Hiking Shoes Guide
Welcome to the Hiking Shoes Guide. Hiking boots and hiking shoes are the most important piece of hiking gear you can own. Without a sturdy and well fitting hiking shoe your feet and legs will get sore and tired faster.
What is the difference between hiking shoes and hiking boots? Hiking boots are strong and sturdy with a cut that is above your ankle. Because of this hiking boots are good in rocky areas or other rugged terrain where you might roll your ankle. Hiking shoes are a little less bulky than hiking boots are closer to a special purpose tennis shoe. They provide most of the same benefits as a hiking boot minus the high ankle support. Hiking shoes tend to be more comfortable during light hiking duty due to the lower ankle cut and a more flexible sole.
The Different Types of Hiking Shoes and Hiking Boots
Some features can cross over multiple shoe and boot categories. Examples include types of tread designs, breathability due to design and materials used and special features like being waterproof.
- Hiking shoes – light weight and often more comfortable than hiking boots for day hikes.
- Hiking Boots – strong and sturdy, best suited to rugged terrain and heavier duty for backpacking or multi-day trips
- Walking Shoes – comfort over ruggedness and designed for urban terrain
- Trail Running Shoes – a blend between regular running shoes and hiking shoes. Designed for off road terrain while maintaining the needed breathability and comfort of a running shoe
- Climbing Shoes – Light weight specialty shoes that are designed for maximum grip while rock climbing
Hiking Shoe Materials
Light weight materials include nylon and mesh. These are idea for their breathability and flexibility (easy to break in).These breathable materials aren’t the best when it comes to water resistance so waterproof shoes made from these materials tend to have linings to provide the water resistance.
Heavier duty boots and hiking shoes tend to use leather for its durability. This extra ruggedness is the reason that t takes longer to break in a full leather hiker versus a lighter weight shoe. The leather also adds to the water resistance of the boot while sacrificing some breathability.
The sole of the boot is made up of multiple layers. First there is the insole that provides the cushioning. Next is the mid-sole and this is where the stiff part of the sole exists to provide the needed support. The outer part of the sole is the tread and the tread patterns vary widely for different terrain conditions. Hiking on concrete pavement is very different than walking in the swamp or on granite boulders and the treed types need to match your destination.
Join us at the Hiking Shoe Guide as we continue to explore the world of Hiking Shoes.
New Balance Trail Running Shoes
New Balance is dedicated to making stable, comfortable shoes, no matter what type of sport shoe you are looking for. New Balance incorporates durable, state of the art construction into their shoes, that give you great performance and comfort.
New Balance has a good line of trail running shoes to choose from. The style you choose will most likely depend on your particular feet. New Balance makes trail running shoes for all feet shapes and sizes, without sacrificing comfort or style.
There are a variety of cushioned trail running shoes to choose from by New Balance. Many of the trail running shoes incorporate ABZORB (registered trademark) EX into their shoes, which adds extra cushioning to the heel of the shoe, which is where the runners foot strikes the ground first and the greatest amount of shock absorption is needed.
New Balance also makes a lightweight running shoe, which is a lightweight trainer, and is good for running on trails. This shoe has a Lightening Dry (registered trademark) liner in it that helps to keep your feet dry. This shoe is also built for cushioning.
Stability is of importance, especially if you have problems with your feet rolling inward or outward. New Balance makes trail running shoes specific to stability that help control the motion of your feet as you run.
Many of New Balance’s trail running shoes have special lines for comfort and/or to keep your feet dry while you are running, and they also have a special outer sole for good durability. Some of the trail running shoes have N-FUSE (registered trademark) as a midsole in the shoe, for added comfort and support.
Lastly, New Balance has come out with a trail running shoe that is “green”. This shoe is made from recycled materials, and is great for running on trails.
Whichever New Balance trail running shoes you choose, you are sure to get great shoes, with extra cushioning, stability, support, durability and style. New Balance puts much effort and science into constructing the best shoes for you. New Balance is worth their cost and can save you money and sore feet in the long run. New Balance does their best to make sure they construct their shoes with your feet as their priority.