Hiking Shoes vs. Boots: 3 Things to Consider

Hiking Boots vs. Shoes | Type of Use

Ask yourself what you’ll be doing in your new pair of shoes to help narrow down which style to choose from. Here is some information about the different styles of footwear we offer to help you weed out what you won’t need.

Hiking Boots & Shoes

Ideal for day hikes and weekend adventures while carrying light to moderate packs up to 30 lbs. Hiking shoes are offered in different heights to meet your needs and preferences: Low (below the ankle for a sneaker-like fit), Med. (covers ankle below the calf), and Tall (covers the ankle and extends up to the calf). The midsole is designed to be comfortable with little break-in time, lightweight, flexible, and provide traction on trails.

Shop Men’s Hiking Footwear | Women’s Hiking Footwear

Backpacking Boots & Shoes

For heavy loads 30+ lbs., generally multiday trips and long distances over rugged terrain on and off trails. There are some Low-cut backpacking shoes, but most range from Mid- to Tall-height boots, providing more stability and support. Often the midsole is stiffer and more durable than hiking footwear.

Shop Men’s Backpacking Boots | Women's Backpacking Boots

Mountaineering Boots & Shoes

For heavy loads, covering large distances, over difficult terrain (rock, ice, snow) to help you reach the world’s highest summits. The boot cut ranges from mid to tall for maximum stability, protection, and warmth. The midsole is very stiff and comes in various insulation ratings. Most are crampon compatible, an essential of mountaineering for over 100 years.

Shop Men’s Mountaineering Boots | Women’s Mountaineering Boots

Running Shoes

• Trail-running shoes are designed to give you better traction off-road and to protect your feet from the rocks, roots, and other elements unique to the trail. Can be used as a hiking or backpacking shoe, but you need to keep your pack weight extremely light (15 pounds or less, at most!).

Shop Men’s Trail-Running Shoes | Women’s Trailrunning Shoes

• Road-running shoes perform well on pavement or other packed surfaces with little to no obstacles, like mud or rocks. They are lightweight and flexible, providing comfort and stability on hard, uneven surfaces.

Shop Men’s Road-Running Shoes | Women’s Road-Running Shoes 

Winter Boots

The main function of winter shoes and boots is to keep your feet warm and have a better grip on slick surfaces. The majority are Tall-height. Rated for extremely low temperatures (30°F to -60°F).  Be conscious of activity type when selecting the desired temperature rating.

Shop Men’s Winter Shoes & Boots | Women’s Winter Boots & Shoes

Hiking Shoes vs. Boots | Materials

Now that you know the type of shoe you want, it’s time to consider the material that best fits the activity you’ll be doing.

• Leather: Consists of 3 types (Full-Grain, Split-Grain, Nubuck). Extremely durable material, but also heavy. Abrasion-resistant and has good water resistance. Requires more time to break in before using on longer trips. Needs regular maintenance (cleaning, conditioning, and waterproofing). Best job at protecting your foot from trail debris like rocks, sticks, etc.

• Synthetic: Does not require as much time to break in. Lightweight. Will show wear faster than leather. Little maintenance is required, but doesn’t last as long as leather. Good breathability. Dries quickly when wet.

• Hybrid: A hybrid refers to footwear that uses both leather and synthetic materials in the upper. Combines the strengths of leather (water-resistant, durability, support) and synthetic (lightweight, breathability, and dries quickly). Most modern boots are found here.

Hiking Shoes vs. Boots | Important Features 

• Waterproof – A waterproof shoe generally refers to a shoe that utilizes an upper with a waterproof membrane (like Gore-Tex) to keep water from getting inside the shoe.  The membrane style is very effective but causes less breathability.  Waterproofing treatments (spray-on or cream) can be used to increase water resistance and, when combined with certain materials like leather, can perform close to waterproof membranes but with better breathability.
  *Note: treatments affect the material, i.e. waterproof spray on mesh shoes will not create a waterproof shoe. Only the mesh fabric will resist absorbing water, but sprays will not seal or fill in the holes between the mesh.
• Insulation – There are two kinds of insulation: active and stationary. Active insulation is meant for activities where you will be moving a lot (hiking or snowshoeing) and the heat created from the activity helps keep your feet warm. Stationary insulation is meant for activities where you will not be moving as much (fishing), so the insulation is bulkier.
• Norwegian Welted – The welt is a strip of leather that runs along the perimeter of the outsole. Its primary function is to attach the upper to the outsole. This type of shoe construction is intended to make the shoe more waterproof and is very durable and resoleable.

Fitting Tips

It’s difficult finding the perfect fit online. We offer a great return policy, so before you take your shoe outside, make sure it fits!

• When you try the shoe on, wear the socks you would normally wear with that shoe. For example, if you plan on taking your new shoe hiking in cold weather, you’ll probably be wearing thicker socks, so make sure when you try it on you use those thick socks.  Also, insert any alternative orthotic if one will be used.
• Wear the shoes around the house (not outside) to help gauge the fit without putting a lot of wear on the shoe. This will help make sure you qualify for the return policy.
• Make sure to know the basic measurements of your feet (width and length).  A Brannock device can be used to measure your size.
• Refer to brand size charts (found on product pages) when converting to/from European sizes.*
  *EU sizing is NOT universal, it varies from brand to brand.

Boot Care

• Materials will last longer and perform better when clean.
  *Avoid the washing machine.
• Most new shoes come with care instructions from the brand. Follow those for best results.
• After any use, gently remove dirt with a brush (i.e. an old toothbrush). Make sure to remove the laces for a thorough cleaning.
• Don’t use bar soaps or detergents.
• If it’s time to waterproof your shoes, make sure you clean them first. Applying waterproofing agents while dirty does not allow the boot to wick moisture as well.
  *We recommend treating all footwear, including those with waterproof liners.
• Condition each type of leather (Full-Grain, Split-Grain, Nubuck, and Suede) with the correct cleaner/conditioner.
• Drying
• Avoid high heat.
• Stuff the shoe with socks or old newspaper to help the shoe keep its shape while drying.
• Allow boots to dry at room temperature (not in the sun, attic, car trunk, etc.).

Conclusion

Now that you know about fit, features, uses, and materials, you know what you need! You’ll probably find that you need more than one kind of footwear if you’re outdoors over a variety of seasons, but here at CampSaver, we’ve got your feet covered! Shop our full Footwear Section for the whole family today, see you on the trail!