Switzerland: Hiking boots or hiking shoes?

Most of the popular hiking routes in the region, are mostly on access roads as opposed to rugged wilderness trails. So well broken-in hiking shoes will work.

We love hiking in the area and have done some of the more difficult hikes. (Obersteinberg, Schyngie Platte to First, etc) They were on trails, not roads and had quite a bit of elevation gain. Having said that, I just take my hiking shoes (Vasque-kinda glorified sneakers with hiking tread) I have not needed more than that. My sister did the Obersteinberg hike in tennis shoes. She did fine, but it was slippery in places and she struggled with that a little.

Thanks everyone. Light hiking shoes it is!

I've also done the ridge hike from Schyngie Platte to First that Connie mentions. For the segment to Faulhorn one should use heavy duty hiking boots. IMO it would be dangerous to use shoes. But for all the other hikes listed in Rick's guidebook, heavy duty boots are overkill.

Just to re-emphasize, break in the shoe first. The most expensive shoe on the market is useless if it hasn't molded to the contours of your feet.

What would you wear for hiking in Yosemite or the Sierras? If you want to do hiking trails in Switzerland--as opposed to roads and paved paths between the villages---you will want the same shoes or boots as you use for hiking in the US mountains. The trails can be rough, rocky and muddy. If you are comfortable in low-cut hiking shoes (with a good lug sole) in the US, then that should be fine in Switzerland. But if you hike in boots in the Sierras or other mountains in the US, consider taking those.

I take my hiking boots to Switzerland because we go specifically for hiking and hike nearly every day, doing moderate to strenuous hikes. My younger sister wears her hiking shoes (trail runners). we are both happy woth our choice.

What would you wear for hiking in Yosemite or the Sierras? If you want to do hiking trails in Switzerland--as opposed to roads and paved paths between the villages---you will want the same shoes or boots as you use for hiking in the US mountains. The trails can be rough, rocky and muddy. If you are comfortable in low-cut hiking shoes (with a good lug sole) in the US, then that should be fine in Switzerland. But if you hike in boots in the Sierras or other mountains in the US, consider taking those.

I take my hiking boots to Switzerland because we go specifically for hiking and hike nearly every day, doing moderate to strenuous hikes. My younger sister wears her hiking shoes (trail runners). we are both happy woth our choice.