Footwear on the trail | Which is best? | Hiking Boots vs Trail Runners vs Hiking Shoes

The big debate, Trail runners vs Hiking Boots? Are trail runners really worth it? Do hiking boots really help with ankle support? Check out my video and find out!
Products featured in video:
Salomon Authentic LTR GTX Backpacking Boot
www.backcountr...
Columbia Crestwood Waterproof Hiking Shoe
www.columbia.c...
Salomon XA Pro 3D Trail-Running Shoe
www.salomon.co...
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[@lourdesm.velandia-calderon3486]

LOL 😄 Camping shoes, that's funny. In a way it is a day camp at least for me. I just joined a local hiker's group & looking for the best day hike shoes. So far your video is well done!

[@GreggObst]

This was a very helpful and comprehensive overview of all three. I've been enjoying my Merrell Moab 2 boots and hiking shoes and I have a pair of Hoka Speedgoat 5s trail runners that I'm really looking forward to using when section hiking on the AT. It will be intresting how all three types stack up for my own range of hiking types. This gives me a good list of factors to compare with. Thanks.

[@mattbundt9986]

No problem! I switched over to exclusively using saucony trail runners (exception winter) since this video and I’ve been so pleased with them so far. I’ve heard great things about the Moab boots.

[@melissas_cozy_corner]

This was super helpful. We have been going on 25k hikes and just wearing our regular runners, so we have been looking at hiking shoes, but didn't really have an idea on what we should get. Thanks for the great information!

[@mattbundt9986]

Melissa Castle - Melissa's Little Baking Company no problem! Happy it helped, enjoy the trails!

[@richardhislop-harvestthena4882]

Trail runners all day long for AT backpacking for me... also I need to let my ankle muscles support what they were created to support they don't need help if you work them out. Boots are the worst and take forever to dry out like you said. Trail runners for me are the way to go light, dry faster, and good foot support on the trail.

[@skobodabaws8946]

Indeed! Im a long distance hiker n i don't like camping so i hike in one day n Runners are d best! Grip, comfort, energy return n light too

[@JASONMONT76]

not sure if anyone has mentioned but a sock full of rice has always worked great for me when drying out the inside of my boots. hope this helps.

[@20Hikecdt23]

I am a 68 year old and when I'm 70 will make another attempt at the CDT. I hiking experience as a young adult (another lifetime ago. Some of which I was out for two months. Always in boots). In the last 10 years have hiked section hikes on CDT and AT. This was always done in boots. However my last attempt at CDT was in Keen hiking shoes, blister city. I met other hiking shoe hikers with blisters too. Pretty common. I look at the CDT and know if I use hiking shoes I will end up spending more money on them then if I just got a good pair of boots. Then there is the vibram sole I long for also (had it in former hiking boots. Always awesome hate to hike without it). Comment/question: does not ones body adapt to the "extra" weight of the boot after a few weeks and make the adjustments (build strength, endurance, etc., that one might not have at the start of the hike-"trail legs", etc? Perhaps the people who shift to hiking shoes are not giving themselves enough time to make it to that point? OR have a poor fit, OR are not using adequate socks? Well, all this makes me seriously consider taking my Salomons or purchasing a new pair say of Danners or a new pair of Salomon hiking boots. Please reply and thanks for the fine video and the reply if you are able. On wetness-I carry a lightweight hiking sandal for water work (like Gila river hiking on CDT). Thus avoiding obvious wet problems. This would mitigate the problem with wet hiking boots. I guess I am trying to talk myself into hiking boots. Stability, wide platform, good grip, durability, buy only once (hope)-This is very attractive to me. The rush to hiking shoes and the industry seems to be a fad. I think this because replacing every 300-500 miles is real turn off. OK, Really would love to read your input. Thanks. -White Mexican

[@treebeardtheent2200]

You more or less nailed it, but few things are harder to overcome than some generational trends. Far too many newbee hikers who think they are experts (Kruger-Dunning Effect) would rather put their lives and health at risk than to ever admit that old-timer wisdom is superior to their new fad. If you study the hiker tragedies of recent years, the common denominator which nobody is willing to admit is inadequate (overly flimsey) footwear, pafticularly on snowy mountains.

[@treebeardtheent2200]

I wear a medium/low hiking "boot" not for ankle support (mine are strong) but for ankle protection. I really don't know what to call them since they aren't really boots imo, but they are much more robust than the flimsey ninja slipper type popular "trail runners" The ones I wear are made specifically for hiking - the right tool for the task imo. Years ago I was a trail runner and even then, carrying nothing but water (sometimes) I preferred a tougher more durable trail running shoe than these things that people call trail runners these days.

[@viveviveka2651]

I found it difficult at first to go beyond standard sizing. Things have been much better for me now that I've gone up a full size (a full size above what most shoe-department experts would recommend). Much, much better now, happier and free of pains, blisters, overheating, over-perspiring and other problems. The extra room serves another purpose as well that isn't necessarily obvious. With each step, there is some extra air circulation inside, around your feet. The action of walking tends to cause a bit of air to be exhaled and inhaled inside and around the feet with every step. I can really notice the difference - significantly more pleasant.

