The debate between hiking shoes vs. boots is nothing new. It’s one of those enduring arguments that seems to have been going on forever. You know, like whether skis are better than snowboards and all that (spoiler: They are).
In this complete guide to hiking shoes vs. boots, we’ll run through all the ins and outs of each type of hiking footwear, detailing the pros of those extra uppers, the cons of going light and nimble, and everything in between.
We’ll take a look at what it is we ask of our hiking footwear and compare what gear is better suited to what terrain, finishing off with my two cents on whether it’s hiking boots, hiking shoes, or trail runners that make the cut. Ready? Let’s go…
Before we dive into the debate, let’s take a moment to lay out exactly what it is you’re looking for from hiking footwear in the first place.
Most people agree that there are four main pillars to good hiking footwear:
- Comfort – It’s no coincidence that comfort is top of this list. Hiking boots or hiking shoes, they simply have to be comfortable. It’s non-negotiable because blisters are blisters, no matter if they’re gained on the Pacific Crest thru or during a short day walk in Central Park.
- Protection – The whole reason humans started wearing shoes is to stop rocks and twigs from cutting our feet and to protect our toes from frostbite in winter. A good pair of trail shoes needs to protect your feet from taking a beating on the trail.
- Ankle Support – Good hiking footwear keeps you stable and upright on the trail as well as protected. No one wants a rolled ankle or a pulled Achilles when they’re just trying to get that fix of nature.
Why’s all this important? It’s important because you’re likely to discover that the main debating points in the showdown between hiking boots vs. hiking shoes all revolve around these three key factors. It’s all about varying levels of comfort, protection, and ankle support. Let’s dig deeper…
What Is a Hiking Shoe?
A hiking shoe is a shoe that you wear to hike.
That’s it. Really: That is it!
I’ve been on cross-Dolomite trails with pals in Crocs. I’ve been on snow-covered Scottish Highland routes with folks in the gnarliest new-fangled trail runners.
In that moment, as both Croc and $200 Salomon alike touch the ground, both can be considered hiking shoes.
However, when most people talk about hiking shoes what they’re really talking about are shoes that are specifically designed for…
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