What should I look for in a hiking shoe?

I prefer trail runners over boots. IN the early days of backpacking I used hiking leather boots that were mid-calf. Over the years I progressed down to point where I carry two pairs of shoes when thru hiking. Last year alternated between wearing trail runners and minimalist running shoes. There are lots of good trail runners out there. Last year I used New Balance 610 trail runners and New Balance 1010 minimalist running shoes. They were good for about 400 miles a pair.

Well, trail shoes obviously won't give you any ankle support. But, unless you're carrying big loads of 40+ pounds or have incredibly weak or injury prone ankles. you can get by with a trail shoe. I've worn both and, for me, a midweight is easily the better choice, particularly if it's waterproof. You can just do more kinds of hiking in more kinds of weather with boots than with shoes. I've had waterproof trail shoes but, obviously, they're not going to perform great in snow or ankle deep streams. They do have some new gaiters out made specifically for trail shoes and that might be an option. Buying gear can get crazy expensive but there's ways around big price tags. But the two things you should spend some money on are boots and packs. Either of those two things don't perform and you've got a problem. Like I said I'd definitely consider waterproof unless you're doing mostly desert hiking where you need more breathability. Vibram soles are something to look for and you'll want to consider the "shank" of a boot which will determine it's flexibility. The stiffer the shank the better it will typically be with big loads. This also comes in to play depending on the kind of trails you tend to hike most. Soft and well groomed trails and you can go for a more flexible sole. Rocky and you'll want some more rigidity. If you're looking at an all around boot the brands I would consider are Vasque and Merrel. Vasque's have some backpacking boots but their midweight hikers are pretty solid and they last. Merrel's are known for their out of the box comfort but, except for a couple of models, won't deliver a ton of support or under foot protection. Other good brands include Asolo, Keen (not my choice) and AKU's (which are my favorite brand). Wear the socks you'll be wearing when hiking, get to your gear store and try them on. Remember, you'll feet will swell a bit, especially at high elevation, so you don't want a super tight boot in the store. Unless they're all leather you're not going to get a lot of 'stretching' out. The big thing to consider is the toe box. Too tight or way too much room and you'll have a problem on the downhills. You want your toes to be able to splay out and your heel to rest firmly in the back of the boot. Any sliding or movement and you're looking at blisters. A tip? I have NO problem trying on boots in stores and then buying them online for big discounts. Just make sure the store has a good return policy. I've put hundreds of miles on a couple of pairs only to send them back for a refund because of issues. That said, I also make sure I actually buy something at a gear store too so I don't feel like I'm ripping them off. :) Good luck.

I've seen people lose a shoe or two on muddy trails. They offer minimum snake protection. Also, no ankle support to deter injury where footing is poor. Shoes are acceptable in ideal conditions but not everywhere. Writer owns no shoes. The ATV choice is MooseRacing M1 boots. For temperate rain forest its Red Wing forestry. Winter and deep muck has writer in orange Thermic Cofra. Dual-Sport DR650 and hiking involves military boots and Red Wing biker boots with oil resistant lug soles. Vietnam Era jungle boots are ideal for walking in shoal water for fishing or Grade-5 cartography in underground rivers. I've also got SCUBA boots that are just too pretty for cave or coral walks.

look for leather ( doesn't pick up burrs and thistles ) a shoe that goes high on the calf , one with an inner liner that's a waterproof membrane to make it 100% waterproof to the top of the shoe is a bonus and soft rubber soles ( better grip on rocks and gravel ) something like these ones in the links www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_067VA... www.sierratradingpost.com/keen-pyrenees... www.derailed.com/keen-erickson-pct-hiki...