Light Hiking Shoes For Walking

“Light Hiking Shoes” is our preferred category of shoes for walking. Yes, we’re a little biased because we prefer trails over sidewalks, but here’s the point:

The light hiking category provides long-lasting support that you won’t get from sneakers or trail running shoes.

The soles of these shoes are based on hiking boot designs, so they last longer and are inherently stiffer than sneaker soles or running shoe soles.

Light hiking shoes sometimes cost a little more than sneakers, but they last considerably longer. It’s not unusual to go through two or three pairs of sneakers in the amount of time you can own a good pair of light hikers.

5 good reasons to use light hiking shoes instead of sneakers for walking.

• Light hiking shoes are often the best choice for people with plantar faciitis and other common foot problems.

• Light hiking shoes provide comparable orthopedic benefits as the shoes we’ve listed in our “Supportive Orthopedic Shoes” category.

• A famous podiatrist once said, “The less work your shoes do, the more work your feet have to do.” Light hiking shoes do a lot of the work for you, so your feet will feel fine after a long walk.

• Light hiking shoes have better insoles than sneakers, so you won’t have to upgrade to aftermarket insoles in order to get the support and comfort you need.

• Light hiking shoes provide better traction on uneven surfaces.

Why Buy Shoes Online?

I hate shoe shopping. And I don’t think I’m the only person who feels that way.

For me, shopping for walking shoes is especially painful, thanks to my odd-shaped feet and a small selection of choices in my home town.

Good Pair Of Shoes.com makes shopping easier with an extensive collection of walking shoes for men and easy checkout through Amazon.

If you’re tired of driving all over town trying on shoes, this is the solution. Just order several pairs through our Amazon links, and return the ones that don’t fit. If you’re one of the 100 million Amazon Prime members in this country, you’ll even get free shipping both directions.

No rush. No pressure. No sales clerks. No driving around. You can take as much time as you need to determine the perfect fit. (Just make sure you don’t wear them outdoors)

If you have wide feet, like mine, there’s a post on the best walking shoes for wide feet. We also have shoes for people who have foot issues, such as plantar fasciitis or flat feet.

Ecco Aspina Hiking Shoe

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: The leading brand when it comes to walking-specific footwear

Ecco is one of the first brands to design, engineer and craft shoes specifically for walking. Built for resilience on and off road and finished with subtle feminine detailing, these leather shoes are perfect for sport and nature lovers with a sense of style. Waterproof, weight-reducing fabrics, plush yak nubuck leather and foam-injected soles combine to create practical shoes with a softer edge.

Five Ten Tennie Approach Shoes

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: Super grippy rubber gives you exceptional traction on any surface.

Five Ten is the climbing shoe company that invented the “approach” class of light hiking shoes. Back in the 80’s they combined the grippy rubber of a climbing shoe with the basic design of a light hiking shoe. Coming soon: A new and improved version of the 80’s original. Available in men’s and women’s.

Keen Women’s Mercer Lace hiking shoes

Category: Light Hiking shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: The shape of Keens allows your toes to relax naturally.

Disclaimer: I am a huge Keen fan! First of all, they are exceptionally well made… I’ve had two pairs of Keen hiking shoes for more than 5 years. Not only that, Keen’s iconic wide toe box fit my peasant feet perfectly. Don’t make the same mistake I’ve made numerous times… if your feet are wide up in the toes, don’t try jamming them in to other brands. Just buy Keens. They’re also great for anyone who needs wide shoes or high volume shoes.

Keen Oakridge light hiking shoe

Category: Light hiking shoes for walking
Noteworthy: Wide toe box and overall high volume makes Keen a good choice for wide feet.

Keen is a Portland, Oregon company that basically invented toe protection in sandals and hiking shoes.

This company has a very loyal following, including myself. They’re cut to fit peasant feet like mine… wide in the toe box and normal width in the heel.

They also also last a long, long time.

Designer Michael Keen’s ah-ha moment derived from his experience as a competitive sailor. Until Keens came along, serious sailors never wore sandals. Too many stubbed toes!

So Keen came up with the Newport Sandal and dubbed it a hybrid — somewhere between a shoe and a sandal with visible reinforcement in the toes.

Now sailors are moving away from Top Siders and embracing the protection provided by Keen’s distinctive toe design. There’s even a Keen model that looks like a deck shoe.

La Sportiva Synthesis Mid GTX

Category: Light Hiking shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: The shape of Keens allows your toes to relax naturally.

