A walking shoe is enough on the low lake and valley paths the National Park calls easy. For those, start with the Merrell Moab 3 GTX, which Merrell also makes as a women’s pair.
Merrell builds a moulded nylon arch shank into it, a stiffening insert under the arch.
All three pairs below are waterproof: Merrell uses GORE-TEX, Regatta ISOTEX and Columbia its own Omni-Tech. A route the Park grades moderate still wants a boot.
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The three, by what sets each apart:
- For a Vibram sole and a nylon arch shank, choose the Merrell Moab 3 GTX or its women’s pair.
- For an Omni-Tech waterproof shoe with a Techlite lightweight midsole, choose the Columbia Crestwood Waterproof or its women’s pair.
- For a membrane under a synthetic upper and a sole with three-prong lugs, choose the Regatta Vendeavour or its women’s pair.
| Your day out | What to carry |
|---|---|
| You want a Vibram sole, an arch shank and published weights | Merrell Moab 3 GTX |
| You want an Omni-Tech waterproof shoe with a Techlite lightweight midsole | Columbia Crestwood Waterproof |
| You want a waterproof shoe with a lugged moulded outsole and a foam insock | Regatta Vendeavour |
Merrell Moab 3 GTX
You want a Vibram sole, an arch shank and published weights
Merrell Moab 3 GTX, men's GORE-TEX waterproof membraneVibram TC5+ outsole, 5 mm lugs, nylon arch shank Read the full specification on Amazon 
Merrell Moab 3 GTX, women's GORE-TEX waterproof membraneVibram TC5+ outsole, 5 mm lugs, nylon arch shank Read the full specification on Amazon The outsole is Vibram TC5+ rubber with 5 mm lugs (the raised grip blocks), a compound formulated exclusively for Merrell.
The upper is pig suede leather with breathable mesh, and a rubber toe cap protects the front.
Merrell gives the weight per shoe: 460 g for the men’s and 370 g for the women’s, with no size stated.
The drop, the height difference between heel and forefoot, is 11.5 mm. The laces, webbing and lining are recycled.
Columbia Crestwood Waterproof
You want an Omni-Tech waterproof shoe with a Techlite lightweight midsole
Columbia Crestwood Waterproof, men's Omni-Tech waterproof, breathableTechlite lightweight midsole Read the full specification on Amazon
Columbia Crestwood Waterproof, women's Omni-Tech waterproof, seam-sealed membrane bootieTechlite lightweight midsole Read the full specification on Amazon Columbia’s Amazon listings call Omni-Tech waterproof and breathable, and the women’s listing describes it as a seam-sealed membrane bootie.
A Techlite lightweight midsole gives the cushioning.
The Omni-Grip non-marking rubber outsole is made for grip on wet and dry trail surfaces.
The upper is made from leather, mesh and webbing.
Regatta Vendeavour
You want a waterproof shoe with a lugged moulded outsole and a foam insock
Regatta Vendeavour Waterproof Walking Shoe, men's ISOTEX waterproof, breathable membraneMoulded outsole with 3-prong lugs Read the full specification on Amazon 
Regatta Vendeavour Waterproof Walking Shoe, women's ISOTEX waterproof, breathable membraneMoulded outsole with 3-prong lugs Read the full specification on Amazon The shoe has an ISOTEX membrane, which Regatta describes as waterproof, breathable and windproof, under a technical synthetic upper. The fabric is 55% polyurethane and 45% polyester, with a water-resistant treatment on the outside.
The outsole is moulded TPR with three-prong lugs and side channels for multi-directional traction and good braking.
An open foam insock (the insole) sits inside, and a synthetic mudguard protects the foot.
Shoe or boot, by walk
The Eryri National Park Authority, the public body that runs the park, gives a footwear line for each walk it grades.
Its safety advice says uneven terrain can lead to injury, and asks walkers to wear suitable hiking boots with a thick sole and high sides. The footwear line for each walk below is the Park’s own.
| Walk | What the Park says |
|---|---|
| Mawddach Trail | Easy Access for All route: comfortable shoes or trainers are suitable |
| Dôl Idris path, Talyllyn | Easy Access for All route: comfortable shoes or trainers are suitable |
| Lôn Gwyrfai, Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert | Easy route: trainers or comfortable walking shoes are recommended |
| Coed Graigddu | Leisurely route: walking boots and waterproof clothing are recommended |
| Cwm Idwal | Moderate route: walking boots and waterproof layers are essential |
| Panorama Walk, Barmouth | Hard/strenuous route: walking boots and waterproof layers are essential |
| Yr Wyddfa | Trainers are not suitable; hiking boots have thick soles for grip and high edges that support the ankles |
A shoe is the Park’s own advice only on its easy and Easy Access for All routes.
On the leisurely woodland route at Coed Graigddu the Park already recommends boots, so a shoe there is your own call.
Membrane or mesh
In its OS GetOutside footwear guide, Ordnance Survey says non-leather shoes and boots often come in a waterproof version with a special membrane. The most common is GORE-TEX.
OS says waterproof shoes that do get wet take a lot longer to dry than those made from a more breathable material. It adds that waterproof footwear is less breathable, so feet may sweat in warmer conditions.
On its Moab 3 GTX page, Merrell says the GORE-TEX membrane in the Moab 3 keeps your feet dry while still letting them breathe.
OS says trail shoes suit routes where getting wet feet is inevitable, which means quick-drying, breathable shoes. All three pairs above are waterproof.
Grip, sole and ankle support
Ordnance Survey puts walking shoes between walking boots and trail shoes. They can offer more support and protection than trail shoes, but are generally lighter and more flexible than boots.
OS says boots give the greatest support and protection, especially over tricky terrain. A walker prone to twisting an ankle may feel more confident in boots.
Lake paths can be wet and uneven too. Gwynedd’s Visit Snowdonia page for the Padarn lake walk at Llanberis says many of the diversion paths, in use while part of the circuit is closed, cross open countryside or woodland.
They may be muddy or wet underfoot, and the page adds that some paths have uneven surfaces and steep drops.
We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.
Which pair for which walk
Start from the Park’s grade for the walk, then choose the pair.
- Mawddach Trail: the Park says comfortable shoes or trainers are suitable on the flat, even surfaces of the Mawddach Trail. The pair to start with is the Merrell Moab 3 GTX. The Columbia Crestwood Waterproof (Omni-Tech waterproof, Techlite midsole) and the Regatta Vendeavour (ISOTEX membrane, three-prong lugs) are the alternatives.
- Easy lake and valley paths: the Park rates Lôn Gwyrfai, from Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert, as easy and recommends trainers or comfortable walking shoes. More low walks are at the Rhyd Ddu lakes and Tal-y-llyn. The same three pairs apply on the ones graded easy, starting with the Merrell.
- Woodland tracks: the Park recommends walking boots at Coed Graigddu, so check the grade of the route before leaving boots at home.
- Moderate routes and Yr Wyddfa: the Park says walking boots are essential on a moderate route such as Cwm Idwal. It says trainers are not suitable for Yr Wyddfa. Choose walking boots, and for Yr Wyddfa read boots or trainers first.
Wear any of the three with walking socks, and for a first walk read the beginner walks.
For the Mawddach Trail or an easy lake circuit, buy the Merrell Moab 3 GTX; on a route the Park calls moderate, wear a boot.
