How to Choose a Hiking Shoe

Boots vs. Shoes

Hiking boots used to rise higher up your calf, with the intention of supporting the ankles of the poor top heavy bastards schlepping a frame pack with 80 pounds of canned goods strapped to all sides. As packs grew lighter and the frames became more balanced, hiking boots became shorter and less mandatory.

For the modern thru-hiker, boots will offer some ankle support, some ankle protection from rocks and such, and will keep out more water. In a rain storm, most of the water will come down your leg, that's what proper fitting gaiters will prevent.

Poorly fitted boots are also unforgiving; they will give you blisters, screw up your stride, cut off circulation... etc. For that reason, I suggest trail runners, because unless you really want boots, and know someone who is really good at fitting them, then go with the more forgiving option.

How Trail Runners Work

Basically, the sole is there to give traction and some protection from impact. The upper is flexible to allow your foot to flex. The firmer achilles tendon area that wraps under your ankle is to work in conjunction with the laces to lock your foot in a specific position so all the other features function as an extension of your foot.

Super Feet, or other stability style insole, add another layer of protection by giving a firm heel cup and a rigid arch. Combined, these keep your heel from flattening out and your foot from over pronating.

Trail Runner Features

Shock Absorbing vs. Strike Plates

Pounding your feet into pointy rocks with a heavy pack is not pleasant. Most trail runners will have a foam pillow area under the heel, which is going to break down and compact during your hike. For the rest of your foot, you can either have a strike plate, which is a hard plastic layer to spread out the impact, or a little foam, which is to soften the impact. I prefer the plate, but the major downside is that when it cracks, the shoes are toast. Just make sure you know what is in the shoe you decide to purchase, so you can diagnose what your feet are feeling.

Gore-tex vs. Nothing

Having heavy, spongy, wet shoes really puts a damper on the day. Mesh will let the water come in and out, so it's really your socks that are keeping you soaked. If you want a more substantial shoe, I go with gore-tex. My reasoning is based on dew, and wanting a shoe that will keep my socks dry for those morning hikes through the grass. Either way, the quickest way to ensure your shoes dry over night is to pull our your insoles to dry separately, and open up the tongue as much as possible.

Laces

Having the ability to alter the factory preset lacing is important for those of us who have uniquely awesome feet. Things like the Marathoner's Knot are amazingly effective at solving fit issues. Which brings us to....

How to fit your shoes

Find a specialty running store. If that is not an option, explain to the salesperson that you are going on a 3,000 mile hike, and you need to speak to their best shoe fitter.

Bring your thickest spring hiking socks and your thinnest summer hiking sock to the store with you.

Start by finding an insertable insole that fits the shape of your arch, like super feet. If you want a demonstration of how they work, have your foot measured while standing up, then remeasured while standing on a super feet insole. Normally, there is a half size difference. Purchase the insole you like, and trim them down in the store; you'll need to place them into every shoe you try on until you find your winner.

When you have some options, pull out the insole in the shoe, drop in your super feet, and put on your thin socks (since that's how you'll spend a majority of your hike). Hopefully the salesperson can help you figure the fit, as well as learn some lacing techniques to microfit the shoe to your foot.

Check your thick socks with a looser lacing, and if everything works, you have your first pair for hikers!