photo courtesy of Billy Brown
What To Look For
Hiking shoes are a hiker's main contact with the ground that they tread on, and they can make or break any outdoor endeavor. Unlike hiking boots, hiking shoes are built for speed. They combine the comfort and durability of a hiking boot with the svelte profile and support of a running shoe.
When looking for hiking shoes, hikers should seek out shoes that maintain a healthy balance between comfort, stability and durability, without weighing you down on the trail. Hiking shoes should be fairly lightweight (around 2 pounds or less). Gore-Tex liners enhance shoes' temperature regulation, keeping your feet cool and comfortable. Also look for reinforcement on the sidewalls and toebox of the shoe to verify its durability. And look for shoes with a stability plate in the midsole to increase support and stability on rough terrain.
Common Pitfalls
Many hiking shoes are high on the durability level, but compromise when it comes to comfort and breathability, so look for a breathable liner. Also, shoe sizes can vary from company to company, so if at all possible, buy shoes in person so that you can try them on. If you buy online, make sure to understand the website's return/exchange policy if the shoes don't fit.
Where To Buy
Find shoes by manufacturers that focus on outdoor footwear-companies such as Merrell, Lowa and Montrail, which are known for their trail-specific shoes, as are Columbia Footwear and Patagonia. You can buy hiking shoes at some manufacturers websites, such as www.merrell.com and www.sportiva.com, while other sites such as www.montrail.com provide "Where To Buy" links if you want their products. Also, sites such as www.sierratradingpost.com, www.altrec.com and www.zappos.com usually have a wide selection of shoes, and most sites offer customer reviews to give you an idea of how the shoes perform.
Cost
Most new hiking shoes range in price from $120 to $150 as of 2009, but with a little searching, shoes can be found at sites such as www.backcountry.com and www.amazon.com for around $35 to $50. Since prices on the same shoe can vary from site to site, it's a good idea to find a specific shoe you want, then search for the best bargain for it on different sites.
Accessories
People looking for hiking shoes may also want to look into the proper socks for hiking. Find a sweat-wicking sock, such as Smartwool's PhD Trail Runner that will keep your feet dry and blister-free on the trail. Because hiking shoes are usually low cut, look into mid-length socks to keep scree from working its way into your socks.
