Buying guide: hiking shoes

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Once upon a time if you wanted to go walking in the hills you wore boots, and usually leather boots at that. End of story. These days that's no longer the case...

In some conditions - dry weather, easier terrain, or hard rock underfoot - a good pair of hiking or scrambling shoes will suffice perfectly. And being lower cut and lighter, they are likely to be more comfortable and less tiring on the feet.

Like burlier boots, there are different types of shoe, varying in terms of stiffness, lightness and materials. Let us help you decide which is best suited to you with the handy guide.

Think about end use

Do you want a technical scrambling shoe that is precise, stiff and grippy for small foot holds, or is all-day comfort more important? There is a shoe for every type of activity!

Prioritise protection

For rough ground or scrambling routes, a rubber toe or heel cap (or ‘rand’) will be extremely valuable for protection and durability.

Choose your material carefully

Suede and mesh materials will often be light, flexible and breathable; whereas leather tends to be more durable and protective. The choice is yours!

Do you need them to be waterproof?

Many trail shoes come with waterproof linings, although water can come over the top of a shoe more easily than a boot. Shoes without a lining are generally more breathable.

Get some grip

As a general rule the more aggressive and deeper the tread (or ‘lugs’), the better the resulting grip will be. And while grippy rubber soles can have superb traction, they may be less durable for heavy use.

Always check the weight

Just because a trail shoe looks lighter than a walking boot, that doesn’t mean it will be. Always do your research – and try them on before you buy.

Top hiking shoes:

Care and cleaning

Read our in-depth footwear care guide to find out how to best take care of your hiking shoes.

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