Classic hiking shoes are characterized by a high shaft, a thick sole and robust materials. This makes them particularly durable, and the solid treads also protect your feet from damage to your health when ascending and descending. They are therefore always the better choice for demanding tours in the mountains. However, if you just want to take a long walk in the forest or go for a short walk with your dog on uneven terrain, light hiking boots are usually sufficient. But what exactly does the term actually mean? And what advantages and disadvantages do the models offer?
So-called lightweight hiking shoes are reminiscent (at least visually) of sneakers because they are similarly light and low. But in contrast to ordinary sneakers, the ankle-deep shoes offer more support when hiking. And also offer more protection against dirt and moisture. In addition, due to their construction, the shoes have a flexible sole, which ideally protects you from sharp stones – but still allows your feet to roll smoothly. For this reason, light hiking boots are suitable for all routes that are marked blue (i.e. easy) in many hiking guides.
Other features that distinguish lightweight hiking shoes include:
In fact, lightweight hiking boots offer many advantages, but also have some disadvantages. You can read what they are here:
In contrast to light hiking boots, so-called mid cuts are cut slightly higher, but have a lower shaft than “normal” hiking boots. For this reason, the medium-weight models are primarily recommended for easy mountain tours – or when you need to better protect your ankles. The mid-height trekking shoes are of course also available with a breathable, waterproof Gore-Tex membrane (depending on the manufacturer).
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