Shoes

Here is a major suggestion. Get only one pair of shoes.

I met a guy with one pair of hiking boots, one pair of running shoes, and one pair of nice shoes. How about: get shoes that look good...AND feel good?

I know you think you will, but you probably won't go hiking, so you don't really need hiking boots. If you are going hiking, remember you are cutting the weight of your pack down to a minimum, and can get by quite easily with light hikers, a few of which look like--that's right--ordinary shoes.

I think the ideal is something along the lines of Timberland-style boots, which offer excellent traction and support, and are styled like what old people call casual shoes, and what young people call dress shoes. Just find something you'd feel comfortable wearing at a club--beauty is in the eye of the beholder--and then walk around in them for a while and see if they're comfortable. Remember, you will be walking around with them all day, every day. Do not cut corners on footwear.

I went with something in the "casual shoe" section of a camping and hiking store, where they only sell high-performance footwear, meaning they were casual, but felt fantastic. These went with me hiking, climbing, clubbing, raving and everywhere it between. They looked nice and my feet never, ever felt sore. Sadly, 6 months of day in, day out use eventually wore a hole in the sole through which puddles snuck in. I picked up a pair of what I thought were the coolest looking waterproof light hikers I could find.

I did, however, have a pair of flip-flops for summer use. Also, if you know you're going somewhere with rain or snow, get something waterproof. Cold, wet feet will ruin your whole day.

Ladies, you might have some trouble with this one. The whims of female fashion are more vicious than they are for men, and you may have to break down and get a pair of fancy shoes for evening attire. Just know that you will only need one of these, as you are traveling. You will not meet anyone twice who will be able to point out you are wearing the same pair of shoes, except other scruffy backpackers who are in no place to make comments.