Any suggestions for good walking boots/shoes for the 'maybe rain, maybe snow' of Germany in December? I have my Merrell athletic-type shoes that I took on a spring trip and they were great. But with ice/rain/snow for this trip... what would you recommend?
I should add that they should be good for walking on cobblestones....
My favorite travel boot is anything by Fly London on the rubber wedge sole, perfect for long days of walking and standing and excellent on uneven terrain like cobblestones or walking through mud and puddles. If you like their style and they suit your wardrobe they're worth a try, Amazon and Nordstrom carry several styles. If you size up you can fit thicker socks depending on the weather you might encounter.
I have the Merrell hiking shoes/booties....i think they are called Moab. They are very comfortable and also waterproof. Plus they aren't terribly heavy.
About a week ago I bought the Merrell Jungle Mocs. They are probably the most comfortable shoe I own now and am planning on bringing them on our RS tour in 3 weeks!
We did a couple of trips to Bavaria and Austria in December. Some snow, rain and slush. Just wore my everyday Rockport walking shoes. Before leaving home, I used Kiwi Heavy Duty Water Repellent spray on them. I also wore wool socks I bought at Wal Mart. No issues at all. 6 years later, the shoes still look great by the way. I spray them twice a year.
Paul
We are going to be in Germany and Switzerland in December also and I was really wanting a stylish, yet functional boot. I ordered the Merrill Women's Captiva (tall) Buckle Up from Amazon. They also had them at 6pm.com. They are waterproof. They are so unbelievably comfortable and really cute. I can wear them with skirts, leggings and jeans. I am surprised by how comfortable and supportive they are. I am so excited to wear them on our trip!
I have two pair of TEVA De la vina boots - the tall ones that hit below the knee, and the low boots which are wide enough to tuck my pants into. Amazon has the best prices for them right now.
Two years ago we were heading for Paris, Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna, Nuremburg from mid-December to mid-January and, as a native Californian, I owned NO winter shoes/boots. Bought some BareTraps short boots (pile-lined) and wool socks from Costco. Treated the boots with additional water proofing. Wore double socks as needed.
Waterproof hiking boots with thick soles would also have worked, although lower on the cuteness scale. Sneaker-type shoes can transmit the cold from the icy pavement right up to your toes.
The walking-shoe store recommended Clarks for best waterproof walking shoes.
Unless you plan some winter walking expeditions in the Alps, you don't need any special kind of boot or shoe, provided that it's at least close-toed. It may very well rain or snow during your visit, but it doesn't tend to come down very hard. More important is a pair of warm socks.
Let me share an example. In four years of living in Germany and hiking at least weekly during all seasons of the year, my shoes were soaked through on exactly two occassions. Once when I had to jump into a canal to rescue my dog and once when I got caught out in the open on top of a mountain during a sudden Alpine storm. Normal walking shoes were sufficient for all other occassions, with the exception of some Alpine winter walking, when I did wear snow boots.
We are going to be in Germany and Switzerland in December also and I was really wanting a stylish, yet functional boot. I ordered the Merrill Women's Captiva (tall) Buckle Up from Amazon. They also had them at 6pm.com. They are waterproof. They are so unbelievably comfortable and really cute. I can wear them with skirts, leggings and jeans. I am surprised by how comfortable and supportive they are. I am so excited to wear them on our trip!
I bought these boots a week ago and I love them too! Just a little breaking in needed at the ankle but they are nice looking! I will bring them, my UGGS, and my Merrill Jungle Mocs. It looks like Germany/Austria will be chilly in December!
We are going to be in Germany and Switzerland in December also and I was really wanting a stylish, yet functional boot. I ordered the Merrill Women's Captiva (tall) Buckle Up from Amazon. They also had them at 6pm.com. They are waterproof. They are so unbelievably comfortable and really cute. I can wear them with skirts, leggings and jeans. I am surprised by how comfortable and supportive they are. I am so excited to wear them on our trip!
I bought these boots a week ago and I love them too! Just a little breaking in needed at the ankle but they are nice looking! I will bring them, my UGGS, and my Merrill Jungle Mocs. It looks like Germany/Austria will be chilly in December!
