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 would suggest Nike trail runners as a compromise, his current ones probably don’t have a grippy enough sole? I am much more comfortable in mine than in my walking boots - I find the boots uncomfortable around the ankle after a time.

Isn't silver a longer walk, on rougher terrain? Back when I did it, trainers weren't permitted because walking boots provide better ankle support and grip over longer distances and differing terrain. They also stopped our feet getting wet because of additional stitched material under laces. There's no way I'd have contemplated not wearing (properly fitting) boots. Always wise to wear them in a bit before the expedition regardless though.

My child’s school wouldn’t let them walk in trainers. My DDs walking boots are lightweight ones from cotton traders as apposed to the hard traditional ones. They still have the ankle support.

One reason why your son will need boots is that he will be carrying quite a heavy back pack.

While I have been walking, I have done the same routes as many DofE walkers and have seen so many children with badly fitting boots on.
You should not order boots online. Your child should be taken to a proper outdoor shop and the boots tried on. Poorly fitting or borrowed boots will give you blisters.

On the other hand, this is such a major expense for parents. When I started serious walking I had really cheap kit except for my boots. The boots I am wearing at the moment cost well over £200 and this is a common price. Have a word with the organisers ( not just a teacher who is helping) and see if they can recommend reasonably priced boots. I would avoid brands like Adidas, North Face etc. You are paying for the fashion element in them.

I hate walking boots (even though I have a comfortable pair) but wet feet is rubbish. My main concern would be that DoE wouldn't allow it though. Have horrible memories of the snails pace they wanted us to hike at and how we had to wait in the freezing cold and rain at every checkpoint because of sticking to the exact rules

The problem with trainers and approach shoes generally is that they don't offer ankle support. This is less important if it's walking on fairly easy paths. However over rocky ground it becomes more of a risk. Turning an ankle in the middle of nowhere with no vehicle access means calling out mountain rescue (who are volunteers) and hobbling back. I recognise boots can be heavier (though they don't have to be) and at this stage its probably too late to break new boots in. However it's worth thinking about for the future.

^^ this 100%.
Nike are fashion trainers and a 30 minutes walk to and from school is hardly a suitable workout to test their suitability on rough, boggy terrain.
I too got horrendous, bleeding blisters from borrowing boots when I was young. I wouldn’t dream of not wearing properly fitted walking boots nowadays- I wear Berghaus ones and they’re so comfortable.

A good fitting decent walking boot won't need breaking in, many are made with fabric rather than leather so are still supportive without being clumpy.
Also decent walking socks, neither need to be expensive but the extra padding on walking socks can make a huge difference.
The terrain will be rocky and possibly may come across mud/water and so if he dunks an air max in there he'll be wet and very uncomfortable, not to mention the nikes will be ruined!
If you can get yourself to a decent outdoor shop and get him fitted, I used to do this as a job and leaving it to the last minute isn't ideal but better than trainers.
If no outdoor shop then Sports direct do a lot of walking boots however I'd read up on what to look for and how to fit before you go.

Nike Air Max are not suitable.

If you're insisting he has to be allowed to wear trainers he needs proper outdoor/trail/fell shoes

Just buy some inov8s off sportsshoes. Not mudclaws though they won't have enough cushioning for him. Something like the trail talon or roclite.

Waterproof footwear is also a real consideration on a trip of any length of time. Moorland can be boggy. Long grass holds a lot of dew and moisture. Very easy to end up treading in some hidden spring or tiny stream. Wet shoes, socks and wet feet are manageable if you're out for just a few hours, but a real problem if you're away for a couple of nights.

I think one difficulty is that so few shops actually offer a fitting service. The boots I wear come from a specialist shop where they measured my feet properly. I wore them a bit at home and to the shops, but they are an excellent fit and there was no 'breaking in a period.' They were expensive, but worth it! (Also they offer a lot more support than my lighter Merrell boots.(

He is only a size 6 but has very wide feet, any recommendations for trail shoes or lightweight boots that don't need wearing in?

Walking boot trainers are a thing now. I have some hokas that are very comfortable.

The other problem is it's a rapidly growing age group that are unlikely to get substantial use from them in the long term. Not much point paying £££ for boots that will see little use.
But you want footwear that will not prevent them from enjoying the experience or create a hazard.

I was about to say it's ok, i hike in trainers all the time. BUT I wear trail shoes with a good grip (better than most hiking boots because they're designed for running up and down hills in). Sending him in Nike Air Max is just ridiculous, he might as well wear flip flops for all the grip and support they'll give him.

I know people are agast at the Nike air max but they have a very thick sole and he walked 10k in them a couple of weeks ago.

For the future, maybe have a look at trail running shoes? Some trainers can be very slippy on grass/scree/Stony ground but trail is ones have a sole that is much grippier and more like a hiking boot.

He may need to upsize, easily to a 7 and possibly an 8.

I'm size 2 in open shoes like birkenstocks where my width isn't limiting. My road runners are size 5. I had up-sized to 4s, but I think my feet have spread and they contributed to achilles tendonitis a few years ago. My size 4 boots used to be comfortable but are now snug.

I favour socks that are well padded on the toe and heel but elasticated in the middle over my bony arches.

He needs to try them on himself.

I think all the comments above cover it @Sparrow7 but I like the poster above I also lost a big toenail on a hiking expedition, it never grew back properly again! Please remind him to cut his toenails really short before he goes either way.

I also remember a lot of thick boggy ground on my silver expedition, I wouldn't have wanted to do the route we had without hiking boots honestly. It would have covered a trainer the amount we sunk in.

Merrell trail/hiking shoes are pretty comfortable and lightweight straight out of the box. No wearing-in time. They suit my wide awkward feet and I've completed many multi day treks in them.

Don't assume that your experience is universal. I have wide feet and have a lot of trouble getting shoes to fit, and was equally doubtful about walking boots until I tried some and got them properly fitted. I've never had so much as one blister with them, even on my first walk in them which was around 8 miles.

That said, if the expedition is this weekend it's far too late to be introducing new boots so I would stick with the trainers for now. However, for any future hikes, especially when the weather is worse, walking boots could be a godsend for your son and the rest of your family.

Altra Lone Peak 9+
Wide toe box, vibram sole, zero drop.

10k is just over 6 miles. Silver DofE is more than that each day for three days (about 10 miles a day when I did it many years ago) carrying a heavy weight. Not the same at all.

My kids have pretty sturdy adidas terrex trail running shoes that they wear to school. They are great, comfortable and reasonably waterproof (not sure they’d survive walking through water well but keep feet dry in rain)

First 10K is nothing, but second, 10K where? Along roads or well maintained paths? It's not comparable.

He’ll have wet, knackered feet and potentially a broken ankle. They are totally inappropriate footwear for hiking in rough terrain.