Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Right Hiking Footwear for you
In the hiking boot vs shoe battle, how do you determine which is the best hiking shoe for you and YOUR feet?
Going in to an outfitter to buy new hiking boots or shoes can give you a migraine! You’ll see footwear labeled not just hiking boots or shoes, but also trail runners, ultra-lite boots, cross trainers, hiking sandals, and walking boots, to name a few.
Prices run the gamut, too, and can get up there, so it’s not something you want to make a boo boo on, either!
The answer is (and you knew this was coming), “It depends”. Let’s look at the different features and then you compare what the different features do for you against the general environment you’ll be hiking in.
But regardless of the charts and information below, the KEY FEATURE of any hiking shoe is COMFORT. Every manufacturer’s mold is different, some have wider widths than others and so my size 8 in one brand might feel great, but won’t give me enough toe or width room in another.
If your budget permits, you might buy several boots or shoes so that you have the right gear for your hike. For example, I use my Vasque hiking boots when I am doing any serious hiking or challenging terrain, but if the trails are well maintained, I’ll usually opt for my Merrell hiking shoes. I’m heading on a rafting/hiking trip in Idaho next month, and I’ll be packing just my hiking sandals with a toe guard so I can use them as my water shoe AND hiking shoe.
So let’s look at what we actually need to consider:
Heavy Hiking Boot
Backcountry trail blazers should consider a heavy boot if your hike is going to include large bouldering and bushwhacking. These boots will have serious traction on the soles and sometimes have a crampon-like tip.
A heavy hiking boot is heavy not only to hike in, but they are also heavy on the wallet. Often made of leather, they WILLrequire a sizable breaking in period, but once molded to your feet will protect your feet in all sorts of difficult terrain, but expect some blisters in the beginning.
They offer excellent ankle support. Their good grip is an asset on steep slopes and boulders. A heavy hiking boot will last the longest of all the hiking footwear. Mud, snow and water sloughs off them the best. Boots are also warmer in cold climates than shoes.
Hiking boots provide the best ankle and under foot support, but can feel weighty and clunky.
The more rocks and debris you hike on, the more you will appreciate wearing hiking boots. However, depending on material, they can take a LONG time to dry out (leather it seems takes forever).
Boots are the hardest to pack, and when I fly, I usually have to wear them on the plane as they’d take up too much room in my suitcase.
If you hike in rainy or snowy conditions, a boot is preferable because their high tops combined with waterproof hiking pants can keep the water out of your boots.
The higher ankle coverage can also be helpful when hiking among briars and other off trail treats that can cut and bruise you.
Waterproof boot: Some hiking footwear has Gore-Tex, which makes the boot waterproof – great for crossing puddles and streams, but they also don’t breathe as well, so your feet can sweat.
Mid-Weight or Lightweight Hiking Boot: My ‘go to’ for when I will be on a serious mountain, so I consider these my backpacking boots (note that I don’t do the heavy duty kind of backpacking that would require the heavy duty boots above).
These boots offer stiff soles, cover the ankle for more support, and are made with either synthetic materials which are lighter and breathe, or leather. However, they are much heavier than hiking shoes and you will feel the weight at the end of a long day of hiking.
You will need to break these in for at least a few days before taking on a long hike just to be safe.
In shallow slush, snow and puddles or streams, a waterproof boot will keep your feet drier than the shoes.
A boot also provides a tad more protection if you are hiking in snake territory.
You are less likely to get pebbles in your boot than a shoe (although gaiters can help with that on shoes).
The top metal lacing hook allows you to tighten the shoelaces for more strength and stability on challenging terrain.
Trail Running Shoes
Usually offer a bit more ankle support than a hiking shoe because folks actually do run on rock and root strewn trails with them. You’ll find a bit more padding and a sturdier sole. While trail runners aren’t designed for actually hiking, I use them a LOT for non-technical hikes. These will feel great as soon as you put them on.
Trail Shoes or Hiking Shoes
Have a thicker sole than traditional running shoes, but lighter and more comfy than boots. Make sure to actually buy a trail shoe and not a fashion shoe that looks like one. The stitches and sole might not hold up otherwise.
Like the trail running shoe, these will feel great as soon as you put them on. Cooler in warm weather (as are the trail runners and obviously sandals).
The more flexible sole bends more so makes it easier to rock hop across streams.
Hiking Sandals
Lightweight, great for water crossings, let your feet breathe.
You’ll get rocks and small sticks in them you’ll need to pause to remove.
Get one with a toe guard.
