Hiking can be strolling along pleasing wilderness and enjoying the horizon or climbing up rugged terrains. But are hiking boots necessary to enjoy all that?

Some people are just beginning their hiking experiences and might want to take it easy. Others might be looking for more demanding challenges consisting of the most challenging terrains with slippery mud, crossing ponds, etc. Hiking boots offer many benefits, while other footwear doesn’t. But do you really need them?

Hiking boots are not necessary for all trails. Whether you need hiking boots depends on the trail you will hike. Are you going for a long or a short hike? What’s the weather condition? What’s the terrain type? How comfortable do you want to be? These are some questions that affect your decision.

If you are careful on the hike, you will be able to make it through almost any trail without hiking boots unless you are going on a frozen mountain. However, given the difficulty of the various circumstances, not having hiking boots might affect your performance and result in a painful and extended hiking experience. In the end, it’s all about your preference and what you want to achieve.

We are experienced hikers who relied on running shoes for many hikes and only wished they had moved to hiking boots sooner. Although we aren’t hiking boot advocates, we’re here to guide you about the usage, benefits, and application of hiking boots so you can make an informed decision for your hike.

Benefits of Hiking Boots

As we said, hiking boots are not an absolute necessity, but they offer many benefits to improve your hiking experience. These benefits are the reason why hikers choose hiking boots over other alternatives. Take a look at them below.

Traction

Traction is the most significant reason hiking boots are the top choice for challenging hikes. If you are into cars and tires, you will know the importance of traction on the road. Similarly, hiking involves a combination of surfaces that vary in slipperiness, smoothness, and ruggedness. Hiking boots have more profound and detailed tread patterns that provide you with better traction on various surfaces.

The tread pattern consists of detailed grooves and lugs with a combination of designs to offer versatility and better grip on slippery surfaces that can be rocks and mud on the trail. Normal running and trail running shoes have less traction, which is good for smoother terrains. But terrains with uneven and slippery grounds demand more traction from the boots to keep you safe.

Ankle Support

Hiking boots have ankle support, which is one highly useful advantage you would like to have within your footwear. Ankle support is a component beneath the ankle area that prevents you from getting ankle injuries. When hiking across uneven terrains with a loaded backpack, a slight misstep can cause disbalance, resulting in ankle twisting. This can be immensely painful and deadly if you are far away from medical help.

Ankle support helps your ankle with stability, so you don’t get hurt. Ankle support might not be necessary if you are lively and carrying no or less weight. But if you have a bad ankle or other foot conditions, it is best to stay safe by choosing hiking boots to have ankle support.

Sturdiness

As discussed, trails consist of a mixture of surfaces, making them rigid and demanding. Across your hiking experiences, you will be stepping into mud pits, damp sand, rivers, ponds, and walking on jagged rocks and fallen tree branches. These are extremely demanding conditions, so you will need shoes that can tackle all of them without wearing them out. Hiking boots are super sturdy and made to withstand these same challenges.

The sturdiness of hiking boots makes them durable. They are resistant to scrapes and tears, providing great value for your money. Our group bought our hiking boots together. Over four years, we have gone through some intense challenges on our trails, but our boots are going strong and looking for more.

Waterproof

There is only one thing worse than walking in water-soaked shoes - hiking in mud-soaked shoes. As you hiking usually involves crossing wet surfaces, including rivers, streams, and sloppy mud. Hiking in regular shoes that are not waterproof means dealing with tacky and irritating feelings all day long. If there is a lack of sunlight, your shoes might not even dry until the following day.

However, hiking shoes are highly waterproof and can keep your feet dry for long periods. So if you want to hike without worrying about stepping into the mud or avoiding crossing rivers, hiking boots will save your day. You can easily scrape the mud off after it has dried to shed the additional stiffness and weight.

Protection from Sharp Objects

Getting your feet punctured from thorns or damaging your tissue by stepping on a sharp rock is the last thing you will want on the hike. Some hiking trails have smooth sand and a clear path to the top. But such pieces of cake are rarely the case with most hiking trails. Most trails are rigid and filled with items that can penetrate your shoes and injure you. Hiking boots are tough and stiff, protecting you from damaging your feet and helping you reach the top in the best shape.

Protection from Weather

Temperature is another vital aspect that hiking boots take care of. Frostbite is a common yet deadly condition. If your feet are exposed to below-freezing temperatures, the whole feet or some parts can freeze and break off. It is a highly challenging condition, and it is best not to take a risk. Hiking boots are thick and waterproof. They keep your feet warm and dry, so you have a better chance of skipping frostbite.

However, the weather works the other way round as extreme hot temperatures can burn your feet. Regular shoes have more breathability, but it also causes more heat to enter the shoe. The burning ground can quickly wear down the shoe's sole, leaving your feet exposed, eventually harming your skin. While the hiking boots are thicker and cause more sweating, they will save your feet from the fiery ground. Anyone would choose to deal with sweat-soaked socks and feet instead of having their feet fried.

Drawbacks of Hiking Boots

Many advantages compel hikers to opt for hiking boots. On the other hand, some disadvantages cause stirs that you might want to consider before buying a new pair of hiking boots.

