Choosing Your Hiking Footwear

Sometimes the difference between thoroughly enjoying or dreading the hike you’re on comes down to having the right hiking shoes or boots on your feet. There’s nothing better than having comfortable and happy feet during a hike, and nothing worse than getting blisters, bruised toes and aching soles halfway along a trail. Like any other piece of sporting equipment, it’s essential that your hiking shoes or boots fit right and are made for the type of hike you’re going on. But, with overwhelming kinds and types of hiking shoes and boots available in the market, how do you decide on the type that’s best for you? Our guide below is here to help:

Factor 1 – Hiking Style

One of the first things to consider when selecting the footwear for your trek is to know the type of trails you plan to hike most often. Do you enjoy primarily short, flat and soft trails? Do you like to mix up trail running and hiking? Are you an aggressive hiker who loves rocky trails, scrambles and uneven terrain? Or, are long overnight hikes with a backpack more your thing? The majority of hiking shoes and boots are designed specifically to fulfill the differing requirements of each of these hiking styles – so, your first purchase decision is to figure out what you will be doing most of.

Casual Day Hiking

Trail Running & Hiking A number of hiking and/or approach shoes are constructed with trail running in mind. Typically, these shoes are low-rise and come with highly flexible midsoles and outsoles that allow for increased responsiveness and speed. The Ultra Train 2  by Salewa has great grip and traction for uneven terrain if you choose to hike in them, but they also have a strong, seamless upper that wraps around the midfoot that gives comfort and breathability when running. So, whether you’re taking these shoes out for a speed-hike or a full-out trail run, they’ve got you covered.

Rugged hiking

If you see lots of rocks and scrambles in your hiking future, you will need a hiking shoe or boot designed with protective features. You’ll want some footwear with deep, well-angled lugs, trail-gripping outsoles, a thick and well-cushioned midsole, protective toe and heel guards, and some kind of stability features. These stability features are often achieved with cushioned ankle shafts, molded heel holds and insoles, and shanks and/or plates added between the mid and outsole for a slightly stiffer ride. A stiffer shoe or boot will assist with keeping the soles of the feet from wrapping around uneven surfaces – which in result will keep your feet feeling fresh, longer. The advanced GumFlate technology built into Salewas Wander Hiker works to further increase stability by allowing the outsole to quickly and accurately conform to uneven surfaces. This unique design enhances foot-to-trail grip and decreases ankle shifting.

Backpacking & Trekking

Carrying extra weight while hiking requires additional support from your footwear, which is where an above-ankle hiking boot comes in. Having an above ankle shaft offers increased stability and reduces ankle shift, while a stiffer midsole helps to disperse extra weight across the entire length of the foot. Other features such as deep lugs, trail-gripping outsoles, and protective toe and heel guards are also essential when backpacking. These additional features make for a highly protective, durable, yet slightly heavier hiking boot. Salewa’s Mountain Trainer Mid and Alp Flow Mid are models built to satisfy the specific requirements of overnight, weight-bearing backpackers.

Mountaineering

If you’re training to make technical hikes to the top of snow and ice capped summits you’ll need a mountaineering boot. These robust boots are built with stiff, waterproof, insulated uppers, firm trail-gripping outsoles and crampon compatible features. Salewa has specialized in the development of mountaineering boots for decades, their Vultur Vertical boot is constructed with some of the best features for mountaineering. Check out the rest of the collection here.

Factor 2 – Your Physicality

In addition to your hiking style, you should also consider the physical attributes of your feet and ankles when choosing the right hiking shoe or boot. Ask yourself questions like, how “active” are my ankles, do I have wide or narrow feet, what is the shape and flex of my arches? These characteristics of your feet will largely impact the type of shoe that will be most comfortable for you.

Ankles

If your ankles are prone to spraining, or are very “active” (meaning they tend to shift from side to side as you hike) you may want to consider a mid-rise hiking shoe or boot. These shoes and boots provide increased ankle support and help decrease the potential for twisting or rolling.

Foot Width

The width of a toe box can vary greatly from one hiking shoe or boot to another. Your hiking footwear should feel comfortably snug around the ball of the foot; but shouldn't fit too tight or too loose. Hikers with more narrow feet usually benefit from a more slender toe box and form fitting lacing system. The Alpine Trainer by Salewa has various insole options built into it, which can also assist with comfort for someone with narrow feet. Meanwhile, hikers with wider feet might find a better fit in models that have a more generous toe box, similar to the one on the Wander Hiker by Salewa has.

Arch Height

No matter whether your arches are high or low, you’ll want to find a hiking shoe/boot with a molded insole. These multiple-density molded insoles work to provide support beneath the arches and give you more cushion under your heels. A well molded shape further functions to hold the foot in place during ascents and descents, thereby reducing front to back movement and heel and toe bruising. Many insoles can be removed and replaced with orthotics. Some hiking shoes and boots, like the Mountain Trainers by Salewa even come with a variety of insoles to choose from to best conform to the particular shape of your feet.

Factor 3 – Quality and Price

The quality of the materials and construction will make a big difference in how well your footwear performs and how long it can withstand the elements of the trail. Although higher cost doesn’t always translate directly into higher quality, you should be prepared to pay for the features most suited to your specific hiking needs.

Quality

Pay attention to the materials used in a hiking shoe or boot construction. Uppers constructed of full-grain or Nubuck leather will generally be highly durable and water resistant, but also a bit heavier and less breathable. Uppers made from nylon/split-grain leather are usually lighter and more breathable, but less waterproof and durable. Newer materials, such as polyester blends and mesh often provide incredibly light options & enhanced breathability, but can be prone to faster wear. Rubber outsoles constructed with Michelin or Vibram rubbers provide excellent hold and grip on a variety of trail surfaces. Thick midsoles made from molded EVA offer superb cushion and performance. Multiple-density molded insoles conform to the shape of the foot to enhance support and comfort. In addition to molded insoles, small details such as gusseted tongues, well-padded ankle shafts, and ergonomic lacing systems also help to enhance comfort and fit. When choosing a hiking shoe or boot, be sure to do your research. Find brands that are known for their hiking technologies and footwear development – that way, you know you’ll have the latest and greatest features in your footwear!

Price

Avoid basing your choice of a hiking shoe or boot on price alone. Instead, focus on the considerations above when choosing hiking footwear to match your needs. Even if it costs a little more than you were expecting, you feet will thank you.