Don’t even think about wearing hiking sandals if climbing a scree strewn hill… you will go nuts getting the pebbles out!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE BUYING A HIKING BOOT OR SHOE
- HIKING NEWBIE: If you are just learning to hike, and your eyes and feet haven’t yet developed great natural foot placement, consider getting a hiking shoe with a sturdier sole than you might normally need.
- CONSIDER THE TRAIL TERRAIN: The smoother and more well maintained the trail, the less important the sturdiness of the sole is. If you will be crossing shallow creeks, consider one with waterproofing, or do like I do and get breathable hiking shoes and boots that dry out quickly.
- ANKLE STRENGTH: The weaker your ankles the stronger ankle support you will need. If you have EVERsprained your ankle, unfortunately it will ALWAYS be a bit weaker than you’d like and so you’re better off stepping up the ankle support. Check out this episode that talks about what to do if you sprain your ankle in the wild.
- PACK WEIGHT: Will you be carrying a light day pack, or are you going to be doing some heavy duty backpacking? If you are going to be carrying significant weight, you will want the added strength and support of a heavier boot.
- HOW LONG WILL YOU BE OUT ON THE TRAIL? If you plan to be hiking all day, you’ve got two things to consider:
- WEIGHT: The sturdier the hiking boot or shoe, the more it will weigh. So at the end of the day, your feet may feel like lead weights. I’ve read that the weight on your feet takes up 4-6x the energy to lift than the same weight on your back. So if boots weigh 2-½ pounds and shoes weigh 1 pound, then the boots will feel like you are carrying an extra 6-9 pounds in your pack compared to the shoes – ouch!
- HOWEVER, at the end of the day, you are tired and tend to make more mistakes, such as not lifting your feet high enough. The extra ankle strength can come in handy. It’s a trade off.
- WHAT IS YOUR HIKING PACE? If you are truly trail running, you simply cannot do this in a boot. Plus you need the lighter weight for speed. Some trail runners have a grippy rubber compound that helps your feet ‘stick’ that wet root or rock.
- HOW LONG DO YOU WANT THEM TO LAST? Most trail shoes and runners will give you about 500 miles of service. A good pair of sturdy boots might give you 1000 miles.
HOW TO FIT YOUR HIKING BOOT OR HIKING SHOE
- Whichever hiking footwear you choose, it should feel snug but not tight. Remember that your feet will swell as the day goes on, so some recommend if in doubt, go up a half size. If the shoe is too loose, however, you are more prone to twisting your ankle and won’t have enough support.
- Your toes should NOT be all the way to the top of the shoe unless you want to lose all of your toenails when you descend a steep mountain. PS: Keep your toenails trimmed to avoid losing them!
- Every manufacturer uses a different mold. Does the shoe give YOUR arch proper support? Is it wide enough? Does it cradle your heel comfortably? Can you wiggle your toes around?
- WEAR the shoe IN THE STORE (or at home if shopping online) for 30-60 minutes, WEARING the socks you plan to use with them. A good outfitter will offer you a ‘practice’ hill to walk up and down. Take advantage. Try rolling your feet and see how it feels. Is there any stitching that rubs you the wrong way? At the end of the day, if you’re feet aren’t happy, you aren’t happy. Before you buy online, check the return policy if you aren’t happy with them, and make sure you are happy with it.
- Speaking of HAPPY FEET, many hikers swear by the Happy Feet inserts. Consider buying a quality insert. And try them on together. With the inserts, when your shoes get wet, you can remove the inserts and air the two out and they should dry quicker. I always put quality inserts in all of my shoes and it makes a difference!
- BRAND: I have favorite brands that work well with my feet, yet sometimes when a manufacturer comes out with a new edition, the new shoe doesn’t work as well for me as the old. When I find a pair I REALLY like, once I field test it, I will go back and buy a second pair for that very reason. Nonetheless, your hiking footwear is one of the most important outdoor gear purchasing decisions you can make, so it pays to try on all brands and find the shoe that works best for your feet. Currently I have Vasque hiking boots, Merrell hiking shoes and Chacos hiking sandals. I choose which to wear depending on the terrain I’ll be hiking and try to go with the lightest weight shoe that will best protect my feet and ankles for the adventure.
- Good hiking boots or good hiking shoes are important and I wouldn’t buy cheap hiking boots. Look for quality stitching and materials. Wait for a sale and get the best hiking shoes you can rather than buying cheap hiking shoes. If your feet aren’t happy, YOU aren’t happy!
(C) Active Travel Adventures LLC – All Rights Reserved