La Sportiva’s Synthesis Mid GTX is a versatile, mid-height hiking shoe designed for all types of terrain; Waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex Surround technology keeps your feet dry during extended day hikes or overnight backpacking trips no matter the weather. Ultralight moisture-wicking AirMesh fabrics with Nano-Cell technology keep your feet cool on hot days, control moisture, and prevent blisters. STB Technology stabilizes the foot by wrapping and unifying the midsole with the upper; Adjustable bungee pull cord lacing system stays put and offers a more secure fit than traditional lace-up shoes. Sticky vibram megagrip traverse outsole with enhanced stability area and trail bite heel braking platform.

Normally, La Sportiva’s are too narrow for my feet. These have a roomy toe box that makes these very comfortable to wear all day long. The lacing allows them to be tightened up when you want.”Very comfortable, excellent rubber. If you are familiar with LaSportiva, the toe box will feel a little roomier than what you might be used to.

More light hiking shoes…

Merrell Annex Men’s Walking Shoe

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: Exceptionally durable and long-lasting.

I think Merrell makes great shoes. Unfortunately, most of their models don’t fit my peasant feet. I’ve tried them in an extra-wide, and I felt like I was swimming in them. I’m bummed.

If you have a normal-width foot, be sure to try on some Merrells. With built-to-last upper made of waterproof oily leather and abrasion resistant textile, this boot is durable. This hiking boot features a breathable mesh lining and detachable EVA insole treated with M-Select FRESH that keeps it odor-free and comfy.

Topping all this, is the Vibram® outsole that allows for flexing naturally and excellent traction on all surfaces. The Merrell Annex men’s hiking boot is your best bet when in need of a reliable and comfy outdoor boot.

Oboz Sawtooth Light hiking shoe – Our #1 Pick

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Noteworthy: Exceptionally durable and long-lasting, with the best sole design on the market.

Many of the sales professionals and outdoor enthusiasts we’ve interviewed believe these are the best light hiking shoes on the market… superior to Merrell or Keen. I have to agree.

They feel fantastic on my feet. They’re wide enough – in the toe box – but they don’t have too much volume everywhere else.

Oboz is one of only a few brands that come with good arch support standard… so you won’t have to upgrade to an aftermarket insole with these. The Oboz OFit insole is probably the best on the market. So if you need great arch support and heel stability, this is the brand to try.

Salomon Ellipse Aero Hiking shoe

Category: Lite Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: Famous French bootmaker makes exceptional walking shoes.

Salomon was founded in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps. Driven by a passion for skiing and design innovation, Francois Salomon and his son George designed and perfected much of the first modern ski equipment. During the following 60 years, Salomon’s innovative designs and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in ski boots, skis, apparel and footwear.

Scarpa Vortex XCR Trail Walking Shoes

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Noteworthy: Beefy, alpine-inspired sole.

This Italian brand has a history of craftsmanship that dates back to the 1940s. Best known among serious alpinists, skiers and climbers, this mountain footwear company has extended its reach into comfortable walking and casual shoes. The Scarpa Vortex is a workhorse of a shoe… Gortex keeps your feet dry, and the Vibram Dynatech soles are known for durability and great grip. These shoes are built for narrow, shallow feet.

[easyazon_link identifier=”B001D6SZWK” locale=”US” tag=”goodpairofsho-20″][/easyazon_link]

Sketchers Walking Shoes —Making strides in many footwear categories

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: Wide and high-volume all the way around

Sketchers is one of those footwear brands that’s doing a little something in a lot of different categories. Their reach is vast, and they’ve captured significant market share by doing decent shoes at a value price. So I have to admit, I was surprised by the quality of this shoe when I tried them on for the first time. This is one of the stiffest, most structured sneakers that we’ve found. In fact, it’s supportive enough to get bumped up into the light hiking category. This is a high volume shoe all the way around, so it’s a logical choice for people who are overweight or who have extra-wide feet.

Teva Arrowood light hiking shoes

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: Built by the originators of water shoes.

This is a light hiker that has more style than most… great for a casual night out as well as a good day hike. The Teva Arrowood fits a standard foot that needs a little wider toe box. Lightweight and “squishy” feeling for all-day comfort. Teva is an authentic icon in the outdoor industry. Founded in the early 1980’s by a Colorado River guide, Teva pioneered the sport-sandal category. For more than 20 years on rivers, in canyons, and across the trails of the great outdoors, athletes and enthusiasts have traveled the globe comfortably and confidently in Teva footwear.

Under Armour Mirage Light Hiking Shoes

Category: Light Hiking Shoes for Walking
Noteworthy: Wide and high-volume all the way around. An impressive entry into the outdoor footwear category.

These are hard to find in stores, so Amazon is the way to go if you want Under Armour’s impressive new walking shoe. The Mirage is lightweight, but surprisingly sturdy. The heel cradle kept my standard-sized heel securely comfortable while the anatomically molded synthetic upper provided a nice, snug fit without cramping the forefoot. We have been unable to find any long-term reviews on this shoe, so we’re not sure exactly how lone they’re last.