BootsnAll Travel Community

I'll be doing the trail in the beginning of July and I have a couple of questions...
Trail shoes or hiking boots?
Do I need rain gear for winter?
Any other packing suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Trail shoes - is it the same as trainers?
I wore trainers on Salkantay trail, which is similar to Inca, but twice that long. Whatever you decide, make sure the shoes have a good grip. Trainers were just fine, and they obviously take less space in your luggage.
Don't go on the trail wearing new shoes. Make sure they are comfortable.
You can buy cheap rain ponchos in Cusco, so you don't need to take one with you.
Some people like to use trekking poles. There are all sorts from hi-tech, to wooden sticks, that you can buy for 3 soles before you start the trail.
All other stuff, like camping equipment, is being provided by the tour company, or can be hired (sleeping bag).

Whether you use trail shoes or hiking boots is really a personal preference. Trail shoes are more than adequate for the terrain but a lot of it depends on what your used to using.

Picking up one of the cheap, wooden hiking sticks is a good idea. They're are some pretty steep and narrow steps and the hiking stick will help on the downhills.

A poncho is also likely to be adequate. However, if you like to see where your placing your feet when hiking down stairs you might prefer a rain jacket.

As moniak says you won't have to carry more than a daypack, so you could take both. I walked the trail in walking boots since they're well worn in and very comfortable, and give me the ankle support I need. At the end of each day, however, I was very glad I had heeded the advice of our guide and brought a light pair of trainers to change into. The change of footwear was a blessing - like walking on air

In the end, you know your feet/ankles - but a change of footwear is recommended.

I vote for boots for the added ankle support up and down the rocky passes. It would not be a fun place to twist an ankle. Rain gear, absolutely, it rains in the winter too.

Nothing to do with gear, but DO bring some snacks - Snickers, cookies, nuts etc. You'll need the energy

Kath

I'm a big fan of proper hiking boots. It's not just the trail. With cobble stone streets, crumbling sidewalks and not ten feet of sidewalk where someone hasn't stolen the manhole cover you can easily develop blisters, twist or break an ankle or worse. Invest in the best boots you can afford. Buy them tomorrow. Wear them a much as you can. Even/especially the best boots need breaking in. Also... super good hiking socks. They are made out of smart wool or merino wool. If you get sticker shock... those are the ones you want. Yeh.. $20 a pair or more. They prevent your feet from getting too hot or too cold. Really help on the blister situation. Ideally, you would have a fresh, clean pair for each day of the trail. Unless you have balls or no blink reflex the most sensitive part of your body is your feet. Screw them up and literally every step of your trip is misery.

I'll be on the Lares Trail in June myself. Whatever shoes you get, I suggest making sure that they have a very slip resistant rubber sole. My last trek up a different mountain (4000 meter of wet stairs in semi rainy conditions) have taught me the value of sticky soles.

I don't like tradition hiking shoes. For what's it's worth, I switch from hiking shoes to low cut shoes several years ago. The lighter low cut shoes really leave me less fatigued on long hikes. During the first 6 months or so, I twisted my ankle twice, but haven't since then. I want to attribute that to my ankle getting physically stronger and muscle memory for better ankle placement on uneven terrain. When you think about it, primitive human beings walked around bare earth on bare foot for a long time before the advent of shoes. I think ankle support is like a crutch. - Anyways, that's my crackpot theory. I got no proof.

I recommend getting the best boots you can afford. I used to be on a hot shot crew fighting fires all over the western USA and can say that my first cheapie boots lasted only about 2 weeks. I then got Whites out of Spokane. Now I don't recommend them for your use as the ones i used weighed 5 pounds and every pound on your feet is like 5 on your back, but definetely get some with Vibram soles or the equivalent - good thick soles, so that when the mid part of your foot steps on a sharp rock, it won't bruise your arch.

Then wear them in, going up and down stairs, especially go down hills and make sure your foot isn't sliding forward as you go downhill cause if it is you will blister up real fast.

Don't listen to the low rider guy. I have great ankle strength and have found you need it even with high toppers.

charlie

People are talking a lot of shit here. Inca trail is a touristy trail. It's nothing professional, and you don't need any hi-tech shoes or any kind of advanced equipment.
Just take normal trekking shoes or trainers with you, and you'll be fine.

No, overall its not the most gnarly trail you'll encounter, but the prudent thing to do when you're hours away from rescue is to prepare based on the worst case scenario. Day two is a long slog 2000 meters or about 6000 feet up steep and loose switchbacks to a 4000 meter, 13 thousand foot, pass and back down a steep and rocky trail that a seasoned hiker could twist an ankle on. I'm sure many make it through just fine with all kinds of crappy footwear, but it would suck royally to be the one who doesn't and sprains something.

