Do I need hiking boots or are regular shoes enough?
Trekking is borrowed from English and pronounced the same way. Bastano: BAH-stah-no.
Ask this at a tourist office or rifugio before attempting a trail you don't know. Very useful in areas like the Cinque Terre where some trails are cobblestone and others are rocky scrambles.
Servono (from servire) means 'are needed/required'. Bastano (from bastare) means 'are enough/sufficient'. Both are impersonal plural forms. This is a practical, polished B1 construction.
È necessario avere i bastoncini?
Is it necessary to have trekking poles?
Bastoncini literally means 'little sticks'.
Posso farlo con le scarpe da ginnastica?
Can I do it with trainers?
More casual phrasing, common among tourists.
Il terreno è scivoloso?
Is the terrain slippery?
Important after rain or on shaded north-facing slopes.
In Italy, many tourists underestimate trail conditions, especially in Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast paths. Locals call unprepared tourists 'turisti con i sandali' (sandal tourists) — wearing proper footwear is both safe and a sign of respect.