Favorite hiking shoes

PerformanceDog · Mar 15, 2015

So I went hiking with Chloe over the weekend in tennis/running type shoes. I think I may have ruined my shoes as it was very muddy. I also discovered having the breathable shoe was not good for hiking (at least in spring) as if I had to step in muddy puddles, water would deep into the shoe...

So.. What are your favorite hiking shoes? By hiking I mean like walking on dirt trails that are hilly and such. Not like climbing up rocks or anything.

BostonBanker · Mar 15, 2015

For the pretty light hikes I do most of the time with my dogs (2 - 6 miles, mostly dirt with some rock, hilly because nothing isn't hilly in Vermont), I prefer my trail sneakers. I like Nike, because they fit my feet well and have super traction. My favorites are out of production, and since I haven't found a replacement I liked as well yet, I tried a pair of Merrills last summer. After nearly killing myself several times slipping on rocky areas, those are now just neighborhood walking shoes. I do have a few pairs of hiking boots, but I only use those if I'm going on actual mountain trails and I'm more concerned about needing the ankle support. I find them too heavy to be pleasant for my easier hikes.

Trail running is a big enough thing that I think most shoe companies make something for that these days. If you want to stay in something lighter than a boot, I'd just start trying on various pairs of trail running sneakers and see what you like.

teacuptiger · Mar 15, 2015

Definately my steel toed boots!! They can go through anything, lol. Hard to run in (as I did this weekend, when I went hiking on the Ice Age trail w Roxie) but not impossible. Perfect for muddy trails... Just so long as you have them tight enough, lol.

No idea the brand, good them ages ago from farm and fleet.

release the hounds · Mar 15, 2015

no hiking shoes come close to my boots, which unfortunately are no longer made in Italy, but China and now suck so I can't recommend them any more. Hiking shoes end up just being a more than a regular shoe and are low enough that any real water or mud leaves you with wet feet anyway. I've had Salomon, Merrell, Keen. If I'm hiking and it's wet and cooler, I wear my old Vasque boots. If it's wet and I don't care, I wear a real light trail shoe so it dries quickly anyway. IMO hiking shoes just don't cut it.

crazedACD · Mar 15, 2015

I like Merrells. The Merrells I have had have all been super comfortable to wear and don't hurt at all.

I got these last year (Merrell Jungle Moc) to do the Grand Canyon thing, and these are normally what I wear around the dog kennels now. I'm not hiking on rocks or anything like that but I usually wear them out when I'm walking the property. You can definitely run in them and they aren't super heavy. They are water resistant.

PerformanceDog · Mar 15, 2015

I would love to hear about hiking boot recommendations as well.

release the hounds · Mar 15, 2015

PerformanceDog said:

so would I

I like my stuff light. I don't buy full hikers, even for full on, 60lb pack 4 days in type hiking and camping. My favorites were from Vasque, SundownerMX's. Mine are now going on 14 years old and are finally starting to loose their waterproofness. Soles and leather are still in great shape overall, just starting to come apart after a lot of use and abuse.

BUT, they don't make them the same way anymore. I went to get some a few years ago, just to make sure I had some for when these wore out and they were crap comparatively. Soles were different, leather was different. Nothing about them felt the same and when I put them on, I hated them. Like everything else, production went to China. I can not put in words how different these "same" boots were. Complete crap as far as I"m concerned. If you can't tell, i'm still bitter

Anyway, I love a nice full leather, light hiking boot that's waterproof. These were perfect. Now i'm stuck with synthetic materials or boots with way more shoe than I want, so I still wear my old ones and wish I could find another pair.

stardogs · Mar 15, 2015

I like minimal shoes for hiking and I hike a LOT, easily 9-10 miles regularly at one time.

My fav for wet hikes are these, Off Road Mid, from Vivobarefoot:

http://www.amazon.com/Vivobarefoot-Womens-Off-Road-Mid/dp/B0078ISXVA

They are lighter than most, waterproof, very grippy, and still zero drop. They do produce a higher ankle version, too.

My fav for regular hikes are my Vibram FiveFingers KomodoSport LSs, still.

http://www.amazon.com/Vibram-FiveFingers-Komodosport-Womens-Athletic/dp/B005DN7AD4

Super ground feel, comfy, and grippy.

release the hounds · Mar 15, 2015

most of my trail stuff today is done with just Merrell trail gloves or some keen CNX sandals.

I haven't sprung for any waterproof shoes just because i'm either encountering too much mud and wet for them to do any good and if it's just a little, then I like the quick drying shoe.

Elrohwen · Mar 15, 2015

Vibram Five Fingers hands down. I have done 6 mile hikes in rocky conditions up mountains and they were great. But I have always loved being barefoot so they just seem to feel right to me. They provide a lot of control on rocky surfaces and aren't uncomfortable even if they are soaking wet. I also wear them daily for regular walks on the flat paved walking trail near my house. They are kind of ugly and silly looking but I love them.

