From my research it looks like the trails in El Yunque are really well-maintained, and I'm guessing it's pretty darned wet. /eccStoreFront/stp/product_images/88482/m_88482_1.jpg) or should I bring my waterproof hiking boots? I'm a reasonably experienced hiker, on both mountains & wet hikes (e.g., hiking up waterfalls in Dominica which I highly recommend cuz it's awesome). I figure the sandals will give me more mobility - plus it leaves more room in my bag for goodies to bring home. One destination mentioned in this post We usually suggest that you wear something with decent traction ... sneakers at a minimum. Hiking shoes/boots are not required (unless you're heading onto one of the less-traveled trails like Tradewinds or El Toro). Hiking sandals will be fine, as long as you don't mind a little mud on your feet. We've hiked in Crocs. Just no flip-flops or high heels (we've seen it!). If you plan on swimming in the waterfalls or rivers, I recommend that you wear water shoes, crocs or old sneakers.

The pools are full of slippery rocks that can sometimes be sharp. If you want to see some waterfalls where you'll be the only people, visit Juan Diego Falls and just keep climbing up. One attraction mentioned in this post Ranked of 15 things to do in El Yunque National Forest My husband and son wore the trek type of sandals. They have good traction and can be worn in the water or easily removed. I wore closed toe hiking sandals when I hiked there a few weeks ago. One of the hikes was from Palo Colorado down and back on the .7 mile trail to La Mina Falls. This type of shoe was perfect especially in the rain! I also wore closed-toe hiking sandals (good traction) on our hike to Britton Tower and on Big Tree Trail. We enjoyed crawling over boulders in the stream along the way and my shoes were perfect for that. I was surprised to see a woman in flip-flops headed down the Big Tree trail- I wonder if she was cursing the entire way back up. Yes, the trails are well-maintained but a rainforest just isn't the place for flip-flops!

When we visited, I saw a young woman with heels. I had to laugh. What about open-toed Tevas (good traction)? Would those or gym shoes be better? hate to pack the heavy, bulky hiking boots if not really needed at El Yunque.... My husband wore Tevas and they worked just fine. Unless you are planning on seriously hiking the long trails in EL Yunque, I don't think you need hiking boots. If you plan on walking down to a waterfall, Tevas would be great (it is a paved trail). If you are planning on doing the EL YUnque peak, I would say sneakers would be better (not paved, so rocks might get your toes if you wear Tevas). Or do both and change your shoes at the car in between! I'm not exactly sure what we will be doing in El Yunque. I have seen the Big Tree/La Mina Falls Trail mentioned in some of the blogs. Is that particular trail maintained well enough for open-toed Teva sandals? My husband and I have both the Tevas and hiking boots, but I hate to pack both.

We are in our mid-sixties. We have hiked in many of the American national parks over the years, but in the last year I have had hip replacement surgery on both hips, and my husband has bad knees. Can we do this? Grandma Audrey- Teva's will be fine on those trails. They are also doable for almost everyone as long as you take your time. If I were you, I would do Big Trail trail (less steps).nike shoes jordans sale You know what you can do now with your "new" knees/hips- as long as you can walk and are ok with some hills, some steps etc. nike tennis shoes sale usaI think you can do it.best shoes for runners with knee pain Here is my review of both trails, so you can get the idea of what to expect:nike shoes india with price

ps- my 83 year old FIL and 75 year old MIL with bad knees/asthma did Big Tree trail. We did it slow and steady and they were fine and loved it! El Yunque Rainforest Hiking Combo Tour Traffic Control Operations in El Yunque during Easter Week El Yunque in the afternoon travel to rain forest How to get to El Yunque? Getting to El Yunque...no rental cars available.mens running shoes wide feet El yunque and Ponceladies golf shoes black uk Tours for family with teens Where to leave luggage Condition of El Yunque and best trip for cruisers? From San Juan to El Yunque See All El Yunque National Forest Conversations Hotwire 4-star hotel in Rio Grande - Humacao ( Fajardo ) Phillips Family Cabins in El Yunque reasonalble hotel driving distance to el yunque