Heavier and Bulkier

One of the main drawbacks of hiking boots is the increased weight that comes with them. Hiking boots are made from thicker and heavier material to allow extended wear periods and keep sharp objects from easily damaging the boots. Unfortunately, this results in heavier and bulkier boots that slow you down. The ankle support is another added element that contributes to better safety and more weight.

Take Longer to Break-In

Since hiking boots are made from hard elements to enhance their longevity, a drawback is that it takes longer for hiking boots to break in. You will have to deal with utmost discomfort and irritation for your first few hikes before the boots break in and the base takes the shape of your feet. Once you are past the hard shape phase, the boots will eventually become more comfortable and contribute to better performance.

However, the bad news is that it takes several weeks to break in, and that period can cause immense pain. Depending on the usage, it can take one to four weeks for hiking boots to break in. It is recommended to wear hiking boots for daily use to get past the break-in period. This will help avoid fatigue on hikes. But if you have bought high-quality and well-fitted boots, it shouldn’t take that long.

Less Breathable

Breathability might not be on the top of your list, but it is a handy quality to have in your shoes. Hiking takes a lot of strength, and as a result, you will sweat more than usual. If you will hike in a hot and humid area, be ready for your feet to be soaking wet alongside your socks. Regular running shoes have a thinner mesh that allows more ventilation and breathability for your feet. It also helps in blood circulation, perhaps an important thing to keep moving forward.

Unfortunately, hiking boots are thick, which allows much less breathability. While it is a good thing to tackle extreme temperatures, you will have to bear your feet swimming in sweat and moisture.

Stiffer and Less Flexible

As we talked about earlier, hiking boots are stiffer, so it is hard for thorns and sharp rocks to damage the boots and your feet. The sturdiness also contributes to a longer life despite the rough and tough use. However, the boots are much less flexible than regular running and trail running shoes. It might not be a concern for short hikes and if you take many breaks in between. But hiking for long periods and on highly uneven terrains that require flexibility can cause pain and fatigue.

This is not so much of a concern for experienced hikers as they are used to the stiffness, and their boots have well molded into the shape of their feet. If you are only starting your hiking journey, try taking more breaks and going on easy treks to get comfortable in the boots first.

Expensive

Of course, hiking boots are more expensive than other alternatives, but they are indeed worth it. It is more a matter of perspective and preference, but if you find the benefits of hiking boots heavily weighted than its drawbacks, don’t be afraid to splash some extra bucks on high-quality boots. Their value speaks for themselves, and you will also save money on medical expenditures you might face due to not having hiking boots.

When Should You Consider Using Hiking Boots?

The benefits of hiking boots might have compelled you in favor of using hiking boots, or the drawbacks might have drawn you further away. However, it is a matter more complicated than that. Certain circumstances demand the distinctive qualities of hiking boots, and you shouldn’t consider the disadvantages. On other occasions, you don’t necessarily need hiking boots. Alternatives such as running shoes and hiking sandals can work well.

Below, we have mentioned essential questions you should ask to decide if hiking boots are necessary.

What Is the Trail Distance?

The first thing you should consider is the distance of your trek. Non-hiking boots or shoes can provide you with a decent hiking experience unless you exceed a certain hiking distance. Hikes less than five miles are suitable for regular shoes. However, any distance more than that will strain your shoes more than they can bear. They will wear out quicker, and the lack of support and protection can damage your feet.

Hiking shoes are made to combat tough conditions alongside long distances. They are rigid and have the protection features to keep your feet safe. So if you are going for a long hike, hiking boots are the right choice. You don’t want to reach the top with blisters on your feet.

What Is the Terrain Type?

As the hiking boots have different tread patterns that suit varying terrain types, it is vital to consider the terrain of your trail. Terrains with fewer variations and even surfaces are easier to hike, no matter the elevation. Small rocks and mud are usually the easier ones that you can hike in non-hiking boots.

However, things can get tougher the higher up you go on the mountain or the deeper you go into a forest. You can encounter slippery and jagged rocks and a path full of bushes. If your shoes’ tread pattern is not suitable for the terrain, you can be in for a tricky challenge. In that case, hiking boots will provide a better experience and help you maintain your footing in challenging circumstances.

What Is the Weather Like?

As discussed, the weather is an important factor in deciding whether you should wear hiking boots to your trek. Moderate weather allows you to wear normal shoes that have light material so you can also enjoy the breathability. Hiking boots also provide breathability to an extent, but the thicker material is useless if the weather doesn’t pose a threat.

But your hiking can go sideways quickly if the weather worsens. Especially if you are on a trail for multiple days, it is best to study the forecast beforehand, so you know what kind of weather you will be dealing with. If you know the weather is either too hot or below freezing points, it is only wise to wear hiking boots if you want your feet to stay in one piece.

Will You be Crossing Water?

There is no shame in admitting that we all have stepped in a puddle at least once in our lives. But getting your feet all wet on a hike is a different challenge. You might not mistakenly step in a puddle, but you might be crossing a river or a pond when there is no way around it. Only specific shoes are waterproof. If you are not sure if your shoes are waterproof, it is better to stick with specialized hiking boots.

Even the non-waterproof hiking boots are thick enough to keep your feet dry for a short time. But if you know there is going to be a lot of water crossing along the way, you should get high-quality waterproof hiking boots to avoid making a pool in your boots.