Any recommendations on hiking shoes for outdoor activities (eg national park hiking)? Probably not too heavy but with weather proof features. Good for outdoor walk and on a rainy day from time to time.
Hiking Shoes for Outdoor
arctan on 07/09/2020 - 12:11
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Aku Gore-tex boots; wife is on her second pair after wearing the first out after walking trips in Yosemite, Scotland and Nepal. I've got a pair recently, as my Scarpas were great for OS, but too hot and heavy for local hiking.
Its a very personal thing. I love Blundstones and have no issues walking 20km in them. Depends what you are carrying and what your ankles are like.
Runners are fine for me. Used to use hiking boots, but for the amount of times I've rolled my ankle (once in decades, and I could still keep walking), vs the weight saving and comfort of runners, the runner win every time.
Many published studies find that high-top shoes do not help with ankle sprain prevention at all. Some even suggest that they pose a detrimental effect on establishing and maintaining functional ankle joint stability. See this one for example: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943374/
the amount of times my mid cut hiking boot has saved me from rolling my ankle…i'll keep wearing them…
If rainproof then you probably need Goretex. If you can I would recommend trying both ankle height and calf height boots so you can see which type you prefer.
Decathlon is probably worth a look at if there is anything there that is worthwhile.
Found a pair at Salvos (not possible under current COVID situation) for $5 which later I wore even at Mt. Buller in snow, best deal I ever had for shoes.
When hiking, typically used thongs (stopped after loosing a toenail) then upgraded to runners but both of them don't have weather proof features.
Considering pros and cons, runners are still the best solution for me.Your title makes me wonder if there are hiking shoes for indoor.
What are you actually using the shoes for? Rocks, well used trails, long hikes, river crossings….
Backpack weight?
Someone doing day walks vs someone doing expeditions with a 15kg backpack would have very different looking shoes.
Depends on your needs. I bought the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Boots about five years back. Great for multiday hikes and still going strong. Places like Patagonia, Inca Trail, Overland, Great Ocean Walk
Reasons I got these:
- Has a wider toe box
- Waterproof and still breathable. Keeps some of the foot sweat away
- The mid provides extra ankle support. Helpful when you're carrying extra weight in your backpack
- Lightweight for the size of the boot
- Standard lacing. If I ever need to replace them it should be easier than shoes with quicklace technology
- Very easy to wear in. I received mine 3 days before Sth America trip. No hot spots on feet for a 5 day hike.If you don't need the extra ankle support, the standard Ultra 3 is another good option.
Timberlands
Any of the above brands have wide feet size? I usually need to wear 2E shoes.
Keen footwear generally have a wider fit. I have a pair of Salomons (low hiker) and would say they're more of a standard fit.
OP - go into the shops and try on a bunch of boots / shoes.
Everyone will have different sized and shaped feet. Find what works for you.
Your feet swell a bit when you've been walking all day, so when you go to try them on, do it in the arvo after you've had a few hours on your feet.
Make sure to walk around in them when you're trying them on. There should be a few cm between your toes and the end of the boot.
Most shops have a little angled ramp for people to walk up and down when testing boots. Walk up and down this. When walking up, make sure there is no slippage in the heel (will get blisters). When walking down, make sure your toes don't hit the end of the boot (loss of toenails).
Ask what their return policy is - most shops have 30 days as long as they are in brand new condition. This means you can wear them around the house (inside!) for a few days to really get a feel for them.
I have the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Boots. I love them. They are super comfortable and also come in a shoe. I don't find the boots too heavy. They were my first boots which I purchased at the start of the yr.
I initially tried the much hyped Merrell Moab 2 but they were too firm for me. It can be a personal preference though so if you have an outdoor adventure type store it might be worth a go to try on a few pairs. Good luck!