Hiking Footwear

Hiking is all about walking and having fun.  It is difficulty to do either if you have blisters or painful feet.  

Hiking Footwear

Selecting the right footwear for hiking if vital to prevent/limit blisters and injury.  It is recommended that you go to REI and try on different shoe and sock combinations and walk around the store for at least an hour.  

Your Sock/Boot combo MUST FIT.  Do not purchase or use a sock boot combo that does not fit right.  

Socks

Socks serve multiple purposes.  

• Cushion tissue to limit injury from walking

• Slips a little to reduced blister formation

• Keep feet warm

• Keep feet dry - through breathing and because you can change into dry socks

  • Wet feet are more likely to blister

  • Prolonged wetness leads to severe problems

    • Blisters are worse

    • Fungal infections - they kind that eat away your skin and needs antibiotics

    • Cellulitis - infection of skin and underlying tissue

    • Immersion foot syndrome (aka Trench Foot)

      • Can lead to severe injury of foot

      • Can lead to nerve damage

      • Will ruin your trip

Sock Selection

• You will need Full Length wool or synthetic socks

• Propper material

  • Wool

    • Preferred by most

    • Excellent cushioning 

    • Helps you stay both warm and cool

    • Allows foot to breathe

    • Stays warm when wet

    • Doesn't stick like other options

  • Synthetic 

    • Some prefer the wicking ability of synthetic socks

    • Get very stinky

  • Cotton 

    • Absolute NO-NO 

    • Holds on to water - these get icky when wet

    • Keeps feet cold and wet

    • Bunch up when wet

    • Leads to blisters and fungal infections

• Durable, tight weave and padded

• NO Iron Bar of Woe

  • Stitching over toes and cuts into then on long treks

  • If you can feel this "bar" with finger - don't use this sock

• Specialty waterproof socks are available

  • Useful if going in snow and shoe is not waterproof

  • Some are suitable if doing a lot of water crossings

• Vapor Barrier Socks?

  • Advanced option for winter use (below 10°F only)

  • Prevents boots and socks from getting wet 

  • Plastic Oven Bags are sometimes used

Sock Examples

• Darn Tough 

  • Hiker Boot Full-Cushion 

    • Excellent for cold weather and/or long treks

    • 66% Merino wool

  • Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew

    • Good hiking sock

    • More nylon than it is wool

• Smartwool 

  • Mountaineer Max

    • Excellent of long trips with heavy loads

    • Many will find these too hot for summer, but other love them

    • 74% Merino wool

  • Hike Classic 

    • Excellent all-around hiking sock

• REI 

  • Coolmax EcoMade

    • Synthetic and are NOT wool

    • Economy sock option

    • Gets Stinky 

  • Merino Wool Expedition

    • Don't breathe as well as other wool socks

    • You can feel the iron bar over toe - can lead to bloody toes

    • 79% RWS Merino wool

Shoes and Boots

You MUST have a pair of shoes or boots that fit, are comfortable and are able to tackle long hikes. 

Shoes vs Boots

Hiking Boots are the classic go to footwear for hiking.  They offer good protection to feet and sometimes ankles, which is great when bushwhacking off trail.  Since most of our hike outings consist of hiking on established trails, traditional hiking boots are overkill.  

Trail Runners (running shoes made for hiking) are lighter and generally more comfortable than hiking boots.  It is easier to travel in Trail Runners than hiking boots and you are less likely to get blisters.  Being lighter mean you use less energy with every step and 10-mile hike is going to require over 20,000 steps.  For the most part, Trail Runners are will be the preferred footwear for hikers and backpackers. 

Full Length Boots?  Talk to our adult leaders who served in the Military.  They will tell you that for the most part, Combat Boots, Hunting Boots and Work Boots are NOT the footwear you want on a hike.  They look very snazzy at troop meetings and parades, but weigh a lot.  For trips in deep snow, full length boots that are insulated and waterproof do work well with with Gaiters.  Full length boot are nice if you are working in thick brush while doing service projects. 

Shoe Examples

• Trail Runner 

  • Lighter and more comfortable than heavier boots

  • Altra Lone Peak 4 

  • Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator 

• Hiking Boots

  • Merrel Moab 2 Mid Ventilator (This NON waterproof version - is also good for canoeing)

Waterproof vs Non-Waterproof

Whether to get waterproof of non-waterproof footwear is a painful discussion and everyone has their preferences.  In Brief:

Waterproof (Breathable membrane such as Gore-Tex)

• • Keeps feet dry if walking in shallow puddles

  • Keeps feet dry in rain

  • Makes feet muggy and wet on longer hikes - leads to blisters

  • Holds in water if walking in deeper puddles or streams

  • Takes a long time to dry out

Non-Waterproof

• • Breathe - feet stay drying longer unless you walk in water

  • Preferred for long distance hiking

  • Dries quicker - good for next day hiking or if shoes get soaked in deeper water

  • Gets wet in mud puddles

  • Gets wet in pouring rain

Terrain and Climate

• • Snow

    • Waterproof wins

    • Need to use with Gaiters to prevent boots from filling up with snow

  • Mud

    • Waterproof wins if boots are taller than puddle is deep

    • Avoiding puddles and mud will often work just as well or better - depending on terrain

  • Pouring rain

    • Waterproof wins

    • Non-Waterproof with Gaiters is also an option

  • Desert or Dry Summer

    • Shoe needs to breathe

    • Non-Waterproof Wins

  • Stream crossings or canoeing

    • Shoes need to drain and dry out

    • Non-Waterproof Wins

These Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX Hiking Boots with Gore-Tex Lining stayed nice and dry on a stream crossing

These Merrell West Rim Hiking Trail Shoes don't have Gore-Tex and are also stayed dry during stream crossing

Where to Shop for Shoes

• REI

  • Excellent selection of shoes

  • You can spend hours trying on different shoes and walking around the store to try them out

• Goodwill 

  • Different selection with every visit

  • You can save $$$

  • Remember - shoes must fit right, if not, return them

Modified Combat Boots

Combat Boots are not recommended for hiking, but are great for true bushwhacking where you are traveling through very nasty vegetation, such as when doing service projects or going on adventure expeditions.  Military style boots can be modified to significantly increase comfort and performance.  Talk to our former Special Ops leaders about boot options and ways to modify them.  

Footwear Mods

• Removal of toe cup

• Removal of heal support

• Removal of shank and/or protective plate

• Lacing upgrade and technique 

• Sole upgrade

• Insole upgrade

• Leather treatment