Choosing the right pair of hiking shoes is rarely a straightforward process. Everyone has differently shaped feet, so what works for one person is not necessarily going to work for another.
Here are the considerations that shoe fitters have when fitting footwear, and the questions we ask to ensure you get a shoe that not only suits your needs but, most importantly, fits your foot.
So, if you’re looking at buying a pair of hiking boots online or in store, read this first to get your mind ticking along with the sorts of features you may need to consider…
Types of Footwear
Low- and Mid-Cut Shoes
Low and mid-cut shoes of a fabric or fabric/leather construction suit short, day hikes, or those looking to hike fast and light. They can be used for longer treks with heavy loads – but it’s important to note that, while they’ll be much lighter on your feet, they won’t offer as much support at the end of a long day. They also won’t last as long as a heavier, high-cut boot.
Low-cut shoes are more suited to day hikes. Image: Salomon
High-Cut Boots
High-cut boots are better suited to longer treks as they provide more support around the ankle and through the midsole. They are generally of a heavier fabric/leather or full leather construction. Allowing some time is usually needed to break these in. They will not be as comfortable as the lighter pair you might choose for shorter day hikes.
High cut boots will keep you sturdy on longer hikes. Image: Vasque
Eliminate Styles That Won’t Fit
A good-fitting shoe should feel like it’s firmly wrapped around your foot. If you have particularly narrow or wide feet, ask a team member to direct you towards styles that will best suit. See table below displaying the ‘personalities’ of the boots and shoes we stock here at Snowys.
Foot volume should also be considered – i.e. how much your foot actually fills the shoe. Inserts can be adapted to fix volume issues. Be sure to mention any previous problems you may have had with your feet, this could have an effect on what style best suits you.
The shoe should firmly wrap your foot. Image: Thermacell
What Time of Day Should I Try on Shoes?
The best time to try on shoes is at the end of the day, or after a long walk, rather than first thing in the morning. Your feet are usually a little larger once the circulation kicks in.
Sizing
Start trying the shoes on with a size that you consider to be your ‘normal’ foot size. Bring your own hiking socks, or ask one of the staff for a suitable sock to try it with.
Don’t get caught up on the number, as you may find yourself going up or down a size from what you consider to be ‘normal’. Shoe sizes can be very inconsistent between brands, and even between different models within the same brand.
As a guide, you should have approximately a thumb’s width of space between the end of your toe, and the end of the boot.
The sizes and fit varies between brands. Image: Merrell
How Can I Tell That They Fit?
The shoe should feel like it’s wrapping around your whole foot comfortably, eliminating side-to-side slippage in the shoe. You should be able to wiggle your toes, and the shoe should not feel like it’s crushing your foot in on the sides.
Take your time to walk around the shop (just a heads up here: we only stock shoes in our Adelaide store, not currently carrying footwear in Brisbane), and utilise the stairs, ramps, bumps, etc. to best imitate walking on an uneven trail. Your heel should fit snugly in the heel counter, and not have an excessive lift. A small amount is normal, particularly in stiffer boots, but will settle down once they’re broken in.
Take note of anything that feels to be digging in or creating a hotspot on your foot.
About a thumb width at the toe makes for a good fit.
Select Your Shoes or Boots
Remember, only you can tell if the shoe is comfortable. Most of the time, the right shoe instantly feels comfortable from the moment you pull it onto your foot.
At Snowys, we recommend wearing the shoes inside at home for 1-2 hours before taking them outdoors. If you’re having any problems (and you haven’t spilled your dinner all over them), you can bring them back to the store for exchange or return.
If you’ve bought your boots online from Snowys and they don’t fit, get in touch with us and we’ll walk you through the return process.
Wear them at home to check before taking them outdoors. Image: Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions: Hiking Boots:
1. ‘Do I need waterproof boots?’
While a waterproof shoe is great in cold and wet conditions, they can be counterproductive in hot conditions. This is because, while the waterproof liner is breathable, it isn’t as breathable as not having it there at all.
In warm environments, a waterproof shoe is hotter than a non-waterproof model. This is important to know, as hot feet are more prone to blisters. Carefully consider when and where you will mostly be wearing your shoes.
Depending on your adventures, you may need a waterproof model. Image: Vasque
2. ‘What is a Vibram sole?’
Vibram is an Italian company that manufacture the outsoles of shoes. The yellow Vibram symbol is an indication of a good quality sole. However, some high-quality shoes utilise their own brand of sole, which shouldn’t necessarily be considered inferior quality.
Vibram soles are known for their quality. Image: Merrell
3. ‘What are the best hiking socks?’
The golden rule for hiking/trekking socks is to not wear cotton. Instead, choose wool, synthetic, or a blend of these fibres.
Good quality socks maintain a comfortable fit, while providing support and cushioning. They also last much longer than cheaper varieties, and those stitched from Merino wool or synthetic fibres have the added ability to ‘wick’ moisture away from your foot, drying a whole lot faster.
