The company known for sharp knives now makes sharp shoes. Wenger, the Swiss Army knife people (wengerna.com), have a line of shoes - the Alps collection - that can take you from the mountaintop to base camp to town in style and comfort.
My favorite Alp is the Shiltorn, a low-cut dayhiker with Euro good looks. The lightweight shoe has a seamless interior to reduce chafing, a mesh-paneled upper for better circulation and an insole that keeps foot odor under control. The sole is made of a proprietary material called Temposit that allows it to soften in summer weather and harden in cooler temperatures for better traction.
My Shiltorns have taken me for a morning walk at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area to a hearing in Annapolis in the afternoon to dinner out with my spouse. That kind of versatility comes in handy when packing for a long weekend.
