On my next holiday I'll be doing quite a bit of walking in 30c heat.
I've decided on some Scarpa Mojito's but which will be cooler, Suede or synthetic ?
I would say a synthetic that is designed to breathe might be a better option than a suede.
Do you mean the Scarpa Mojitos?
Not much in it in my experience.
Lived abroad for a long time and just wore whichever fitted me best tbh.
Plenty of mesh and not waterproof would be my suggestion.
Yep, Mojito's. Just made an edit.
Non waterproof because they have a membrane ?
flip flops?
Depends on the terrain. If you're on rocky stuff, something tougher will give you more protection. It's going to be as much about your socks as it is the boots.
From experience of a fairly miserable year working in the desert, with temperature hitting 60degC in the shade, suede every time if you need something tough to protect your feet. I'm not exactly sure of the science behind it but there's a reason desert boots are suede. I think it's to do with the large external surface area and light colouring.
Trail running shoes here for hiking in those temps and above
Very light uppers and grippy soles Nike Brooks Inov8 etc. They don't last very long but they work well
What socks would the cognoscenti recommend for hot climates?
Rocket man. Agreed, I'd usually go for a pair of Nike Pegasus 32 or similar, but for this trip I wanted something a little tougher.
The Scarpa Mojito's are pretty lightweight, I've just not used suede before.
Those Scarpas look pretty hot to me. I had the same dilemma when travelling in Oz, Centro America and Southern Africa and ended up with Nike barefoot trainers with loads of mesh. Feet got a bit dirty but that was more comfortable than boil-in-the-bag all day long. The trainers, incidentally, lasted very well and they were nice and grippy over wet rocks etc.
How about walking sandals, the type made by Keen ^ Merrell?
If you're set on boots, then Meindl do a specific hot weather suede boot which is used by the forces - the model's called Desert Fox ?
Thanks but im interested in shoes not boots or sandals. Urgh, sandals.
The scarpa as fit me well, and I don't have time to orde a bunch of other makes to check for sizing etc
So, to the original point. Synthetic or suede ?
Suede, surprisingly cool and very durable.
Tarmac, off-road, humid, dry, smooth, stony, rocky, flat, hilly, 10km, 30km, 50km a day?
Too little information to give an opinion.
Edukarot, on and off road. A mixture of stoney , forest vegetation.
Unlikely to get wet. Distance 1 don't know yet but possibly 10 miles +
I've done the Compostelle walk: once low cut boots with suede uppers (Go Sport own) once with low cut Salomon synthetic Gortex and another section wearing Columbia suede reinforced synthetic shoes. I used sandals too, nearly all the tarmac sections. The only problem with the suede boots was the drying time, though they were less sweaty than the Gortex. An advantage was that they slowly moulded to my feet. Now you've added that they are unlikely to get wet other than sweat my vote is for suede.
Suede. Wool socks and some foot talc will also help. I'm a huge fan of Smartwool socks. They did me well from cold to hot, wet to arid.
I've always worn synthetics for tropics, gortex essential too and the right choice of socks. A lot depends on how humid it will be. In Laos at the moment 30 degrees but fairly dry, wearing the same synthetic approach shoes I wear in the Alps. Have worn them in the jungle in Borneo too with the leach socks 😉
Thanks guys. I appreciate the info.