Yet another shoe question

MrsC_772

Is it worth taking Tevas as well as Doc Marten boots for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ranthambore for mid-late February? At home I live in DMs in winter and Tevas in summer, but wonder whether (a) it will be too cold, especially in the mornings and (b) the streets too filthy to want to wear sandals.

dhans

It's my personal believe that sturdy shoes (we use Meindl's and Hanwag's) are best given thet state of the streets in India and the good support they give wearing backpacks. We take toe slippers for hotels etc.. Loads of people travel with teva's or toe slippers all the time though. If weight is not an issue, I would take both.

Hans

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machadinha

Yes... I ended up wearing mostly (Indian leather) slippers. However (and I regularly wear boots at home, however I find them too cumbersome to shlep around on holidays, unless I were to go hiking or something. You can tie them to the outside of your pack of course, but they'll still weigh something) I would carry around normal light but firm shoes with me, and wear those for e.g. carrying your pack from hotel to rickshaw or bus to train station and getting on train and so forth. Tripping over (or as Hans indicates, even just twisting an ankle, a real pain while traveling that can knock out half your holiday) on uneven streets or having to jump on a moving bus or rickshaw and so on with the full weight of your pack and getting caught by your slippers can lead to nasty accidents, not to mention ripped-up toes and bruised knees and the likes, and even small wounds can get easily and nastily infected in the climate and dust (carry iodine or similar with you, and wash wounds well. A problem may be that they stay moist btw when they shouldn't. Avoid band-aids if you can for that reason, or if not, let them air as much as you can.) You can slip into something more comfy again once you're settled on that train or bus. Plastic slippers I'd carry for visits to the loo and showering and such, also handy against athlete's foot, which is a concern sharing showers with others anywhere in the world. Wearing those on the streets would make my toes blister in no time, so that wasn't for me. Others and certainly many Indians manage just fine with them.

Half-decent looking shoes will also come in handy (and certainly make you feel less out-of-place) for visiting somewhat fancier establishments, where "hippie" dress will be frowned upon, if not simply unacceptable. Also, walking through even lower undergrowth let alone the bush anywhere, having at least your feet and ankles protected (shoes, socks & trousers if nothing else) is a good idea with a view to various critters.

But in the end, we all have our own preferences of course. Wearing those shoes while moving about at least you'll not be carrying them as extra weight either... The cold in winter could be another concern, but in that area and by that time things should be well heating up again I think. As far as filthiness goes, wearing slippers you can count on having to give your feet a good scrub once or twice a day, didn't bother me greatly. It's mostly dust and grime, and avoiding any cow droppings and so on. Not necessarily "filthy" as such (except for doing the latter in slippers tends to be a little squishy )

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Folke

Do you think it's possible to find Teva sandals (or alike) in India, perhaps in Delhi?

crvlvr

I don;t know if Tevas are available but sandals sure are. Doc Martin are great.. But the boots may be too hot. go with shoes..

kidsan

it's horses for courses i'm afraid. My 1st trip to india i wore my tevas for the whole 3 months...i had nothing else, and, apart from a couple of chilly weeks in bihar in january, i was fine. Lately i have also taken a pair of trainers and this has proved more than adequate. I only take boots for trekking, and even then, i have some lightweeight trekking shoes.

Casey

DMs certainly won't be too cold. I wear them in Canada in the winter with a warm pair of sock, although I am not the warmest dresser. They will be good in the city and for doing a lot of walking, although when I brought mine on my first trip I barely wore them as it was quite warm and I wore the sandals I bought there. I would advise that buying shoes while travelling, even sandals, may not always be a good idea. The first time I was in India I bought my sandals there and had blisters for weeks while I broke them in. I now prefer to bring a pair that are already comfortable and broken in.

edwardseco

The long run effect of sandals on the foot structure can be devastating. But, we assume we will always be young..

Selkie

I adore my Meindl trekking shoes - lighweight but sturdy, breathable, waterproof - and very comfy. Yes they were pricey at the time, but are still going strong after five years - yes, five - of quite heavy use, with no depreciation of support or wear. Well worth the money.