Making the right footwear decision is a very important task before starting your next hiking adventure. The wrong shoes may cause blisters, strained muscles and scrunched toes that will inevitably ruin the fun of a backpacking trip. The foolhardy traveler may have experimented with going barefoot while hiking, but the possibility of stepping on a twig or pebble is just unquestionably risky and suicidal. You should want to protect your feet not just for the current adventure but for endless future adventures to come.
Yes, protecting your feet from rocks and debris is the very basic reason why you should invest in a pair of reliable hiking shoes. Hiking shoes should also have a good grip and be light enough to move easily at the same time. Most often, hiking shoes are waterproof and light to promote ease of movement on the trail and protection from wetness and mud.
Here are our top five for the best hiking shoes with all the qualities that you need to guarantee protection, ease, and comfort while hiking.
The Saucony Peregrine ISO for men and women is the successor to the Peregrine 8 and has remained faithful to the qualities that its fans love in the last model. It is lightweight, comfortable, quick to dry and has incredible traction, qualities that are found in the Peregrine 8 but made much better. However, those using the Saucony Peregrine ISO will enjoy notable upgrades such as its ISOFIT system, which adds comfort to your feet with a sock-like upper that hugs your foot as you lace the shoes. This provides a more comfortable and customizable fit. You can also enjoy this pair for trail runs for its well-rounded lightweight material that protects your feet from bumps and other discomforts.
It is made of imported materials, like fabric textiles, rubber soles, EVERUN topsole, PWFRFOAM midsole, PWRTRAC outsole and ISOFIT dynamic upper. Its shaft measures approximately low-top from arch. It can be bought on Amazon, the price range is $119.87 - $146.40.
The Altra Lone Peak 4 for both men and women has a good reputation among trail runners and lightweight backpacking communities. They are famous for being lightweight, comfortable and spacious with its 'foot-shaped' toe box that allows your toes to relax and spread out naturally for more comfort and stability in uphill climbs and downhill descents. Its soft, quick-drying cushioned soles provide great traction for explorations in rugged mountain terrains. To ensure protection, the Altra Lone Peak 4 shoes are made of imported, synthetic rubber soles that provide zero-drop built, allowing the heel and ball of your foot to be at the same distance from the ground. It is available on Amazon with a price range of $77.90 - $120.00.
The Brooks Cascadia 13 are trail runners that are available for both men and women. These shoes are quite popular in the backpacking community. They have comfortable soles and a more durable upper mesh section, giving you the comfort to explore more than the usual. Despite being a bit heavier than the usual shoes, the Brooks Cascadia 13 has adequate grip and provides comfort inside out. It has a more narrow fit than other hiking shoes like the Peregrines or Altras. The Brooks Cascadia's forte lies in its durability. However, you should be prepared for those situations in which it may not dry quite as quickly as other shoes can. It can be bought on Amazon for $89.
The La Sportiva Bushido II is available for both men and women. It is a burly, technical shoe with excellent grip and traction perfect for rough terrains. It is made of synthetic materials, a rubber sole and slip-on construction wraps that protect your foot without compressing or hurting them. Additional comfort and safety are made possible with its updated heel design with outsole lugs wrapping the midsole for added traction and enhanced stability. It has FriXion XT V-Groove2 that incorporates dual-compound rubber guaranteeing superb grip on any type of terrain. Meanwhile, you may want to pay attention to the Bushido's stiff soles that may be great for extra protection but might not be comfortable for casual hiking trips. It is available on Amazon with a price range of $129.97 - $141.53.
Looking for outstanding comfort in hiking? The HOKAs may be the shoes for you. It is famous for its outstanding comfort and featherlight weight perfect for trail runners. Standard comfort is made possible with the SpeedGoat 3's wider toebox, perfect for long days on the trail. For added safety, the HOKA has burly 5mm lugs on the Vibram outsole. Its thick midsole protects the soles from rocks, roots and other debris. One weakness that other users found in the Speedgoat 3 is its tall stack height in the midsole that can make its users feel a bit unstable. It can be bought on Amazon for $171.21