[@papajeff5486]

Replacing trail runners every 500-600 miles is truly an expensive bummer. During a thru-hike, once one has established trail legs, the legs build muscle to accommodate the weight of the shoes or boots. Therefore, that leg fatigue, because of the extra ounces of weight of the boot, is gone. With the boots, one still has the good boot that will last several years and possibly a rebuild or two. Kentucky

[@alexanderfriis1]

Good video. Good content. Music is distracting. But good content bro 👍

[@valiantzest]

Would you recommend trail runners in muddy terrains? They usually aren't waterproof

[@treebeardtheent2200]

A salesperson at a high priced outdoor gear store is a salesperson first and last. They really don't care what is best for a person. You might glean some info from such a person, but don't give them too much credit. A hiker has to become an expert on his or her own feet. There is no such thing as a good brand for everyone. Brands tend to have certain characteristics like overtight toe boxes (Danner), lack of durability (trendy shoes), Too narrow or too wide, etc. Not all feet are alike, but very few if any brands accommodate more than a few variations. It's critically important to find one or two brands that match your type of foot. You have to not fall for marketing hype or you'll likely get this wrong.

[@viveviveka2651]

Over decades of hiking, I went lighter and lighter, sometimes hiking in sandals or flip flops. I do not recommend the latter at all. With the extra weight of a backpack, toe-stubbing becomes extra intense. Bad. Really really bad. Big toe meets sharp granite rock in the middle of a power leg swing.... My favorites at this point are the best of the extra-breathable trail runners. But a variety of similar footwear works just fine as well.

[@RC-qf3mp]

You leave out two important categories of footwear for the trail: 1) sandals, 2) barefoot. For sandals, there are the protective, toe-covered sandals, like what Keen’s makes, or open toe. There are also minimalist sandals, like the Xero z-trek. These are amazing, will last forever, longer even than boots, and allow maximum breathability. They have good traction too. You left off minimalist shoes in general - and there are minimalist shoes of various categories. By ‘minimalist’ i mean zero-drop AND no cushion. And most people who buy those also just take out the insoles. The whole point of minimalist hiking shoes (trail runners, sandals or boots) is to get ground feel - that offers maximum flexibility of the foot to move the way it was meant to. Such shoes can be rolled up in one hand. Lastly, going barefoot is even less expensive than minimalist sandals. And for both, you don’t need socks. Barefoot and minimalist shoes require skill, time, patience and training. Most people don’t know how to actually walk…they are used to walking with ‘support’ from the shoe, in a way that encourages heel-striking, bad form and stress on knees/hips and other body parts. Proper walking form distributes pressure throughout the bottom of the feet and his gentle on the body. It takes practice, coordination and development. Such walking makes the feet far more resilient. So the real issue in hiking footwear should focus on FEET and not the shoe. Check out the Barefoot Sisters who hiked the Appalachian Trail barefoot over 20 years ago. Or Barefoot Sue who walks the Camino barefoot several times (in her 60s). Plantar fasciitis, Achilles heel/tendon problems, and many aches and pains of the feet/leg/hip are caused by bad shoes and bad walking form. The irony is that max cushion shoes and ankle ‘support’ get presented as the cure-but they are just bandaids that aggravate the underlying problem. Strengthening your feet with barefoot walking will easily improve your foot resilience by 10-20% on the hiking trail. In other words, you can walk longer distances without getting foot fatigue. 2 billion years of evolution figured it out. We’re very special animals with our big brains that can safely be high off the ground thanks to our ability to walk on two feet rather than needing four. Our feet are marvels of engineering. It’s absolutely tragedy that the shoe industry has convinced us that they, and they alone, have this magical technology that the rest of us need to purchase just to walk. Our feet walk just find on natural surfaces without shoes.

[@calevel]

Hiking boots here, Oboz Bridger Mid B-Dry. Hands down the most comfortable pair of boots I’ve ever worn. I rather sacrifice a few oz of weight for better support, less water intrusion and durability. Good video, thanks for sharing it.

[@bipindhakal4999]

Hey mate why didn't you talk about extra cushioning and comfort of the hiking boots

[@asiangirlinthewild]

Interested video. I like it and will support you

[@mattbundt9986]

AsianGirlinTheWild thanks for watching, hope you enjoyed!

[@joemar2010]

Trail runners have been a good fit for me for backpacking trips. However where I live it’s all swamp so I have to bust out the boots for any day hiking around my area.

[@mattbundt9986]

The Black Swamp nearly claimed one of you're hiking boots :D I'm not sure the trail runners would have made it out of there!

[@NivenRNP]

It depends on how long it was keep in the shop

[@outdooroutfitters3658]

Very informative! Thanks for sharing.

[@mikejenkins2166]

Very helpful, thank you! I’ve been using Oboz boots for all hikes, and love them, but think hikes on easier trails I could benefit from hiking shoes.

[@mattbundt9986]

No problem glad you enjoyed! I’ve heard a lot about the Oboz brand, which boots do you have?

[@ThisIsMusic1985]

I have that same pink floyd poster :)

[@laffilmfest3759]

Great video.....channel is hard work but fun...:)

[@mattbundt9986]

Thanks!! Yes it is a lot of work, and a lot of extra miles hiked for B roll! 😄

[@caityP]

So between the trail runner vs hiking shoe, your feet are much less fatigued after a long day when you use the runner? So your feet are still very fatigued from the trail shoe?

[@aaronmetz9984]

We went to the Poconos and the wife rocked the trail runners. She liked them!

[@mattbundt9986]

Nice, what pair of runners does she have?

[@aaronmetz9984]

​@@mattbundt9986 Not sure tbh but we did some day hikes so its one step closer to getting her out on the trails!

[@deciding]

Great video dude

[@mattbundt9986]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback!

[@typpiet5140]

Sorry. Can't listen to a video with annoying beat in the background.

[@justthen]

一堆廢話

[@dennisjwaltke4871]

Like you I have all three types. I really like the Merrell Moab wide width Edge 2 for hiking without a heavy load