Q: I'm looking at doing a very long backpacking trip in Latin America that will cover very cold places in Patagonia and the Andes as well as warm rain forest and Mexican deserts. I would like to find a multipurpose shoe that is warm enough with thermal socks for snow weather yet cool enough for trekking in warmer weather. I will probably have flip flops for warm urban wear, but I will need some kind of sneaker for trekking. Is there a shoe that does a decent job for a wide range of temperatures? Or do you have any tips or hints about packing shoes for all seasons and terrain?
A: I get by summer, winter, wet, cold, snowshoeing, Sierra trekking, and jungle trekking in Solomon hiking shoes and/or a pair of Teva sandals. Where my feet will get wet, either from rain or stream crossings, I could go with either the sandals or shoes, because the light shoes dry quickly and protect my feet a little more and have more cushioning. Wearing only a thin nylon dress sock, such as they sell at Wal-Mart, helps keep the moisture wicking away, and there's no reason to take off your shoes or socks to cross a stream, just wade in carefully, using a stick in case it's slippery. A heavy Thorlo sock that some people think they need for cushioning inside their shoes holds moisture and increases the chances of blisters and jungle rot. Wet shoes will dry while you hike, while boots will stay wet, and as long as you keep moving, In the snow, in above-freezing conditions, I'll wear the same Solomon shoes and add an Integral Designs vapor barrier liner bootie (http://www.prolitegear.com/cgi-bin/prolitegear/pl_id_vbsocks) as the outermost layer inside the shoe, with my usual thin nylon dress socks and a pair of thicker Thorlo or merino wool socks. That's for day hiking in winter though; at night or around camp, when it gets below freezing or you're not moving, I'd want a pair of down booties or mukluks to avoid the risk of frostbite. http://www.prolitegear.com/sierra_designs_down_mutts.html I actually leave the tops of the VBL booties open under my pants so sweat can escape upwards, wicked by my socks, but snow can't fall in. You want to stay away from any shoe that's waterproof/breathable like Gore-Tex, even for winter you'd still have to wear a gaiter with that type of shoe in order to keep the snow out, and the VBL replaces both gore-tex and the gaiters! The Solomon XA Pro 3D Ultra is an excellent shoe for all around use: http://www.salomonsports.com/us/#/footwear/footwear/trail-running/xa-pro-3d-ultra
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