Common questions about hiking footwear

In this article I will answer some frequently asked questions about footwear.Are Timberlands good for hiking? Are hiking shoes good for running? How long do hiking shoes last? Find the answers on these questions in this article.

 

What are hiking shoes?

Hiking shoes are shoes that are optimized for hiking. There are different types of hiking shoes that are optimal in different situations.

Hiking shoes can either be trail runners, approach shoes, regular low top hiking shoes or heavy high top hiking boots.

Trail runners are optimized to cover a lot of distance. Approach shoes are optimal for a combination of walking and climbing. Heavy hiking boots will offer more protection than any of the alternatives. Low top hiking shoes are best described as a compromise between trail runners and hiking boots.

 

Why wear hiking shoes?

Wearing hiking shoes rather than a regular shoe has many benefits. Ankle support, blister prevention, grip and durability are some examples of why hiking shoes are important. Different types of hiking shoes will be optimal in different situations.

I know a couple of hikers who did not think hiking shoes were necessary on their first hiking trip. All of them regretted their decision to not wear hiking shoes.

Remember, every type of shoe is optimized for different situations, but all of them are optimized for hiking.

 

Are hiking shoes good for walking?

Hiking shoes are designed for walking long distances, so yes, hiking shoes are good for walking. Still, there are different hiking shoes that are optimal for different walks. E.g. if you are walking on a hard road, low top hiking shoes are better than the heavy hiking boots.

Obviously, hiking shoes are good for walking, but this does not mean that every type of hiking shoe is optimal for every walk. The heavy hiking boots are meant to keep your feet protected. The downside is that you will use more energy to cover the same distance. If you do not need the protection, then you should go with a low top lightweight alternative, like a regular hiking shoe or a trail runner.

 

Are hiking shoes good for running?

The heavier the hiking shoe the less optimal it is for running. Trail runners are good shoes for running. However, the regular low top hiking shoe is not optimized for running. Still, you could run short distances in them. That said, running in heavy hiking boots should be avoided.

In order to answer this question we should first define what a hiking shoe is. A trail runner is often used for hiking and is therefore often considered to be a hiking shoe. The same can be said about the classic heavy hiking boot.

A trail runner is obviously optimal for running on the trail and the hiking boot is one of the worst options to use for running. Running in very heavy shoes is simply not a good idea.

So what about a regular low top hiking shoe? Well, these are not designed for running and they are not optimal. That said, they are one of the better options when it comes to running in a shoe that is not designed for running.

 

Can you hike in running shoes?

Hiking in regular running shoes is not optimal, but it’s one of the better alternatives to real hiking shoes. However, once you start looking at trail running shoes (also called trail runners), you will notice that these shoes are actually pretty good for hiking as well.

Trail runners are basically running shoes, optimized for hiking trails (running on forest/mountain trails). The biggest benefit of trail runners over the classic leather hiking boot is that they are a lot lighter. The biggest disadvantages are a lack of protection and lack of ankle support. However, ankle support is often overused as an argument, as you can learn from this article: is ankle support a myth? Spoiler alert, it’s not a myth, but it is an overused argument for sure.

To summarize, regular running shoes are not optimal for hiking, but they are not as bad as some of the alternatives. For shorter occasional hikes, running shoes shouldn’t give you a lot of trouble. Trail runners on the other hand are a very popular choice for hiking any type of trail. For an in-depth comparison between hiking boots and trail runners, take a look at this article.

 

Are Timberlands good for hiking?

Timberland creates both shoes that are meant solely to look good and shoes that are actually good for hiking. Most of their hiking shoes are considered very decent. That said, the usual basic timberlands are not optimized at all for serious hiking trips.

Since so many people were asking this question, I created a separate article to give you a more in-depth answer to this question: Are Timberlands good for hiking?

I have done my research and noticed that there is a lot of misleading information out there. Many people claim that timberlands are designed to look tough, but that they are not actually rugged or waterproof. Now I know that people claim this while they are thinking about these boots:

Timberland Men's Basic Contrast Collar Boot

Indeed, these boots are not optimized for hiking, they are made to look good. That said, one must realize that these shoes are also Timberlands:

Timberland Men's Chocorua Trail Mid Hiking Boot

These shoes are actually optimized for hiking. They are waterproof, rugged and well-accepted by many hikers.

So, can you hike in timberlands? Yes, as long as you wear the ones that are optimized for hiking trips and not for fashion shoots. Simply filter on “hiking boots & shoes” or google for “timberland hiking boots”.

 

Are Chacos good for hiking?

Chacos can be very comfortable for walking long distances. The soles are optimized for hiking and will last a long time. The biggest downside is that your feet is barely protected. Hiking in chacos can be done, but it’s definitely not optimal for everybody in every situation.

Hiking shoes with minimal protection have a lot of disadvantages. You have a lot more chance to get injured. Especially broken toes are a possibility. These are not arguments against hiking in chacos, these are arguments against hiking in sandals in general. For more information about hiking in sandals, check out this article: Are sandals good for hiking?

The benefits are mainly comfort. Also, they dry very fast. The sole is also optimized to provide you with ankle support. Having a proper heel cup is important for this. It might not provide the same protection as a real hiking boot, but in my opinion, ankle support is often overrated. Learn more about this topic in the following article: Is ankle support a myth?.

If you are going to hike in sandals, regardless of the risks, then chacos are one of your best options. The recommended and most proven model is the chaco Z1.

Chaco Z1

Are Chacos good for hiking? It can be done and it has been done, but there are some disadvantages and risks involved.

 

What are the best shoes for hiking and climbing?

