Hiking Shoes Versus Hiking Boots

Hiking shoes win. Okay, next issue? No, really. Hiking or running shoes are better for almost all of us, at least during late spring, summer and early fall. Of course you may need something more in the winter, if you live where there is a lot of snow. You may also need hiking boots in areas with a lot of cactus, but these are special cases. Boots are heavy, hot, and stay wet forever. A pound on your feet is equivalent to five on your back (some say six), so three-pound boots naturally leave you much more tired at the end of the day.

You may not believe that rule, and it may not even be all that provable, in a precise way, but it was the conclusion of some serious testing by the U.S. Army. If you want to understand the principle immediately, put ten pounds on each foot and start hiking. According to the rule, that twenty pounds on your feet would be like 100 pounds on your back, but I'm thinking the latter might be less tiring. By the way, after that hike, put on some light running shoes, and you'll feel like you are flying. That's why I prefer shoes.

Hiking Shoes and Ankle Support

Now, you have probably heard all the arguments for the necessity of ankle support, but you know that throughout history people managed without stiff ankle-supporting boots. Perhaps the problem is weak ankles, and not a lack of support. Walking a little each week on uneven ground (not in the mall) solves this problem. Certainly some hikers need boots, but I have yet to meet a person who has tried hiking and backpacking in hiking shoes or running shoes and then returned to boots. Just be sure your ankle problems are not due to a lack of exercise before you settle on backpacking in hiking boots. It really is so much more enjoyable in lightweight shoes.

Advantages of Running or Hiking Shoes

Your feet will stay cooler in a good pair of running shoes than in hiking boots. This means fewer blisters. After switching to running shoes and lightweight socks, I stopped getting blisters. I don't mean I have had fewer blisters; I mean haven't had ANY blisters since I switched. Not one blister after a 110-mile 7-day trek in the Rockies, for example, and not one blister after a 39-mile day in the Smoky Mountains.

The socks I use now are cheap nylon dress socks that you can buy at Walmart, or almost anywhere. After wearing them for a while, I found I could no longer tolerate the expensive and hot "high tech" hiking socks. I truly believe they cause blisters. I still use nice wool hiking socks for cold weather hiking- if it is real cold. otherwise, I bring a pair for sleeping in, but not for hiking.

So no hiking boot reviews here. No comparisons of Merrell hiking boots versus Vasque hiking boots. But thankfully they both make hiking shoes. You can find them at one of the suppliers recommended below.

How to Choose Your Shoes

Weights are not always shown in catalogs, so you may have to just guess at which hiking shoes are lighter based on the description and photo. If weights are shown, try to keep it below two pounds per pair, unless, of course, you have size 13 feet.

High quality shoes will always have their soles stitched to the uppers, so check, if you are shopping in a store. You can do this by removing the insoles (a removable insole is another sign of quality shoes) and looking. I can usually find a good pair of running shoes that weighs less than 28 ounces for under $80.

SierraTradingPost.com (paid link) has closeouts on great running shoes, which is why I've bought several pair from them. You never know what they are going to have, but you know it will be good quality at a good price, and possibly out of style. (That doesn't bother me.)

Be sure to also visit the page on Hiking Clothes.

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