Ecco shoes?

Ecco shoes are great for walking. Mine are light-weight, waterproof and a very basic black that can dress up or down. They are walking shoes and wouldn't be suitable for hiking. When I think of backpacking, I think hiking shoes.

Maybe what you want are some light-weight hiking shoes by Merrill, North Face and others. As a backup (or alternative) look for some trail runners by Adidas or others, they're very light but have more lateral support than regular running shoes. Get a darker neutral color that can match all your clothes and won't look bad if they get dusty or dirty.

Regardless of the main shoes you bring, take something as a backup. Your shoes might get soaked or your feet may just want a break. Sturdy sandals are a good choice. I have some Keen sandals that I like for everything from boating to mountain biking. You could bring only a pair of flip-flops as backup but they break easy and you may need to buy new ones there.

You can see my footwear choices here:

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=1440268

I am an outdoors person. I wear Saloman light hikers. They are very comfortable and lightweight. I just googled Salomon light hikers and lots came up. They are sold at REI and places like that for at least $100.00. The ones that come up are all different color schemes. Mine are plain brown so you may need to search a bit for a design you like. Merrills would work also.

Well, this is actually a little late to be checking for shoes. I like to get mine and wear them for a while.

What I think you need to do is head to a good store and start trying them on. Advice on here is really not worth that much because ALL of us have different feet. I tend to do great with Eccos but have a horrible time with Keens that other folks love for example!

Get out and start shopping!

My husband and I both take ECCO shoes on trips -- actually ECCO is the only shoe my husband will wear. It has been our experience that the shoes will not need a break-in period.

Good luck!

ECCOs are all that we wear BUT it is because the shoes fits very, very well. All shoes do not fit all people the same way. ECCO does make a line of hiking boots and light hiking shoes. My only shoe for travel is a dressy looking oxford with a lugged shoe. It handles everything from hiking to beach walking. It is especially comfortable on cobble stone and rough streets. The other thing we like about ECCO is the interchangeable intersole. We take an extra set and change daily. Keeps the shoe dry and fresh and eliminates the need for a second pair.

You are way too late asking this question. You should have purchased your shoes at least 2 months ago to break them in. Take moleskin and antibiotic cream and socks!

Zeb, interesting timing of your post, as I'm also looking at a new pair of shoes for my next trip. After checking out the various brands, I've also decided to go with ECCO. Unfortunately, the local ECCO reseller isn't able to get the particular model that I want, so I've been scouring the net trying to find someone (anywhere) that stocks that model.

I've used Rockport for my previous trips, but have found they're not wearing as well as might be expected, so I'm hoping that ECCO will be an improvement. I've also suffered a lot of foot problems in previous trips, but can't blame that entirely on the shoes (but I suspect they were partially responsible, as they don't provide the support that I need). The ECCO models seemed to fit my feet much better.

Good luck with your shoe purchase!

Thanks everyone for the advice! This trip is a last minute trip (I'm filling in for a reporter). Luckily I found my well broken into Ecco shoes from when I use to teach in storage and will be using them. After I get my RS bag I'll be all set :) Happy traveling.

Great news Zeb. For those who are concerned about breaking in the Eccos, they needn't be. I bought my last pair of Eccos halfway through my trip to Scandinavia...I was wearing New Balance walking shoes (over a year old) and they were killing my feet...I stopped in a shoe store in Helsinki, bought my Eccos and tossed my NBs. The shoes felt like they were broken in when I got them...no blisters, no sore feet...just cool, comfortable walking during one of the hottest summers in Europe (July 2006).

A break-in period is always a good thing. At least a couple of days walking or shopping to make sure what seemed like a really comfortable shoe really is after a few hours.

One often overlooked aspect of breaking in your shoes, do it with the socks you intend to pack. Sometimes people wear their shoes with regular socks and are perfectly happy, then find there's no room for their feet and those thick hiking socks they packed. Find out before you leave which socks work well.

I think Eco shoes have the "European fit". They fit tight at the tops of the feet. I do not like that. But Eco boots might be different.

No matter the make of shoes, I never pack a pair that I haven't owned and worn for 6 months. A trip is no time to discover things you don't like.
That being said -- Ecco, Rockport, etc... all work well... and for my money, Timberland is just as good for less money.