The First Mistake New Hikers Make: Choosing Footwear 101

Choosing the right footwear for your hike is critical. But it's easy to not know when to wear certain types of shoes. Choosing the wrong footwear leads to blisters and foot injuries that can derail your hike or your backpacking trip. Learn the basics of choosing the right footwear.

Gear I have tested and recommend:

Overnight Backpacks and Day Hiking Packs:

Tents and Camping Gear:

Clothing:

Camp Kitchen:

Trail Gear:

Special thanks to my Global Partners for supporting my mission of inspiring and educating people to get on the trail and enjoy the benefits of sustainable outdoor adventure.

NOTE: These are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it's a great way to show your support. Thanks!

Follow me on social media

[milobookout]

Thanks for doing a "one size does not fit all" explanation. For those of us in remote areas where most of the hiking involves no trails and wet, abrasive terrain, the common advice to just buy trail runners doesn't hold up, and neither do the shoes

[smoofinatorftw]

This hits home. I spent a lot of money trying to find something that didn't cover my feet in blisters after only a few miles. I finally tried the Altra Lone Peaks, and they were a game changer for me. No blisters, tons of miles. It's different for everyone, and that's just what worked for me, but Altras have some great reviews.

[MTrekker]

I gave up on boots over breathable trail runners years ago. I would constantly role my ankles with boots since they don't allow the foot to naturally flex when going over uneven surfaces. The trail runners are good for all terrain including snow fields and river crossings.

[drcattyish]

Walking in the hills and mountains in Scotland my feet get wet after a few hours no matter what I wear. If I have winter boots and gaiters on i get sweaty feet. For long summer days trail shoes and lightweight gaiters work best for me, along with good wool hiking socks.

[craigbarth_rsb]

Just spent a week hiking and camping across Madeira using Saucony Peregrines and Drymax trail running socks. @109km and 7000vm over 7 days with @22kg pack - of course I could have packed slightly lighter (buying lighter gear wasn't worth it - pack etc, or making do without good coffee) but wouldn't have been as comfortable and I used almost everything. I experienced all weather from heavy rain, cold and wind in the mountains to hot dry dusty coastal trails. Non GTX trail runners was definitely the right choice for me. Best investment was a €10 micro umbrella from Decathlon which was enough for many of the shorter lighter rain showers and meant not getting sweaty in a poncho or rain jacket, I would consider a more windproof longer handled umbrella for future hiking! (so can maybe attach to shoulder straps...)

[bobbafett]

Won't matter which shoe to keep dry. When brush is wet., not even raining. The water runs down your leg and your foot is soaked in no time.

[dawnlum]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I enjoyed your video. I too often feel more sure of my footing wearing a lowcut. Unless the trek is slow, cold and wet, I don't ever break out the mid boots. Good journey to you!

[kevinj.]

Great video! I use waterproof Mishmi Takin hiking boots that use an eVent membrane which is more breathable than GORTEX and my feet stay dry and cool even in warm humid summer weather.
Someone tried to convince me trail runners would be better but if you step in one mud hole or even walk through wet grass with TR’s your feet are instantly wet/muddy. But everyone has to find what they like best.

[adventureswithcorrine]

Altra Long Peak + darn good brand socks have changed my hike! The Altra has room for my very wide forefoot, zero drop, and is lightweight. I finally caved in this year and bought a pair. I wish I had bought them sooner.

[melissaverdoni]

here is the thing i dont hear people talk about, , trail running shoes are made for running, they grip when you apply poressure.... i dont hike fast, so i wonder if i am missing out on traction.

[Bibs]

I have/had major foot issues. I ran marathons from the late 1980's until around 2, 000. I started have the foot issues about that time and I tried everything, especially orthotics. Orthotics suck; all of them. I was on vacations and saw a guy with a pair of weird as hell looking shoes. After talking to him, I bought a pair that day. After a few years of not running, I was back on the road. Now that I love hiking, I like Altras and Hoka's, but the one shoe that supports, cushions, and protects my feet the best are Hoka Stinson's. They have a high stack height, so on rough trails I have to be cognizant of my foot placement. It's truly not much of an issue anymore now that I've gotten used to them. The Stinson's are harder to find than Speedgoats, but they are a step up in every way! I like the Altra Olympus a lot, but Altra needs to step up the quality as to how long their shoes last on trail. It sucks to wear a shoe that falls apart so quickly.

[thedone]

I honestly didn’t know anything about shoes at the time but the ones that I ended up getting where the Cascade 17 brooks

[lovi]

AKUs are made in Serbia, Italien company long tradition. Britisch Military Standard . Good tip buy military versions their cheap but are just as robust as the commercial versions. The German military uses Meindls and other worthy brands.
The Schuh you shown costs about 100 to 120 euros or Lbs in UK same for Germany.

[alexwilsonpottery]

Met an Australian trekker forty years ago who never wore anything but canvas gym/tennis shoes, that he could pick up anywhere - from Indonesia to America, and wore them in everything but deep snow, of course. I wear Chacos all year here in the midwest - watching where I put my toesies, and Keen hikers when it’s colder than socks can cope with - I’m not climbing around in the mountains anymore though.

[philsmith]

I hear so many people saying Gore-Tex isn’t breathable in hot weather, that it’ll make your feet hot & sweaty, etc. My experience is the opposite. I wore 2 kinds of boots when I was in Saudi Arabia & Iraq back in 90-91 - jungle boots and Danner Ft Lewis boots with Gore-Tex and Thinsulate. Jungle boots, if you’re not familiar with them, have a leather vamp and heel cap but the rest of the boot is canvas/nylon. There are screened drains in the leather at the arch so water will drain out. Very quick drying, no fabric lining so there’s nothing for your sock to chafe against. Their drawback in the desert was that sand got in through the drains. My Danners kept my feet as dry as my jungle boots did in the up to 130F temps we saw, and were more comfortable in the rainy season when it dropped as low as 30F.
I also wore my Danners in Korea, which was as hot & humid as the southeast US in the summer and bitterly cold & snowy in the winter.
So I’d say it depends on the person. My feet do sweat pretty heavily just like the rest of me, and on my 30 minute drive home at a previous job my feet would start off sweaty from my work boots and be dry in my Fugitives by the time I got home.
I have found that actual Gore-Tex breathes better than proprietary brands like Keen.Dry or Oboz’s BDry. Vasque’s UltraDry does a good job of keeping my feet sweat-free while winter hiking or snowshoeing, too.

[khanscombe]

Good tips. I feel I have strong ankles as I’m a past time roller hockey skater. & love hike climbing. But I hike in hot weather but through wet terrain with potentially snakes & other critters. I’d like a breathable low cut boot of 6” but protective.

[jerrybobteasdale]

I don't think high-tops help prevent a rolled ankle. I do think that they help protect from impacts to the inside and outsides knobs of your ankle bones. They do keep: dirt, stickers, thorns, awns, pebbles, puddle water, and snow out of your shoes.

[gustavoesparza]

Great video! Also, wear wool socks when hiking. I've slowly replaced all my socks with wool and love it

[smbrumbaugh]

Appreciate the thorough discussion. I frequently battle blisters on my heels, and have tried various footwear. Man, nothing can slow down a hike like loaing your wheels. So I'm always looking for options.

[aliv]

Am I missing the list of these shoes? What brand and style? Cant find…