So a few days ago I had a friend ask me what my favorite hiking shoe was. My first response was I don’t have one. I have a cheap pair of hiking boots that I use on occasion. I tend to use them more for cold weather with their waterproof protection. I even hate using them for that because they are heavy. I suppose If I spent a considerably larger sum of money I could get some ultralight hikers. Even though I’m a cheap ass I will pay for quality gear. I don’t think I will be buying them and let me tell you why I won’t be.
For the past several years I’ve moved to more minimal shoes. I have had serious feet problems wearing shoes with big arch support and lots of padding. My feet are naturally more comfortable wearing a flat shoe with very little cushioning. My go to shoe on days off is a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. The bottom is completely flat with no arch support. They do have a bit too much padding and are not as flexible as I would like. The toe box could stand needs to be bigger as well. I’ve gone hiking, walking and running with these and they do well in all situations.
Although I love my Chucks and they do perform well hiking my Filia Skeletoes have become my favorite shoe for hiking. You can read my review here. I love how minimal they are. They offer just enough padding without losing flexibility. These things are perfect for rocky and uneven terrain. Your foot will grip on rocks for ultimate footing. They have also become the only shoe I use for running. They really help with running posture to make sure your not striking with the heel.
I guess I’m on my way to trying barefoot hiking and running eventually. It’s something I have looked into. Going barefoot definitely fits in with my thrifty principles. To me one of the best aspects of minimal/ barefoot hiking is the requirement to slow down. With big clunky hiking boots you can speed through the trail not noticing your surroundings. I love enjoying the beauty of nature and like seeing all the parts I would have missed by power walking to get back to civilization.
My next pair of hiking shoes will probably be a pair of Vibram Five Fingers with a pair of wool socks for winter. Not that I’m not pleased with the Skeletoe brand I just like trying different things. I might also try some of the hiking sandals or a homemade waraji.
So I guess at the moment the answer to of what my favorite hiking shoe is would be the Filla Skelatoe. Although the more proper answer would be the least amount of shoe I can wear. My feet just hurt less and perform better with less shoe. What do you wear on the trail? Have you made the switch to minimal/ barefoot hiking? Let me know in the comments.