After being on many hikes and through a few pairs of boots I am starting to see how important a good it is to have a good hiking footwear.
If you don't get a good pair then every step on your hike could be a painful one.
I have learnt this through experience and many blisters later...
So hiking shoes or hiking boots? It seems these days that hiking shoes are becoming more popular than hiking boots.
It was always recommended to get boots to give your ankles more support but do your ankles really need the extra support? Some people have weak ankles and need more support around the ankles but if you are not one of these people then you might want to consider a pair of shoes.
Why People are Opting for Shoes over Boots - LESS WEIGHT - Boots can be quite heavy compared to shoes.
More weight equals more energy used.
So if you wear hiking shoes you will be carrying less weight and therefore using up less energy.
- COOLER FEET - Shoes will keep your feet cooler than boots.
Sweat can cause blisters so if you're prone to blisters like me a pair of hiking shoes could solve your blister problems.
- DRY OUT QUICKLY - Hiking boots are meant to keep your feet drier.
On the other hand shoes dry out much quicker than boots as they breathe really well.
So if your feet do get wet you will be better off with shoes because your feet won't be wet for so long.
So next time you go shopping for hiking footwear, consider trying a pair of hiking shoes.
Many people who transfer from boots to shoes never look back.
If you are blister prone then definitely give shoes a go.
Happy Hiking!