What no one will tell you when shopping for hiking footwear.

Stuck on nature

It is your first time hiking.  You are marveling at the height of the trees reaching upwards in to the beautiful morning sky.  Breathing in draws the scent of the pines to your senses.  Rock hopping in the middle of a pristine creek gives you a sense of serene you have never felt before.  If only you could watch the cascading waterfall forever. 

The forest got you.  It reeled you in.  Nature is never letting you go. 

It is time to hang up your sneakers and trade them in for proper hiking footwear. 

The hiking footwear Shopping experience 

You are ready to buy a decent pair of hiking shoes/boots to get started and have found yourself at your local outdoor shop staring at multiple options.  You cringe a bit at the prices and scrunch your face up at the lack of info accompanying the brand names.  If you are new to hiking, you may find this shopping task a bit overwhelming.  You ask the department clerk for help in picking the right product.  He gives a description of a few options just as vague as the tags you already read.  Now what?  Let’s find out what no one will tell you when shopping for your first pair. 

Tip:  Remember when you are shopping for any type of gear, the store employees simply work there.  More than likely, they are not going to have the information you are looking for because they don’t have the experience themselves.

The hiking footwear breakdown 

Finding the right footwear for you starts with a look at the two most common options for hiking footwear.  Hiking shoes and hiking boots mid.

• Hiking shoes
  • Pros
    • Usually provide a lightweight option.
    • Depending on outsole, these tend to have better traction for rocks and slick surfaces.  
  • Cons
    • No ankle stability. 
    • Not suitable for cold weather or snow.

• Hiking boots mid
  • Pros
    • Provide ankle support.
    • Suitable for warm and cold conditions.
    • Good for off-trail hiking.
  • Cons
    • Mid boots are heavier than hiking shoes.
    • Restricted mobility.
    • Take longer to dry.
    • Likely not suitable for snow depending on outsole.

With the basics out of the way, below are some things to consider in order to make your final choice.

The HIKING CONDITIONS:  terrain

• Water trails
  • If you are hiking in water, you will want footwear that has antimicrobial properties.  These are going to be your waterproof/water resistant footwear.  You have 2 choices.
    • Hiking shoes or hiking boots that are waterproof/resistant that do not allow the water inside the shoe.  These keep your feet dry.
    • Waterproof hiking shoes that allow the water to flow freely through the shoe.  These shoes are built to handle being 100% submerged in water.

• Slick/Slippery Trails
  • Water trails can be slippery.  Some rocks can be naturally slick and easy to slip on as well.  For these surface types, you want a good outsole.  The best that I have found is a Vibram outsole with deep lugs, specifically the Vibram Megagrip.  Keep in mind, there are no perfect shoes or boots in this scenario.  You should always use your best judgement when traversing potentially dangerous surfaces. 

• Forest Trails/Desert Trails
  • Are you hiking trails with very little change in elevation and are relatively level?  Are they also dry trails with very little chance of water?  Hiking shoes or hiking boots would both be suitable for these conditions.  It would come down to your preference of ankle support, weight of your shoes, and breathability. 

• Steep Terrain
  • Are you looking to hike mountains?  This is another area where I would recommend Vibram Megagrip or a similar outsole with deep lugs.  You want traction going up a mountain side.  Personally, I would opt for hiking shoes to limit fatigue. 

The HIKING CONDITIONS:  Weather

• Weather
  • Are you hiking mainly during warm weather?  You may want to consider a hiking shoe for better breathability.  Hiking shoes are also lightweight.  The less weight on your feet, the farther you will be able to go. 
  • Are you hiking mainly during cold weather?  Hiking boots have you covered for warmth.  Find a pair with deep lugs for any wet weather you may encounter. 
  • Are you hiking in the snow?  I will cover this more in depth in a future post, but keep in mind snow hiking requires a different kind of traction.  Some hiking boots have Vibram Artic Grip meant for snow and ice.  Snow boots are also an option, but they can be cumbersome and not good for traveling long distances.

Take your new hiking footwear onward

These are just the basics to get you started.  There are a lot of aspects in the hiking footwear world I could discuss, but I just want to help get you on your next hike.  Remember, they don’t have to be the perfect pair.  If you find you enjoy hiking and want to continue on your adventures, your first pair of hiking shoes/boots you purchase won’t be your last.  Get your hiking footwear and take a hike! 

Want to know which shoes/boots I have tested out?  Check out my blog post My feet tested them, so you don’t have to!

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