Mount Batur hike - shoes?

Batur is in relative terms easy (about 3 hours) and if you exercise regularly won't be a big problem.
Many do it in their running shoes so if you don't usually hike / trail run or will use the shoes afterewards maybe it isn't really 100% necessary

If there are a lot of people going up your greatest challenge will be the human jam (staying still at 40 degree slope because there's a standstill). And closer to the top because it's volcanic sands you'll be going 2 steps up 1 step down which need some calf strength and a bit of mental strength

Great, thanks for your reply. I'm in decent shape, but don't do much hiking so I don't want to spend money on hiking shoes if I don't have to. Hopefully it won't be too crowded, I hear things are a bit quieter because of the recent volcano activity.

Thanks again :)

Just be flexible on your plans. January is in the middle of the rainy season and even very bright and sunny days can often get big unexpected storms, especially at the higher elevations.

Well I went up the Batur in shoes like these many years ago and remember in the upper section where you go up 2 steps while you slide back 1, the loose volcanic - very sharp edged! - gravel was running along my knuckles and scratched them a bit. Nothing serious, but it certainly wasn't nice. Therefore I'd recommend higher boots, or if you don't want to buy any for just this one opportunity, put on thick and long socks, or long jeans that you tighten to your knuckles.

I failed half way up Mt Batur.

I wore ripple soled running shoes which had no sideways grip on the large wet volcanic rocks.

I kept falling over until I gave up.

Yeah definitely. I think OP should just look at the shoe. Some running shoes these days for stylistic reasons the sole thread is minimalist and only fit for road runs and no leeway for anything else more rugged

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