You can hike in that old gym shoes but if you love your feet and back, then buy the hiking boots suited for the hikes you are going to do.
What is Day Hiking?
A day hike is a hike that can be completed in a single day.
It doesn’t matter how far the hike is as long it is done in one day and you don’t sleepover. Some people take up to 4 hours to complete a hike and others do for the same distance in 8 hours.
The same can be said for an hour, if you completed the hike in an hour then you did a day hike.
Sometimes finding yourself, you need a good pair of hiking boots, a mountain, and fresh air.
What to look for in a hiking boot?
- Comfort – shoes should be comfortable and keep your feet dry.
- Traction & Support – you don’t want to lose your balance and fall off a cliff because the shoe didn’t have enough grip.
- Light Weighted – wearing heavy shoes is not as much fun as it sounds.
- Affordability – you don’t have to buy the most expensive shoe on the market to get the best result.
What sort of hiking boots are available?
Let’s take a look at 5-day hiking boots available taking into account our criteria set.
- Merrell Cham 7 Hiking Shoe
- Adidas Woman AX3 Shoe
- Hi-Tech Women’s Altitude 6 Mid Boot
- Keen Women’s Targhee 3 Mid Waterproof Boot
- K-Way Women’s Kili ’16 Boot
1. Merrell Cham 7 Hiking Shoe
Comfort
Nubuck, suede leather & upper mesh. Air cushion in heel to absorb shock, breathable mesh lining.
Traction & Support
Flex Index Grade 2, Vibram RC5+ outsole. EVA midsole for stability and comfort. Heel counter for added stability. Protective rubber toe.
Weight
11bs 11oz / 750g
Affordability
R2399.00
Where to get it
Merrell
2. Adidas Woman AX3
Comfort
Mesh & synthetic upper. Molded sockliner.
Traction & Support
Continental Rubber outsole for extraordinary grip – even in wet conditions, durable and lightweight EVA midsole.
Weight
11bs 11oz / 750g
Affordability
R1500.00
Where to get it
Capeunionmart
3. Hi-Tech Women’s Altitude 6 Mid Boot
Comfort
Leather upper. OrthoLite impressions and sockliner. Waterproof, Mico-fleece moisture-wicking lining for soft and comfortable feel. Midsole.
Traction & Support
High-performance Michelin rubber outsole delivers multi-surface traction. Nylon fork shank for support and improved gait.
Weight
0.95 Kg
Affordability
R1700.00
Where to get it
Hitec
4. Keen Women’s Targhee 3 Mid Waterproof Boot
Comfort
Breathable mesh lining, Waterproof leather, and performance mesh upper.
Traction & Support
Keen all-terrain rubber outsole for high traction grip. Dual-density midsole. Removable EVA footbed.
Weight
13.2 oz / 375.1g
Affordability
R2199.00
Where to get it?
Capeunionmart
5. K-Way Women’s Kili ’16 Boot
Comfort
Nubuck leather upper. Removable Ortholite footbed provides exceptional comfort, Waterproof, and windproof.
Traction & Support
Grivloa Vibram outsole offers incredible grip and traction. Steel shank and polypropylene board reinforcement for stability.
Weight
1.34kg
Affordability
R1999.00
Where to get it
Capeunionmart
What should you buy?
You should ask yourself:
- What terrain are you going to hike? Are you going to do rocks, sand, grass, water, or climb mountains? Perhaps you are going to do a combination of hikes.
The terrain is very important, just like you are not going to wear high heels to a picnic on the beach, you don’t want to wear runners when climbing Kilimanjaro. I did Lion’s Head, Cape Town, South Africa once and there was a lady coming down bare feet with her high heels dangling between her fingers… All I could do was a head shake.
- Are you going to do multi-day hikes as well? If so then maybe you should buy a shoe that can do both?
I have day hiking and multi-hiking boots. The reason is the weight of my multi-hiking boot more than the normal trail hiking boots. These boots are waterproof, have ankle and sole support, very comfortable and the grip is extraordinary. I sometimes like to climb mountains and visit that beautiful waterfalls and need a different variety of hiking shoes.
My day hiking boots or trail runners (as they are sometimes referred to), is light, breathable, and has excellent grip as well. They look more like tekkies (runners) than boots. They are comfortable for day hikes but are not waterproof but they dry easily.
- What can you afford? There are a lot of hiking boots or trail runners out there, you can always buy something now just to get started, and then when you are doing more challenges you can upgrade your shoes as well.
You should look at hiking boots that you find appealing and go and fit it, especially the first time so that you can see what size and fit, is best for you.
Hiking boots can be stylish
Most women’s hiking shoes are not just about performance but about style as well. Just like you get a women’s fit t-shirt, you get women’s fit hiking shoes as well. The style takes into consideration women with wide, flat or narrow feet, ankle support as well as the colour of the hiking shoe. You get hiking boots with different lace closures and different kinds of toe caps.
Important to remember is that hiking shoes should fit snug everywhere, tight nowhere, and offer room to wiggle your toes.
How long to wait before you can go and hike?
Shoes should be walked in first before you take that long 8 hour hikes. I would advise to wear the shoes around the house and go walk with it to the park. Wear it for at least a week before you do a day hike.
Most Hiking boots have directions on how to take care of your footwear and guidelines as to when you can do that hike.
Get some good hiking socks, this is one thing you cannot skimp on. Walking ten seconds with blisters is very painful, just think a whole 8 hours because you were stingy.
“Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.” ~ Carrie Latet
Hiking is for everyone, get the socks and hiking boots and let’s go hiking.
I’m thinking about buying Solomon’s. How do they compare?
Hi Lize, Solomon’s tend to be a bit pricey but a very good hiking shoe. I like the Salomon Women’s X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Boot, it is light weighted, protective rubber toe and heel cap as well as water-resistant. If you are serious about hiking then this boot could be for you.