footwear for the Inca Trail

Apparently some people do the entire 4 day trek in sneakers but I wasn't going to be one of them. I won't go into the dreary details of shlepping about town trying to find a pair of decent walking boots. I'll just offer the following suggestions:

- try to shop for them at the end of the day when your feet are tired and swollen
- wear the socks you will have on when wearing the boots
- buy light and buy waterporoof
- look for ankle support
- don't buy them if they're uncomfortable (probably the most important tip - I have a hard time with new shoes in general so didn't believe this was possible - it is - keep looking)

Most stores will allow you to exhange or return the boots if you keep the receipt and the box, and if you've only worn them inside your home. Ask what the return policy is before handing over your cash. (BTW, I have a hardly-used pair of North Face boots, women's size 8, if anyone's interested. Going cheap! lol)

Another thing: Buy them early and wear them in! I am wearing mine walking about the city but also on hikes with the Toronto Bruce Trail Club (which organizes bus trips for weekend hikes). After trying three different brands, I settled for Keens (Targhee II Mid) from MEC. They are surprisingly listed as Light trail shoes but I am optomistic they will be adequate.

Some other travel bloggers have recommended bringing a pair of sandals on the trek to wear in camp (with socks, as it is apparently quite cold up there in the Andes!) but also for the shower at the end of day 3. It can get a little knarly.