My Hiking & Backpacking Footwear: What I Wear in Every Season
This guide covers what to look for when choosing hiking footwear, along with my favorite trail runners and hiking shoes for different conditions.
Thankfully, heavy and clunky leather boots are no longer the only choice for hiking footwear. What you choose should be based upon the type of hiking you do and what you find to be most comfortable. All feet are different, and what works for others may not be the best for you.
Types of footwear
Hiking boots are the most durable option and provide the most protection for your feet, with ankle support, stiffer soles and overall sturdy construction. They are generally recommended when you’ll be carrying moderate to heavy loads and/or traversing rough terrain. They tend to be heavier and less breathable, and usually need to be broken in before a trip.
Hiking shoes are the middle ground between hiking boots and trail runners. While some styles are simply low-cut versions of sturdy hiking boots, most models are lighter and more flexible than boots. They tend to be slightly stiffer (and heavier) than trail running shoes. Hiking shoes are available in both waterproof and non-waterproof styles.
Trail running shoes are increasingly popular, especially with thru-hikers on long distance trails due to their high level of comfort and lighter weight. Most models are non-waterproof, utilizing mesh in the upper for breathability and faster drying time. Due to the lighter materials used, they tend to not last as long as traditional boots or shoes.
Trail running mids have a higher rise than trail running shoes yet are much lighter than traditional hiking boots. If you prefer a bit more ankle coverage, look for mids from brands such as Altra and Hoka.
Features
Fit: Well-fitting footwear is critical to comfort on the trail. Take the time to get fitted and try on several pairs to find the best fit for you. Plan to try on shoes later in the day after your feet swell, and use the socks you’ll wear while hiking. If you use aftermarket insoles, be sure to bring them when getting fitted. Walk around to get a good feel for fit, and if a store has an incline or simulated rock to use, try it out to make sure your toes don’t hit the end of the shoe on a decline. How you lace your shoes can have an impact on fit as well. Look up lacing tips for accommodating various fit issues.
Waterproof versus non-waterproof: Consider wearing waterproof shoes or boots in cooler wet weather to keep your feet warm and dry. Otherwise, there can be significant advantages to wearing non-waterproof footwear for three-season use. They tend to have mesh uppers, which increases breathability to keep your feet cooler and are much less likely to cause blisters due to sweaty feet. They also dry faster than waterproof shoes.
Traction is extremely important to keep from slipping on the trail. Look for footwear with good tread (large lugs spaced across the bottom) and a “sticky” rubber outsole. I prefer shoes with Vibram outsoles and find the traction in them to be much better than other types of materials used.
Weight: the saying “one pound on your feet equals five pounds on your back” is true. Carrying more weight on your feet uses more energy and can lead to muscle fatigue, so look for the lightest option in whichever type of footwear you choose. Most hiking boots are fairly heavy, while rail running shoes are usually the lightest option available.
Zero drop: a feature where the toes and the heel are at the same height, with no “drop” for the toes. I find that zero drop shoes relieve the pain I used to feel in the balls of my feet and are one of my favorite types of shoes that I wear now.
Mesh uppers: most trail runners utilize mesh uppers for breathability and to help prevent overheating. They allow water to drain so the shoes dry quickly. I even wear them when crossing streams – after continuing to hike in them, my socks are still damp but there’s no water sloshing around in the shoe.
My favorite footwear
When I first started hiking, I wore traditional boots before switching to hiking shoes. Even then, my feet would get hot and sore on longer hikes, and the narrow toe box left my toes feeling cramped. I eventually realized they weren’t the right fit for me and moved to lighter, more flexible footwear that has worked much better ever since. I’ve been hiking and backpacking in trail runners for over 10 years now.
In warmer weather, I use non-waterproof trail runners with mesh uppers. They’re lighter, more breathable, and much more comfortable on longer mileage days. I prefer models with a wide toe box and zero-drop platform, which helps avoid the ball-of-foot pressure I used to feel in more traditional footwear. Another bonus — they’re comfortable enough to double as camp shoes when I’m backpacking — I just loosen the laces to slip them on and off around camp.
