This is the first post in a series about my equipment and the considerations. Let's start with one of the key articles, the shoes. The advice that I received unanimously in sports and outdoor shops: "Wear some trekking boots to protect your ankles from twisting". "Get Goretex boots to stay dry when it rains." And that's what I did, - at first. After some extensive hikes with my La Sportive boots I realized that (especially after a few hours in the sun) the internal humidity would be too high to keep my feet dry and resistive to blisters. A few months ago I switched my concept to running shoes for a better air circulation and lighter weight. To ensure a basic stability I decided for a neutral running shoe: The Brooks Defyance 4. One pair I've already run down training. Two pairs I will take on the trek.