Hiking Shoes

Light, low-cut hiking shoes are comfy, but wear out fast

If you're mainly hiking on easier trails and don't need extra ankle protection, low-cut hiking shoes are lightweight and relatively inexpensive -- though not necessarily durable. Reviews recommend a few models for backpacking loads up to 30 pounds. Most experts, however, are more conservative, saying they're fine for ultralight backpacking with loads of 25 pounds or less, but really best for day hikes. Quite a few day hikers and ultralight backpackers prefer trail-running shoes, but if you hike on rocky trails, hiking shoes will give you a beefier sole to protect the bottoms of your feet.

When it comes to deciding the best low-cut hiking shoe, there isn't much consensus among reviewers. This could be because, as with running shoes, fit varies enormously from person to person. Low-cut hiking shoes aren't constructed to last for years, which explains why we read so many complaints about long-term durability for this class of hiking shoes.

The Patagonia Drifter A/C (*Est. $120) , wins the 2010 Outside magazine Gear of the Year award, based on tests of more than 70 hiking boots in varied conditions. This low-cut hiking shoe earns top ratings for both comfort and support. Editors praise the traction of the "toothy Vibram tread that stuck to everything from loose scree to slick rocks," and find the sole stiff enough to support loads up to 25 pounds. Generous padding at both ankles and heels make for minimal break-in. 

The A/C stands for "air conditioned" -- and the Patagonia Drifter A/C has plenty of breathable mesh panels to keep feet cool in summer. Some experts -- at BackpackingLight.com, for example -- say non-waterproof shoes like this dry fast enough after rain or a stream crossing that they're more comfortable on long hikes than shoes with waterproof linings. However, Outside magazine recommends the similar but waterproof Patagonia Drifter GTX (*Est. $140) if you hike often in wet and muddy conditions.

Outside magazine editors were less enthusiastic about the light sport hikers featured in their 2011 Gear of the Year pick -- the Merrell Avian (*Est. $100) . They note that these hikers "didn't induce blisters" on a long trek, but don't have much specific to say about them or how much of a load they can support. The Patagonia Drifter A/C, still in production, appears to be a much stronger recommendation.

We didn't find any complaints about wet feet in tests of the La Sportiva Exum Pro. This lightweight, airy hiking shoe earns top ranking in a Backpacker magazine comparison review of hiking shoes priced around $100 or less. The Exum Pro is no longer in production, but you can still find the Oboz Sawtooth (*Est. $100) , a mesh-leather shoe that was a close runner-up in the same Backpacker tests. A pair of Oboz Sawtooths weighs just 1 pound, 11 ounces, and is the most durable lightweight hiker in the $100 or less comparison, with one tester declaring them to be impenetrable. The review also notes "superior torsion control" without the sole being too stiff. Perhaps a trade-off for this sturdiness is some mild stiffness in the ankle when first trying the shoes on, although this is nothing compared to the standard break-in period of heavier boots. The Seattle Times also selects the Sawtooth as an excellent light hiking shoe in 2010, with four of eight testers declaring it the "most comfortable low-topped hiking shoe they'd ever worn." The same Seattle Times review mentions the Merrell Moab Ventilator (*Est. $75) , which is designed for low- to mid-volume feet.

The Moab Ventilator also receives a nod from Mark Anders in a hiking boot buying guide for Boy's Life magazine; Anders says that the Ventilators "feel like a pair of comfy running shoes." The Merrell Moab is quite popular with user reviewers, with positive reviews split between the ventilated and Gore-Tex versions. In a comparative review with other lightweight shoes, The Seattle Times notes that the Moab can slip on snow. The Ventilator receives excellent Amazon.com and Moosejaw.com reviews for its comfort. It has attracted quite a few positive reviews on REI.com, although some users complain about the durability of the soles and the laces. Durability complaints are to be expected with lightweight hiking shoes, but the lack of expert endorsements, plus the relatively lower ratings on REI.com, keep this from beating out the Keen Voyageur (*Est. $100) for top summer shoe ranking.

Although Keen's proprietary waterproofing membrane couldn't match Gore-Tex in Backpacker magazine's testing, that's not a concern with the Keen Voyageur, our best-reviewed pick for lightweight summer hiking shoes in both the men's and women's models. Good Housekeeping reports that these shoes shed mud and dirt easily, and were a favorite for fit and plenty of toe room, one of the most important aspects of sizing hiking boots to fit your feet. User reviews on Amazon.com and REI.com repeatedly cite the Voyageur for its comfort and excellent performance, however users complained that the Lo model wore out quickly, an issue we found to be universal for light trail shoes. Users seemed better satisfied with the durability of the Keen Voyageur Mid, which is an apt choice if you need more ankle support.

The all-leather Lowa Renegade II GTX Lo (*Est. $185) costs more but is a solid hiking shoe that comes in more widths: three for men, two for women. The women's version is built on a women's last, which experts say improves the chances of getting a good fit. In fact, this is the top-rated shoe in a review by Wendy Bumgardner, the About.com guide to walking.

The Lowa Renegade II GTX Lo hiking shoes are built with waterproof all-leather uppers plus a Gore-Tex lining that's seamless for extra comfort. The trade-off is that they can get pretty warm in hot weather. We also found a few owner-written reviews saying the Renegade shoes don't fully protect feet from rocks, or provide enough support. However, the 2010 version has been upgraded with a slightly stiffer shank. We found scattered complaints about durability from owners, not uncommon for a shoe in this category. If you need a waterproof hiking shoe, this is it.

Mid-cut hiking shoes for more ankle support

Mid-cut hiking shoes offer some ankle support. The line between hiking shoes and hiking boots gets blurred at this point. Cut higher than low-cut hiking shoes, but not completely covering the ankle, mid-cut hiking shoes are just as often called hiking boots by some reviewers. 

Some hiking shoes come in both low-cut and mid-cut versions. The Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid (*Est. $200) , like the Lo version discussed above, comes in three widths for men, two for women -- a big plus when it comes to getting a good fit. Owners reviewing the Mid version at REI.com say it provides excellent traction, comfort and support.

The less expensive Keen Voyageur Mid (*Est. $110) isn't waterproof; rather, it builds in mesh for ventilation (and drainage if you really get wet). Tests of hiking shoes at Good Housekeeping give the Keen Voyageur Mid top ranking, praising its roomy toe box and overall comfort -- though editors say it's not the best choice for feet prone to sweat. This mid-cut hiking shoe earns especially high marks among women reviewing it at REI.com and at Backcountry.com, but it's also among the top-rated hiking shoes for men at Cabelas.com.

Most reviewers say the Keen Voyager Mid provides good traction and support as well as comfort. The main criticism we found -- of the men's version at REI.com, for example -- is that it's not very durable. This is typical of cushioned hiking shoes, however, which are only about as durable as running shoes. An average men's pair weighs about a pound and a half.

Before 2009, the waterproof Keen Targhee II Mid (*Est. $120) earned rave reviews for its eVent membrane, judged more breathable than Gore-Tex. In 2009, however, Keen began using its own proprietary membrane, KeenDry. More recent tests at Backpacker magazine conclude that this membrane isn't as breathable as Gore-Tex, and more recent user complaints about the waterproof membranes kept us from selecting the Targhee II as a best-reviewed summer shoe or lightweight waterproof hiker, although it's still a popular shoe.