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Sorry, too lazy to do my research, am sure I'll get all the answers I need here!
I'm rarely doing the sort of hiking these days that justifies my bombproof but heavy leather boots, and I find that if I'm doing flatter stuff or pounding tarmac for miles they can get pretty bruising on the soles of my feet (possibly also a lack of conditioning there).
I fancy doing 3-4 days of the Fife Coastal path for my birthday, likely to be longish but flattish days with a light camping setup on my back.
I can sort of see the merit of a pair of hiking shoes if they had a more forgiving sole, and I'd use these for the little short hikes I might do at lunchtime during the week when I'd rather not be using my fancy trail runners. I think I'm just looking for a very robust trainer basically. A waterproof liner would be nice but I'm sceptical as to how long they last.
Anything decent around the £100 mark?
Ta
After doing a lot of running in Hoka One Ones, I now use them for this type of walking/hiking too. I'm currently using the Speedgoat GTX. (In fact I also bought a pair of the same model in a "Mid" height version too).
If there's a downside to them it's that they don't have a heel "step" in the sole (a common issue with many modern trail shoes) and they're not as warm as my previous Salomon's, but the latter can be fixed with warmer socks if it's an issue. Depending on your definition of "robust" they might fail on that too. Perhaps something with a (partial?) nubuck outer?
Merrel Moabs, the choice of (slightly) active dads everywhere?
Merrel Moabs, the choice of (slightly) active dads everywhere?
It’s depressing to realise that I am so readily categorised. But yes. Other Merrell models are available. I imagine.
Moabs might fit the bill, but I'd be inclined to get the mid rather than the shoe. Though I've found the support from the sole sort of collapses when there's still plenty of wear in the year and upper, and they get very fatiguing to wear.
What about a lighter leather boot? When I was still doing a lot of walking I'd often choose my Berghaus Hillwalker boots over my Tetheras if the ground was relatively benign.
Altra Lone Peak tend to be the shoe of choice for thru-hikers in the US.
My experiences in recent years - I go through 3-4 pairs of boots/trail running shoes a year as I walk and run a fair bit.
Mammut have got a sale on - just got some Kento lows - but probably a bit too chunky for your need, but nice
Previously, I would have said Hoka Tor Ultra - very light and cushioned - I’ve done 60km in a day in a pair. Quality of Hoka has decreased IMO in recent years - pair of Speedgoat mids fell apart/ upper not secure enough for mountain running. Never paid full price, only on sale at Sportsshoes.
Based on the other boots and shoes I’ve got going at the moment:
LaSportiva - current faves, great grip in the wet but do wear fast.
Scarpa - good quality.
Salomon - rubbish grip in wet and soles wear too quickly. They stink so banned by Mrs DB.
Saucony - again rubbish grip in wet, heel cup too deep/inflamed Achilles
Keen - rubbish, fell apart, too soft soles
Merrell - last pair went back for refund as they were so poorly made.
By the way, the usual suspects will probably be along shortly to tell us how they tackle the Cuillin ridge in a pair of flip-flops.
My take is that any half-decent trail/trail running shoe that fits your feet will be significantly more comfortable than full-on traditional walking boots. My old Salomon X-Ultras finally died last year and I've been using a pair of Columbia trail-running shoes which turn out to have a very similar feel and a nice fit - the old Montrail last, quite a wide forefoot with a snugger heel.
If you like lots of cushioning, but find the whole Hoka thing a bit much - I don't like the full-fat Hokas off-road because they feel a bit like a self-righting lifeboat and don't give much/any ground feel - sort of the 180mm, plus-sized tyre full sus equivalent in bike terms - the adidas Terrex mids using their Boost mid-sole as per running shoes, are still very cushioned, but a little bit more connected, erm, Free Hiker 2.0, but they're over budget at RRP.
I'd also be a little wary of going straight into Hokas for a multi-day hike if you're not used to them. My experience is that the lack of structure changes the stresses they put onto your leg muscles and ligaments and take a bit of adjusting to.
But mostly, I'd say any medium-cushioned trail / trail running shoe that fits your foot should work. Or less cushioned if you're a barefoot shoe sort of person. Salomon does a good sort of running shoe tech translated into walking shoe gig generally fwiw, but it depends on fit. The old X-Ultras were ace, but haven't used the latest version and not everyone seems to get on with them.
By the way, the usual suspects will probably be along shortly to tell us how they tackle the Cuillin ridge in a pair of flip-flops.
