Hiking Shoes

A Viable Alternative to Hiking Boots

Hiking shoes are a suitable alternative to boots in mild terrain with a lighter (less than about 25 pounds) pack.

I have hiked for miles in them with no difficulty—many hikers do. I don’t tend to have weak ankles and wouldn’t suggest trekking shoes if you tend to have weak ankles. There is no ankle support.

Conversely to hiking sandals, they do provide some protection from trail obstacles such as sticks and sharp rocks—not absolute protection, but certainly your feet are not completely exposed either.

Evaluate the Terrain

Before deciding whether a hiking boot alternative is right for you, find out as much as you can about the terrain you will be hiking in. Will you be hiking on maintained, non-muddy trails with a light(ish) pack? If so, alternatives will likely be a good choice. Will you be making an off-trail venture over rough or muddy terrain? Are you still carrying a 40 pound external frame pack on your back? If this is the case, you might be better served with a true hiking boot. Carrying a very heavy pack over rough terrain with anything less than at least lightweight hiking boots is asking for an injury.

Hiking shoes, even when laced snugly, do not hold your foot as stable as a boot. There will be some moving around, especially in the heel. When on steep terrain, this can lead to loss of footing/balance. This can result in serious injury. Evaluation of the anticipated terrain is extremely important.

How to Choose

Once you have established that the hiking conditions are conducive to wearing a hiking shoe, you are ready to begin the search for a quality choice. Some things to look for are:

Good cushioning--Choose a shoe that is well cushioned and has a good arch support. Opt for rubber cushioning over air cushioning. Air cushioned shoes are easily punctured, especially on rocks, leaving you with virtually no cushioning at all. Air filled shoes are more suited to walking in the city on concrete—not over rocks.

Movement--You must accept that you will have some movement of your foot because your ankle is not stabilized as it is in a boot. This is acceptable on mild to moderate terrain. However, it should never feel sloppy. Lace them up snugly and try to find an incline to walk up and down. If your foot has excessive movement, the shoe is likely too wide for you.

Heel Support--The heel cup should be very rigid. Your heel takes a pounding with every single step down the trail. Make sure that any hiking shoe you wear has firm support in the heel.

Fit--As with all hiking footwear, fit is absolutely paramount. In general, hiking shoes are more familiar to us since they are so much like other sporting shoes. Just a few reminders about fit:

• When laced snugly, there should be a little room between the eyes. If you have “maxed out” the laces, the shoe is too wide
• With the shoe on and snugly laced, firmly kick your toe on the floor, forcing your foot to the front of the shoe. Your toes should not hit the front of the shoe and no more than a snug finger’s width should be between the heel of your foot and the back of the shoe.
• Rise up on your toes. The heel should not slip off of your foot.
• As with all hiking footwear, try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are slightly larger and wear nylon or polyester sock liners covered by the wool socks that you will be wearing on the trail.

I have worn shoes on many successful hiking trips. With forethought and knowledge, you can choose a pair of hiking shoes that will serve as a good alternative to boots on mild to moderate hiking terrain.

Return to Hiking Boots

Return from Hiking Shoes to Ultimate Ultralight Backpacking