What are the best hiking sneakers? Not long ago I heard the words “hiking sneakers” for the first time. I immediately had some questions related to this term. What exactly are hiking sneakers? Should I buy them? Are hiking sneakers a better option than hiking boots? I decided to do some research and find the answers on these questions.
The best hiking sneakers are sneakers that are optimized for hiking. It is a popular alternative for hiking boots because they are very lightweight. These shoes are more commonly known as trail runners or hiking oriented approach shoes. So should you buy hiking sneakers? As usual, the answer is: it depends. I would recommend them to most long distance hikers if they do not have weak ankles.
PS: I added a list of recommendations below.
Hiking sneakers definition
There is no real definition for the term “hiking sneaker”. However, simply put, a hiking sneaker is simply a sneaker optimized for hiking. A regular sneaker could be defined like this: “a type of shoe, normally light weight and having a rubber sole, designed for sport or casual athletic activity” (urban dictionary).
The most popular type of hiking sneakers are by far trail runners. Trail runners are obviously primarily meant for people who run on trails. However, these shoes have everything you need to walk those trails as well. A trail runner has a good sole, a good grip and is very lightweight. Over time, manufacturers realized that these shoes were also very good for hiking. Eventually they started producing trail runners that were completely optimized for hiking and backpacking.
A trail runner is always a hiking sneaker, but a hiking sneaker is not always a trail runner. An approach shoe could also be seen as a hiking sneaker. An approach shoe is different from a trail runner because it focuses both on climbing and hiking. However, some of these approach shoes are more hiking oriented than climbing oriented. These are designed for hikes with a lot of walking and a bit of occasional climbing.
Hiking shoes or trail shoes (low shoes) also exist. These are very similar to trail runners, but they are used only for walking, not running. They provide a little bit more protection, but are also a bit heavier.
Long story short, there is no real definition for the term “hiking sneaker”. When I am talking about hiking sneakers in this article I mean the collection of trail runners, approach shoes and low hiking shoes.
Hiking sneakers vs hiking boots
Over the years, there has been a lot of debate about wearing lightweight low hiking shoes (like trail runners) or the heavy hiking boots.
The main differences are:
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- Weight: Hiking boots are heavier than hiking sneakers
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- Support: Hiking boots are more supportive than hiking sneakers
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- Waterproof: Hiking boots are completely waterproof, hiking sneakers are not
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- Breathability: Hiking boots are a lot less breathable than hiking sneakers
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- Durability: Hiking boots will last a lot longer than trail runners
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- Price: Hiking boots are generally more expensive
There are a lot of factors to keep in mind before you decide whether you should hike with hiking boots or hiking sneakers. In the end it mainly comes down to personal preference. A lot of hikers will go with hiking sneakers on long distance trails (especially thru hikers).
There are plenty of people who choose their footwear depending on how heavy their backpack is. If their backpack is very heavy, they will prefer the hiking boots. If they travel lightweight, they will choose the hiking sneakers over the boots.
Many sources claim that hiking boots provide better ankle support and that they can help with preventing ankle injuries. However, there are plenty of hikers who disagree with this statement. Some even call this the ankle support myth. Anyway, I will cover that topic later in this article.
Hiking boots can provide some additional protection against rocks, stones, bushes and even snake bites.
There are definitely advantages that come with wearing hiking boots. However, I know a lot of people that switched from hiking boots to trail runners, and I did not hear a lot of people complain. It is a lot more rare for people to switch from a trail runner to a hiking boot. The main reason is simply that it costs so much more energy to travel the same distance. This might not seem like a big deal on a day hike or even a short multi day hike, but once you start doing long distance trails, this can be a very big deal.
Another factor that might come into play is the break-in period. If you do not have any time to get used to your shoes before you leave for your hiking trip, you should consider hiking with hiking sneakers. Hiking sneakers require little or no break-in period. You do not want to buy new hiking boots right before you start hiking a long distance trail.