😂
I'm happy to rely on personal experience, I've tried lightweight shoes in the mountains (especially off trail) and hated them. Obviously I'm talking about track and trail use here so the robustness I'm looking for is mostly for the shoe's sake.
What about a lighter leather boot?
I think it's the sole I'm more concerned about, I want more cushion than a typical hiking boot I think. Lots of recommendations above though, will check them out ta.
To be honest I've never had a bad pair of Scarpa (well, still a bit aggrieved that the soles rotted off my Mantas) so that might be the obvious shout...
I got hoka anacapa mids c 90 quid, thankfully tried them a few times before big walks as the mid ankle support really hurt first few outings, it rubbed on 1 side and got q painful. Now used to them and love them. Retail at c150 but they arent worth that. To be honest I walk mostly in decathlon trail shoes, I got a few pairs and rotate usage.
Adidas terex free hiker. Can be had in goretex liner version. Go to sportshoes.com for lots of choice. You can prob filter for walking shoes or mid type boots. There are loads available.
salomon xa pro 3d gtx were my prev choice but they’re a bit clumpy and overbuilt now after using lighter shoes. May be fine for what you’re after.
As with so many things walking - what 'fits' your feet?
I'm currently a fan of Addidas/Terrex and I've a pair of non-waterproof runners, prior to them a pair of Terrex boots.
Mrs_oab and I also have some Inov8 boots - hers more tufty than mine, but mine are great on roads or easier hard surface trails. They're not supportive enough or hard soled enough for proper rocky days like the Cullin...
I’d also be a little wary of going straight into Hokas for a multi-day hike if you’re not used to them. My experience is that the lack of structure changes the stresses they put onto your leg muscles and ligaments and take a bit of adjusting to.
Yeah, I was coming at it from the other direction. After doing so much running in my Hokas I found my old Salomon's became uncomfortable and were causing leg pain, hence moving over to Hokas for trail shoes/boots too.
Vowed not to buy anything salomon again because my last 3 pairs of off-road shoes fell apart quicker than irocs which is quick.
Hokas seem to be lasting well. I'm in speedgoat 2s
Seem overkill on the padding for a walk on the fife coastal route though and I do find I need a supportive insole in then or my plantar flares up
Oops, shouldn't have looked at Scarpa, think my arbitrary £100 budget isn't going to go far.
Think I'll drop in to Decathlon on way home one evening and see what they have first, the 'cheapy' everyday trainers I bought from them have lasted ages and been relatively good so no complaints there.
Altra looked nice but a bit too close to the 'running shoe' end of the spectrum I think. I would have said the same for the Adidas Terrex but they're approx 100g heavier per shoe which you'd hope translated to more material/robustness but I'm just guessing. An added benefit of the Terrex is that I could try them on in the Tiso behind my office 😎
Ive got some of these, I find them really comfy..
https://www.fieldandtrek.com/merrell-bryce-mens-gtx-walking-shoes-183056
Oops, shouldn’t have looked at Scarpa, think my arbitrary £100 budget isn’t going to go far.
https://www.sportpursuit.com/products?bid=428&sp_src_search=scarpa
About 60% of full retail if they fit you / your needs.
I've got these.
Recent pairs of Moabs have fallen apart rather quickly or developed a squeak or click as something inside the sole has let go.
As already mentioned; fit is the most important factor. Bear in mind most shoes are now made in the Far East, so very often you're just paying more for brands. I've heard great things about Decathlon hiking shoes and boots.
I've got very wide Hobbit feet, so very few brands fit me properly anyway. I am a total convert to Vivobarefoot shoes and boots; been wearing them for perhaps 10+ years now. Increasingly expensive but very, very comfortable. I have the Tracker FG (firm ground), and they are like slippers compared to more conventional leather walking boots. Yet still offer ample protection and support. Because they are more flexible, you get much better grip than with stiffer soled boots. Great for all day walking anywhere really, when it's cold and wet. Vivo do a range of styles, with different soles too for different terrain. The Magna range are perhaps the best bet for more 'casual' walking, and they come in firm and soft ground soles, and leather and fabric uppers. Not cheap, but for me, fantastic value. My footwear rarely comes cheap. I also have some On trainers for less wet 'urban' use, they are becoming increasingly popular and have been very robust and hard wearing so far for me. But again, not cheap. For me, £100 is unfortunately the baseline. I do have some Keen hiking shoes that are very comfortable, but for longer walks I do prefer the Vivos really.
By the way, the usual suspects will probably be along shortly to tell us how they tackle the Cuillin ridge in a pair of flip-flops.
