Walking/trail shoes?

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willy

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Having worn high top leather construction boots for work and hunting for over 50 years,,And cheap tennis shoes for everything else except when dressing up,,
I am now looking for a good pair of walking / hiking shoe or boot, walking the trails and paths (3-7) miles with the wife
So any of you do any walking on trails ,,and if so what are your favorite shoe or boot?
Trying to keep price south of $150
Thanks for any opinions
 
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Shoot snubbyfan a PM. I'll bet Wayne has done the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe by hiking the hills of WV. I know he doesn't do it barefooted.
 
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I wear inexpensive tennis shoes in warm,dry weather and leather hiking boots for anything else. (I do put good insoles in both and wear good quality wool socks in my boots)
 
I use Mephesto shoes or boots almost exclusively.

The only times I don't is for winter hunting with snow on the ground.
 
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Try Uggs, their Harkley boot for men. Comes up a bit over the ankle. The Harkley comes in a waterproof version, too. They're plus/minus $150. You can sometimes find them cheaper on eBay. They're perfect for trail walking and moderate to semi-difficult hiking. Not good for heavy stuff like rock climbing, except on a contingency basis. They come in different colors. I don't wear any other casual shoe besides Uggs. Been wearing them 15 years or more.
 
Private Bailey said:
Try Uggs, their Harkley boot for men. Comes up a bit over the ankle. The Harkley comes in a waterproof version, too. They're plus/minus $150. You can sometimes find them cheaper on eBay. They're perfect for trail walking and moderate to semi-difficult hiking. Not good for heavy stuff like rock climbing, except on a contingency basis. They come in different colors. I don't wear any other casual shoe besides Uggs. Been wearing them 15 years or more.
Click to expand...




Do Ugg's come in men sizes?
 
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I walk most days, usually between two and four miles. Occasionally more, occasionally less. Sometimes on paved trails, other times on gravel, dirt, rocks or a combination thereof. Sometimes hilly and sometimes flat. Always, however, on a maintained trail. Nothing too arduous.

I've had some issues with painful feet and toes/nails in recent years. For my walking the most comfortable shoes I have found are New Balance. Don't know the model, but cost about $175 or so. Went to a New Balance store and they put me on the feet measuring gizmo and made some recommendations at different price points for a walking shoe.

(Among the recommendations, for my feet, buy wide sized shoes! Give those toes more room! That has helped a lot. Foot sizes can and do change over time. If you have not checked your size in a while, it's worth getting it checked. Plus different manufacturers' sizes are different, and within the same brand sizes can vary by location and by factory.)

I also use inserts. "Superfeet" blue.

I do prefer the look of leather shoes to sneakers/sports shoes, but for my walking the priority is comfort.

Hope you find something that works well for you.
 
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Sam D said:
Do Ugg's come in men sizes?
Click to expand...
Yes. Look on Amazon or eBay. You could find then on the Uggs site, but they have so much stuff there, it's easier on the other sites. They DO make a lot of women's shoes.

It seems the sizing is sort of unisex. I always order one size up. You can wear them with or without socks. I wear heavy wool blend hiking socks in winter, no socks in summer as a rule. Believe it or not, I still have two pair of original Australian-made Uggs that I bought in Michigan in 1993. And I have two brand new pair in reserve in the boxes in case they ever stop making them. So I'd be good for at least another five years if I live that long. Later in the 90s, you couldn't even FIND Uggs east of the Mississippi. I was ordering from a little shop in California.
 
Check out your local sports/hiking stores and talk to some of the sales people. Certain brands run wider than others (New Balance in particular).
I like my shoes about 1/2 size larger to accommodate medium/heavy weight socks (and new insoles).

Be sure to try them on with a type of sock that you plan on wearing.

Once you figure out what fits best you can shop around and find the best price.

Most insoles are removable… I have a pair of lime green "superfeet" in my low cut Vasque brand hiking shoes. The shoes have a slight amount of padding around the ankle and come up on the back by the heel.

I haven't shopped for new ones in so long that I have no idea of what brands are available, but I'm sure there are quite a few to choose from.
 
I've tried many brands over the years, but recently I've settled on Timberland. Their hiking boots are in your price range. They are the most comfortable hiking boots I've worn. A close second are Ariat work boots. Very comfortable, but HEAVY. Keens are okay, but not as comfortable for me. I used to love Merrell MOABs, but after several pairs I discovered that their recent quality has gone downhill compared to the older ones. They are not as supportive or comfy as they used to be, and they fall apart quickly.

My hikes can be anywhere from 2-3 miles up to 10-12. I do mostly day hiking rather than overnight backpacking.

Of course, everyone's feet are shaped differently, so what works for me may not work for you.
 
Go down to a store that sells and knows Walking - Hiking Shoes.
Try on some and see which ones fit and feel the best to you.
The fit and quality of different brands does seem to vary from time to time.
Right now I'm wearing Keens.
But at this time I prefer Oboz for low top hikers.
I get mine at REI.
 
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Hiking shoes

I also like New Balance as they come in wide sizes. And if you have a NB store nearby they will fit you too. I also use Merrill's, and just bought a
medium weight Keene but haven't used them much yet.
Willyboy
 
Go to any well stocked shoe store that has a specific Walking/Hiking shoe section. There should be a variety of brands and styles to choose from. ;)
 
I've been wearing Merrell Moab trail shoes for years. I'm on my feet for much of the day and they are very comfortable.

I used to referee basketball and my go to shoe for that was New Balance. I could work eight games in a day and my feet were still happy.

I avoid cheap shoes like the plague. Inexpensive, yes. Cheap, no.
 
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