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).

They got blisters because they weren’t used to wearing them, not because they weren’t suitable.

Her son managed in trainers because they’re easy walks. Not a 3 days, harder terrain etc…. If it had been raining, the ground was slippery etc?? He would have struggled A LOT

The other way is to have the boots regardless of breaking time AND a huge stack of blister pack.

Maybe look at material boots rather then leather boots

Myself and my then 12 year old son completed a 100 mile hike in the Highlands in trainers! Pretty hilly/mountainous trails and complex terrain. We were more than fine and had a great hike together. People are waaaaay too OTT about the need for "proper walking boots". If you walk and hike regularly, and usually do that in trainers, then he might as well continue wearing what he's used to. It's duke of Edinburgh not a hike up Everest.

Runners complete ultra marathons in trainers, albeit usually trail ones, but still trainers! Personally I find walking boots really hard to walk in! And they r pretty blister inducing!

@StayingAnonForThis you were both extremely lucky not to incur serious ankle injuries from being ill-prepared for the terrain. Trainers are definitely not suitable footwear for off road hiking, regardless of what you might think.
Far too many people sneer at the well-prepared; mountain rescue regularly have to retrieve those who think they know better (including idiots wearing flip flops on Snowdon).
If you bought properly fitted walking boots you don’t get blisters, especially if worn with proper walking socks (I love the double-layer1000 Miles ones).

If he takes to the hill walking side of DofE and if he needs serious walking boots for extra needs feet I can recommend Whaley Warm and Dry. They are between the Lake District and the Peak District. It was worth the days travel to have a skilled boot fitting. They provide a range of supportive orthotic insoles, shock absorbing insoles that really work and a range of extremely good hiking shoes and boots.

For various reasons, I'd personally get him hiking boots. (Please don't take this as a personal attack btw, obviously do whatever you want!)

One, the ankle support on a boot can make all the difference to avoiding a twisted ankle on uneven terrain.

Two, the waterproofing on a boot will keep the feet dry. Even if it doesn't rain, there's always the chance of a slip or step into a hidden water source on a long hike and ending up with a wet foot for hours.

I'd also recommend the two-layer hiking socks you can buy, the layers rub against each other rather than the skin and are a lifesaver. I've done a lot of volunteer work which has required being days in a field for festivals etc, and I swear by the socks. I bought my DS a few pairs for his DoE bronze and he got on with them.

We walk absolutely loads as a family as well so we aren't sedentary. DS took his lightweight trainers as something to change into when they were at camp, but he did have time to practice with the hiking boots we bought him in advance.

I think there are loads of options out there for hiking boots/shoes and they're worth having a look at. Also you don't need to spend loads to have decent ones, imo.

I wouldn’t let mine wear trainers dnd were experienced walkers. Boots provide much better grip and support. I’d get him down to somewhere that fits boots properly.

@Sparrow7 I've not had time to read the whole thread but wanted to say thet Merells are usually pretty good off the shelf without being worn in. Obviously not leather but decent grip and they have gore tex. Also compeed for pressure points and blister powder in the socks....and a change of socks half way.

Well the best test will be to load up his rucksack and take him for an all day practice walk somewhere steep and rainy. It will soon become obvious.

if you are such an experienced family of walkers presumably you’ve done lots of similar expeditions before?

I have some lovely Scarpa low walking shoes I use on dry days, I tried them on a long walk. Fine until I got to a deep boggy bit of the path and had to sink, where I would just have yomped through in my boots.

edit: just saw it’s this weekend. I think you need a trip to a walking shop!

“Duke of Edinburgh isn’t really very hard”?!
Tell that to my daughter who walked for 3 days in the Scottish hills, so cold they all huddled in one tent, their wet clothes and any water in mugs etc froze overnight! She did it around 15 years ago, the tents were huge and heavy, I could barely lift her back pack. And her period started on the morning she left, so off she went, armed with her trowel ! I think she enjoyed it with hind site….

Ah. I suppose it depends on what one does to have fun. I'm glad she has happier memories of it the further back it was.

My daughter did the three peaks challenge last year with a company that did the organisation - they had a very strict list and wouldn't take anyone who turned up without the specified shoes and clothing. They had items people could buy (not boots mind you). I think once you start getting into more serious walks they can be quite strict.

We were not ill prepared! We r both experienced hikers. Humans have been hiking and walking in complex terrain for thousands of years. Walking boots have only been around for a tiny tiny fraction of that time! Have you heard of the Tarahumara? They run the hills and mountains daily in nothing but barefeet or old bits of rubber strapped to their feet and they cope just fine!

