Choosing the right hiking footwear is integral to not only having a comfortable and enjoyable hike, but also for your safety and protection out on the trails

if you are just starting out and only go hiking in the dry summer months stable and grippy trainers might suffice. However, when the weather worsens and you want to start hiking more frequently and on more technical terrain, then investing in hiking specific footwear is essential.

In this blog post I highlight several factors which will impact what type of hiking footwear you should invest in, alongside the eight key features to look out for in hiking footwear.

I also finish up with what hiking footwear I own and recommend.

What are the best hiking shoes? A guide to choosing hiking footwear

Four factors to consider

Before you starting shopping for hiking footwear, there are four things that you need to consider which will dramatically impact the type of hiking footwear which you require.

1.The type of terrain you will be hiking in

If you are hiking predominantly on mountainous terrain which is rocky and technical, your needs will be far different to those hiking across moors and on coastal paths. Generally, the less technical, difficult, and rocky the terrain, the less protection and durability you will need from your footwear.

2. The season and weather conditions which you are hiking in

Are you shoes for hiking in summer or do you need then year-round? Do you live up in the Highlands of Scotland or somewhere far drier? There’s no point in getting high cut, leather, waterproof shoes if you live in a hot and humid climate and will rarely encounter rain.

3. The frequency and duration of your hikes

Are you rambling multiple times a week, a weekend warrior, or someone who hikes infrequently? Someone who hikes more frequently and for longer distances will need a more technical and durable footwear than some one whose pottering along the coastal paths.

4. Do you have oddly shaped feet or orthotic issues?

These will impact the type, and style of hiking footwear you require. I have long toes, bunions, and a plate in my ankle, three things which directly affect what type of footwear I find comfortable and can wear.

8 features to consider in Hiking footwear

Now once you have established the above four factors, then there are several features of a shoe which you should consider and look out for.

1. Comfort

Above everything, hiking footwear should be comfortable. You want footwear which you would be happy to walk and wear for several hours and for multiple days in a row.

Cushioning can play a huge factor in comfort, however over cushioned shoes can lead to lack of feel under foot and false sense of security when descending, which can often lead to injuries.

Other factors to consider are the weight and material of the shoes (which I chat about below).

Make sure you try footwear on before purchasing them and wear a pair of socks which you would go hiking in. If it’s possible, try walking through the store and up and down stairs to try and get a better feel for the footwear.

If you fall between two sizes, choose the bigger size. This will help accommodate foot movement when going up and down hill and any foot swelling which may occur. Its also better to have shoes which are slightly too big than too small as you can wear thicker socks or add an insole to reduce the size.

2. Grip

As slipping and falling are the two most frequent reasons for injuries when hiking, grip is a very important thing to consider.

The amount of grip needed will depend on the environment and terrain you are hiking in. The main thing to look for is the material of the sole alongside lug pattern and depth.

Lugs are traction-giving bumps on the outsole. Footwear with wider spaced lugs offer good traction and shed mud more easily. Deeper and thicker lugs are used on backpacking and mountaineering boots to improve grip.

Regardless of the sole, paying attention to foot placement, step frequency, and weight distribution also helps control traction.

3. Stability

Hiking footwear should be stable and your feet should not be moving around when you are planting them. Granted there will be some movement back and forth but you dont want your feet sliding from side to side or over the toes of the shoe.

Stability will come down to the material and the build of the shoe. Look for footwear which is well built and has strong and sturdy materials around the base of the shoe (sides, toe, and heel) and above the soles.

Do not buy hiking footwear for ankle support!!!

Most hiking boots do not offer good ankle support due to their soft and flexible ankle cuffs. Ankle support will only be provided by boots with high and stiffened cuffs, which will be very restrictive and uncomfortable.

Instead of buying a shoe to fix your underlying issues, focus on strengthening and improving your flexibility in your ankles.

Use trail runners as an example. They tackle the steepest and most challenging of mountain terrain at high speeds wearing low cut lightweight footwear instead of big clumpy boots.

4. Protection

Hiking footwear should offer protection against both the terrain you are hiking on and the weather conditions you are hiking in.

If you are going to be hiking on steep, rocky and unstable terrain you will need much more protection than someone who is hiking on lower-level trails which consists of grass and mud.

The protection will predominantly determined by the material that your hiking shoes are made of alongside the presence or absence of additional features.

Look for shoes which have plenty of protection and re-enforcement around the toe, heel, and base of the shoe as this is what will come into the most contact with the ground.

Also consider footwear which has a mid to high cut ankle as it also offers more protection against abrasion and will better at preventing debris and materials entering your shoe

5. Durability

Hiking footwear should be able to stand up to the terrain and elements which you are going to be hiking in.

A footwears durability will depend on shoes materials and technology, alongside the type of terrain you are hiking on, the weather conditions, and how well you look after and clean your shoes.

The rockier and more rugged and technical the terrain which you are hiking on, the more durability you will need from your footwear.

6. Weight and material of the shoe

Ultimately weight is a big factor in a shoe. The foot moves the furthest distance than any other part of the leg, meaning any added weight requires a much larger muscle force to move it.

The one thing which as the biggest factor on the weight of the shoe is the materials that it is made from.

