zealand which entailed numerous river crossings with no problems. Shoes usually dried overnight anyway.

I was with you until you said Nike Air Max! Those are fashion trainers and won’t be suitable. I thought you meant hiking trainers. If you go today and get him fitted at a proper outdoor shop for boots and proper socks, and he wears the boots every minute he can until he goes, he’ll probably be ok. Wear them around the house, out for walks in the evening and even to school if he’ll go along with it.

My son has just done his silver practice walk. He would have been sent home if he turned up in trainers regardless of whether they were good walking ones or not.
The requirement for walking boots is to protect the ankles I think when walking on uneven terrain.
Walking boots are only uncomfortable if badly fitted or not great boots. The walk my son has just completed was 18 miles through boggy moorland. He was wearing lightweight waterproof Merrell boots. His feet remained dry and not one blister. He did say that a friend didn't have great boots and really struggled. I think he said the sole had a hole in.
I would go and get him to try some on and see what he thinks.

He can't borrow boots because nobody can borrow boots; boots worn in by somebody else are no better than brand new ones.

Is he able to take trainers and hiking boots just in case ?

I did ten tors very comfortably in my trail running trainers. I think well fitting + broken in shoes is the key. Not their specific purpose!

I like Hi Tec v-lites, they are incredibly light and comfortable,great ankle support, you can wear them all day without getting achey legs and feet.
The best way to prevent blisters is to make sure your skin isn't dry. Moisturise your feet after your shower or before you go to bed at night and again when you get up, wear thick socks and you won't have blisters

I'm a DofE supervisor and I wouldn't let a child walk in fashion trainers. Decent walking shoes probably yes for silver, well-fitting boots don't cause blisters but I realise are often more expensive. Don't forget that you get discount at several retailers with DofE.

just saw the Nike pro thing. I wouldn’t recommend those.. can you get some light weight trail shoes / boots from Merrell or similar? As long as they’re fitting in store they shouldn’t need breaking in really.

Why not trying walking shoes?

My teens like adidas terrex walking boots I think they do a walking shoe version we’ve walked mile in them, I prefer merrels

I don’t think Nike’s are the way forward for a DOE award…