Hiking Boots needed for trails in Berner Oberland?

Nope, not unless you have weak ankles, or that's what you normally wear, or you are going onto the difficult or technical trails (most aren't), or you go when the mud, snow or sludge are on the trails.

For most people, in the summer or late spring or early autumn seasons, on many of the trails your usual good strong footwear, usually trainers or sneakers, will be fine.

No flip flops, slippers, bare feet or thongs (foot).

I would respectfully disagree with the prior comment. Light hiking boots are needed for any hiking off trail. If you stay on the paved trails of which there many, then sneakers or Nike type shoes are fine. But trust me if you are in decent shape, venture off the paved paths and hike from Murren to Gimmelwald. Once in a lifetime opportunity to hike down to Gimmelwald thru the green pastures and skirting the snow. It will be somewhat muddy, and you will need decent lightweight hiking boots. I have traveled to Europe 7 years straight, and always use decent hiking boots. Try the following and I bet you are happy:Columbia Peakfreak Venture Mid LT.

It depends. If you are talking about most of the trails described in Rick's Guidebook, then boots aren't needed since these "trails" are in reality paved service roads. But there are of course more rugged trails like the the all day "ridge" hike from Schynige Platte to Kleine Scheidegg which would require decent boots.

We've been 5 times and have never taken proper hiking boots. We DO wear hiking shoes (that's the one shoe we wear for the entire trip). Just bought my husband some new keen hiking shoes for our 2018 trip. I agree with Michael Schneider though that really the only trail we have ever absolutely needed them was on the trail between Schnyge Platte and First. The North Face trail, and the trail down to the Sprutz waterfall and on to Gimmlewald can get muddy so something water resistant is nice. Most of the trails in the area are MUCH more groomed than trails we have here in Colorado, and in the US in general.

I wish I had left my hiking boots at home and just used my regular trainers. We didn't go anywhere other than the well-manicured trails. Footwear overkill.

I agree with Jill about trail maintenance in Switzerland. It is amazing compared to Idaho as well. I did not hike off trail and managed fine with Altra Lone Peak trail shoes.

So... I guess it depends on whether you are going to stay on trail or venture off?

Normal footware is fine for the well-maintained trails such as Maennlichen-KS-Wengen or the Eiger Trail near Murren. However, there are plenty of harder trails where I would recommend proper hiking boots.

No, of course not.

But I personally choose to wear boot for most climbs for the ankle support, and also due to a history of ankle rolls and breaks. I climb mountains year round, and honestly, I can tell even by the fact that you are asking this question that you wont hike into terrain that would exceed a running shoe. There's an entire movement of barefoot climbers out there, and they'll get into class III or IV terrain (even V, maybe? I haven't seen it, but I bet someone has done it)

So "needed"? No, absolutely not. Recommended? It's actually down to personal preference/comfort level. I actually know some peeps who run up some of our class III fourteeners in Nike Frees... not for me.

Its actually funny, I want to do some climbing in Switzerland when Im there in a few weeks, but everyone keeps asking me about how much we're going to climb, and I'm like "Not too much, just the easy stuff, I'm on vacation!"