I have a few pairs of hiking shoes and boots, well made and comfortable, but I always find them too heavy and bulky. I've also turned my ankle a number of times in hiking shoes but not five fingers.

amberdyan · Mar 15, 2015

stardogs said:

Yes x1000000. Minimal shoes saved me. I have a pair of Vivos and a pair of new balance zero drops. There was a brief adjustment period but now my ankles, calves and feet are so much stronger and it's SO comfortable. I have done 10 miles in them easily with no soreness or pain.

PerformanceDog · Mar 15, 2015

Hmm.. It sounds like Merrels seem to be the favorite, along with the shoes with the toes! I will look into those!

Also, maybe a weird question.. but what do you prefer for pants? I find jeans to be comfy but some people say it is weird to hike/walk on trails in jeans.

BostonBanker · Mar 15, 2015

Tell them to stick it in their ear

I don't like jeans once it gets too warm, because I do find them uncomfortable when I get sweaty. But this time of the year? It's pretty much all I wear. With long johns underneath still, because I'm here in the Arctic. But I'll wear them into spring; I tend to jump right from jeans to shorts. I've owned a few pairs of 'hiking' pants, and I've found them really uncomfortable for me. I'm not sure they make them right for my shape. I love my yoga-type pants for walking, but the lack of pockets makes them less ideal than jeans. But I worked a million summers on horse farms, where jeans were pretty much the required uniform, and I'm comfortable being active in them.

Seriously - just wear whatever you find comfortable. There isn't a right or wrong answer.

stardogs · Mar 15, 2015

I used to wear jeans a lot, but once my hikes started getting longer, I discovered how awful they are when they get wet, so now I wear pants made with performance materials.

They dry soooooo fast!

My current fav pants are my capri length C9running tights, but I do have a pair of REI hiking pants as well.

Also, rain pants are fabulous!

release the hounds · Mar 15, 2015

for pants I get as light of material as I can usually with zip offs for shorts or pants. Ex officio, the North Face, etc all make them.

stardogs · Mar 15, 2015

I do wish there were more actually functional hiking pants for women. So many seem built just for looks: few pockets, not super durable. Some don't even have a way to wear a belt with them!

Julee · Mar 15, 2015

Vibrams forever.

xpaeanx · Mar 15, 2015

I literally become crippled without heel and arch support. I've never liked shoes and generally run around barefoot, but at the end of the day I'm always literally hobbling home. This has been an on-going problem for as long as I can remember... so I can't do minimalist shoes for very long. Which means I can't hike in them.

For summer hiking I wear these sandals:
http://www.rei.com/product/811418/chaco-zx2-yampa-sandals-womens

For winter hiking I wear these boots:
http://www.rei.com/product/693986/asolo-tps-520-gv-hiking-boots-womens

And for that not quite winter, but too cold for exposed feet weather I wear these:
http://www.rei.com/product/828400/merrell-moab-mid-waterproof-hiking-boots-womens

My main parameters are supportive and waterproof with mid-coverage to keep the water from coming in over the ankle for shoes. My sandals dry extremely quickly and I can trudge though anything without issue. They are literally the only things you will ever see on my feet as soon as it is warm enough for me to wear them.

Different shoes fit people differently though, so it's important to go to a store and try on a bunch to make sure the shoes you're buying fit your feet properly.

As far as pants go.... for the summer I tend to just wear running tights. They don't have pockets, which can be annoying. But my pack has hip pockets and side pockets I can reach without taking it off. I'll also lash things I use frequently to the front of it so I can grab them quickly.

In the fall/winter/spring, I wear wind/water proof soft shell pants and I just change the under layer depending on the temperature I'll be in.

The main problem with jeans is that they take forever to dry once wet and they can also cause chaffing with longer hikes. If you're not doing super long hikes, you likely will never have an issue.

MandyPug · Mar 16, 2015

Solomans, hands down. Love the speedcross ones, I use them for agility and mud races. My next pair will be the GTX ones with Goretex which is waterproof as my current ones aren't.

FG167 · Mar 16, 2015

For taller boots when it's colder out, I love my Vasque's - they are super lightweight.

For summer hikes and when I know/plan on going in and out of the water (into streams and then back onto the trail etc), I love my VFFs. Love them for this.

I wear athletic pants pretty much all the time. I just vary how many layers and the length. In the summer, since I melt in GA, I wear running tights because they stay in place and show less sweat.

Favorite hiking shoes

Member

Active Member

floor dancer

Active Member

Active Member

Member

Active Member

Behavior Nerd

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Member

Active Member

Behavior Nerd

Active Member

Behavior Nerd

UNSTOPPABLE

Active Member

Sport Model Pug

Active Member