• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

TotalHiker

Your Hiking Guide

  • Apparel
  • Gear
  • Hikes
  • Info
Total Hiker > Apparel > Hiking Boots & Shoes

Hiking Boots, Shoes, Socks, Blisters and Everything Else Below The Ankle

Selecting appropriate hiking boots for a planned hike is essential to keep the feet well supported, happy, and healthy.

Improper footwear on a long hike in the wilderness can lead to a rolled ankle, sore feet, crushed toes, or blisters.

Here are four of the most popular styles of hiking footwear

Runners

Similar in style to running shoes, the trail runners are more heavy-duty and come with a stiffer mid-sole, heel brakes, increased support, and aggressive tread patterns.

An advantage of this hiking footwear is the lightweight construction which provides quick and easy movement. Plus, trail runners are great over a long distance because there is a lower chance of blisters.

The preferred use for this footwear is trail running, ultra-light backpacking, and light-load day hikes.

A negative of the trail runners is that they aren’t water-resistant and unable to protect against the most difficult climatic conditions.

Light Hikers

Low-profile light hikers are a next step up from the trail runners and give extra durability, support, and protection. Hiking boots of this nature are perfect for the more technical terrain because of the high stability, stiff sole and excellent traction.

This style of footwear is perfect for those wanting better durability and traction with the heft and bulk of the all-out backpacking or hiking boots.

The reliable traction means they are useful on the most difficult terrain. Plus, many of these boots come with a water-resilient membrane to give an ideal level of support in rainy weather.

Mid-Weight Hiking Boots

Use the mid-weight hiking boots (mid-high tops) to get better support in the area of the ankles.

Plus, these hiking boots give useful traction when moving across the more difficult terrain. The benefits of these boots include a higher ankle cuff, secure fit, durable construction, and great comfort.

Even though the extra cuff area will add weight to the boots, they are still quite lightweight and more comfortable to wear compared to mountaineering or backpacking boots.

Heavy Backpacking Boots

An upgrade to the hiking boots is the fully backpacking footwear that comes with heavy out-soles to handle the rough terrain, high cuffs for better ankle support, and stiff soles to make it more comfortable when hauling heavy loads.

The main focus of the heavy-duty backpacking boots is to ensure the feet are well protected when hauling fully packed backpacks in the wilderness. Boots with stiff soles are useful for lower foot fatigue and giving a stable platform when walking over rocks and thick roots.

The stiff, thick construction of these hiking boots give the desired support and comfort while maintaining the proper alignment of the ankle even when passing over the more uneven paths.

A negative of the heavy backpacking boots relates to the weight which means the feet are less nimble. These boots aren’t a practical option for the day hikers, ultra-light backpackers, or thru-hikers.

Go with the heavy boots if planning to hike with a fully loaded backpack and a great option for trail or wilderness work.

How To Use Leukotape For Blisters

How To Use Leukotape For Blisters – Treatment & Prevention

Leukotape tape is a high tensile adhesive bandage impregnated with zinc oxide that can be used to prevent and treat blisters.

Find out more >>

November 9, 2023

Tips for Blister Prevention and Care

Tips for Blister Prevention and Care When Hiking

Blister prevention and care is essential to avoid pain and discomfort on the trails.

So follow our tips to help you avoid or minimize the effect of blisters

October 18, 2023

What is the difference between women’s and men’s hiking boots?

From fit and construction to weight, click here to learn the difference between women’s and men’s hiking boots specifically for each gender >>

April 14, 2023

The Ultimate Guide on How to Choose the Right Hiking Boots

Learn how to choose your perfect hiking boots.

Get tips on fit, support, traction, waterproofing, material and more here >>

April 12, 2023

What Are The Best Hiking Sandals

What Are The Best Hiking Sandals for 2023?

Looking to invest in a hiking sandal but not sure where to start?

We’ve sorted through to find the best options for all needs. See our picks here >>

April 12, 2023

How Long Do Hiking Boots Last

How Long Do Hiking Boots Last? The Ultimate Test of Time

How long should your hiking boots last and when do you need to replace them?

Find the answers you need in our guide >>

January 21, 2023

What Are The Best Hiking Boots?

What Are The Best Hiking Boots in 2023? See Our Top Picks

A solid pair of hiking shoes or boots are the most important piece of kit for a hiker.

But with all the choice out there, which are the best for you?

January 20, 2023

Different Types of Hiking Boots & Shoes

What Are The Different Types of Hiking Boots & Shoes?

Hiking boots are essential for any serious hiking, but the choice is bewildering.

We unpick the jargon so you can get a better idea of what you need >>

July 11, 2021

How Should Hiking Boots Fit

How Should Hiking Boots Fit? Our Guide To Fitting & Adjusting Your Boots

Unsure what a good fit means when it comes to hiking boots?

This guide will help ensure you find a comfortable and blister-free boot >>

July 11, 2021

How To Break In Hiking Boots

How To Break In Hiking Boots And How Long Should It Take?

New hiking boots, time to hit the trails? Even boots that are exactly the right size need to be broken in to be their best.

Find out how here >>

May 20, 2020

Footer

  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • About Total Hiker
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2025 Total Hiker

Affiliate Disclosure

We believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to this site. With this in mind, please be aware that we may receive remuneration for some of the products we review on this site.

Total Hiker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com (and other Amazon programs).

We will also list ads from time to time. You should be able to see these as text links or blocks of ads which have a small notation indicating “Ads by Google” or “AdChoices”.

Our mission is to help our visitors, but this is also very clearly a for-profit site and you should realize as much. We include only those products that we believe could benefit you, some of which we may get a commission if you purchase them. However, we also provide links on the site to information resources for which we receive no compensation.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact us using the "contact" option on the site menu and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Being Social

FaceBook

Twitter

Trademark Dislosure

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

In addition, any other trademarks and logos we mention on this site are also the property of their respective owners.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
SAVE & ACCEPT