Hiking Boots Vs. Trail Runners: Which To Get?

The Best Hiking Boots

Columbia Newton Ridge Plus II

The Newton Ridge Plus II hiking boots are feature leather and synthetic uppers that are fully waterproof. The outer parts of the boot are full-grain leather, and the tongue is made from breathable mesh. They feature seam-sealed construction, which doesn’t let any mud or puddles get in your way.

But they’re breathable enough that your feet shouldn’t get sweaty, provided that it isn’t 100 degrees outside. These boots run true to size, and they are available in half sizes. So, getting just the right fit shouldn’t be an issue.

They have a lightweight Techlite (EVA) midsole, which is comfortable, soft, and has superb impact absorption. This will help you get tires less quickly on the trails, and stop your feet from hurting even after hiking for hours.

The outsole of the boots features Columbia’s proprietary Omni-Grip technology. It is a non-marking rubber outsole with deep, multidirectional lugs for excellent grip and traction on different terrain types. They perform very well in mud, so dry terrain should be extremely easy in them.

The boots also feature a shank under the arch, for improved stability and support. And also flexibility – a feature important for difficult, rocky terrain. The only downside to these is that they don’t have particularly supportive insoles. But they are removable, so I would recommend replacing them with anatomical ones.

Hi-Tec Bandera Mid Hiking Boots

If affordability is your main concern, then these are the best boots for you. The Hi-Tec Bandera Mid Hiking Boots are the cheapest hiking boots in the review, but the price is definitely not a reflection of the quality and performance you can expect from them. Just a reflection of a good discount and a hot deal.

The Bandera boots have suede leather and mesh uppers. The suede leather is waterproof and the nylon mesh is breathable – a combination that ensures that no water can get inside the boot. But also lets the moisture inside the boots get out, and keeps your feet dry.

These boots are available in half sizes, and they mostly run true to size. So, it should be pretty easy to get the right fit. However, about 25% of people who bought these didn’t find their regular size to fit well, and most of them found the boots to be too small. If you are usually between two sizes, I would recommend going at least half a size up.

The boots have D-ring lacing with rustproof hardware, which improves their durability in prolonged exposure to elements. The outsole of the boots is rubber, and fairly thick – it will easily protect you from any sharp debris on the trail. In addition to that, because of the deep lugs, it provides you with a good amount of traction as well.

The boots lack cushioning in the insoles, but make up for it in the midsole area. The EVA midsoles are compression molded and have a steel shank, for lots of stability and support on the trails.

​Timberland White Ledge Mid Ankle Boots

The White Ledge boots feature seam-sealed construction. The uppers are made from leather that is treated to be waterproof during the tanning process. But there is a break-in period, and they are not exactly comfortable out of the box.

These Timberlands are equipped with their proprietary B.F.S.P. (brake support, flex, propel) system for enhanced traction. They have two pairs of flex groves, which promote flexion of the forefoot. Which means that you will expect lots of flexibility from these hiking boots.

However, the grooves and the lugs are not as deep as I would like. Because of that, I don’t think these are the best choice for some really slippery terrain, and I think the grip they offer is a bit underwhelming. But fine for dry terrain.

And they are really comfortable. The first boots so far to feature a proper footbed! White Ledge boots come with a dual-density EVA footbed, which will provide you with lots of arch support. Additionally, the footbed is perforated, so that the inside of the boots can breathe, and your feet don’t get too sweaty.

The lacing system of the boots is a combo of D-rings and speed hooks. The speed hooks just make everything faster, but not everyone is a fan of this feature. All the hardware on the boots is rustproof though.

​Merrell Moab 2 Mid Vent

MOAB stands for Mother Of All Boots, so my expectations were pretty high for these boots. And one thing where they surpassed even my expectations is comfort –there’s really no break-in period, and the boots are extremely comfortable right out of the box. Which is amazing.