Synthetic vs Leather

Synthetic material is lighter, less stiff, and usually more comfortable, these all help reduce fatigue. However, the trade-off is compared to leather they are less durable as they are more prone to damage alongside wear and tear.

In general leather boots will hold up better against the elements and will generally last longer. However, the trade-off is that leather boots are usually heavier, stiffer and usually are less comfortable.

You need to understand and decide on which features you want to prioritise, finding a good balance between the weight, protection and comfort.

I have always favoured a lighter synthetic hiking shoe.

I like a shoe which offers the most freedom, comfort and will not feel like a burden after wearing it for several hours. I also footwear which I could comfortably run or jog in if I wanted to.

7. Waterproof membrane

Footwear labelled as waterproof will feature uppers constructed with waterproof membranes (such as Gore-Tex®) to keep feet dry in wet conditions.

Unfortunately, the downside of a waterproof shoe is that they reduce breathability which means your feet can become very hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable. Also if water gets into a waterproof shoe, then it isn’t getting out!

8. Cut of the shoe

Again, this is down to personal preference. There are three types of shoes, low, mid, and high cut.

Low cut: The same as trainers, these provides the greatest freedom and flexibility.
Mid Cut: These cover the ankle and offer more protection.
High cut: Extend above the ankle to the shin and offer the greatest amount of protection and support

If I know the trail conditions are going to be dry and not that technical then I will usually opt for a low-cut shoe.

However, if I know there will be some technical terrain (scree, loose rock) and the potential for bog, then I will opt for a mid-cut shoe as it has more protection.

Like I have mentioned earlier, please don’t chose a high cut shoe because it will provide ankle stability as that is not the case.

Other factors to consider

Sock choice: this will play a huge role in whether your shoes rub and cause blisters. I will generally opt for synthetic sports socks which are made for running. My favourite are these by versus. In the winter I will wear thicker, hiking specific socks which do have a blend of merino wool. These add extra padding and warmth alongside helping with the reduced breathability of waterproof shoes.
Breaking your shoes in: Some shoes require a breaking in period, others don’t. I always recommend wearing your footwear around the house and on some lower level, local walks in order to try and ‘break them in’. The last thing you want to is wear a brand-new footwear up a mountain and end up in excruciating pain and covered in blisters.
What a shoe looks like: Hiking isn’t a fashion show and you should never pick a hiking shoe on how it looks. However, if you are paying a premium for footwear, it should look half decent. As when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good you hike good.
Crampon compatibility: If you plan to do mountaineering or winter hiking, having boots which are compatible with crampons is essential for your safety. This is very specific to winter footwear, and new and inexperienced hikers don’t need to worry about this.

What footwear I hike in

As I prefer my feet to feel both comfortable and light whilst being able to move as freely and quickly as possible, I favour lightweight trainer-style hiking footwear.

I also like the option of being able to break out into a run in my hiking shoes if I need to.

If I am hiking in hot and humid conditions or on terrain which is mostly dry (summer and early autumn) then I will opt for non-waterproof, synthetic footwear which is either low or mid cut.

However, in the wetter months of the year, if rain is forecast, or if I’m hiking over boggy or soggy terrain, I will opt for synthetic, waterproof, mid-cut shoes.

In situations when there is snow, I will switch to a high cut shoe which is insulated, this is because the focus is on staying dry and warm rather than weight and moving fast.

I have tried and tested many hiking shoes over the years, however my current favourite is the adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.

I currently own both Gore-Tex version for the wetter months of the year alongside the non gore-tex version for summer. I had the first generation of the shoe before they released the 2.0 which I also loved.

The shoes are extremely comfortable, lightweight, and most importantly accommodate my horrible bunions and long toes. This means they are never burden or are uncomfortable on my feet

The continental rubber offers great grip and their mid cut design offers extra protection against scree, debris and water.

Having hiked in them all over the world (including the Scottish Highlands, Canadian Rockies, and Dolomites) they have handled everything I have thrown at them including boggy moors, scree covered slopes, ridge scrambles, and towering rocky peaks.

I also wore the Gore-Tex version of the shoe on my eight-day trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The free hikers also look great, and when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good you hike good.

My fiancé also owns both the adidas Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 and V1 and she absolutely loves them. Like me she finds them very lightweight, comfortable, alongside offering great grip stability and protection.

You can find the full range of Mens hiking boots up on the adidas website.

Closing thoughts

Given how everyones feet and hiking needs are different, there is never a one shoe fits all.

What might be comfortable for me, might be horrendous for you. It is usually a case of trying and testing multiple shoes in order to find the one which fits you best.

Knowing the needs of your own feet, what terrain and conditions you are hiking in, how often you will be hiking, alongside what features of hiking shoe you want to prioritise are integral to picking good hiking footwear.

Selecting a brand which you have used and got on with before is usually a good starting point. I will also say choosing a good pair of socks does play a huge role in comfort.

If you are on the lookout for your first pair of hiking shoes, I would avoid purchasing them online. Instead go into a store or specialist shop to get your feet measured, try some shoes on, and expert advice.

My final bit of advice would be once you find hiking footwear you get on with, buy a few pairs (especially if they are on sale). Footwear doesn’t go off and you never know when the footwear (or your size) will be back in stock.