If you’re somebody who does a lot of walking in your everyday life or have ever been in the situation of trying to go on a flight with just your carry on luggage I’m sure you’ve pondered the question of whether you should use your hiking shoes for everyday use. I hope that this article can help you decide whether it is the right choice for you too.
In the last few years I have been using the Meindl Respond GTX. For exactly this purpose and they have been superb. They generally last me around 12-18 months per pair from some fairly solid use. The other choice that was in the running was the Merrel Moab but I just prefer the Meindls.
Everyday use can mean different things to different people but for the purposes of this post I am going to assume it means that they will be worn continuously regardless of whether you’re at work, going to the pub, eating out or of course heading out for a hike. If you are thinking of going on longer off trail cross country hike you may be better off considering hiking boots. The main thing is that you choose the right shoes for your specific circumstances.
Qualities to look for
- Lightweight. As you are wearing the shoes for a large portion of the day the lighter the shoes the less energy you will need for each step. However make sure that this doesn’t make the shoes flimsy as you still want to stand up to the terrain you might find on a hike.
- Breathable – hiking shoes made with breathable materials will ensure your feet don’t get too sweaty in warm conditions. Look for materials like Goretex. You might also need to consider the type of socks you will be wearing with your shoes
- Durable. The chances are that you will take your shoes out on a hike from time to time so you want to make sure that they have been designed to be hard wearing
- Look good. Although they may not be the most fashionable things going you want something that looks good with your jeans as well as your hiking kit. As hiking has become more and more popular manufacturers have cottoned on to this trend and have been putting more focus into creating these crossover type shoes.
- Comfortable with a good fit. If you are going to be wearing your shoes everyday this is more important than ever. When trying on your shoes make sure to do it later in the day as your feet swell. You are looking for something where there is enough room for your heel to move up and down but not enough to cause blisters and also roomy enough that your toe has room to move within the shoe.
As hiking has become more and more popular manufactures have taken all this on board and have created hiking shoes that work well for both hiking and everyday use. Some good examples are the Merrel Moabs and the Meindl (I’ve had a couple of pairs of these and they are great)
What are hiking shoes?
Hiking shoes are a bit like the love child of a hiking boot and a tennis shoe or trail running shoe resulting in some of the best aspects of both which means that they can be worn for most things. I would draw the line at wearing them with a suit though.
Typically they are lightweight, have a low cut ankle support and maintain some of the more durable aspects of hiking boots to ensure that they are up to the rigours of walking miles over rocky, uneven terrain.
How long will a pair of hiking shoes last?
Because it is dependent on so many factors this is one of those how long is a piece of string types of question. Factors such as your weight, how you walk, where you walk and how much care you give to your shoes all contribute to wear and tear. That being said I would expect any decent quality pair of hiking shoes to last around 1000 miles before they need replacing.
Breaking in
A good pair of hiking boots generally need to be worn quite a bit to make them comfortable. In my experience hiking shoes don’t need any breaking in and can be worn pretty much straight out of the box,
they should feel comfy as soon as you put them on.
Maintenance and care
To ensure your hiking shoes look good everyday and maintain all their features it is imperative that you spend time caring for them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Hopefully, these will be in the box or on the Internet. If not, whatever you do don’t put them in the washing machine. Get some warm water, soap and some form of implement like a sponge and brush and wash the mud away.Make sure not to dry them out near a radiator, instead let them dry naturally. Also make sure to check on wear around seams, soles and other parts of the hiking shoe that may take a bit of a beating.
Advantages of using hiking shoes for everyday use
- Multi use – can be worn for almost anything
- Great for walking around the park during lunch hour
Disadvantages of using hiking shoes for everyday use
- Wear out faster especially if used on pavements in town environments
- Designed for being on a hike so might make your feet very warm
- Not the most fashionable. Won’t work with every item of clothing
Jogging
It is pretty tempting to think that you can use your hiking shoes to go jogging; whilst it is possible it is not something I would recommend. Generally, hiking shoes are designed differently than running shoes with stiffer soles to give you more stability whilst carrying backpacks and the like in uneven rocky environments. Another thing to bear in mind is that if you use your hiking shoes to jog on the road you are much more likely to wear out the soles very quickly.
Can you use your hiking shoes for work?
This of course depends on the dress code. Some workplaces would frown on it but in others it would be perfectly acceptable. When it is allowed I would make sure that the shoes are neat and presentable and not full of mud. Otherwise, you could always keep a spare pair of formal shoes at work and change from your hiking shoes when you get to work.
How much would a pair of hiking shoes cost?
If you use your hiking shoes everyday it is likely you will have to replace them quite regularly so I thought it would be worthwhile to give a bit of information around cost. Looking around Amazon I would expect that you would be looking at around the $80 – $150 mark with $100 being what I would typically spend. However, there are quite often deals so it pays to keep your eyes open.
Conclusion
Don’t feel that if you buy a pair of hiking boots you must wear them everyday. You need to make sure that you do what is right for you. Spend some time considering the options and if you feel like it’s the right thing to do go for it.