Last but not least, let’s discuss waterproofing. A lot of beginners think that a waterproof shoe is a very big deal while hiking. I will not claim that this does not matter at all, but it’s probably less important than you think. The main reason that I say this is: a waterproof shoe does not equal dry feet.
If it’s raining very long and very hard, chances are pretty slim that water will not find its way in your boots through your legs. You would have to wear waterproof pants and/or waterproof gaiters to even have a chance. Even if you would be successful in keeping rain out of your shoes, your feet will still get very sweaty. Remember, hiking boots are not very breathable. You will very likely sweat enough for your feet to become completely wet. This means that you will probably still have the disadvantages of wet feet while wearing a waterproof shoe.
Benefits of lightweight footwear
I already talked a little bit about the benefits of lightweight footwear in the previous topic. However, I felt it was necessary to go a bit more in detail.
The main benefit is obviously that you can hike a lot more miles in the same amount of time. If hiking a lot of miles in a limited amount of time is one of your priorities, I would always recommend hiking sneakers over hiking boots.
Walking uphill or sometimes even climbing can also result in less stressful tendons and joints if you wear lightweight footwear. Half a year before my last hiking trip I had a hip tendon injury. I did not feel any pain before I started hiking. After a while, however, the pain came back. I can’t be sure of course, but I think this pain might not have come back if I was wearing hiking sneakers instead of hiking boots.
Some hikers also claim that hiking boots do not provide additional safety. The main reasoning behind this statement is that most mistakes are made when one is very tired. Hiking with lightweight footwear requires less energy and a hiker might not be as tired because of that.
Ankle support
As I already mentioned before, a lot of people claim that hiking boots provide a lot of ankle support and that they can prevent ankle injury. Others claim that this is simply a myth. I consulted two sources (and the studies mentioned in them) in order to find a correct answer.
https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/13910/is-ankle-support-a-myth
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/22522/
I found following statement to be a pretty good summary supported by these studies. Note that there is still an “interpretation factor”.
“From a strictly biomechanical point of view, ankle support works. The same person, in the same state of training, will have a lower risk of ankle injury with a higher-topped shoe or boot. But in clinical studies that look at injury rates among people who wear different footwear in a real-life training or sports scenario, there are not significant differences.”
If your issue has to do with sore ankles, I would not be too worried. I agree with the following statement.
“Soreness means a body part is stressed more than normal. But the body is generally good at adapting and strengthening frequently overloaded parts until they can perform the same workload without any problems.”
I have to mention that I did not find any study to support this last statement. However, I personally feel that sore ankles should not be a reason to not keep wearing hiking sneakers.
Also, keep in mind that wearing a hiking boot can only help with ankle support if it’s a good hiking boot and if it’s worn right.
There are also options to go with a mid height hiking sneaker. These are kind of a hybrid between hiking boots and hiking sneakers. They are meant to be pretty lightweight, but still offer some ankle support.
My conclusion is that ankle support is not a myth. It is however, very overused and overvalued as an argument to promote the hiking boot products. Do not value ankle support too much if your ankles are completely healthy.
Regular sneakers for hiking
Maybe you are hoping to use your regular sneakers for hiking. I would definitely not recommend doing this. However, everything depends on the circumstances. If you want to do a simple day hike with very decent running shoes, you can of course give it a try. Just don’t go on a multi day mountain hiking trip wearing All Stars.
To be honest, I would only consider hiking with a running shoe as a regular sneaker, and even a running shoe is not optimal.
Best hiking sneakers
Let’s take a look at some of the best hiking sneakers you can currently buy.
Altra Lone peak 3.5
The Altra lone peak is one of the most – if not the most – praised pair trail runners. A lot of experienced hikers agree that this is one of the best options when it comes to lightweight hiking shoes. Additionaly this is also my personal favorite hiking sneaker.
Are you comfortable with hiking in low shoes and are you looking to walk a lot of daily miles? Look no further because the Altra Lone peak 3.5 will be a perfect fit.
These shoes are available for both men and women on Amazon.