My wife wore sandals with a broken strap, to walk the Samaria Gorge in Crete...
I only wear sandals in warm weather/climates, regardless of terrain. Allowing your feet to breathe properly is crucial. Feet swell up in hot weather in enclosed boots.
I've worn Meindl GTXs for years, on my thrid pair atm. They might be a bit more than you're after though.
I've hiked in Peru, Morocco, Corsica, Austria, Scottish Highlands and loads in Snowdonia wearing these.
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15898001/meindl-philadelphia-gtx-men-s-walking-shoes-15898001
Have a look on the Inov-8 website, they've had a half price sale on hiking boots/shoes for a while. I got a pair of super light and comfy mid Gore-Tex ones for £77.50 recently. The grip from the 'graphene' soles is amazing. Can't see them lasting for years, though.
Oops, shouldn’t have looked at Scarpa,
I was always a Scarpa wearer, shoes, boots, approach, but the price us now bonkers. Found some Grisport walking shoes, Italian makers, nice leather, vibram soles, waterproof, under £100 quid.
The best shoe is the one that fits the best. Go to a decent shop and discuss it with them. Makes a huge difference
+1 for hoka I have gone from a pair of meindl boots to a pair of Hoka Kaha's - much better
Scarpa Moraine GTX. Incredible comfortable, great quality, great grip.
Absolute bargain on SportsPursuit at 52% off (£80)
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/3427362
Was blown away by my Sportiva TX4s. Until then I had just bought whatever was fairly cheap, but I tried on a pair in Snow n Rock and they just seemed perfect. The £90 price tag was insane but I bought them anyway in anticipation of doing a certain Hebridean Ramble the following week.
They pretty much went from the box to my feet for 23 hours solid and were an absolute revelation. Loved them.
Next time around I reverted to type and bought Sportiva Boulder Xs because they were £10 cheaper, but they were a completely different fit and would have crippled me if I'd tried a 3+km day in them.
As so many people above say, whichever ones fit..
Oh yes, don't get GTX on a low top. Don't keep water out, but keep it in and stop the damn things ever drying out...
The ones I have - I went in to a shop, tried a few on, got advice and chose.
Fit etc is so important
Not a recommendation but I'd avoid Columbia, got a pair last year which don't look like they'll last much longer and are letting in water, despite the waterproof label. Used for dog walking.
By eck, they don't make things like they used to and have you seen the price of a loaf of bread?
LaSportiva – current faves, great grip in the wet but do wear fast.
Depends massively on the model - the Ultra Raptors wear fast, Akyra don't. Other models vary 🙂
Anyway I'd recommend the Akyras, or Decathlon Evadict MT2s. Either are pretty robust/chunky trail running shoes, and certainly up to a full day's hiking.
Madame uses Hokas in the trail varient, I use Veets XTR. That said I do all of the easy sections on long distance walks in cheap Decathlon sandals only swapping to trail shoes for rocky sections.
Otheres: Salomon I agree with Dovebiker and will add that I find they lack heel stability. I've worn out many pairs of cheap Decathlon very quickly, Nike and Addidas trainers fit me well but lack grip.
Salomons are always my go-to, whichever gore-tex lined model is currently reduced. Never leak, always fit me well and get moved to garden/garage/mtb duty when the heels wear down.
The Scarpa gore-tex shoes I moved "up" to leaked badly after 6 or 7 months, turned out the reviews said the same, so I moved back to Salomons again, saved a few quid, and been happy ever since.
Don't get Keen. No grips whatsoever in wet or snow. Only good for dry or sandy ground. I have two pairs that I bought on sale. I only wear them in summer. Fell down many times during winter.
Merrell is surprisingly good as I have a pair that I wore daily for more than 10 years. They don't produce that model anymore and it is completely wore out now. Still wearable. I bought two pairs Merrell Moad on sale but for some reasons I chose the wrong size. Dammit. Cannot wear them at all. One is still in the box. (I wear size 9.5 to 10, but the ones I have are all size 11).
