Walking shoes & hiking gear on Crete

Most of these hikers are well prepared with good shoes and comfortable walking clothes. But, often the Cretan walking conditions are underestimated or walking shoes fall apart under the harsh conditions like heat and sharp edged stones. In this blog I give you a few tips to help you get well- prepared for the walking season. And in case you need to do some ‘outdoor shopping’, I give you some tips where you can purchase new gear!

Walking in Crete, get well prepared!

Weather conditions

The walking conditions and landscape in Crete is often underestimated. Many don’t expected it but basically you need to be prepared for all types of weather conditions, especially in spring and autumn, which is the walking season on Crete! It can be very hot with very intense and strong sun but also cloudy with cold showers. Especially in the mountains, it can be very windy. Warm clothes are necessary there.

The problem with older shoes is, that often the soles break or even fall apart and disintegrate. The reason is usually storage in a moisty place of in a too dry place! When you walk in Crete in the heat and on sharp stony surfaces the sole falls apart quickly!

So..what to bring with you?

• Clothing and shoes: Breathable wind and waterproof jacket, T-shirts, long-sleeved tops, sunhat, long trousers, shorts (if you prefer to walk in them), swimwear and towel, mid layer fleece/pullover, walking socks, insulated jacket, walking boots with ankle support.
• Equipment: Sunglasses, sun cream, small torch, camera, walking poles (if you usually use them), personal first-aid kit (compeed plasters, aspirin and other essentials), insect repellent, small waterproof dry bag (for items such as your mobile phone), re-usable water bottle (minimum 1 litre), superglue and tie rips and extra laces (in case you need to repair your walking shoes).

Where to buy walking shoes and clothes on Crete?

Especially in northern Europe you find many well-equipped outdoor shops! In Greece and Crete the selection is much less but still there are some good shops where you can find your gear! Don't expect the prices to be lower, they are not! It's about the same and sometimes even a bit more expensive! Below are listed the outdoor shops for the cities of Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion.

Outdoor shops in Chania

• Tactical Corner. A small but very well equipped shop with outdoor and hunting gear. You find it in Skalidi Street 30. tactical-corner.gr
• Karistianis Lifestyle Co. Quite a big shop with a combination of hiking clothes/shoes but also with more daily clothes. Opposite the shop of Tactical corner. Skalidi Street 7-11 lifestylebrands.gr
• Leonidas Bouchlis (Oreivatika.gr). Outdoor and hunting gear. Also a nice small shop with quite a good selection. You find it in Peridou Street 13. oreivatika.gr
• Intersport Chania. The well know sports shop with a small selection of walking gear. 2km from the old centre along the Old Road Chania, Kissamou. www.intersport.gr

Outdoor shops Rethymno

• Enydrio Pet shop (and outdoor). This shop has a small but good selection of walking shoes/backbacks etc. Iliakaki Street 3
• Intersport Rethymno. Like in Chania more or less the same stock. Koundourioti Street 158 &, Hortatzi.
• Psarros Iosif. Shop with camping, hiking and fishing gear. Arkadiou Street. 58

Outdoor shops Heraklion

• Mountain Club. Outdoor shop with a very good selection of shoes, clothes and equipment. Averof Georgiou Street 21. www.mountainclub.gr
• Two Intersports in Heraklion. The one a bit outside the centre has a bigger selection. 
• Kavos Sport. Camping and water sports. Has also walking shoes and back backs and clothes. Leof. 62 Martiron Street 11. www.kavossport.gr