I can’t believe you compared an inexperienced school kid doing a three day hike with the Tarahumana! What a ridiculous comparison! You might as well have said “Michael Phelps doesn’t use arm bands and he can swim for hours just fine, so don’t give them to your two year old on holiday!”

I can just imagine turning up for DofE expedition with old bits of rubber strapped to your feet saying ‘if it is good enough for the Tarahumara it is good enough for me’

I don't recall comparing a school kid with the Tarahumara! I simply asked if you'd heard of them. They cover pretty difficult terrain daily, largely barefoot. They are of course used to walking barefoot or in minimal footwear as the haven't been sold the need for fancy walking boots.

My point was simply that we don't need fancy hiking boots to walk in the UK! It's Duke of Edinburgh not a trek through the Himalaya's! Humans can cope without walking boots which are a relatively recent invention in the human timeline, and we've been without them thousands of years!

Anyway, if someone likes wearing walking boots, they can crack on! Plenty of people find them beneficial. I've a good friend that's never without them on a hike. All good! If people don't want to wear them, also fine! A teenager used to walking and hiking in trainers will no doubt be fine hiking in trainers on his DofE!

Plenty of people in other countries get by barefeet or with minimal old sandals. It's a first world problem and an invention of the manufacturing companies to suggest we all need specific shoes just for a hike in the UK.

There are some great running and hiking sandals based on the Tarahumara minimalist footwear idea, that many v experienced hikers and trail runners wear and find them v comfortable. Even more inexperienced runners and hikers and turning to them for comfort and to reduce injury. For DofE, unlikely to keep your feet warm enough or help you manage the load of a heavy pack so probably not a great idea! However, why mock the idea. There is some research to suggest minimalist footwear better helps you feel the ground and can reduce injuries. We don't always have to do what everyone else does or the footwear manufactures want us to do. We can think for ourselves and wear what is right and appropriate for us.

Any recommendations for socks that do not contain wool? (Allergy)

Meindl are the widest i've found unless you want to go for proper boots like Alt berg.. which are amazing but possibly overkill.
Some karrimor are wider but not great quality in my experience so won't last... But u can usually get in sports direct..
My DC used Decathlon for dofe .not the v cheapest ones as was going to use again... Their sizing is a bit hit n miss width wise but at keast you can usually try them on in shop

Merrell great but usually on the narrow side

I have skim read the thread, so apologies if this has already been thread.
My friend and her DH are DOE assessors, they check the kit and the kit bag before the participants start. There is a large chance that someone wearing fashion trainers wouldn’t be allowed to participate.

I would check with the organisers, but be aware that they won’t be the assessors. Ask if hiking trainers would be acceptable, you can get cheap ones from Decathlon, they would be more suitable for hiking anyway than a pair of Nike trainers.

As I said before my daughter was told that they would be failed if they didnt have the right kit, which stressed boots.

i think YANBU. But depends where he is walking / hiking. We have a lot of DofE groups come down our lane, it must be on the local schools route for it. They are often decked out to the nines with hiking attire - and don’t need it as they are walking down lanes / footpaths / bridleways not up a rocky mountain 😂. A comfy light trainer that they know isn’t going to rub would be much better.

If you do want to go with hiking boots, try a barefoot brand. They feel light, like a trainer, but offer ankle support. Vivobarefoot are fab but the prices are steep, even second hand. I’ve seen some knock offs on Amazon for around the £25 mark but can’t vouch for them.

If it is still the same, and I remember correctly, the difference between bronze and silver is that bronze is one night camping, and is a flat, shorter route, mostly on roads, and silver was 2 nights camping, has to mostly keep off roads, and has to include inclines - we did it in the peak district. Even though it was hot, through the forests the ground was soggy and unstable. Boots support the ankle, which trainers will not provide, plus have a solid sole as there are sharp roots that could potentially go through a soft trainer sole. Plus they are waterproof. You can deal with soggy trainers for night and day, but two days will give him sores. In regards to the blisters in boots, I remember everyone got blisters cos we simply weren't used to walking up and down hills with a heavy backpack on. All that said, you know your son best. I wear flip flops to walk 5 mile (dry non-muddy) hills cos that's what's best for me - everyone looks at me like I'm mad. Maybe have a look at the incline they will be facing and what terrain, and go from there? And M&M direct do good boots.

I've got nerve damage in one of my feet, and wear Salomon trail running shoes. They're sturdy, but not too heavy, and have a good sole. I'm a wide size 6, and wear a 7 in them.