When conditions turn cold and wet — which is about half of the year in the Pacific Northwest — I switch to waterproof hiking shoes to keep my feet warm and dry.
After trying several brands, Topo Athletic, Hoka, Altra, and Salewa have become my go-to lineup depending on the conditions and terrain.
Altra Olympus 6 Trail Running Shoes
These trail running shoes offer maximum cushioning, giving me a “walking on a cloud” feel, while the sticky traction keeps me confident on slippery trails. I’ve been wearing Olympus shoes for over five years, and they remain one of my favorite hiking shoe styles. A downside is that durability can vary from model to model — some show wear in the fabric after just a few months, while others last much longer. However, the fit and cushioning on the Olympus is hard to beat.
Salewa Pedroc 2 Max Hiking Shoes
The Salewa Pedroc 2 Max is a lightweight hiking shoe that blends trail runner comfort with more structure and protection for rough terrain. In my experience, they feel noticeably more supportive than a typical trail runner, with a cushioned yet firm ride and strong grip on steep, loose trails. They are also much more durable than the trail running shoes I typically wear. The breathable mesh upper works well for warmer-weather hiking, helping keep my feet from overheating on steep climbs. The fit keeps my foot secure without feeling overly rigid, which makes it a good option for long days on varied terrain where I still want a lighter, more agile shoe. Note that these are not zero-drop… instead, they have a 6mm heel to toe drop.
See my full review of the Salewa Pedroc 2 Max Shoes
Salewa Pedroc 2 Powertex Hiking Shoes
I’ve been using these lightweight waterproof hiking shoes for over a year now, and they’ve worked out very well for me for cold weather hiking. I originally tested them to see how they compared to my trail runners in fit, traction, and overall performance, and they’ve proven to be a solid option in my rotation for wet and variable conditions. On the trail, the extra support was immediately noticeable — I don’t feel every rock and root underfoot like I typically do in trail runners, and my feet tend to feel less fatigued on longer hikes. Traction has been excellent, and I feel more confident descending loose scree than I usually do. Overall durability has been much better than in trail running shoes. The reinforced heel and toe caps have also held up well and add useful protection when bumping into rocks along the trail. Like the Pedrocs above, these are not zero drop shoes — they have a 10mm heel to toe drop.
See my full review of the Salewa Pedroc 2 Powertex Shoes
Topo Athletic Pursuit Trail Running Shoes
Like other trail running shoes I’ve worn, they feature zero drop from heel to toe and a wide toe box, which makes them very comfortable right out of the box. The downside, as with most trail running shoes, is durability — they aren’t as long-lasting as traditional hiking shoes or boots. After a year of use, the lugs on the soles are wearing down and the fabric around my ankles is starting to fray. Still, I really enjoy how they perform on the trail, and I would buy them again without hesitation.
Hoka Speedgoat 6 Mid GTX
These waterproof mids from Hoka provide extra support around the ankle with a unique neoprene-like sleeve at the top of the shoe, which I find also helps to keep debris from getting in. Since I wear two layers of socks in the cold weather, I bought them in a 1/2 size larger than I normally wear so they wouldn’t be too tight. I’ve hiked in the these in the rain and on muddy trails, and in addition to being super comfortable due to the heavy cushioning, the Vibram Megagrip outsoles provide great traction. Like a few other options listed here, these Hokas are not zero-drop — they feature a 5mm heel to toe drop.
Altra Lone Peak ALL-WTHR Trail Running Shoes
When walking and hiking in rainy weather, I always wear waterproof trail runners. With an update to the materials used, I find that this version of the Lone Peak is more waterproof than previous versions. I’ve been wearing these zero-drop shoes in the rain almost every day for several months and have had no water get into the inside of the shoe. Cons: I don’t find the MaxTrac rubber outsoles to provide as much traction as shoes with Vibram outsoles, and I prefer more cushioning than the Lone Peaks have so I replace the insoles with Sole Active Thick insoles.