Shoes for Alaska

[TestingH2O]

Our trip is so close!

I'd been planning to bring two pairs of sneakers for each of us, but now I'm wondering if I should bring one pair of sneakers and one pair of waterproof boots. For excursions we have whale watching, Yukon tour & sled dogs, and Lumberjack show & crab feast.

My thought with 2 sneakers was that if one got wet, we I could let them dry a day while wearing the others. But if it's really wet, will we want boots? I have Bogs and DD has Hunters.

Anyone with experience?

 

[Pooh2]

We brought low-cut waterproof hikers so they kind of felt like a stiffer sneaker. Kept our feet warm and dry for excursions and walking around deck on glacier day.

 

[lorimay]

We bought a waterproof spray for our sneakers and it worked great.

 

[Geomom]

I agree with some kind of waterproofing--either the spray that @lorimay suggested or low cut waterproof hikers (which we had). I had lucked out and picked up 3 clearance pairs of Alpine Design hikers for my girls and I at Sports Authority for maybe $30 a pair? They worked well. It's no fun having wet feet during the day...and I really should have worn my hikers on "Tracy Arm Day" as there were puddles up on deck and I got my Keds (my 'cruise ship' sneakers) wet.

 

[Chirple]

We did this cruise at the end of August 2011. We brought waterproof hikers (which I still wear) and athletic shoes. I like wearing the hikers because a) they have a very sturdy footbed and sole, and b) had a lot of support around my ankles (cut like high-top sneakers). I also wore Smartwool socks when we did our excursions because my feet tend to get cold. I own quite a few pairs with different thickness levels.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I brought one pair of hiking boots and one pair of sneakers.

 

[tigerchic89]

we brought 2 pair of tennis shoes and 1 pair of dressy for dinner. The whole time I wish I'd had my hiking boots... mine are lightweight but water resistant, wind resistant, and good for sloshing through trails and roads with some muddy spots. I would have wore my hiking boots 80% of the time

 

[mouselike-harrier]

I bought a pair of Bogs and they worked great. On our raft adventure, one of our guides remarked that I was wearing the right shoes.

 

[ludari]

On my Alaska cruise I took a pair of tennis shoes for around the ship, gym, etc. and a pair of low top waterproof hiking shoes to walk around the ports. This worked out great because I did all sorts of active tours and things where a little bit muddy and wet.

 

[st0nehedge]

Well, I just wore sneakers the whole time... but that said, we had such good weather (no rain at all!!) that we didn't need any other waterproofing footwear.

So incredibly not the norm though.

Have a great cruise!

 

[owensamo]

Last summer we had hiking shoes (waterproof Merrils) and then dressier shoes for the ship. We toured rainy Vancouver, our northbound Alaska cruise (including whale watching and Mendenhall in Juneau), Anchorage and Denali/Talkeetna without any issues with dampness. These are our go-to shoes for touring wherever we go - great grip, waterproof, not too hot to wear, and they hold up for years.

 

[lcsmom]

Also recommending the water proof hikers. DD has Hunter boots and chose her low top Merrell's for Alaska. Much better for hiking the trails. Hubby and I both wear Vasque.

 

[tnshsms]

We got a waterproofing spray from Academy and it worked great. Its been a year and it still works pretty good on our shoes.