for the last fewyears here is my walking shoe list
3 consecutive pairs of Haglof Vertigo gtx - great shoes, bit low on padding but excellent in mountains. Always split at the forefoot crease. 2500km on the first pair
1 pair Scarpa Moraine gtx - excellent grip and comfort, both shoes split after exactly 300km, money refunded
La sportiva tx4 gtx - basically excellent and bombproof. Grip is a bit weak in muddy conditions. Gtx and uppers refuse to die
La Sportiva tx4 gtx mid - boot version, excellent all round boot as above
La Sportiva boulder x - nice stiffish shoe with decent sole and nice walking action. Bit narrow so sized up 1 size
Altra Olympus 5 - super light and comfy, amazing grip. Dry really quick, probably ended gtx liners for me outside winter. Fall apart as soon as you get them out of the box, always carry stormsure glue to repair them. Wide soles can be annoying on narrow singletrack paths
Recommendation or rather what has not worked for me in last three years dog walking and hiking. 100kgs human. Moors, fells north of England plus lake district
Adidas.... destroyed two pairs of Skychasers. Each pair went after 300 miles same place. Best all round grip, best feel the terrain but limited cushioning. AX models lasted well in the past.
Hoka....loads of pairs .....often too soft, lots of odd wear , soles falling off. Lots of heel issues. Max miles 600 from a pair least 130ish Always trick me as they feel good out of the box.
Salwea - comfy but lethal sole vibram soles. Died after going through a fell bog, went rock hard did the outer but lethal soles
Sauncony, soles lethal and sizing odd.
La sportiva....dies after 215 miles, delaminated and ripped. Horrendous quality. Model lycans.
Salomon - Quest boots on third pair....one pair died after 15 months second pair on way out but they went to Iceland as well. Ultra x had in the past and did some decent walking in them including a couple of big hills.
Brooks cascadia...non goer text with waterproof socks. Surviving and working, decent sole, rock plate and ok heel drop.
Lots of sales especially sports shoes.
Good luck
Not much to add with all the replies above, but I find my merrell mqm mid and shoe version very comfy.
Wore the mids for 11 days walking in the Alps last summer and will be wearing them for another 7 day long walk this year aswell as multiple day hikes and munros.
I do love my altberg leather hiking boots, but as you say any distance on hard pack or tarmac just causes sole pain.
Also another vote for grisport. Well made and comfy for a good price. There's a guy on ebay who sells factory seconds...the-shoe-shack.
All the regular sensible options seem to be already mentioned above.
I found this shoe at my local shop https://global.danner.com/trail-2650/trail-2650-3-timber-wolf-bone-brown.html Danner Trail 2650 which felt like an excellent option but the midsole is so soft that it felt like stepping through it. I'm +90kg though so someone lighter might enjoy these.
I use Nike Wildhorse for (dry weather / flat) walking generally, the v5 because they fit my feet well. Keen to try a pair of Altra Lone Peaks because of that big wide toe box too. I tend to use Trail runners for everything outdoorsy (biking excluded obvs) unless it's the depths of winter these days - not a fan of boots at all. I find an added benefit of trail shoes is that they dry fast if you get wet, whereas with leather boots if water gets in (granted, not as likely) then you're walking in a swamp all day.
If its is really cold, wet or miserable I have a pair of Adidas Skychaser GTX, which are kinda just goretex trail runners with a high ankle. Nice and light but a bit more weatherproof if I really can't be arsed with wet socks. Still feel light on my feet with them.
Take a look at Keen on SportsPursuit. I have a pair of the NXIS mid Goretex, they're like waterproof slippers. I'm trying not to buy loads more while they're half price.
I have some Altra Olympus Hikes and they're delightful. My feet are wideish and I generally struggle to find a decent shoe to fit but these are quite heavenly on the tootsies.
Altra Lone Peaks or Timp4s are super comfy if you have wide feet and like a zero drop, natural position. Timps are a little more built up, LPs grippier and pared back.
I wear walking shoes/boots every day unless I'm in wellies.
Shoes - been pretty happy with my Merrell Moab Flights, no Gore-Tex and plenty of cushioning. I have worn the soles down in my normal place. I'd buy again but they look like they are changing them...
Boots:
- Keen, rubbish. Leak then fall apart, the material just above the midsole crumbles and the soles fall off.
- Merrell Speed Strike, they have sprung a leak but aside from that they are holding up fairly well.
I would actively avoid anything with a Gore-tex liner if the shoe has mesh panels as you end up with a sweaty leaky shoe pretty quickly. Most manufacturers don't seem have worked this out or they reckon most of their customers wear their boots once a month or for a yearly holiday.
I have always shied away from Altra as their build quality can be politely described as questionable. But they seem very popular in this thread so have they fixed that?
I've been pretty happy with Hokas the last years, but tried some Scarpa Ribelle Run. I thrashed them pretty hard for a year, and whilst the sole got trashed/destroyed the uppers and midsoles showed very little wear.
