Of Course, you need Hiking Boots, Or Do You?
Here are my original thoughts:
I’m returning to backpacking after 15 years and bought hiking boots—no trail runners or tennis shoes for me.
Backpacking decisions are all about what you are comfortable with. Cutting weight gets to a balancing act of what will cause you stress on the trail. There is no need to cut a few ounces on footwear if you are constantly worried about turning an ankle. Was it worth it??
Go with the boots, man.
For backpacking, make your decision on footwear early. Then, after that, you can go with what you have, shoes, even sandless to get out the door. But I would argue you need boots when you start.
You are adding at least 20 lbs. to your body weight when you put that pack on. Until you get used to carrying that weight up and down hills and uneven footing, you need the ankle stability that boots give you.
The ground can be uneven, changing your center of gravity. Twisting an ankle out on the trail is not ideal. – you must make your way back to the trailhead.
Boots can provide a better tread; hey, they make them specifically for the trail. And that will help improve your footing out on the trail.
Boots now are not just the leather variety we used to have; they are breathable, waterproof, lightweight. Compared to what I was used to, they are much lighter and improved.
You can go with trail runners, even tennis shoes, or trainers, sandals, or whatever you want, but I think starting with hiking boots are the way to go.
After you get your legs under you and feel confident, go for it and try something else for footwear.
Then I changed my views and beliefs on footwear.
Here is where I am now.
There is a place for trail runners (basically beefed-up running shoes specifically designed for off-road use), sandals hey even barefoot. You do not automatically need to move to the hiking boot rack when shopping for backpacking footwear.
The chart below from Beth Henkes at REI offers a few facts to consider when deciding between hiking boots and trail runners:
When you are evaluating what works for you, here are a few items to consider:
How comfortable are you on uneven surfaces? If you are trying to tackle a trail with many uneven surfaces, rocks, roots, then maybe you need the stability of a boot.
What is your body type? Do you need to lose a few pounds, then maybe boots are a safe bet.
How fast will you be being going? Are you trying to churn out the miles? Trail runners are the way to go then. They are designed for moving fast.
How steady are you with additional weight on your back? Steady, then go with trail runners or another light footwear.
What seasons/weather are you going to be hiking in? (Snow, below freezing temps) I would go for boots.
In conclusion – it was interesting how I had the opinion, that I thought was based on facts, that wasn’t entirely true. Not only will I be considering trail runners for my hiking footwear, I learned something about myself today. I’m not too old to learn something new and to change my mind. I need to celebrate that.