By the way, after that day a very fit girl in our group collapsed and had to suck down oxygen from a tank until she recovered. So I tend not to judge the seriousness of a trail by its tourist appeal.Any trail in remote territory can get you in deep shit. I live next to vast amounts of public land and the newspapers are riddled with articles about people dying whilst on frivolous little day hikes.

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when you're hours away from rescue

Maybe more like minutes from someone coming across your path.

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....Any trail in remote territory can get you in deep shit[

There is nothing remote about this trek.

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Day two is a long slog 2000 meters

Wow, thats a lot more meters than I had to hike up.

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and back down a steep and rocky trail that a seasoned hiker could twist an ankle on

You mean the rock staircase that a seasoned hiker can pretty much run down.

There are plenty of reasons one may want to wear proper hiking boots instead of low tops, but there is no need to exaggerate the ferocity of the Inca Trail

Maybe I was not making myself crystal clear. My intent was not to "exaggerate the ferocity" of the Inca Trail, but to emphasize that hikers tend to get into trouble when they take even the most basic hikes for granted. And on better information, the second day is closer to 1400 meters of climbing, and the total climbing over the whole trek is over 2000 meters.

And if my memory serves, though most of the descents are on well constructed and maintained steps, the ones off the dead woman's pass were crumbly and somewhat loose and steep. There's potential to twist an ankle. That's all. The trail is remote in the sense that its not going to be an easy journey to a clinic or hospital should there be a need.

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Maybe more like minutes from someone coming across your path.



There is nothing remote about this trek.

While it's true that other sheep will be along in minutes, if you do something serious, like break an ankle, you are a long way and buko bucks from help. It's not like the US or Europe where the search and rescue squads are on call. You can get helicopter evacuation if you have lots of money or good insurance. But it may take awhile to get it. Or you could arrange for a gang of porters to carry you out...bones grinding together all the time. Anyone doing any even semi-serious..ie.. miles away from help... hiking or climbing higher than a bar stool should consider air ambulance insurance. It can easily run 50 grand to be flown out of the continent... and they don't take IOUs.

Smart Wool Socks!!!!!!!! Expensive but the trail is hard enough without blisters!

If I had read this before going, I'd be slightly concerned at this point... Hiking boots needed on the Inca trail? You'll see the porters trekking in rubber-sandals. The trail is well maintained, and if you aren't prone to twisting your ancle then you probably won't need hiking boots.

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You mean the rock staircase that a seasoned hiker can pretty much run down.

I hiked the Inca trail in skate shoes, running down the steps - a lot of fun! And I'm not a "seasoned hiker"... I just watch my step

I've since "upgraded" to hiking in trainers, and my hiking boots, well, they stay at home in the closet.

Kath

It is neither as easy nor as scary as this thread makes it sound!! It is as hard as you make it i.e. your pace. Certainly if you are a hike veteran then you'll find it not too challenging. Just because lots of people do it, doesn't make it worthless, there is a reason lots of people do it!

You can take your own pace and chill in your trek sandals, or storm ahead at speed in your trek boots... trainers are fine unless it is damp, then the well maintained tracks can be quite slippy (stones are smooth from wear and tear).

I'd take boots and sandals, even if the sandals are just for chillin at end of day. But then I'm with the others in that boots provide extra ankle support.

BTW when I did it I had never hiked before (have lots since) and was enjoying being front of the pack but we had a girl who had to be taken down after Day 2 by donkey/mule due to altitude sickness. Best to get aclimatised.

Finally someone with an opinion on the trail is not being an asshole on this thread! Thank you kbcara for your input. Very good advice. Although I didn't get a lot of time during the day to chill I wish I had brought sandals to wear in the shower on the last day. Thankfully everyone in my group vowed to skip the shower and just stay smelly and gross until we got to the hot springs (which most skipped anyways) at the end of it all.
The Inca trail isn't like climbing Everest but I found it to be one of the most challenging things I have ever done, and I have done some stuff.
Listen to the advice in the above post. The trail isn't impossible but don't underrate it.

Wow, lots of varied advice here, but thanks for all of it. I am an experienced hiker and I know I'll be more comfortable in my trail shoes rather than hiking boots (both are broken in). I have read about SmartWool socks and will be buying those definitely. I can't wait to get there and see just how easy or challenging it is going to be.