I've been hiking for years without owning a pair of proper hiking boots. That came to a head a couple of years ago when I did Monks Cowl for the first time. My feet could feel every stone and every pebble underfoot. That didn't stop me though. I just continued to go through the pain, which, in hindsight, isn't advisable at all.
Things got real when I went for a trail run in ordinary running shoes, slipped on algae, and made a painful descent that almost ended very badly. I had to scramble to get back up while trying not to slip again, heart pounding, adrenaline doing all the work my shoes should have been doing.
Hiking boots aren't just for the “experienced.” They're there to protect you.
THE CASE FOR BOOTS
There's so much support that a proper pair of hiking boots offers, support that becomes essential the moment you head out for your next hike, whether that's a gentle day walk or a multiday summit push.
THE BOOTS
What Hiking Boots Actually Offer
- Protection from the ground beneath you
- Better grip on loose stones (though expect the occasional fall regardless)
- Ankle support when the terrain turns on you
- Water resistance for the inevitable stream crossing or surprise downpour
Here's a look at the hiking boots I've worn over the years, and my honest review of each. These aren't paid reviews. They're purely based on my own experience, blisters and all.
- 01 K-Way Leather Waterproof Boots
- 02 Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex
- 03 Scarpa Mojito Hike GTX W
K-Way Leather Waterproof Boots
I had a partnership with K-Way that gave me my very first pair of hiking boots, and I was thrilled. They gave me the sturdiness I needed. I trained with them on multiday hikes, and eventually took them all the way to summit the highest peak on Kilimanjaro, Uhuru.
They did me well. But post-Kilimanjaro, they were already disintegrating, with a little over three months of use behind them. They're great for beginners, but they won't stand up to maximum mileage.
WHAT I LOVED
- Perfect for beginners doing low mileage
- Perfect for wide feet
- Waterproof
- Rubber soled
Salomon X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex
My second pair of hiking boots just felt better. More sturdy, more solid around the ankle. They're great for day hikes, but when I took them on a multiday hike across sand, walking at least 21 to 25km a day, I truly felt we weren't a good fit.
My feet ached, and worse, my arch was bruised every single day. I have wide feet, and it turned out I hadn't known just how narrow these shoes really were.
PRO TIP
If you have wide feet, don't assume a boot fits just because it feels fine on a short walk in the shop. Bruised arches show up on day three of a multiday hike, not day
WHAT I LOVED
- Sturdy shoes
- Great for everyday hiking
Scarpa Mojito Hike GTX W
I bought my Scarpas to prepare for Everest Base Camp. I needed sturdy but comfortable shoes that could handle two weeks of hiking, and most importantly, that my feet would be comfortable in for hours a day.
I say this because my arches had already been bruised once, after a week long multiday hike, so I knew narrow shoes were never going to work for feet like mine. I needed something wide enough without creating a weird gap around the foot. I tried a couple of pairs on. The Scarpas felt right. I took them out right away, and I fell in love.
WHAT I LOVED
- Perfect for wide feet
- Can endure long days on your feet, great for mountaineering days
- Waterproof; made of water repellent suede leather with a rubber protective toe cap for when you inevitably kick a rock
- Lightweight and perfect for mixed terrain, snow excluded
- The wide version offers extra room in key areas, a genuinely comfortable fit for anyone with a wider foot or higher instep
- GORE-TEX BlueSign approved
Three pairs, three very different lessons. Beginners can start with something simple. Day hikers can get away with a snugger fit. But if you're heading into multiday territory, especially with wide feet like mine, it pays to try the shoe on properly and think about the miles ahead, not just the ones in front of you in the shop.