Footwear for the BO

I don't think you need special footwear for the easier trails, as long as it is something sturdy. Athletic shoes should be fine. Personally, I need something with ankle support.

If just walking on the gravel trails along the ski pistes, athletic shoes would be fine. I personally think waterproof shoes are useless, because light rain won't penetrate regular shoes, but nothing will keep your feet dry in a mountain squall except staying inside.

We have been twice in July in Murren. Regular athletic shoes will be fine. My wife needs ankle support, so she wears mid boots. I wear Merrell Moab Ventilators men's shoes. The NorthFace trail above Murren is great as is the Mannlich to Kleinne Scheidegg walk above Wengen. Both are amazing and easy to do with regular athletic shoes. On the North Face trail, if the cows recently came up to pasture, part of the trail will be messed up due to the cows and poop. Just turn around and take another trail down. Our shoes have never been waterproof.

Thanks for your replies. I have a meeting with my travel Ladies tomorrow to finalize our plans and for some reason the subject of shoes always come up! This is good information for me to pass on.

I've stayed in Murren twice doing most of the trail walks and just wore my Birkenstock sandals... had no problems at all.