Endless mountain landscapes, vast untouched wilderness, spectacular sunrises, and back country solitude: these are just some of the reasons why we venture into the sport of hiking. What we often don’t consider about this activity are the many hours that it can take to discover those visions of glory, especially if you’re seeking isolation. Finding peace in the mountains can also mean finding yourself with incredible foot pain and a new collection of blisters to show off on the summit. Nothing is worse than not being able to enjoy the view because your mind is pre-occupied with how much the hike back to the car is going to hurt. The right footwear choice for the adventure is the most crucial piece of gear needed, if you want to truly enjoy your hiking experience. If you already know what kind of hiker you want to be, we can help you find your shoe!

Do you have your 40+Liter pack ready to fill with essentials for the weekend? Are you planning to travel into the great abyss with no thoughts of returning until you run out of trail mix and dehydrated food? If you’re setting out on a multi-day adventure, you’re probably going to be putting in high mileage days while wearing a heavy pack. For this type of escapade, a boot with extra protection, more support, and additional cushioning is going to provide you with the lasting comfort you’ll need. The SCARPA R-Evolution Plus, from our backpacking collection, features a durable leather upper with the protection of GORE-TEX, as well as our Sock-Fit construction and memory foam cushioning for unparalleled support on long-distance treks. Check out these and many other boots built to support your backpacking addiction, here!

Maybe you’re more of a “get to the summit and back so you can sleep in your own bed“ kind of person. A combination of quick after work jaunts, short overnights and beautiful day-hikes are what you pursue with your hiking hobby. This kind of activity calls for a shoe with the perfect blend of support and agility. Our hiking collection borrows some of the innovative features from our backpacking offerings, reimagined in lighter, more nimble options. One great model for a variety of hiking is our best-selling Zen Pro Mid GTX. This is an incredibly versatile trail shoe that tackles day hikes, overnight backpacking trips and alpine approaches. See these and other similar models in our full hiking assortment!

Now it’s time to talk to our fast and furious, speed hikers out there. When weight savings and agility take priority on the trail, our light hiking collection provides the perfect solution. These styles are flexible, light, and breathable without any compromise to your comfort. The Rapid, for example, is a hybrid-style shoe that delivers the feel of a running shoe but can still hang when it comes time to shouldering a big pack or scrambling the final summit push. Don’t let your shoes hold you back from getting that PR, jump into one of these styles and your objective will go off without a hitch!

That’s a wrap on our three major categories of hiking footwear. Hopefully we’ve helped you decipher which type of shoe is best suited for your next adventure. Now it’s time to lace up those boots and hit the trails!