Recommended hiking boots?

Keen for wide feet

I have Merrells with the vibram soul. I love them and we hike often from the time the snow melts in may until it falls again in Otober.

It depends what kind of hiking you’re doing and what kind of hiker you are!

I mostly walk in good weather and on reasonable trails and prefer trail-running shoes. I only wear real hiking boots in poor conditions or when I know I’ll be walking on bad/no paths. Some people prefer to wear hiking boots for everything and feel that they protect their ankles - I hate having my ankles constricted and feel like having tons of shoe-sole under my foot makes me less stable in the first place. It’s worth experimenting (though please be sensible and don’t take any big risks!).

I have merrels and I love them! If you have weak ankles, get some high tops. If i'm just walking, I can use my walking shoes but when I get into hiking with hills, mountains, rocks, unsteady terrain, creek crossing etc I need the high tops.

BrianSharpe wrote: »

NorthCascades wrote: »

The most important thing is how they fit, so you been to try them on.

A pound on your feet is like ten on your back, get the lightest ones that are practical for you.

+1

Like running shoes good fit is everything. You won't be thinking about the $$ you saved when you're getting blisters
after a few miles.

+2

I hike in trail runners. Good for my 5kg base weight over 26+ miles per day in the mountains

I think you need to try some on and feel how they fit...kinda like running shoes where there are a lot of great brands, but really it's all about the fit. Also consider your hiking conditions and how you hike. I don't think going cheap on boots is really the way to go either.

I wear Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots. A lot of the hikes we do around here can get a bit technical and I love the grip of these boots in dry or wet conditions. They are also waterproof which is a must when I'm in the mountains camping and hiking. I do mostly day hiking...I think I would want something a bit more robust for packing, but at the same time I wouldn't mind at least giving these a whirl with a loaded pack.

They are super comfortable and feel like you're hiking on clouds...doesn't really fell like you're wearing a boot at all. So much so that they are my primary footwear when camping, regardless of whether I'm on a hike or not. They run a bit narrow and I have average feet, so I wear the wide in this boot.

I've been extremely happy with Merrell Trail Gloves. They're extremely light weight, and fit my feet perfectly. Not even close to waterproof, but they dry quickly. Here in the PNW it's more important to dry quickly than to be waterproof, at least in summer conditions.

Socks can add cushioning to any footwear, and they can have some effect on water including from sweat. Wool is warm when wet, but takes ages to dry. Coolmax dries much more quickly, and is also good at wicking. Some people's skin prefers some fabrics and hates others. Anyway, socks can be an important piece of the puzzle and it's worth the trouble to experiment here too.

REI, Backcountry.com, and LL Bean have generous return policies, which means you can buy a pair of shoes or boots, try them on several hikes, see if they work for you, and get your money back if they don't.

My favorite boots are Oboz and Salomon.

I hike in Altra Lone Peak’s. They are trail running shoes but work well for hiking. They are also lightweight, wide, well cushioned and have a rock plate. I also have a Morton’s neuroma and the wide, cushion and rock plate make a world of difference in my comfort while encountering varying terrain.

A squished foot or feeling even a small root/rock hitting the ball of my foot can irritate the neuroma and make for a painful, miserable day (and days to follow).

I have a pair of Salomon Quest 4D 3 Hiking boots and they fit me real well. I would recommend Saloman. But as others say, try some on at a good outdoors store.