Mostly in recent years it has been Salomon Alp X, but they suffer from the upper giving out on the outside edge well before the sole has worn out. Very comfy though. Now on La Sportiva Tx4, which is a much lighter approach shoe, but proving durable and comfy so far. Maybe the tx5 low is similar shoe to the Alp X, so I might go for that when the tx4s wear out.
+1 for Tiso in Perth if you’re nearby.
Hmm...so after researching most of the above options I decided to try and make my Saucony trail runners work rather than paying more money for new shoes.
Have already done a few hours in them training and running a 10km trail run nearby, so I figured I was pretty familiar with them.
Did 20km yesterday morning mostly flat farm tracks and riverside singletrack and earned my first blisters in years! They've never been an issue for me before so don't really know what I could have done differently. Noticed I'd actually worn two small holes in the padding of the heel cups which makes me think it wasn't just poor lacing, makes me think shoes are just too small?
Trying to decide whether to stick or twist before big hike in 6 weeks 🙄
To do 20km without any sort of rubbing takes a good shoe that might take you years to find. Best thing to prevent rubbing is to wear two pairs of thin socks with the inner socks ideally being silk.
Hmm…so after researching most of the above options I decided to try and make my Saucony trail runners work rather than paying more money for new shoes.
My advice would be to spend that money on some high quality insoles, ideally custom moulded. I wear mine (SIDAS) all the time in all shoes and they last years. I have them moulded in Otley, but I'm sure there will be places in Scotland what with summer/winter mountain sports there.
To do 20km without any sort of rubbing takes a good shoe that might take you years to find
Ah OK, that's good to know. Am sure I was more or less blister free from day one with my stiff leather boots but perhaps I'm just suffering selective memory.
Will try again next weekend with different socks, and I'm not above using some preventative Compeed if needs be 🙄
To do 20km without any sort of rubbing takes a good shoe that might take you years to find. Best thing to prevent rubbing is to wear two pairs of thin socks with the inner socks ideally being silk.
20km isn't really that much - admittedly I'm coming at this from a trail running perspective, but that would be considered a pretty short outing, and certainly not one that should lead to blisters! I appreciate walking and running aren't exactly the same, but I find it hard to believe that the overall stress on your feet is that different.
20km isn’t really that much – admittedly I’m coming at this from a trail running perspective, but that would be considered a pretty short outing
Yeah, I was otherwise fine and pleasantly surprised at how quickly I covered the distance (am not used to pacing longer flat distances, I'm still using my Munro bagging pacing).
Managed a 10km trail run in same shoes with a thin merino liner and some sealskin waterproof socks on without blisters, so am confused I blistered this time.
Will give them one more chance but might just succumb to some very cool looking Fujitrabucos that I've seen for half price, as I'm now also querying whether my left achilles will adapt quickly enough for 120km of backpacking in zero drop running shoes 😂
I'll walk 20km in any shoe I own and expect no blisters, from 5:10 Impacts to horse riding boots and my wellies. I've walked to Compostelle four times amongst other walks with two small blisters in total - 29km/day average, often in cheap Decathlon sandals. One pair of socks to prevent sunburn or non at all. I just walk a lot, and if you do your feet toughen up and you don't get many blisters. Cheap Decathlon sandals near Conques:
Will give them one more chance but might just succumb to some very cool looking Fujitrabucos that I’ve seen for half price, as I’m now also querying whether my left achilles will adapt quickly enough for 120km of backpacking in zero drop running shoes 😂
I went straight into a 3 week walk with a pair of zero drop Altras. To be fair I didnt actually know they were zero drop, but they were fine! No pre-existing condition though.
I walk a lot, I rarely blister but long all day flat sections are likely culprits if I do. Tiny little toe blisters, although I have learnt that not cutting toe nails too short prevents them. Absolutely no idea why though!
I like a thin sock, possibly with a coolmax liner underneath although if its a hot climate then probably not
I find long-distance walking puts far more strain on my feet than running - minor foot discomfort and rubbing and you’ve got a blister. I really like Injinji toe-socks, expensive but a blister between your toes during a 50km run or walk can be really annoying.
Trail shoes are ace as around shoes and for running off-road but I'd not want them for walking off-road. I'd want ankle protection.
I have a pair of Adidas Terrex Gore tex boots that fit your requirements. Light, supportive and water proof. They do come up a bit small and narrow so if you have wider feet then I'd look at a similar boot from another manufacturer.
My father in-law would recommend a sandal, with white socks.