Footwear - what do you recommend?
 

I tried a search and there's a fair bit about footwear, but for the bikers. So I thought I try asking the drivers about it. What footwear would you recommend, or not?

Obviously I'd say something waterproof-ish, breathing, and comfortable. But then there's the extra things needed for driving, something flexible enough to be able to work the pedals properly, and for me, something small enough to not stamp on two pedals at once in a Fiat Panda, nothing too clumpy.

The trip's in summer, and from Scotland to Beijing, via the Stans and Mongolia, so hopefully it's not like I'll need the ability to attach crampons or anything.

Shoe shufflle
 

Hi Alex
I usually take a pair of Clarks sandles, good for driving and and walking, a pair of walking boots, good if it's cold/ raining and for hiking, and some moroccan slippers, good for everything, and vital with a pipe!
Bruce

A good pair of sandles, leather soles are best, but not worth paying £60 for them as within a year they will be toast and a pair of (darkish) goretec type trainers for border crossings, visa's, cold weather, serious walking and when you are invited to rich peoples places for cocktail parties ;-)

Shoes are best in towns - I took the top of my big toe off in Kayes from a random piece of metal sticking out of the concrete slabs I was walking on above the sewers etc

There is a kind of sandel/shoe adventure combi thing available in campings shops as well - protects your toes, but quite open etc

Don't forget socks as well - a pair of nice thick wooly ones for really cold weather and some really thin ones - 100% cotton! Despite looking silly (or 'pommie' as my Kiwi auntie calls it) I often wear think socks with my sandals when (alone!) in the bush - they save your feet from alot of abuse from prickly bits and bobs.

Most importently take foot powder as hot irritated feet will ruin the most beautiful of scenery on a long walk or make you very uncomfortable waiting for that visa...

My vote is for sandals for messing about, you will never find me far from a trusted pair of timberland boots - despite the popularity with urban yoofs etc they are one of the very few boots I have found that are:
- cool enough even in tropics
- pretty well waterprrof
- dont fall apart in a years abuse
- can be scrubbed up to look half presentable under trousers
- can take a good long walk
Only thing I found comparable is lightweight Chris Brasher boots which are also super. Also never found them too rigid for long drives.

There is 3 different shoes I tend to pack all the time.

Meindl Desert Fox,lightweight good in heat and gives 200% ankle support and seem to last the same mileage as Michelin Tyres

Birkenstock Sandals,you can wear them in any climate as long as it's dry(with or without socks) and you can walk hours on them from citystreets to uneaven surface

and my Hanwag Goretex boots when it's really snow/merk/muddy.

I wear some Aussie drover style ankle boots day in day out regardless of the weather. They have been fine in the desert in Maroc and the snow in the Cotswolds.

I guess they may be heavy compared to sandals, but you soon get used to them and they have the advantage of not smelling, unlike my Timberland deck shoes that I used to wear in the summer.

If I was going through very muddy areas I might look at getting some hiking style boots that I can wear with gore-tex putties that will water proof you up to below the knee - ideal for when you are pushing the Panda out of the mud ;-)

Hi all,

Rogue sandals for the desert, Rogue boots for everywhere else. It has worked for me fine for many years. Very strong seams and robust soles. You can get them from John Muirden UNBEATENTRACKS Outdoor Gear And Travel Adventures

Please note I have nothing to do with these guys - just a happy customer.