Joe the Real Deal

Waterproof shoes? No way! For multi-day trips in most weather, it’s often impossible to keep your feet dry from puddles, rain, mud, or sweat. I have even soaked my feet from condensation on high grass trickling down my legs. It’s much better to have fast-drying trail runners that you can even wear for creek crossings without changing your shoes. The pictures above and below show how dry shoes were out of the question when I hiked the Long Trail in Vermont. Nevertheless, I hiked blister-free in wet socks and shoes for days thanks to my merino wool socks.

That said, wet feet have soft skin and really are more susceptible to blisters. When my feet are wet, I always take off my socks and shoes when I have an opportunity to let them and the skin on my feet dry, like below, descending from North Carter Mountain in New Hampshire on the Appalachian Trail. Removing the liners from the shoes helps everything dry even more quickly. Your feet will thank you!