Hiking is a most popular and fun venture to try on. People tend to love making hiking their hobby. There are many articles regarding hiking boots and which one of them will suit you best. A lot of variety is seen in the shoes, which cater to everyone’s needs, whether you are a beginner at hiking or a pro hiker.
Buying hiking boots is an investment and may kick you out of your budget. Most hikers tend to buy running shoes when going hiking. But, can you hike in running shoes? Is it a good idea?.
Quick myth bust, Yes, it is absolutely fine to put on running shoes for hiking. Rather, trail running shoes are considered a better option than hiking boots because they are lightweight and able to provide traction like hiking boots.
If you’re a seasoned hiker or just a beginner and don’t want to spend many bucks on buying expensive hiking boots, running shoes are the best choice.
Can You Hike In Running Shoes?
To answer the query, can you hike in the running shoes? This article is a must-read. It will help you by telling the pros and cons of hiking vs. running shoes and which is the better choice for you.
Hiking Boots Vs. Running Shoes
Both of the boots provide a seamless experience of hiking. Usually, people tend to wear boots or shoes according to their preferences. Some like lightweight, comfortable, and waterproof, while others may prioritize more durable shoes than being lightweight ones.
To come to our conclusion, let’s dive deep into the design, pros, and cons of these boots, respectively:
Hiking Boots
Hiking boots are specially designed for hiking almost any terrain, whether cold or hot. They are designed to be well equipped if you try to hike a rocky or muddy terrain. In short, they can endure the roughness or unevenness that the trails may have. The soles of hiking boots are made to absorb any shocks from the outside and to avoid letting your feet sway when walking a rocky trail. This property also makes them provides stability to you by sucking up the strain and not letting it affect your feet or ankles.
Other factors that make hiking boots a perfect choice are as follows:
Pros And Cons Of Hiking Boots
Breathable
Hiking shoes are breathable and provide sufficient support when your feet get wet during the hike. However, most durable hiking boots are water-resistant. It is what makes them less breathable. It causes the feet to sweat more during the hikes and can cause blisters.
Comfortable
There is no doubt that hiking boots are the most comfortable ones. The insoles provide an extra durable cushion that keeps feet intact with the shoes and doesn’t let strain affect the feet. For longer periods of hikes, hiking boots provide the necessary comfort needed, so you feel as light as a feather while enjoying the casualties of the terrain.
Weightage
Hiking boots are designed to provide ample durability so that they can endure the harshness of the weather and the terrains. That is why the weight of the hiking boots is heavier than that of the running shoes. The efficient hiking boots almost have 3-3.5 lbs of the weight.
Fabric
Hiking boots or shoes are made of leather or polyester, and nylon. These materials are both durable and breathable. While leather tends to be less breathable than polyester and nylon, it is considered the most durable one on the terrains.
Rubber Soles
Hiking boots have extra rubber insoles that comfort the heels by acting as a cushion. Also, they prevent any serious injuries to the foot or the ankle by absorbing shocks and giving a lift to the feet when hiking a hill or any elevated surface.
Running Shoes
Running shoes are designed to be very breathable and lightweight. They provide good support on the running trails made of concrete or smooth surfaces. Since they are made from light materials like nylon, running shoes may get rupture more easily if worn too often on rocky terrains. With the shape same as the foot’s, they provide better grip or traction on the grounds.
Some of the other key points that add up to make the pros and cons of the running boots are as follows:
Breathable
Running shoes are more breathable than hiking boots. The hiking boots are made from light fabrics, making them perfect for light or summer hikes. Airflow in the feet is efficient; therefore, they don’t get sweaty.
Comfortable
Running shoes are for running on the tracks. That is why their soles are soft. They are comfortable but do not provide much traction on the hiking trails, especially on the terrains where the surface is rocky.
Fabric And Weight
The fabric of the running shoes is soft and breathable. The material used for fabric is nylon or other synthetic materials. Because of the lighter soles and breathable fabric, the running shoes are lightweight compared to the hiking boots. But are they durable? Well, depends where you are heading for the hike.
Which Option Is Better?
After discussing the pros and cons of hiking boots and running shoes, you may have already concluded. Running shoes are a very good option when considering going on a hike. If you are just a seasonal hiker and don’t want to invest much in hiking boots, running shoes are the best choice.
Running shoes are lightweight and also have a better grip. They support the feet and ankles and also keep them dry. When your feet remain dry on the terrain or after a hike, they will not get any blisters; hence you will be saved from many serious diseases. However, if we talk about the durability and lifespan of running shoes, it depends on the type of hike and how often you will go on a hike.
Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying Running Shoes
Kilometers In The Hike
It is important to know the length of your hiking terrain before jumping on and buying or wearing the running shoes. If the hiking terrain is only 1-2 hours, then it’s fine if you put on running shoes and go for hikes. However, if your terrain will last more than 4 hours, it is best to take trail running shoes or hiking boots with you.
Kind Of Hiking Terrains
You can be going on the hiking trails, or maybe you’ll be just running around in the city with comfy boots or shoes. Either way, running shoes will accommodate you if you’re on smooth surfaces. By smooth surfaces, we mean a nice leisure walk in the mall or famous short trails smoothed for the hikers. Otherwise, if you go on rocky terrains or forests, running shoes may get damaged.
The Steepness Of The Path
Apart from these, it also depends upon the steepness of the hiking terrains. If you’re planning to climb up the mountains or face any steep hills on the terrains, then you should not be wearing the running shoes. Because they cannot provide the support and that much of a firm grip when it comes to elevation or steepness, we would advise that you put on hiking boots in this scenario.
The Weather Conditions
It would help if you kept in mind the weather conditions before jumping onto the trail. Running shoes are breathable, which makes them good for the hikes, but in the places where surfaces are wet, running shoes do not tend to perform well, and your feet will get wet. That is why I chose dry places or terrains when wearing running shoes.
Final Thoughts
Can you hike in the running shoes? Absolutely yes, but it depends on the type of terrain and how much is the length of the trail that you’ll hike on. Running shoes are lightweight while providing a full grip on your feet and ankles while being on the terrain. That is why many pro hikers prefer them.
If you’re unsure when to wear running shoes and hiking boots, you must read the full article. To summarize the process, you should wear hiking boots when climbing the mountains or going for 4 hours or more of long hikes.
You will get maximum support needed by your feet and ankles to do the job that is carrying you and extra backpack weight. Hiking boots are durable and are water-resistant, preventing feet from getting wet due to wet terrains.
While the running shoes are for the seasonal hikers who don’t travel or hike for more than 2 hours, running shoes will speed you up on the smooth trails and provide ample support to the feet without letting any stress affect your agility. Also, they are more breathable, so they are an excellent choice for sunny weather hikes.
By saying that, choosing the boots or shoes is every hiker’s personal choice. We can say that you must select the shoes after knowing that they will prove to be comfortable and complete all of the requirements you need on the hikes.