shoes for Ireland tour?

From what I have read on this forum a lot of people do not take hiking boots due to both space and weight. Some do but that may be their only shoe. A waterproof walking shoe would be nice but only if you already own them and have broken them in. I certainly wouldn't try to purchase and break a shoe in a week before my trip. You will probably be fine with what you have since you are taking two pairs of shoes. If one pair gets wet wear the other until the first is dry. Pulling out the insoles and stuffing wet shoes with newspaper can help to speed the drying.

cindy, walking is not hiking You'll mostly be walking on streets, sidewalks, and inside buildings.

I think you'll do fine with your tennis shoes. I did the Ireland tour in June 2014 and expected rain but did not get any. There was no problem with any of the activities needing the extra support hiking boots provide. Since you've got 2 pr of shoes, if one gets wet by some chance then you have the other pair while #1 dries out in your hotel room. I would pack each shoe in a plastic bag (Sunday Newspaper or just a heavy plastic bag) in case wet ones don't dry before you have to move on.

I wore Keen waterproof lace up (low top) walking shoes as did my husband. We were walking and hiking in Ireland for three weeks in September and they were perfect. You can wear either a low cut or a ankle sock with them depending on if you are wearing shorts or long pants. We bought them at Calebala's and there was not breaking in period.

RE: "walking is not hiking".

True, but "walking" in the UK/Ireland has a different connotation than walking in North America. "Walking: in the UK encompasses what North Americans call hiking. A UK "walk" MAY warrant sturdy water proof boots with traction soles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_in_the_United_Kingdom#Hillwalking

Walking is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in
the United Kingdom,[1] and within England and Wales there is a
comprehensive network of rights of way that permits easy access to the
countryside. Access is also easy in Scotland but not in Northern
Ireland. Walking is used in the United Kingdom to describe a range of
activity, from a walk in the park to trekking in the Alps. The word
"hiking" is used in the UK, but less often than walking; the word
rambling is also used, and the main organisation that supports walking
is called The Ramblers. Walking in mountainous areas in the UK is
called hillwalking, or in Northern England, including the Lake
District and Yorkshire Dales, fellwalking, from the dialect word fell,
for high, uncultivated land. Mountain walking can sometimes involve
scrambling.

My husband only brought the shoes he wore on our 21 day BOE tour last spring.....for the same reason you mention.....men's shoes take up much more room than ours do! I did have a pair of Merell Viking boots/shoes but I wore those on the plane. If your hubby wants to have them for himself he should wear them on the plane then pack a good pair of tennis/walking shoes in the suitcase. My hubby was lucky his boots were waterproof!

It's important to have goid sucks as well. I brought 3 pair of smart-wool socks and to this day they are my favorites, even in summer weather!

Yes, wear your boots on the airplane and pack your second pair of light (trainers, dancing or street) shoes in your bag. The second pair of hut/hotel shoes is needed for a number of reasons. The first is your boots are likely to get wet and/or muddy at some point during a 14 day walking tour. Hotels and B&Bs don't want you tracking in mud and water into their properties. The second is light, comfortable and dry foot wear is more than a luxury after a day of walking in a wet environment.

The minor advantage of wearing your boots on the homeward bound flight is not having to unpack boots if you check the "visited a farm" box on you USA customs form. We had to have our boots chemically sanitized on our return to the States after trekking across cattle and sheep pastures.

Unless the tour has changed remarkably since I took it, there was no hiking involved that would require hiking boots. Even the farm visits allowed us to stay on well worn and non muddy paths. I got by with my well worn boat shoes. These have proven much easier to clean the mud off of (if you happen into some) than any boots I even owned.

Sure, in your free time you could probably go on a hike off the beaten path if that is what you like that might require boots.

I don't recall ever wishing I had hiking boots on the Ireland tour. Good soles, yes. But not added support of boots.

I took this wonderful tour in June 2011 and you will need two pairs of sneakers or one pair of shoes and one pair of sneakers. I think two pairs of sneakers would be better. I wore my sneakers during the day and needed them and yes when it rained or was muddy my sneakers got wet so they had to dry out so I was very happy to have the pair of shoes. It is a very informal tour clothing wise, so bring a rain jacket, warm sweatshirt, scarf and jeans and have a great time. I made sure I layered as it was warm and chilly, rainy and sunny and just wonderful. No hiking boots are needed.

@Edgar, yes I understand people in the UK take walking seriously. I was looking at the tour itinerary in question and seeing what they were doing from day to day, and the activity level as described in the itinerary, from which it appears that they won't be spending a lot of time on potentially muddy trails.

I agree with Edgar, just from the standpoint of comfort -- except my boots are regular walking boots, not hiking boots. They are the kind of flat-heeled knee-high boots you can tuck your jeans into or else wear with tights and a dress. I've worn them for everything from rural walking (hiking) to horseback riding to elegant restaurants.

The "hut" shoes in my case are little ballet flat slip-ons that fold down to the size of a deck of cards (well, almost). I find them essential for the reasons he states -- boots being wet, or just wanting to give your feet a change.

For the same reason, I always bring some kind of comfy loungewear for the hotel room that's decent enough to wear down to the lobby. A tunic and a pair of leggings, for example. It's as comfortable as pajamas but suitable for wearing in public.