El Yunque with children Phillips Family Farm El Yunque - Puerto Rico El Yunque and Ponce in same day? Guided Tour Recommendations – OSJ and El Yunque Crime in El Yunque National Forest el Yunque tours from FajardoThat time of the year again to prepare ourselves for a monthslong battle against the elements. I mean emotionally and mentally, of course, but also sartorially—our wardrobes, and especially our footwear, needs to be ready to get down and dirty with slushy puddles and salted sidewalks. Beyond just not wearing your best brogues until spring (my actual No. 1 recommendation, which isn’t a realistic option for most), here’s an easy guide to keeping dress shoes in tip-top condition no matter what elements Mother Nature tosses your way. Clockwise from top left: Leather Spa men’s shoe tree; Olivier Sweeney’s Hydrophobe Suede Protector; Oliver Sweeney's Soft Shoe conditioner "The most important thing to remember is that leather is a skin and needs nourishing and moisturizing just like your own skin," says Tim Cooper, cobbler-in-chief of British shoe brand Oliver Sweeney.

He suggests working a weekly protection plan into your schedule—e.g., dedicating Thursday to conditioning and polishing your favorite footwear—to preventdamage before wearing. "Sadly, there's no 'quick trick' to protecting your shoes," he says. "But the more you condition and polish them, the better the leather is able to cope with adverse weather conditions." Cooper naturally recommends his own company's products (Soft Shoe conditioner for regular leather and Hydrophobe Suede Protector, for example), although whatever your local cobbler stocks should suffice. Now to waterproofing those bad boys before a rain or snow storm. Coat your leather shoes with a water-and-stain repellant such as Kiwi's Protect All—which blends nicely without altering the color of your shoes—then allow it to dry for at least two hours before wearing. For best results, reapply after a handful of wears. Another suggestion to extend the life of your favorite shoes is to spread out and alternate when you wear them.

Allowing a day or so between wears will help them air out properly. Continued damp will degrade the leather faster. Once your shoes are wet, the best way to prevent damage is to get them off immediately to dry them out. Cooper suggests investing in a cedar shoe tree, as the wood is highly absorbent and contains natural oils that help refresh any musty odor. Stuffing them with newspaper is a good alternative, especially if you're not at home or don't have access to a shoe tree. (Read: Always have spare newspaper in your office desk drawer.) Just be sure to always allow them to dry naturally. "Drying your shoes near a source of heat, like a radiator, will crack the leather and make it lose its suppleness," says Cooper. As for unwanted salt stains: "Diluted white wine vinegar is great for salt stains," says Cooper. He suggests simply wiping the affected areas with the 1-1 solution as soon as possible after getting home. The pH of the vinegar will help counter the corrosive effects of the salt.

"Natural beeswax, or carnauba wax, is fantastic for getting leather back into shape as well." Swims' men's galoshes in 6 colors Cooper says to avoid leather-soled shoes if at all possible during a rain or snow storm—water absorbs into even the hardest leather sole, destroying it over time—and instead opt for something with a rubber commando sole, because it will give your shoes excellent grip and resist moisture. If that's not an option, any cobbler can add rubber patches to your favorite leather-soled oxfords and wingtips. This won’t protect the entire shoe, by any means, but it will give the shoes a stronger foundation against the wet surfaces you're bound to encounter. Price ranges between $25 and $50, depending on the shoe and level of service. But if you really must wear leather soles, get yourself some shoe condoms. Footwear brand  makes modern, trendy versions (technically called galoshes) in color options that are truly ... cheerful, but the traditional Totes loafer-style rubber shoe covers work just as well.

Slip them over your shoes, and even in a monsoon, they'll help keep damage at bay. Clockwise from top left: Cheyaane lace full grain leather boot by Sorel; Rubber Chuck Taylor All Star by Converse; Original rubber lace-up boots, Hunter; Ellingwood waterproof dress shoes by Rockport; Edinburgh cap toe tie GTX, Ecco Or you can avoid trouble all together and get yourself a pair of winter-ready shoes. For leather, a solid pair of Cordovan dress shoes are worth the splurge/investment and are often made in limited editions. Cordovan is the most durable of leathers and is known to be highly impermeable to water or other fluids. Allen Edmonds, Alden, and Carmina all make excellent options. Though for a true winter shoe, embrace the comforts of shearling-linings and rubber, like these five ultra-stylish options below. Moti Ankari is the associate market editor for Bloomberg. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram, or contact him at mankari@bloomberg.net. For the best in travel, food, drinks, fashion, cars, and life,  sign up for the Pursuits newsletter .