Serious hikers have many options when it comes to choosing footwear, from heavy all-leather mountaineering boots to trail shoes that are a hybrid between a running shoe and a hiking boot. Many traditional boot manufacturers have added new product lines that use lighter weight synthetic materials, while running shoe manufacturers are adding features such as thick rubber soles and deeper tread patterns.
Style
Trail shoes and hiking boots serve different purposes, and are available in progressively more rugged styles depending on their intended use. Low-cut trail shoes are great for light hiking on maintained trails. Mid-cut footwear has some ankle support and works well off-trail on rougher terrain. High-cut boots are the best for steep climbing and hiking on uneven, rocky ground. They support the ankle and lower leg to prevent spraining or twisting your ankle.
Upper Construction
Uppers are made of all leather or a combination of leather and synthetic materials. Hiking boots made of leather are more durable and will last longer, but will be harder to break in and heavier to walk in, which may lead to fatigue. Trail shoes made from synthetics are lighter-weight, cheaper and more comfortable, but they wear out quicker and provide less foot protection. Collars, tongues and lacing should be designed to keep out debris on both hiking boots and trail shoes.
Soles
The shoe's sole is what separates you from the ground. Trail shoes have a thinner sole, which is lighter and allows more tactile sensation with the ground, but doesn't offer as much protection as a thicker sole. Hiking boots have deep treads or channels to provide better traction than shallow treads. Trail shoes with pliable soles are easier to break in, but a stiff sole on a hiking boot gives more support and helps you carry a heavier load. Boots and shoes can have specific tread patterns that improve contact with the ground, offering better traction, or sticky soles that provide a better grip on slippery rock surfaces.
Waterproofing
Make sure your boots or shoes are waterproof. High quality, full-grain leather hiking boots are often constructed of one piece of leather without any seams. This eliminates the chance of water leaking through stitches. You can treat your boots with sprays or creams to maintain their waterproofing. Trail shoes made of synthetic materials may have a Gore-Tex or waterproof lining. They can also be treated with a coating of external waterproofing.
Expert Insight
A study was done on to determine the effects of two types of hiking boots on erosion of woodland trails. Hikers wore either conventional lug-soled boots or boots with a corrugated rubber compound sole. "No significant differences between the two hiking boots were detected in comparisons of yields of organic matter and eroded soil from the plots," reported the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
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