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Tactical Hiking Boots & Hiking Shoes

When it comes to outdoors, your footwear needs to protect and support you from the terrain, weather conditions, and length of hike or excursion. There are three basic categories for hiking footwear: Trail Runners, Hiking Shoes, and Hiking Boots.

• Trail Runners- Trail runners are multi-purpose and lightweight. Some hikers wear these types of shoes for long hikes on a variety of terrains. When wearing trail runners, hikers are normally not carrying a heavy amount of weight, so they do not require the additional foot support that heavier hiking boots offer. These shoes typically have a thin rubber outsole and weigh less than 20 oz per pair.
• Hiking Shoes- Although trail runners are sometimes considered hiking shoes, there are differences between the two. A key difference is that hiking shoes have a thicker outsole designed with composite rubber and lugs so that they have improved traction. They also incorporate a shank combined with a thinner upper and weigh about 2-3 lbs. per pair.
• Hiking Boots- Hiking boots are more durable, they keep your feet dry and warm, plus they have an enhanced foot cushion with additional ankle support. Some tactical hiking boots have composite or steel toes for protection from heavy boulders or foreign objects. Hiking boots are heavier than hiking shoes or trail runners since they have added features to give the hiker insulation, a rigid outsole for traction, and waterproofing elements for cooler weather conditions. Depending on the additional support features, tactical hiking boots can weigh more than 5 lbs. per pair.

When determining what type of hiking boot to buy, you must consider some of your required features, which may include; the amount of traction, whether waterproof or not, how much ankle support you need, and what level of the sole is needed for the terrains hiked.