Advice

The Basics: Running vs Walking Shoes

Running vs walking shoes – are they interchangeable?

Over the years, Jake and I have met many people who swear using running shoes on long walks, or hikes is perfectly reasonable. And, in some rare cases, this may be true. A prime example of where this belief rings true is the use of specialised trail running shoes on hikes – which we covered in our post on alternatives to hiking boots (the Altra Lone Peaks do a very good job of catering to the demands of ultra lightweight hikers and fastpacking).

altra lone peak trail running shoes
Altra Lone Peak trail running shoes are a great option for ultra marathons and hikers.

And if you’re interested in extending this debate to boots, you’ll want to read our post where we talk about hiking shoes vs boots.

But in many cases, your average running shoe simply isn’t suitable for hiking. Let’s explore some thoughts and see why this is the case.

Walk or run? Or a bit of both?

The first and most obvious question in the running vs walking shoes debate is this: are you a walker, a runner or a bit of both i.e. you love fastpacking? The type of activity you participate in will largely dictate the type of footwear you need.

As a general rule of thumb, the following points will dictate your choice of shoe:

Do walk at a constant pace with little to no running?

If the answer is yes, you need to buy hiking shoes which are designed to cushion your feet and provide adequate support for medium to long distance activities. In most cases, the soles and strucutre of this type of footwear are designed to reduce fatigue and cushion your feet from rugged, unforgiving terrain.

Do you prefer to run more than walk?

This is where your choice becomes a little more tricky, but for the most part, you’ll want to consider buying trail running shoes which provide a high degree of flexibility, a good amount of support and a lacing system that can cope with difficult terrain. The key difference between trail runners and walking shoes is flexibility – trail shoes have more flexible soles that allow ease of movement at a higher speed.

What kind of shoe do you need for fast packing?

Fastpacking is an activity closely aligned with ultra lightweight backpacking. In both cases you’ll be moving at a faster-than-average pace, one that is a big step up from a walking pace and you’ll need footwear to cope with the ground you’ll cover whilst providing both support and a flexible sole. We recommend the likes of the Altra Lone Peak and the Hoka One One ATR 6 Challenger, or Hoka SpeedGoat as they’re both very capable and designed for off-road travel.

dirty Hoka Challenger ATR 6s
My very dirty Hoka Challenger ATR 6s
hoka speedgoat 4
The Hoka SpeedGoats, running shoes that can also be used as an alternative to hiking shoes.

We’ll cover the above points further in this post.

Next, let’s take a look at the different types including more in-depth considerations you need to make when choosing an appropriate pair.

Running shoes

The first and most obvious comment we need to make is this: you should avoid them if they’re designed for road running only. The likes of Nike’s ZoomX Vaporfly Next 2 are made for moving fast on hard surfaces and have almost none of the design features required by hikers (when you read the above review you may notice they performed well on short stretches of trails and that’s the key point: short segments of trail running only.) Attempt to use them on long cross-country runs and you risk an injury.

nike zoomx next 2vaporfly running shoes review
The Nike ZommX Vaporfly Next 2 shoes are great for road running, but don’t be tempted to use them on long trail runs and hikes.

Nike – the worst choice a hiker can make

So we’ve established that Nike running shoes are not the best choice a hiker can make. But does this company offer any alternatives?

Yes. Nike has a pretty good range of hiking shoes that easily cope with the rigours of difficult terrain. The Nike ACG Air Mada is one example which appears to have a large number of positive reviews. We haven’t tried them yet but will do in the near future.

Tip: avoid dedicated road runners as they are not suitable for hiking, or hillwalking.

Trail shoes – your next best choice

Before we get into the ins and outs, let’s look at an alternative: trail running shoes.

I’ve used trail shoes on a number of longer distance hikes – mainly fastpacking – (see the link above for a breakdown of the Altra Lone Peak) because they’re designed for rough terrain, which is the main box to tick off when considering your choice of footwear. On less arduous routes I’ve used my Hoka Challenger ATR 6, or Salomon XT Rush which are a good compromise when the going is a little less hard.

What you need to consider when choosing this option for hiking

To be honest, not much. Here’s a rundown…

Soles

The soles need to be up to the job. By this, I mean the lugs need to be deep in order to handle the wet, slippery terrain that comes after even a light shower. And if you’re going to move fast they need to be flexible enough to allow you to travel at speed whilst giving you sufficient protection from rocks and uneven ground.

Altra Lone Peak soles and lugs
Deep lugs equal good grip on loose and wet terrain.

Ankle support

Getting this part right can be a little tricky. Hiking shoes typically have far more ankle support than trail shoes, but the lack of flexibility will force you to move at a slow pace. The Lone Peak has minimal ankle support. In fact, they have less than most other trail runners available right now and you need to evaluate based on your own needs.

