The First Mistake New Hikers Make: Choosing Footwear 101
The First Mistake New Hikers Make: Choosing Footwear 101
Choosing the right footwear for your hike is critical. But it’s easy to not know when to wear certain types of shoes. Choosing the wrong footwear leads to blisters and foot injuries that can derail your hike or your backpacking trip. Learn the basics of choosing the right footwear.
Gear I have tested and recommend:
Overnight Backpacks and Day Hiking Packs:
Men’s Bridger 35: https://www.mysteryranch.com/bridger-35-pack
Men’s Bridger 45: https://www.mysteryranch.com/bridger-45-pack
Women’s Bridger 35: https://www.mysteryranch.com/bridger-35-womens-pack
Women’s Bridger 45: https://www.mysteryranch.com/bridger-45-womens-pack
Mystery Ranch Men’s Coulee 20: https://bit.ly/3VRTQDA
Mystery Ranch Men’s Coulee 30: https://bit.ly/3VPF68r
Mystery Ranch Women’s Coulee 20: https://bit.ly/3I1wxl7
Mystery Ranch Women’s Coulee 30: https://bit.ly/3O14yWI
Tents and Camping Gear:
Big Agnes Copper Spur https://bit.ly/3XWSpn4
Durston X Mid trekking pole tent https://durstongear.com/product/x-mid-1p
Sea to Summit Ascent AcII Sleeping Bag: 15F Down https://bit.ly/3JTea1h
Zenbivy 25 Degree Lightbed https://zenbivy.com/products/zenbivy-…
Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad https://bit.ly/3DbbCcO
Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow https://bit.ly/34n4749
Clothing:
Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket http://bit.ly/3iwmivF
Big Agnes Zetto Ultralight Down Jacket https://www.bigagnes.com/products/zet…
Arc-teryx Beta Rain Jacket https://bit.ly/3QeYvfT
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie https://bit.ly/3XR4WZm
Fjallraven Keb Agile Trouser https://bit.ly/400yYM1
Coalatree Trailhead Pants https://coalatree.com/products/trailh…
AKU Selvatica Mid GTX Hiking Boots https://bit.ly/3eSMmvy
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Sock https://bit.ly/3qLVyaI
Hestra Bike Ergo Grip Tactility Glove https://amzn.to/3GWeADc
Camp Kitchen:
BeanVivo: https://beanvivo.com/
MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove https://bit.ly/34mBc06
Sea to Summit Alpha Pot – 1.9 Liters https://bit.ly/3tdCZ23
Sea to Summit Watercell X https://bit.ly/3wv3ost
Platypus Big Zip EVO Reservoir Water Bladder https://bit.ly/3t2SrxF
Grayl Geopress Water Purifier https://bit.ly/3DbOCun
Lifestraw Peak Squeeze Water filter straw https://bit.ly/3Bjk88U
Pinnacle Foods Freeze dried food https://pinnaclefoods.co/
Vosteed Nightshade Folding Knife https://amzn.to/3J7XOnn
Matador 8L Flatpack https://matadorup.com/products/flatpa…
Trail Gear:
Ledlenser Neo 5R Headlamp https://amzn.to/3Jd8Pnu
Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool https://bit.ly/3UGgFYO
Zoleo Satellite Communicator https://amzn.to/3WBDRIK
Komperdell Explorer Contour trekking poles https://bit.ly/3XRsDAP
Special thanks to my Global Partners for supporting my mission of inspiring and educating people to get on the trail and enjoy the benefits of sustainable outdoor adventure.
Wiley X: https://www.wileyx.com/
Mystery Ranch: https://www.mysteryranch.com/
Cotopaxi: https://www.cotopaxi.com/
BeanVivo: https://beanvivo.com/
NOTE: These are affiliate links where I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it’s a great way to show your support. Thanks!
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Hi I’m off to Sri Lanka for a holiday with a few basic hikes. What would you recommend
Thanks
Not altras
5:54 merrell mqm
What your recommendation for Annapurna trail? full circuit?
