Which is the best mountain trekking shoe?

Question

thx for answers.

Answer 1

There are several brands of hiking shoes - Merrell, The North Face, Asolo, Hi-Tec, etc. Even Nike and Adidas make hiking shoes. Check out brands of trail runners too - they make pretty good hiking shoes.

I guess the best one is the one that fits your feet. I have used Merrells, Nikes, and Hi-Tecs and have been satisfied with all of them. for most of the type of backpacking and hiking I do now in the arid Southwest of the US, I've pretty much switched over to shoes instead of boots (even for backpacking).

Answer 2

I taught wilderness recreation for years and sold equipment as well, including fitting literally hundreds of people with boots for all sorts of trekking, backpacking and mountaineering. I've also owned (and worn out) more than a dozen pairs myself. The "best" boots are the ones that fit you and that are most suited to the terrain you will be traveling and the load you will be carrying. Every brand uses a slightly different "last" (a standard form around which the boots are constructed) -- some fit narrow heels, some fit wider toes or higher insteps, etc. As a result, I strongly recommend that you not fixate on one brand or another and that you DON'T try to order boots on-line. Go to a well-stocked outdoor outfitter shop and talk to a salesperson -- they are generally quite well-trained in assessing your needs and fitting the boots. They can show you a variety of makes and models in your usage range and you can test which ones fit you best (being sure to wear a good thick pair of wool or acrylic plush socks) -- narrow your selections to those taht feel right. Then, be sure and wear the new boots around the house for a while to make sure they fit before waterproofing them or wearing them outdoors. Any good shop will let you return them if they turn out not to fit and are still in new condition. It always takes a while before "hot spots" show up where a new boot could cause a blister.

If you are going to trek on steep, rocky terrain, I would recommend boots with as much leather and firm ankle support as possible and an aggressively lugged sole -- they will protect your feet and prevent fatigue. But, don't get a heavier boot than you need if you will mostly be walking in gentle terrain with a light pack. I've found the midweight models by HiTec to be very comfortable and durable but that doesn't mean they would work for you.