Tip: unless you’re confident in your body’s ability to soak up the effects of difficult terrain pick a pair of trail runners that offer a medium level of ankle support. Here are a few examples:

  • Salomon X Ultra GTX (great review by Jake, highly recommended)
  • Hoka One One Challenger ATR 6
  • La Sportiva Spire (pricey, but excellent)
  • Merrell Moab 2
salomon ultra x hiking shoes
Highly recommended – the Salomon Ultra X hiking shoes

Weather resistance

The easiest way to answer this question is: do you need footwear that is 100% weather resistant? If you’re out on the trails for short, or one-day hikes, the answer is likely no. Sure, having wet feet for the entire time you’re hiking isn’t for some people, but is it essential you keep your feet dry?

I prefer to use footwear made from lightweight, unproofed material that will dry fast.

Hiking shoes

How to choose hiking shoes. Although you may have some specific requirements such as podiatry recommendations, the general formula is pretty much uniform. Here’s what you need to consider:

Terrain

The type of terrain you hike, or walk on, will be of huge significance when it comes to choosing your footwear. Will you be walking on…

  • Easy terrain. Wide open plains and areas of land with few, if any hills. This also includes easy-to-navigate tracks and trails.
  • Technical terrain. This covers mountains and areas where you’ll likely to moving up and down significant hills. Cross-graining (moving across contour lines at an angle, rather than at 90 degrees) places a strain on your ankles and joints and you’ll need a good supportive cuff.
  • Cross country, or off-trail. These routes are ventures into the true outdoors, places where the terrain is at its most difficult. Rarely, if ever, will you find a track unless it’s been beaten by herds of livestock. Your route will likely include scrambling over boulders and fording streams. This is where the real beauty of hiking lives!

The right shoes for each type of terrain

Once you know where you’ll be walking it’s time to choose footwear that meets your needs.

Easy terrain gives you more options, but I’d suggest the following:

  • Lightweight walking, or trail running, shoes that allow you to move fast when required;
  • Your footwear can have flexible soles as you’re less likely to encounter issues associated with technical, or off-trail routes;
  • A moderate degree of cushioning rather than the thick insoles found in footwear designed for other types of terrain.

For technical terrain, consider:

  • A stiffer sole that will cushion and protect your feet from rocks and ankle-jarring potholes, and undulations;
  • Choosing a higher cuff that gives support to your ankles;
  • If your route is a multi-day hike, choose an appropriate amount of weatherproofing (GORE-TEX boots are expensive and at the pinnacle of the waterproof materials you can choose from).

For cross country (off-trail):

  • All of the above considerations for technical routes;
  • toe bumpers to protect you from injuries such as hiker’s black toenail;
  • thicker outsoles and instep protection (hawthorn will punch a hole through a soft instep and into your foot, which is a somewhat unpleasant experience)

Your feet: pink, wriggly and sensitive to your choices

Above all, find shoes that feel comfortable. Your feet are sensitive and the constant pounding that comes with long walks in tight-fitting footwear makes them very unhappy. And when your feet are feeling grumpy then so are you.

Considerations you need to make when picking the right shoes

What considerations do you need to make when choosing hiking shoes? The general rules are:

Foot width

They need to be wide enough to accommodate your feet and at least a thick pair of socks. And if you wear two pairs (a thin base layer with a thicker sock over the top), then have a fitting when you’re wearing both socks.

Tip: choose a half size larger than your everyday footwear. This will allow space for your feet to swell.

Drop

Heel drop – a measure of the difference between the height of the shoe heel and toe. Zero drop shoes and boots have many benefits, which we’ll cover in another post, and are also called barefoot as the drop mimics the movement of unclad human feet.

I prefer a low drop as this gives my hikes a more natural feel. Ask a specialist if you’re interested in zero drop. If in doubt, stick to the same drop you have in your everyday footwear.

Tip: Zero drop shoes do have a number of benefits, but they take getting used to. In the early days, you may experience cramps and calf pain if you’re transitioned straight to zero drop and I recommend you move down through the scale until you feel comfortable.

Support

Another personal choice and once influenced by the speed you walk at and the terrain you’ll cover. In the early days of using hiking shoes, I recommend you go for maximum support and keep your pace slower than a run. Once you’re ready to jump into fastpacking, feel free to choose an option with less support.

Resources

https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/guidelines-buying-walking-shoes

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/the-knowledge/walking/boot-fitting-guide.html

Should I wear GORE-TEX boots?

https://www.gore-tex.com/en_uk/resource/waterproof-water-resistant-difference

The importance of lug depth

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