Dry > Wet > Snow (3-4 days) > Wet > Dry
Am I missing the list of these shoes? What brand and style? Cant find…
My Scarpa MESCALITO TRK PLANET GTX seem to keep the sweat in, and take a long time to dry.
I sent my 4 year old Merrell moab goretex (in good condition) back to a Goretex certified repairer to test because it lost it’s waterproofing, Goretex offered to replace the shoes for me.
Will always choose to buy goretex for the customer protection they offer.
But note: waterproof shoes are horrible as everyday shoes, it’s a stinky toasty oven in there if used as everyday shoes.
Which shoe would be best for havasupai from the campground to confluence? And than from the trailhead to the campground? Would you bring 2 pair or one to do it all?
I am confused about the shoes you use to walk through water ( the shoes next to the sandal). If you have to wear socks with them your socks are going to get wet and so regardless if shoes are quick drying, socks aren’t. Is there a quick dry sock you wear on trips like that to make it more comfortable so you’re not hiking around in wet socks for a long time?
is there a shoe best for hike run and trek? all in one?
Zero drop, 3mm, 5mm, 8mm ?
Every time its time for footwear. I look at hiking shoes (cause who doesn’t want a 10 ounce shoe.) Then I buy another pair of mid GTX boots, and wear them for another 1000 miles. I just don’t trust anything but a boot.
anyone know of an approach shoe that’s also a water shoe?
i do alot of canyons that are full of water and involve alot of climbing
I live in the Pacific NW and hike mostly in the Coast Range and Cascades. More often than not it’s raining or the conditions are wet, so mesh shoes aren’t a good choice for me.
False… GORETEX is breathable. It has pores, they’re just smaller than water droplets. Look up the tech before misinforming your viewers
I gave up on boots over breathable trail runners years ago. I would constantly role my ankles with boots since they don’t allow the foot to naturally flex when going over uneven surfaces. The trail runners are good for all terrain including snow fields and river crossings.
I like the idea of that water show as well for the hike in hot wet river bed in & out of creeks
can you hike in Adidas ultraboost 22?
hello there! Is it worth spending money on Goretex boots, taking into account that the membrane starts to fail after about a year and a half?
Thank you very much🙏
Great video! Also, wear wool socks when hiking. I’ve slowly replaced all my socks with wool and love it
Need suggestions for K2
Good tips. I feel I have strong ankles as I’m a past time roller hockey skater. & love hike climbing. But I hike in hot weather but through wet terrain with potentially snakes & other critters. I’d like a breathable low cut boot of 6” but protective.
Cattle Dog!!!
I’m more of a leather boot wearer myself
What is best for hiking something like Half Dome in Yosemite?
😂😂😂 you have a lot of shoes 😅
I have/had major foot issues. I ran marathons from the late 1980’s until around 2,000. I started have the foot issues about that time and I tried everything, especially orthotics. Orthotics suck; all of them. I was on vacations and saw a guy with a pair of weird as hell looking shoes. After talking to him, I bought a pair that day. After a few years of not running, I was back on the road. Now that I love hiking, I like Altras and Hoka’s, but the one shoe that supports, cushions, and protects my feet the best are Hoka Stinson’s. They have a high stack height, so on rough trails I have to be cognizant of my foot placement. It’s truly not much of an issue anymore now that I’ve gotten used to them. The Stinson’s are harder to find than Speedgoats, but they are a step up in every way! I like the Altra Olympus a lot, but Altra needs to step up the quality as to how long their shoes last on trail. It sucks to wear a shoe that falls apart so quickly.
Can I wear trail running shoes while hiking? I tried the asics gel excite trail 2 in store and they felt more comfortable than any hiking shoe or boot I tried. So I’m kinda stuck in what to buy.
I honestly didn’t know anything about shoes at the time but the ones that I ended up getting where the Cascade 17 brooks
Ultra Boost and Crocs these are all over engineered scams
I’m planning a hitchhiking trip across the country. I’ll mostly be walking on pavement all day, but have to step into the brush at night and in the morning Got a suggestion for a mid range shoe that won’t ruin my day/night if I step in a marsh or puddle and will be comfortable walking most of the day on pavement? Thanks.