Lone Peak Mid Mesh 3.5
Pretty much the same story as the Altra Lone peak 3.5. This is one of the best hiking sneakers you can buy today. The main difference is that the Lone Peak Mid Mesh is a higher shoe and provides some protection for your ankle. Some hikers this is more comfortable to hike in as well. These shoes might also help you transition from a hiking boot to a trail runner.
At altra they are already convinced that this will be the heavy brown boot killer. The shoe was especially designed for hiking and mountain running.
These shoes are available for both men and women on Amazon.
Lone Peak Mid Mesh 3.5 – Women
SCARPA Crux Approach Hiking Shoe
The SCARPA Crux is a mixture of a hiking shoe and an approach shoe. If you have to do a lot of walking and some occasional climbing. This is a very good option. Just like trail runners, high quality approach shoes do not have to be very expensive.
These shoes are available for both men and women on Amazon.
SCARPA Crux Approach Hiking Shoe – Men
SCARPA Crux Approach Hiking Shoe – Women
Salewa MS Firetail EVO Mid GTX Approach Shoe
Let’s say you like the idea of an approach shoe, but you do not feel comfortable to hike in low shoes then the Salewa MS Firetail EVO Mid GTX is your best buy.
These are more expensive than a regular low approach shoe. However, they are comfortable, supportive, high quality shoes and because of that they are also quite popular.
These shoes are available for both men and women on Amazon.
Salewa MS Firetail EVO Mid GTX Approach Shoe – Men
Salewa MS Firetail EVO Mid GTX Approach Shoe – Women
Salomon X Ultra 3 Low
The Salomon X Ultra 3 is a mix between a trail runner and a regular hiking boot. However, these shoes are not designed for running at all, only for hiking. The main differences are that the Salomon X Ultra 3 Low is heavier than a regular trail runner or approach shoe. The additional weight makes this shoe more supportive and more durable.
If you feel like trying out a low pair hiking shoe, but you don’t want to give up too much foot support and protection, check out the Salomon X Ultra 3.
There is also a waterproof Gore-Tex version for those who would prefer it. However, keep in mind that waterproofing does not equal dry feet, especially with low shoes.
These shoes are available for both men and women on Amazon.
Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator
The Merrel Moab 2 Mid Ventilator is not really a hiking sneaker so consider it an honorable mention. I wanted to include this pair of shoes because you might not be ready to give up on hiking boots completely. However, you might want to decrease the weight on your feet and trade waterproofing for breathability. If this is the case then these shoes are the best I can recommend for you. Note that these shoes have both a waterproof and a non-waterproof version.
These shoes are available for both men and women on Amazon.
Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator – Men
Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator – Women
Conclusion
So should you buy hiking sneakers? Well, this article should have given you all the information you need to make your own decision. Additionaly, I included some of the best hiking sneakers as recommendations.
The most important factor – in my opinion – is how important it is to maintain a high pace. A lot of miles at a fast pace does not go hand in hand with heavy hiking boots.
A lot of people tend to only use hiking boots when they are heavily packed. Once again, being heavily packed does not go hand in hand with high pace hiking.
So if you are a thru hiker for example, high pace will be important. This means that you are going to want to travel lightweight and also wear lightweight footwear.
Maybe pace is not that important to you, but you just don’t feel comfortable in those heavy sweaty hiking boots. You might feel like its not worth the additional energy it takes to carry these boots over rocks and mountains. I get that. My advice: simply give hiking sneakers a try. You can try them out on a day hike or a short multi day hike.
For those of you who want to give trail sneakers a try, it is a good thing that hiking sneakers are generally cheaper than hiking boots. Fair enough, hiking boots are more durable so in the end you might spend the same amount of money. However, you don’t have to spend a couple of hundreds bucks just to try them out.
In my recommendations section I tried to provide an option for every type of hiker. Go with the pair of shoes that best fit your needs.
Not convinced? Do you rather stick with the old school hiking boots? If you care about your budget I would recommend this article for you guys: The best cheap hiking shoes.