October 5, 2022
Whether you are hiking for six-months on the Appalachian Trail or for a few hours in an underground cave, your feet will require protection against varying terrains, conditions, injuries and seasons. This is why most brands have a variety of options in each of their collections.
In general, there are four types of hiking footwear; lightweight or trailrunner, which are low-cut and best for short day hikes; midweight or day hikers that are mid-cut and best for carrying light loads; heavyweight or mountaineering, high-cut, waterproof designs best for carrying heavy loads; and canyoneering, quick-drying, well-draining, and high-traction grip styles.
Our top picks for the best hiking shoes and boots are from the Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 collection. Not only do I get the most compliments when I wear them (from non-hikers and hikers alike) thanks to the sleek design and color options that thankfully are not in unicorn hues, this collection is also known as the master of shifting terrain. In my experience, they’ve prevented bruised toes in both short and long distances no matter the condition.