The right socks make the world of difference. Image: Icebreaker
4. ‘My mate wears a pair of Merrell Moabs, he reckons they’re great!’
What works for one person does not necessarily work for the next. Depending on your build and foot shape, you will probably find a different shoe that is just as suitable for you as another shoe is for someone else in the same circumstances.
Merrell Moabs – otherwise known as the ‘mother of all boots’. Image: Merrell
5. ‘Do I need insoles?’
The inserts included with shoes provide some support and cushioning. If you have particularly high arches or a low-volume foot, you may need to consider different inserts for the shoe to fit correctly.
You might want to add an insole to your shoes for comfort. Image: Sidas
6. ‘What’s the best way to lace a hiking boot?’
In my experience, if the shoe fits correctly, you should not need to over-complicate the lacing. That being said, there are some techniques that can be used to fine-tune the fit of your boots; head to YouTube and check ’em out!
You can try a few different lacing techniques. Image: Suunto
Did You Know: Shoes Have Personalities?!
Yep, you read right. Most hiking shoe brands have ‘personalities’. Some are true to size, some are smaller or larger, some are narrow, and some are wide. Knowing these ‘personalities’ will help you choose a boot or shoe that compliments your feet.
Here’s our take on the quirks of all the different brands we stock (note that Scarpa, Columbia, and Vasque are no longer in our range).
Finding a pair hiking shoes that are comfortable and suited to the activity you’re going to be doing isn’t always simple. However, if you consider the above before making your decision, you should be on your way to finding the perfect pair!
This article was updated for 2024.
Any hot tips for finding the perfect pair of hiking boots? Let us know in the comments.
Trekker, surfer, climber, mountain biker, runner, camper. Participator in most things… master of none.
Why does the “Hiking Lacing”way of lacing my shoes prevent tripping?
The image s actually incorrect, this lacing style should have the bow tied to the exterior side to prevent them from catching on the hooks on the opposite boot which can cause you to trip.
Great article, I would just add that although scarpa was historically a narrower fit, its a bit of a misnomer now. Their range of lasts is broad, and some of their best models actually have wide high volume lasts (the BD Last and TX last). So people with broad feet can absolutely wear scarpa’s
Hey Marty, thanks for your message! Good point, we’ll update this 🙂
Just wondering, for my son’s Duke of Ed hike, how long does it take to break in a new pair of mid-cut boots?
It’s a little tricky to give you a definitive answer as it depends on the boot, but we would say at least a couple of weeks to be on the safe side. If possible, get your son to wear them around the house after school, for shorter walks around the block, and progress to day hikes or weekend wear while wearing appropriate hiking socks. We’ve got a guide to how to prevent blisters and stay comfortable when hiking which goes into a bit more detail which you can read here. Hope that was helpful, Linda!
The tip I was (quite recently) given and I’ve found to be really useful is to carefully note whether there is any up and down movement of your heel in the shoe as you walk, even a little. Movement = blisters. And doesn’t easily disappear with wearing-in.
Nice post. I’m heading to Milford for a 4-day hike. I’d like to hear your thoughts on mid-cut boots or low cut for that particular trail
I think boots are a better choice here, Ted. Many ultra lightweight bushwalkers will use low cut shoes to save on weight, but there are trade-offs with support and durability here. A boot will give your ankles a little more protection from water and debris also.
I’m heading to Milford in NZ. What do you reckon between mid boots or low cut?
This really is personal preference, Ted. However, if you want my two cents worth, then a mid-cut boot is going to offer a little more support and protection for only a little more weight. If you plan on spending long days out carrying a pack or overnighting anywhere that required you to carry a tent stove, food etc, then a boot is probably a better choice.
I am a UK size 8 foot. Confirmed by 2 custom boot makers in the UK. I can buy Hi-tec shoes in size 8 – they fit me.. they are not ‘wide’ … they fit my ‘standard’ sized feet.
The problem is with other makes that take the length only as size 8 .. and don’t make them the standard width. Describing Hi-tec as ‘wide’ is not correct, they are simple standard sized. The others are narrow!
Thanks for this feedback, Warin61. Generally, the widths we describe are relative to the other shoes we have in our range. I know, from experience, that some HiTec boots suited customers with wider feet, but this isn’t always the case with every model in their range. I’ll pass your feedback to our footwear department so they can review the details on our website.
Good explanation of the issues in finding the right footwear. Especially the part about the different brands is very helpfull.
Thanks for the information on buying hiking boots there are so many choices that it can be quiet difficult to properly assess which is the most suitable pair for your feet. The information was very helpful.
Great Post. Thanks for sharing with us!!
Very helpful article, I’m heading to NZ next month for a holiday and plan to buy a pair before I go.
Definately don’t head to NZ without a pair, Mark. It’s my favourite hiking destination in the world. If you need any help buying a pair, let us know. ~ Paul