Best Hiking Shoes

You have your water bottle and walking sticks in hand, but more importantly you need a proper pair of hiking shoes or boots before hitting the trails. In order to make the right decision for your situation, there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping —

Hiking shoes

Your generic low-cut hiking shoe models are usually a sturdier version of a running shoe. They’ll have flexible midsoles and more tread on the outsole, give you better traction and stability, and are perfect for short hikes without a lot of rough footing. You can find options made of heavy-duty fabric or leather that sometimes have a waterproof or moisture-wicking line on the inside to keep your feet dry and comfortable as you hike.

Hiking boots

Your next step up are hiking boots rather than shoes. These can be either mid- or high-cut (think right at or just above the ankle) and are intended for longer day hikes — especially the hikes that have rockier footing — or light backpacking trips. They’re usually designed with tapered plastic insoles or half-length shanks to give the sole more durability and offer you more support than a hiking shoe.

Backpacking boots

If you need something even sturdier than your everyday hiking boots, you’ll want backpacking boots. These boots are designed to be high-cut above the ankle for support with stiffer midsoles to handle heavier loads and multi-day trips on tough terrain. They’re best known for the durable full-leather upper material and excellent traction, and most usually offer some insulation and waterproofing. You won’t want to wear these boots on full-stride day hikes (trust us, you’re just asking for blisters), but they’re perfect on steep terrain and more technical trips that force you to take shorter steps.

That being said, you’ll want to make sure these boots are well broken in before taking them on long trips (once again, you’d be asking for painful blisters).

Uppers

The materials used to make a hiking shoe or boot significantly impact its weight, breathability, durability, and water resistance. There are a variety of materials that can be included in the design process:

• Full-grain leather is incredibly durable and water resistant, and it’s not as light or breathable as other materials. It’s most commonly found in backpacking boots that need to handle multi-day trips, heavy loads, and rugged terrain. You’ll want a good amount of break-in time before wearing full-grain leather boots on long trips.
• Split-grain leather “splits away” the rough inner part of a cowhide from the smooth exterior. It’s typically paired with nylon or nylon mesh to offer excellent breathability and is lighter in weight than full-grain. Split-grain is cheaper in price, but will be less resistant to water and general wear and tear.
• Polyester, nylon, and “synthetic leather” are very common in hiking shoes and boots thanks to the light weight, quick break in time, breathability, and lower price point. They aren’t nearly as durable as leather, so they may show wear and tear sooner.
• Waterproof membranes (such as Gore-Tex® or eVent®) are used in hiking boots and shoes to keep your feet dry when you run into wet conditions. These membranes, however, reduce overall breathability and may lead your feet to sweat on hot days.
• Vegan hiking boots and shoes are made without any animal ingredients or materials.
• Synthetic insulation is added to some backpacking boots for warmth when hiking on cold days or in snowy conditions.

Midsoles

The midsole of a hiking shoe or boot provides cushioning, protects your feet from ground impact, and helps determine its overall stiffness. Stiff boots might sound unappealing, but they greatly help to stabilize your feet during hikes on rough, uneven terrain. There are two main types of midsoles found in hiking boots:

• EVA midsoles are slightly cushier, lighter, and less expensive. The density can vary on different parts of the midsole (i.e. around the heel or forefoot) when more support is needed.
• Polyurethane midsoles are usually firmer and more durable. These are typically what you’d want in your backpacking boots for multi-day trips and rockier terrain.

Internal support

Along with midsoles, there’s more that goes into the internal support of a hiking shoe and boot to give you the best stability possible while hiking.

• Shanks are 3-5mm thick inserts between the midsole and outsole to add stiffness and stability. Boots can come with half- or full-length, depending on the model and what level of stiffness you want.
• Plates are thin, flexible inserts between the midsole and the outsole (also below the shank if present) that help protect your feet when stepping on rocky or rough terrain.

Outsoles

Rubber is used on all hiking boot and shoe outsoles. Some outsoles, especially on backpacking boots, can add materials like carbon for extra toughness. Having hard outsoles will increase the boot’s durability, but they can feel slick if you end up off trail. A couple components of an outsole include:

• Lugs are the bumps and grooves on the outsole that give you traction. You’ll find thicker and deeper lugs on heavier duty backpacking boots to give excellent grip on technical terrain. Widely spaced lugs give you good traction and won’t collect mud as easily as tightly compacted lugs.
• Heel brakes are the clearly defined heel areas on your boots that give you extra traction and reduce your chances of slipping or sliding down steep trails.