Maybe you don’t hike often enough, or just don’t want to invest in a new pair of boots. Can you wear running shoes for hiking? Do you have to buy that new pair?

Whatever the reason behind not wanting hiking boots – maybe they cost a lot, or maybe you haven’t found the right ones yet – you may think your running shoes are good enough to wear when going hiking.

Running shoes are great for hiking! There will be differences between the types of running shoes, and some will provide a better experience than others. However, as a whole, all running shoes are fine for hiking safely.

But if running shoes and hiking boots are both okay, why do either of them exist in separate categories, anyway?

We went over the different types of hiking shoes, running shoes and the features that made them suitable for hiking. We also got opinions from hikers on what they thought worked best.

Why You don’t Necessarily Need Hiking Boots

The main thing about footwear when you head out to do something like hiking is that they should be comfortable and safe. That is, whatever you wear is fine, as long as you can be sure that it’s not going to make you fall, and it’s not cutting into your skin.

So, for example, you wouldn’t want to wear high heels when you’re out hiking because not only are they uncomfortable, they’re also not safe. You can make your fashion statement in plenty of other ways!

Hiking boots are made with hiking in mind, but in a lot of cases they’d be overkill. For very serious hikers who are climbing up difficult and tricky mountain trails, they may be a better option. But if you’re headed out on an easy hike or just want to look at nature as you go along, hiking boots are definitely too much, and you can do the same thing in a pair of simple running shoes.

Are Running Shoes Good For Hiking?

Running shoes are comfortable, and they’re not as heavy as hiking boots. Plenty of people hike in running shoes, to the extent that even experienced and professional hikers are now starting to recommend running shoes for your hiking footwear.

Which isn’t wrong, but there’s a caveat!

Not all running shoes are good for hiking. When hikers say they hiked in running shoes, they mean they hiked in trail running shoes, rather than road running shoes – and since most of us don’t actually go looking for trail running shoes, it’s a lot more likely that the pair you own is a pair of road running shoes.

So, what’s the difference between the two?

Trail Running Shoes vs Road Running Shoes

Naturally, the difference in two exists because they’re made to do different things, and thus have different features specific to those things. This is obvious by the name – road running shoes are for roads, and trail running shoes are for trails.

But what is it about trails and roads that make the shoes different? Let’s consider some of these things.

Grip

Roads are generally smoother and flatter, and have a lot less rocks and loose soil. This means that when you run on the road, you can do so with a fair amount of ease, and don’t necessarily need something to hold you onto the road.

The opposite is true for trails! Trails have mud and dirt and rock, and thus any shoes meant for trails need better grip than you do for roads. In fact, road running shoes have a lot less traction and are much smoother than trail runners. When you use them too much, the tread wears down and becomes even smoother.

This means that road running shoes have very little grip to begin with, and lose it as you use them more and more. On the other hand, trail running shoes have a lot of grip to keep you from slipping on mud and rocks, etc. In fact, some trail runners have such excellent grip you can even use them in the snow!

If you want to hike on a trail, road runners won’t cut it because they won’t keep you from slipping on the unstable paths.

Durability

This is an essential part of any shoe. Whether you’re using it for hiking or anything else, you do want your shoes to last a long time. Good quality trail runners are designed to face the rough terrains of hiking trails, and will usually last quite a while.

Hiking boots, for example, are designed to last for hundreds of hikes, and while trail runners won’t be as great, they will probably last longer than plan road runners.

Road runners are expected to last about 500 miles, and when you factor in the uneven terrain they’re being used on, the probability is that they’ll last even less. So, your expensive new road runners will wear out before they’ve even lived out their entire life. In comparison, trail running shoes are probably better.

Toe Protection

Hiking is tough and aggressive work. On roads, you’re probably going to be safe from losing a few toenails because again, the road is smooth and stable. On the other hand, trails have bumps and rocks and things slipping out of place, and the likelihood of you getting hurt on your toes is much higher. This is especially true when you’re dragging your feet because you’re tired, and not keeping an eye out for bumps.

Road runners don’t come with toe protection, but trail runners always have some form of protection at the front.

Mesh Design

Once again, roads are clean and smooth and have a lot less debris flying around than trails. On top of that, roads will most likely not have mud and puddles here and there, while trails do.

That means that on the trail, your shoes are very likely to get wet and muddy, and if there’s any sharp pieces around, scraped and scratched too. Road running shoes will not account for any of this, so they will often have a wide mesh design, which is more likely to get soaked and dirty, and even torn.

Trail runners will most likely be designed with anti-debris mesh instead, which dry a lot faster and are also breathable. This keeps the shoe safe from getting torn and dirty, and also protects your foot.

Higher Tops

Now, this one will depend, since there are plenty of road shoes that have high tops and plenty of trail shoes with low tops. But you’re much more likely to find high tops in trail shoes than road shoes.

These keep tiny rocks and stones from slipping into your shoes while you hike, and also provide some degree of rain protection. On the road, this isn’t much of a problem, so most road shoes will not offer higher tops.

Can Running Shoes Be Bad For Hiking?

Running shoes aren’t inherently good or bad for hiking, and a lot of it depends greatly on who’s hiking, and where.

An experienced hiker will probably find it a lot easier to hike with running shoes than an absolute beginner, who isn’t used to trails, but if the trail is a very difficult and tricky one, then maybe running shoes won’t be a good idea for either of them.

That said, as long as they’re safe and comfortable, your shoes aren’t necessarily good or bad for hiking. You can technically hike just as well in road runners as trail runners, though trail runners will make your life a lot easier.

With road runners, the most important thing to keep in mind is that they offer significantly less grip, which can make them dangerous on slippery, steep trails – especially if there’s a lot of loose and steep rock involved. In such cases, road runners would probably be a bad idea, no matter what. In fact, in such cases, you might as well do your feet a favor and invest in hiking boots.

On the other hand, a light walk in the woods would probably be better with simple running shoes – trail or road, whichever you have or prefer – and hiking boots would be overkill.

So, while running shoes can be used for hiking, trail runners are a lot better than road runners, any day. But if you hike often enough, hiking boots are much better than trail runners, so investing in a pair would be a good idea.