Shoes are so specific to the person. I’m strange. I’ve worn steel toe shoes for work for 30 years. I can not stand light shoes. They have to have a certain amount of heft to them or I just lose my mind. I know it’s odd but it is what it is.
Chacos for the win with constant water crossing in my opinion
I used some Adidas Terrex gtx low cut trailrunning shoes in every weather condition and tbh I never thought about anything. Crossed the alps with them, and crossed them fast. The snow was a problem, but other than that, even might climbing was no problem
Do you use socks with water shoes?
Which of these shoes do you wear socks with? Alsom, what type of socks?
Boots or low cut shoes is a question of terrain but mainly of your fitness / muscles / tendons / flexibility.
I use my boots in 10-20% of my hikes, mainly in colder wer weather higher up in the mountains with lots of gravel but I mainly use low cut shoes. I just would hesitate to recommend it to beginners who are only used to sidewalks and city running trails. Be careful with your ankles.
And: a game changer is the right socks.
Great video, and it’s helping me make my decision that I have been embarrassingly obsessing over lately. What shoe or boot would you recommend for a trek in Nepal, specifically Langtang Valley in October? It’s a well-maintained trail, dry trail, but has a couple day hikes up peaks that are snow-covered. I stopped wearing boots 20+ years ago, but haven’t hiked somewhere with such high elevation. Also, for the last year, I’ve been battling Achilles tendonitis, so a shoe with a low drop is bad news for me. When Googled, the most common response is a boot like Salomon Quest 4 GTX, but it seems a light, breathable trail runner with the option for micro-spikes in the snow might be a lot better. I plan to go trekking every couple of years or so, since I live in Thailand, so maybe a more durable, snow-capable boot would be a better option. Google searches look like something ChatGPT would say, while diving into threads and forums, people seem to be in the know, and suggest running shoes or trail runners.
I bought new low to North Face hiking shoes but on a recent hike I had to clean out my shoes multiple times because of all the dirt that kept getting in. Is it static or are they crap?
7:02 same. I rolled my ankle once per mile and got blisters between my toes until I went more barefoot style.
Thoughts on the Columbia Fire Camp boot?
Approach shoes are also good for biking.
Thank you. Subscribed! Like they ALWAYS told us in the Marine Corps, take care of those feet (and weapons of course) or you are going to be ineffective!!
AKUs are made in Serbia, Italien company long tradition. Britisch Military Standard . Good tip buy military versions their cheap but are just as robust as the commercial versions. The German military uses Meindls and other worthy brands.
The Schuh you shown costs about 100 to 120 euros or Lbs in UK same for Germany.
agree i rolled my ankle in a six ankle boot haven’t in my hiking shoes
Met an Australian trekker forty years ago who never wore anything but canvas gym/tennis shoes, that he could pick up anywhere – from Indonesia to America, and wore them in everything but deep snow, of course. I wear Chacos all year here in the midwest – watching where I put my toesies, and Keen hikers when it’s colder than socks can cope with – I’m not climbing around in the mountains anymore though.
Thanks very much for this great video. I learned a lot about hiking shoes just now. I recently got married and for our honeymoon, my husband and I are going for a month long hiking trip in some of the great national parks (Yellowston, Glacier, The Badlands, Grand Canyon and more). We will do this from mid-June to mid-July. Any recommendations you can give us regarding what shoes we should pack would be greatly appreciated.
Gortex is breathable?
In my experience I used 2 pairs of Salomon trail runners for hiking and my old trusty decathlon half shoes outlasted both of them my first pair of trail runners completely fell apart around the toe bend area and the heel after about ~200km of running and ~200km of hiking use while the second pair is going strong so far at around 300km though I don’t use it on harder rocky terrain as much as the old shoes but those have over 1000 km in them and they’re still great their stiffness compared to the trail runners makes them much better suited for longer hikes on harder terrain because of the extra stability