AMC Outdoors, October 2003

By Michael Lanza

Like many people, there are facts from my past that I know to be true, and yet that seem so unbelievable, so incomprehensible, that I find it hard to reconcile that bit of personal history with the person I am today. I know you know what I mean.

Here’s one such fact about me: I used to get by with just one pair of boots. Yes, really. This was many years ago, back in the prehistory of outdoor footwear when people actually persevered in the face of such primitive conditions. I did everything outdoors in them — day hike, backpack, scramble up rocks, run a trail if I were so inclined. One pair of boots. I shudder just thinking about it now.

Our feet have come a long way, baby. The variety of outdoor footwear for three-season trail and off-trail activities is mind-boggling: lightweight hiking shoes, approach shoes, trail-running shoes, synthetic boots, traditional leather backpacking boots. Low-cut, mid-cut, high-cut. Waterproof-breathable and not. Today, I won’t even try to tally how many pairs of shoes and boots I own.

But I wear them all and know exactly which model to grab for any activity. And by selecting footwear carefully, I make sure my feet remain a lot more comfortable and better protected while I’m having fun. The point is not that you need more pairs of footwear than you can count without inventory software, but to choose shoes and/or boots appropriate for your activity(ies) — and your own feet.

What They Are
Three-season outdoor shoes and boots fall into three basic categories (all weights are per pair for a men’s size 9):

Lightweight shoes, including hiking, approach, and trail-running shoes. These are usually low-cut, that is, below the ankle, and occasionally mid-cut, just above the ankle bone, and weigh about 2 pounds per pair or less. With highly breathable uppers made of combinations of mesh, synthetic fabrics, and sometimes leather, they’re cool and comfortable on hot days. They’re also relatively inexpensive (often under $100), light and nimble enough for moving quickly in challenging terrain, and require no breaking in. On the downside, the low cut means your ankles get bashed more often and the shoes tend to collect debris inside, and the least supportive models can feel like cheap slippers when you’re sidehilling, or traversing a slope off-trail, where your feet constantly land sideways. Most last at best a few seasons of regular use.

While many models in this category look like clones, they differ in fit, degree of support, and intended use. The very lightest (under 2 pounds) have minimal support and are best reserved for trail running and light day hiking. Some low-cut hiking shoes have a stiffer midsole and partial shank (the reinforcement in the sole), and provide a surprising amount of support and cushion, including lateral support for sidehilling. Some have a waterproof-breathable membrane — they’re waterproof to a point, but may saturate after hours of wet trail — which drives the price up a bit but keeps your feet warmer.

Approach shoes are lightweight shoes made for light hiking and scrambling off-trail. Their sleek profile, low weight, close fit from heel to toe box, and laces extending to the toes give better sensitivity than bulkier shoes. They have sticky rubber for gripping rock (and approaching climbing terrain) though models with a shallow tread sometimes compromise traction on loose ground. And the snugger the toe box, the less comfortable they are for hiking long distances.

Trail-running shoes are also lightweight and sport a generous “rocker,” or convex shape in the outsole, and sometimes incorporate gel or air in the midsole for cushioning in the high-impact areas of the heel and forefoot. They have aggressive lugs for traction on everything from solid rock to dirt and loose stones, often a partial shank, a firm heel cup and ample toe bumper for absorbing impact, and a fairly roomy toe box.

Some lightweight models cross over between day-hiking, running, and scrambling. Consider getting custom insoles, or orthotics, which greatly improve the support and comfort of any footwear, but especially lightweight shoes.

Lightweight boots differ from the above category most visibly in that they look more like boots than shoes. Priced from, roughly, $100 to $150, they are intended for day-hiking and light backpacking. These mid-weight boots (often around 3 pounds) usually sport a mid-cut — embracing the ankle — and a more substantial shank and midsole, outsole, upper, toe bumper, and heel, so they offer more support and protection for your feet than lightweight shoes, especially on rugged trails. Still, lighter materials and efficient designs are cutting the weight of these boots to nearly as low as lightweight shoes. Many are also waterproof-breathable, and warmer.

The uppers of lightweight boots are usually made of synthetic fabrics, which are lighter, cheaper, and more breathable than leather, and require little or no break-in or maintenance other than cleaning off dirt. Materials like Kevlar are improving the durability of synthetic uppers, but cheaper synthetic fabrics may survive only a few seasons of regular use.

Heavy-duty boots have thick, deeply lugged soles, a high cut, and a stiff, typically full shank in the midsole for maximum support and protection, and are fairly breathable and highly waterproof. Some are crampon-compatible. Uppers are made of leather or synthetic fabrics, but either way, these stiff boots require breaking in. While leather requires periodic treatment with a conditioner to prevent it from drying out, it often repels water better than a synthetic, is stiffer for ankle support, and lasts many years. In this expensive category of footwear (typically $150 and up), you can generally count on years of durability.

Big boots are made for carrying a very heavy pack in very rugged terrain, especially in wet, cold climes. But they are too stiff, hot, heavy (most are between 3 and 4 pounds), and clunky for day-hiking or backpacking with light to moderate loads — i.e., the sort of weekend or even longer trips made by most backpackers.

What You Need
The real question is: What do you need? Lightweight, mid-weight, or heavy-duty? Low-, mid-, or high-cut? Waterproof-breathable or not?

To answer it, first and foremost comes fit. Manufacturers all use different “lasts”— essentially a model foot around which they construct footwear — so each boot will fit differently. Try on many models — in your hiking socks, late in the day, when your feet tend to swell slightly — and walk around in the store at length in each until you find one that feels good, with sufficient wiggle room for your toes and no rubbing in the heel or other areas.

Choose activity-appropriate footwear, like real trail-running shoes for running trails, and consider your needs and abilities. In general, get the lightest footwear that will still provide the amount of support and protection you need. People who hike infrequently and feel the need for good foot and ankle support may prefer a mid-cut, mid-weight boot for day-hiking and light backpacking. On the other hand, frequent backcountry wanderers with strong feet and lower legs that aren’t susceptible to injury may prefer low-cut, lightweight shoes even for backpacking — especially with very light pack loads. The more hiking you do, the more you’ll probably gravitate toward lighter footwear.

For backpacking in a wet climate like ours, waterproof-breathable shoes or boots are wise. But if you typically day hike only on nice summer days, there’s little point in paying more for waterproof-breathable footwear when it’s only going to make your feet hotter.

Maybe, unlike me, you’ll get by with one pair of outdoor footwear. But remember, there’s no shame in taking good care of your feet: Your adventures depend on their health and comfort.

Related: Can Lighter Boots Really Offer Support?

—Michael Lanza is author of The Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Travel, from AMC Books.