Wearing the appropriate footwear can mean the difference between an amazing time in the outdoors or a sore, blister-filled nightmare.
From lightweight trail runners to rugged trekking boots, each footwear type offers different levels of comfort, grip, and support. In this guide we’ll share with you all the essentials you should know before shopping for your hiking footwear, like the various categories and features, so you can make an informed choice and get the best gear for your adventure.
Let’s get started!
Why your hiking footwear so important
Hiking footwear is made for the kind of rough, uneven terrains that would otherwise be too uncomfortable or dangerous to traverse with everyday shoes and sneakers.
Compared with regular footwear, hiking shoes and boots generally have deeper lugs and grippier rubber outsoles that provide greater stability and traction on the trail. While this is an essential feature to prevent injuries caused by slips and falls, the specialised outsoles also increase the wearer’s comfort by cushioning impacts and shielding the bottom of the feet from sharp rocks.
The structure of hiking footwear is also designed to be more rigid and rugged. This protects your feet from impacts and ensures your footwear is long-lasting and durable, while at the same time providing better foot support and making long-distance hikes less tiring.
Finally, many hiking shoes and boots are equipped with a waterproof lining, ensuring your feet remain dry no matter the weather or terrain.
The main types of hiking footwear
The type of footwear you need depends on the challenge level of your hike, as well as its duration.
From lightweight runners to heavy-duty boots, let’s take a look at each type of hiking footwear and what activity they are best used for.
- Trail runners: Ideal for cross-country running and day-hikes on easy terrains, trail runners are super lightweight, soft and flexible. Trail runners like the New Balance X Hierro V9 offer better grip, support and cushioning, although not at the level of a hiking boot or shoe.
- Trail runners offer little to no ankle support, so they’re not the best choice for traversing very uneven terrain, or when carrying heavy backpacks that could affect your balance.
- Since they’re mostly made of fabric, these shoes are less durable and have a shorter lifespan than other types of hiking footwear. Their lightness, however, makes the best choice for light packers and travellers trying to cut down on weight
- Hiking shoes: Although they are heavier than trail runners, hiking shoes like the Merrell Moab Speed 2 offer superior support and traction on more challenging trails. They also tend to more frequently feature leather and dense fabric elements, making them more durable and longer lasting than trail runners.
- Hiking shoes are a great option for short and long distance hikes on moderately difficult terrain. With that said, you still need to account for the lack of ankle support, so using them on very challenging trails or for heavy backpacking is not ideal.
- Some models have rubberised toe and foot protections to shield your foot from rocks, although usually at the cost of more weight and less flexibility.
- Hiking boots: While hiking boots are a bit of a broad category, they are overall the most rugged footwear choice for hikers. Models like the Keen Durand II are great for long hikes on They provide better traction, support and cushioning than hiking shoes, along with ankle support and stability.
- Although the added ankle support is great when tackling a challenging trail, keep in mind that the added weight of your boots might strain your legs over long distances.
- Because new boots tend to be rather stiff, you’ll likely need to break them in over several miles before taking them on a serious hike.
- Hiking sandals: When it comes to summer sightseeing and leisurely walks in nature, hiking sandals are a great choice. In addition to being lightweight and breathable, they have similar characteristics to hiking boots and shoes, such as increased traction, shock absorption and durability.
- While great for easy trails, hiking sandals leave the foot exposed to rocks and other sharp objects, and shouldn’t be used for challenging treks.
- Because the foot is held less securely, hiking sandals put you at greater risk of slipping and falling on more challenging terrains.
What is your hiking footwear made of?
Aside from the looks, what the upper of your hiking footwear is made of can determine everything from durability to comfort and breathability.
- Leather: Leather uppers have several advantages compared to fabric. Leather is a much more durable and long-lasting material, in addition to being naturally water resistant. With that said, leather hiking footwear tends to be heavier than fabric, as well as less breathable and flexible.
- Fabric: While not as long-lasting as leather, fabric uppers are a more breathable and lightweight alternative. in mind that water will also pass through them very easily, unless they have a waterproof membrane or treatment. Models made mainly of textile are much less durable than leather, and will usually last a few years with regular use.I would recommend them for warm climates and easy to medium difficulty terrains.
Should you get waterproof footwear?
Waterproof boots and shoes have a membrane that stops water from coming in.
There are various technologies, the best one being Gore-Tex, followed by brand specific membranes like Texapore, from Jack Wolfskin, or M-Select DRY, from Merrell.
The only disadvantage of waterproof membranes is that they tend to retain heat and moisture inside the footwear. This makes them more adapted to a wet, mild or cold environment rather than a hot and very humid one.
The soles
There are two soles in shoes and boots, an insole and an outsole.
Insole
Responsible for supporting the arch and sole of the foot, as well as cushioning and comfort. The stock insoles in most footwear are unfortunately little more than carton and polyester, so I would recommend replacing them with something more ergonomic.
Some brands, like Sidas, make insoles that are specific for different feet shapes and arch height, meaning you can really maximise their effectiveness.
Always make sure that the insole is removable and never stack two on top of each other.
The insole of hiking footwear is always pre-shaped, meaning that a second insole on top would not be sitting flat inside the shoe. This can cause all sorts of stability issues and eventually severe inflammations of the tendons.
Outsole
Responsible for grip and shock absorption. The thickness, tread pattern and the type of rubber that is used will determine how effective your outsole is.
I recommend you go for footwear equipped with Vibram outsoles, they are widely considered to be the best on the market.
Eyelets
The eyelets are the part of your footwear the laces are threaded through.
For max durability choose a model with metal eyelets instead of fabric. Fabric eyelets will wear overtime because of friction with the laces and will eventually rip. Once broken they are impossible to replace.
Socks
When walking for a long time it’s normal to build up a sweat.. it’s okay, we’ve all been there!
The moisture created by the foot causes the socks to become humid. They then become heavier and loose cushioning, increasing the friction with the skin, which in turn forms blisters.
Hiking socks are meant primarily for cushioning and to evacuate sweat and moisture, keeping the foot as dry as possible, therefore reducing the chance of developing blisters. They are made mainly of synthetic materials, wool and cotton, each with their own characteristics:
- Synthetic: They dry up very fast and are very breathable, but harden and smell terrible after a short use, meaning they need to be changed regularly. Best for short hikes in warm climates. They can be used for long hikes, just remember to pack at least one pair per day.
- Mix of wool and synthetic fabrics: 100% wool socks are very uncommon, and generally have a synthetic component. They dry up fast but are less breathable than synthetic socks. Because of the anti bacterial properties of wool, they remain comfortable and smell free for at least a few days. These are best for long hikes in mild and colder climates.
- Mix of cotton and synthetic fabrics: As with wool, cotton hiking socks have a synthetic component. They are breathable and comfortable but are very slow to dry. Absolutely avoid 100% cotton socks for that same reason, they will take even longer. These are only good for short hikes in very dry climates.
Our favourite brand for hiking socks is Bridgedale. They offer a range of socks for all seasons and terrains, and we find them to be the most comfortable socks we have tried.
So far we have never suffered blisters while using them, and because most models are made of a wool / synthetic mix, they usually last us up to 3 days on the trail before needing to be changed or cleaned.
You might also enjoy checking out our full article on hiking socks here!
And that’s all you need to choose your footwear!
Once you’ve chosen a model you like you’ll need to pick the right size.