The best shoes for a combination of hiking and climbing are approach shoes. These are optimized for walking long distances and for climbing on more technical terrain.

An example of a great approach shoe:

SCARPA Crux Approach Hiking Shoe

These shoes are designed to be light. Therefore, most approach shoes are low top shoes. However, if you want some additional protection, mid-topped approach shoes exist as well.

Salewa MS Firetail EVO Mid GTX Approach Shoe

Are duck boots good for hiking?

Duck boots are not designed for hiking long distances. These shoes are waterproof, but the sole is stiff and the shoe is often too spacious inside. Your feet would move around in the shoe too much to get proper traction. That said, some people still like duck boots for hiking.

Hiking in a shoe that is not designed for hiking is often a bad idea. It might be waterproof and comfortable, but that does not mean it’s proper footwear for long hikes. If you want to give it a try, take them on a day hike and see how it feels.

If you want more information about why hiking in duck boots is not optimal, this article provides a pretty good summary: Hiking in duck boots.

In case you are wondering what a duck boot looks like:

Sperry Women's Saltwater Boot

So, are duck boots good for hiking? No, I wouldn’t recommend wearing duck boots on any serious hiking trip.

 

What are the best hiking shoes for hot weather?

The most important quality of a hiking shoe in hot weather is breathability. If you are hiking in a non breathable shoe, your feet will sweat a lot, resulting in wet feet. You do not necessarily go with low top shoes.

Choosing the perfect hiking shoe should not only depend on the weather. The conditions of the trail and personal preferences are things to keep in mind.

That said, I still tried to find the perfect hot weather hiking shoe.

And the winner is…

The Merrell Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe.

Merrel Men’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking shoe

Merrel Women’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking shoe

This shoe is very breathable, but it still offers a decent amount of protection. Also, this shoe is tried and approved by many hikers.

 

What are the best hiking shoes for cold weather?

Hiking in cold weather means you might encounter snow and ice. In cold weather I would trade breathability for waterproofing. Your feet might still become sweaty, but at least they won’t be completely soaked. A high top boot can also help with keeping your feet warm and dry.

There are plenty of decent hiking boots that provide both warmth and waterproofing. My personal recommendation of the best hiking shoe for cold weather would be the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots.

Note that this hiking boot is not only good for cold weather hiking. It’s a great allround hiking shoe for people who value ankle support and feet protection. Cold weather hiking is just one of the things this shoe is very good for!

Salomon Men's Quest 4d 3 GTX Backpacking Boots

Salomon Women's Quest 4d 3 GTX Backpacking Boots

What is the best budget hiking shoe?

Most high quality hiking shoes can be very expensive. However, there are some very good budget options as well. My first recommendation would be the “Columbia newton ridge plus 2“.

The main reason I’m recommending these shoes is that they are high quality and you can buy them for a very acceptable price.

These shoes are regular leather hiking boots. They are completely waterproof, just like most other regular leather hiking boots. These shoes are not the most durable shoes ever (that would be almost impossible for this price. That said, they are still considered very durable for the price.

The price is not the only advantage of the Columbia newton ridge plus 2. It’s also lighter than most alternatives, it’s completely waterproof and it has good arch support. On top of that, these shoes also have a shorter breaking-in period than most alternatives.

If you are interested in my other top budget hiking shoes, or you are just looking for more information. Check out this article: Budget hiking shoes: The best cheap hiking shoes.

Columbia Men's Newton Ridge Plus

Columbia Women's Newton Ridge Plus

Are blundstones good for hiking?

Blundstones are not made for hiking specifically, but some hikers really like to hike in them. However, all in all, Blundstones are simply not made for hiking. Many hikers have reported that these shoes lack ankle support, their feet would move around (which would result in blisters) and the shoes aren’t breathable at all. The overall quality and durability of Blundstones has always been good when they were manufactured in Australia. However, now they are manufactured in the US and the quality has only gone down. Even the hikers who have always defended Blundstones as a hiking shoe start to change their opinions.

Blundstones unisex

So, are blundstones good for hiking? No, blundstones are not optimized for hiking. They are more suitable as a work shoe. For a more in-depth answer to this question, take a look at this article: Are blundstones good for hiking?

 

Can you wear hiking boots every day?

Yes, hiking boots can be worn every day. On the trail, it’s pretty obvious that you can wear hiking boots on a daily base. However, when it comes to daily use, hiking boots can be a pretty good option as well.

When you are walking or working, you will still benefit from the comfort, grip, ankle support and stability that a hiking boot will provide.

The only real downside when it comes to wearing hiking boots in the city/on asphalt is that most hiking boots tend to be pretty heavy and not very breathable.

If you are going to wear hiking boots for regular use, I would recommend looking for a lightweight and breathable pair.

 

Can you wear hiking boots in the snow?

Hiking boots can be worn in snow. However, there are different types of hiking boots, some will perform a lot better than others in snow.

If you are looking for the very best hiking boots for walking on snow, I would recommend the following article: best snow hiking boots. This article focuses on hiking boots that are actually optimized for hiking on snow.

Summer hiking boots will generally perform pretty bad on snow. They won’t provide the warmth you would need and the grip will actually perform a lot worse in lower temperatures.

The traction of your hiking boot will perform differently in other temperatures, let me take a quote from the article that I linked:

The rubber of your shoe should be soft enough so that it molds to the rock, this way, there is a bigger contact surface, and this increases traction. More traction means a better grip. The problem is that most of the rubbers that are used on a hiking shoe will lose that softness once the temperature drops below a certain degree. This is obviously a very important consideration when it comes to researching a hiking snow boot.

Long story short, hiking boots can be worn in the snow, but some boots will be a lot more suited for snow hiking than others.