i’'ve been hiking for a few years in Ariat work boots, specifically the RigTek 8" Wide Square Toe and the RigTek 8" CSA Waterproof Composite Toe boots. They’re not designed for hiking, but they’ve worked well for me with good traction, ankle support, durability, and comfort. I usually hike 8-10 miles, with my longest hike being about 18 miles. The reason I’ve stuck with work boots instead of hiking boots is that I don’t like how hiking boots look or feel. However, I’ve recently gotten past that and am thinking about switching to proper hiking shoes or boots. My question is: will switching to hiking shoes/boots really improve my hiking performance? Has using work boots limited my hiking distance? Is it worth making the change?
The biggest thing I see with those are that they are probably very heavy. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but thousands of steps can really add up. Some hiking boots can also be heavy, but the trend seems to be for lighter weight hiking shoes. I bet if you tried something like a Salomon X Ultra (or something similar) you’d really feel a difference after 18 miles.
@Oli
And those are actually more affordable than my boots, how bout that! I reckon I can give those (or something similar) a shot and see how drastically it changes things. Appreciate the advice!
Honestly, my first pair of for real boots made me feel like I was almost floating simply over the weight difference. I think you’ll notice you’re able to go a bit farther a bit faster.
Ember said:
Honestly, my first pair of for real boots made me feel like I was almost floating simply over the weight difference. I think you’ll notice you’re able to go a bit farther a bit faster.
This seems to be the trend I’m hearing. I think I ought to switch, considering the boots I’ve got are at least like 2 lbs.
@Bryce
I felt like I was walking funny because of how light my hiking boots were when I first got them lol. Just wait till you downshift to trail runners!
I need my heavy boots because I have a connective tissue disorder. I experience a lot of pain and fatigue with flexible shoes and boots, so the weight penalty is worth it for me. If you need boots, you will probably benefit from some designated hiking boots.
If you have strong ankles and feet, you might find more comfort in a lighter boot or trail runner. It does take a lot of energy to lift heavy boots repeatedly.
Ultimately, it’s personal preference. There are a lot of good brands out there.
Boots: Asolo. Hanwag. La Sportiva. Lowa. Scarpa. Meindl. Zamberlan. Kenetrek.
Trail runners: Asolo. Altra. La Sportiva. Scarpa. Saucony. Hoka.
@Benn
Thanks for your input. I’ll definitely be looking into the boot brands you listed. My ankles are quite strong, but I don’t usually feel confident without extra ankle support (just in case), so I’d probably go boots over runners. Perhaps if I see some cheap ones at a thrift store, I might try out runners.
Just be careful going to shoes on unstable grounds as your boots have probably ensured your ankles may not be strong and might twist in shoes with a pretty heavy pack or rocky terrain.
Westin said:
Just be careful going to shoes on unstable grounds as your boots have probably ensured your ankles may not be strong and might twist in shoes with a pretty heavy pack or rocky terrain.
My ankles are pretty sound because I spend 2-3 hours a week on ankle strengthening, but idk if that’s enough with a heavy pack on. I guess I just don’t want to find out haha.
I wear Danner Mountain Lights - they aren’t super light, but I like that they are short (low top…compared to yours). I have relatively strong ankles though, so even if I roll them over I never have an issue. I usually put 5-6 miles on them every day (have 2 pair). In the summer time when the weather is nice and the ground is dry, however, I wear trail runners. I can move a LOT faster, though depending on the terrain I might want some thicker soles.
I agree with you though, most hiking boots look horrific. Lol.
Bryce said: @Sam
Geez glad I’m not the only one with that opinion
Nah, certainly not. If I can’t stand looking at a pair of shoes, there’s almost no chance I’m buying them. Aesthetics are as important to me as performance. Unless they are for work, of course. Ha.
Do your feet hurt after a hike? I mean, it’s normal to feel sore after a long hike but apart from that, do you notice any issue? If not, they are fine.
Isle said:
Do your feet hurt after a hike? I mean, it’s normal to feel sore after a long hike but apart from that, do you notice any issue? If not, they are fine.
On the odd occasion that I didn’t tie my boots tight enough (properly locking in my heel), yeah my feet will hurt. When I tie up properly though, I don’t feel any more pain than coming home from a day at work.
I hate hiking boots and refuse to wear them. Personally I opt for whatever comes closest to trail shoes that are in my budget.
Bear in mind that I do go barefoot whenever possible though, so I default to zero-drop, wide toebox shoes, sometimes with more of a cushioned insert than true barefoot shoes have.
I totally get why you’d choose work boots over hiking boots, at least your feet can spread a bit in them.
No matter if boots or shoes, a dedicated pair of footwear is probably better. The choice between boots or shoes is quite personal and depends on loads of factors such as :
How Strong is your ankle?
How much weight are you gonna be carrying?
How is the Weather forecast?
What terrain will you be moving through?
How Important is durability to you?
How important is weight to You?
I personally prefer boots but I can see the advantages of shoes, especially on easier terrain
@Peyton
When I put shoes/boots, I was really just trying to cover all bases. Was a poor choice of words by me because I definitely would only be looking for boots.
So if I were to rephrase the question, it’d be more like, “Will switching from my current boots, to hiking boots, significantly improve my hiking performance?”
