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Sandals for GAS tour in June??

Would anyone recommend sandals for the Germany Austria Switzerland trip in June?

Posted by
7129 posts

I wear Keen sandals when I've been in those countries. You will want something with a decent sole, so you won't slip or fall.

Posted by
106 posts

Yes, sandals. I took a pair of Dansko sandals without closed toes, also a covered pair of Abeo sandals and alternated them each day. On this tour you do a lot of up and down walking. I was on the GAS tour in June of 2014 and froze because I didn't have warm enough clothes. . Please take a fleece vest that you can wear under a jacket, it might be cool.
Pam from Bath

Posted by
25 posts

I was wondering if it would be warm enough to warrant carrying sandals...I typically like my feet covered, but wondered if sandals would be lighter as an alternate shoe.

Posted by
25 posts

Pam, I am concerned about being prepared for the weather...do you remember the temps in June when you were there? It's tough to pack for cooler temps when it is so warm where you live.

Posted by
5362 posts

Just wear socks with your sandals on colder days and then you'll really look like a local.

Posted by
5362 posts

I would add that temperatures in this region, especially at higher altitudes, can vary extremely. You will have days in the 80s and you will have cold nights that require several layers. No way to guess this time of year and averages are only averages.

Posted by
2527 posts

Would I recommend you take sandals on your trip? Yes. Would I recommend taking sandals on all trips? Yes. Would I wear sandals throughout the day while traveling? Nope. But, if your feet can handle it, enjoy.

Posted by
7129 posts

"...I typically like my feet covered, but wondered if sandals would be lighter as an alternate shoe."

Take the type of shoe that you're most comfortable wearing. If you take a pair of sandals, but you don't usually wear sandals, you're probably bringing them for nothing.

Posted by
2252 posts

I took sandals for the GAS tour in June a couple of years ago and did wear them a time or two. That said, It was cold, rainy, and even snowy from time to time during the course of the tour. I would take them but also take a pair of closed toe shoes you can wear with socks-just in case you experience the same variations in weather on your tour! By the way, it's a wonderful tour!

Posted by
25 posts

I think I'm probably going to stick with walking/hiking shoes. I'm not usually wearing sandals unless it's quite warm, and I don't anticipate that many days over 90 degrees. Thanks for the suggestions and information!

Posted by
588 posts

I probably would not take sandals. I got snowed in Murren in June. I prefer Keens and Merrells. Take sox. Take a hat and gloves. The GAS tour was my favorite tour of the five I have been on. A light fleece to wear under a windbreaker is a good idea. My LL Bean fitness fleece goes everywhere with me. I have six in different colors.

Posted by
25 posts

It's been almost two months since we returned from the tour--which was awesome--and I have to follow up this post. Our tour had 5-6 days when I would have really appreciated having sandals. I took a pair of walking shoes which ended up giving me a few blisters (thankfully I had moleskin) and a pair of Oboz hikers which I absolutely loved. Hindsight is 20/20; socks would have worked with the sandals :)

Posted by
11294 posts

"If you take a pair of sandals, but you don't usually wear sandals, you're probably bringing them for nothing."

This is great advice, and it doesn't just apply to footwear, but to any article of clothing. My mother read all the packing advice, and so for our trip to Turkey, she didn't bring her usual jewelry (like earrings and bracelets), but instead brought scarves. "They take up no space and weigh next to nothing and they're so versatile to accessorize your wardrobe." She forgot that she doesn't like wearing scarves. They ended up staying in her suitcase, and the only scarves she used were the ones she brought to cover her head when visiting mosques. Ironically, the other scarves ended up being a bigger waste of space and weight than her usual jewelry would have, since she would have worn this every day.