They fit true to size and are available in half sizes, so you’ll be fine getting your usual size for hiking boots. The uppers of the boots are made from suede leather and mesh, for superb ventilation. The inside of the boots is also covered with mesh, and they have really great breathability – enough that you can comfortably wear them in the summer.

But that’s because they don’t have a waterproof membrane. So, I would not recommend these for snow and wet weather. There is a waterproof version of the MOAB boot though, so maybe check those out if that’s what you are looking for.

The boots have a Vibram (TC5+) outsole with 5mm deep multidirectional lugs. You will have really good traction and grip in these, and they are also quite flexible. Plus, there’s an air cushion in the heel, for enhanced stability and shock absorption.

They’re not the best boots in terms of arch support. They do have a nylon shank and a contoured EVA footbed, but their performance is average. There’s also an EVA midsole for added stability and comfort, which will be just right for people who don’t normally need a lot of arch support when hiking.

​Keen Targhee II Mid Waterproof

Keen Targhee hiking boots are an all-time best seller. They are made from waterproof nubuck leather on the outside, with a hydrophobic mesh lining on the inside. Because of that, they might be a little too hot in the warmer months. But perfect for winter and fall.

The Targhee boots run half a size small, so definitely order half a size larger than what you usually wear, to get the perfect fit. The break-in period is very short, and for some people, these are comfortable straight out of the box.

The Targhee II boots feature a Keen.Dry waterproof membrane. It’s Keen’s proprietary waterproofing technology, which lets vapor out of the boot but doesn’t let any water outside the boot penetrate the membrane.

The outsole is rugged, non-marking rubber with 4mm deep multidirectional lugs for good traction on all kinds of terrain. The boots also have an ESS shank and a contoured heel lock, for enhanced stability. Additionally, they are pretty flexible, so you will be completely fine on uneven terrain.

These boots are mid-cut, which provides you with just enough ankle support on the trails. As for arch support, they have both a metatomical dual-density EVA footbed and a compression-molded EVA midsole.

Because of them, the boots are really comfortable to wear and have great cushioning. But in case you generally need more arch support, you’ll be happy to know that the footbeds are removable.

The Best Trail Running Shoes

Whether it’s for trail running or a trail running shoe for hiking, the following are great choices.

Salomon Men's Speedcross 4 Trail Running Shoe

These Speedcross trail runners are actually the fourth generation of the model. With each version Salomon has improved their original shoe, and these ones are pretty close to perfection. Their uppers are made from anti-debris mesh and water resistant textile, and they are pretty durable.

The shoes have a rubber outsole with very deep multidirectional lugs, for an aggressive grip. That makes them perfectly suitable for muddy and soft terrain and guarantees good stability even at faster paces. However, they are not waterproof, so avoid stepping in puddles or deep mud, if you want your feet to stay dry.

They have a quick lace system that allows for one-pull tightening. Putting them on and adjusting them is quick and easy – one area where trail runners always have an advantage over hiking boots.

But the area where these excel is cushioning. They have an injected EVA midsole, and an Orthollite insole on top of that, for great shock absorption. This is important when you’re moving at faster paces because it keeps your feet from tiring.

These feature a Sensifit design – they cradle the foot to provide a secure and almost customized fit. They run a little small, so maybe go half a size up. But, they are supposed to fit snug, so don’t panic if there’s no wiggle room for your toes.

New Balance Men's Mt410v5 Cushioning Trail Runner

If you’re looking for lightweight trail runners for this summer, but can’t afford to spend a lot of money, these are a good option. New Balance Men’s Mt410v5 Cushioning Trail Runner is pretty affordable (under $50), but the price really depends on the size and color you want. If you don’t really care about aesthetics, definitely check out how much your size costs in each of the colors.

And you should get these in at least half a size bigger than what you normally wear because they do run small. If you have wide feet, I recommend going for the Extra Wide (XV) sizing of the shoe, because they are pretty narrow.

The uppers of the shoes are made from a mixture of synthetic and breathable mesh. The ventilation on them is really good, so you can safely wear them in the summer. Your feet will stay cool and dry even in the middle of August. But they’re obviously not waterproof, so avoid stepping in streams or puddles.

They feature an AT (All Terrain) Tread rubber outsole, which is designed to perform well on different types of terrain. And the shoes have a lot of cushioning (an EVA midsole and an insole) that provide you with shock absorption at faster paces, as well as stability.

One downside is that insoles are not great at all. It’s not memory foam – actually, it’s not any memorable technology. But you can remove it and put your own insoles inside the shoes, which will be much more comfortable and provide you with more support.

adidas Men's Terrex Tracerocker Trail Running Shoe

The Terrex Tracerocker shoes are made from mesh with synthetic panels for added support. They are very breathable, and a great choice for warmer months. Your feet will stay dry in these shoes, but only if you don’t step directly in water, because they are not waterproof.

They don’t retain water, so your shoes won’t feel slushy even after you’ve walked through mud. And they actually perform really well in it – the grip and traction are great, especially on softer terrain. Which is pretty obvious from just looking at the rubber outsole – the lugs are deep, multidirectional and there’s a lot of them.

These fit mostly true to size, but if you’re usually between two sizes, go for the larger one. Especially if you have wide feet since there is no wide size option. But at least the lace system makes it easy to tighten them, in case you get a size that’s just a bit too big.

What about comfort? They feature an EVA midsole that provides you with lots of cushioning. But the insoles are not great – they are not as cushioned as you would want in a running shoe. When you’re moving at faster paces you need a lot of shock absorption so your feet don’t get tired. Because of that, I would suggest that you replace the insoles with better ones.

Saucony Peregrine 7

The Peregrine shoes are designed for runners. They are lightweight, comfortable, cushioned and have a really rugged outsole. Actually, they have a PWRTRC outsole for great grip and traction on all terrain types. And just from looking at it, you can tell that it’s going to perform very well.

They are not water resistant at all, so be extra careful when stepping on wet terrain. Also, they are cut a little lower than most other trail runners, which means that you’ll have virtually no ankle support in these. But they are also one of the lighter pair of trail runners and that makes them a great choice for fast-paces hikes and runs.

One downside to these shoes is that they are not too breathable. After a while, your feet will start to sweat, and they don’t really react well to humidity. The insole gets wrinkled and rolls up, which is not at all comfortable. This might also happen on downhill hikes, so perhaps consider putting better insoles in these.

But at least they have a good amount of cushioning. The EVERUN cushions don’t let your feet get tired, and have a high energy return. Which is very important for runners. Another thing that’s really good about these is the TPU exoskeleton. It secures your foot, and provides you with extra stability and protection from the elements and debris on the trail.

Merrell Men's Trail Glove 4 Runner

There’s a reason why these are called Trail Glove Shoes – they are designed for a sock-like fit and barefoot feel, but with all the protection you would get from regular trail runners. They are the lightest shoes we’ve featured in this review, and they are a really good option for advanced runners.

And the outsole won’t disappoint you on hikes either. These shoes feature a Vibram TC5 outsole with 3mm lugs that are very grippy. You’ll basically have the same amount of traction on soft and hard terrain, which is great. However, they perform best when you’re moving at fast paces, and aren’t really made for long, slow hikes.

The uppers of the shoes are made from mesh and TPU, with breathable mesh lining inside. They have good ventilation, which is supposed to keep your feet cool and dry even when it is really hot outside.

Additionally, these shoes feature a Trailprotect pad, which protects you from debris on the trail. This is a useful feature, especially because they have very little cushioning.

Which does make them a bit more flexible for uneven terrain, but also means that they don’t have the best shock absorption. And that you won’t have amazing support and stability in them. But you can change that, by adding your own anatomical insoles in the shoes.