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The Kitchen Table

Hiking boots or tennis shoes?

9 years ago

I am going to start walking daily, I have both tennis shoes and hiking boots. I like wearing the boots (they are a little more than ankle tall) because of the comfort and support but it is a lot of shoe for summertime.
For longer walks, what do you wear?

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Comments (7)

renee_fl
9 years ago
If I am in the woods I wear hiking boots - if I am on pavement I wear sneakers.
socks
9 years ago
If you are walking on a sidewalk or other relatively smooth surface, walking shoes are best.

Hiking books have important purposes. The ground on a trail is rough and uneven. The firmer sole of a hiking boot protects the bottoms of your feet from rocks which stick up and would be uncomfortable or even painful if wearing a softer bottomed shoe like a walking shoe. They also help stabilize your ankles from a twist. If you are wearing a properly fitting hiking boot, your toes will not bump the front of the boot when you go downhill on a trail. I know all this because I hiked for a day in walking shoes. My feet were very sore.
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Went shopping tonight and tried two different brands of boots, both a little "combat" style and both hurt my feet which I thought was odd. I think I may need to go into a high price range. Rilie, those boots are cool. So you wear pants over them and they lay ok? I like those ariat clogs and found some local stores that carry them. Funny but they are at a Tractor supply store. Going to check them out. I just sit all day at work but want comfortable shoes for times I need to walk, like in a mall of if I go somewhere. I don't want to have to change shoes everytime I go somewhere. If you're not from this area it might be hard to understand what I'm talking about. Most people here do not wear winter boots unless they are going skiing, or playing in the snow, etc. Often we just have a little snow on the ground. Not enough for boots but regular dress flats are not high enough off the ground. I'm going to dig out some older booties I have and see if I can have them repaired. They were so comfortable, now if I can find them..... funnyart, I used to be a librarian! They do look comfortable.
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I asked this same question a few weeks ago before purchasing my new Bosch 500. I was specifically concerned about washing sandy shoes after hiking in the desert and I must admit that I have not had the nerve to try anything yet with sand. But I have washed shoes with "regular" dirt with no problem with one exception. I had a malodorous pair of flip flops that I thought the XXtrasanitary cycle would take care of. The heat from the water must have been great enough to melt the adhesive in the shoes and what emerged after the wash were pieces of my former flip flops. Oh well. I got new flip flops anyway.
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I have the Powersteps Slimtech. It is a 3/4" insole so it just fits into my tennis shoes without having to take anything out. I also have Birkenstock insoles - the trim line. I can't remember the name, but they have two kinds - a slim one for flats and such and then another with more of a heel. I have had a severe bout of Plantar Fasciitis. I have been suffering since the fall. I have gone to a podiatrist, massage therapist, physical therapist. I had tennis shoes fitted at a running store - they sell the SuperFeet, but said the Powersteps I have are also a good brand. My husband had tennis shoes fitted there as well and they sold him Superfeet. It has helped with some back issues he was having - as you said above, your local running store has both - important to get the right size to fit your arch. Good luck.
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Yeah I kinda figured ultimately I was going to have to mail order the boots and jacket, (sigh) which is why I posted the question here, with mail order I have access to more brands. I've worn out the Llbean shoe selection, but I still find a lot of my jackets and outerwear through them. My last jacket was a windbreaker with fleece lining from Lands End. The fleece I wear all the time, but again, the jacket doesn't wash well. A lot of those windproof, waterproof jackets get dirt stains that don't come out, unlike something like cotton duck or denim. I can always slip a windbreaker over a cotton jacket, but when I don't need waterproof or windproof, washable is key. Particularly now in pandemic times when I am more often washing stuff that I wear out to the stores and other necessary errands where I'm in contact with people. Oooh LocalE I just remembered I have a shirtjacket like that somewhere. Gotta find it, it's somewhere in with my packed away spring and summer clothing which I am slowly recovering. This time of year is so precipitous, I still have to keep my winter stuff around because we can have both winter and summer levels of weather in one or two days time.
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ruthieg__tx
9 years ago
Hiking boots are also good in the woods for protecting your ankles from critters that might get your ankles...things that like to pop up and bite your ankle like rattle snakes...
debo_2006
9 years ago
I wear athletic sandals (Keen) for walking on pavement and on the treadmill because they give my high arches the best support compared to sneakers which I am not a fan of and rarely wear. Plus, they are SOOOO cushy which my feet appreciate. I wear them with low profile athletic socks b/c otherwise my feet sweat in them without socks. When hiking, I need ankle support since I'm prone twisting ankles, so my higher ankle Keen hiking boots come in handy even in summer...with the right socks. They also have good arch support.

Here is a link that might be useful: Keen sandal
blfenton
9 years ago
This will be a word thing - when you say tennis shoes do you mean those white, no-support things or do you mean well-supported running, walking shoes (or maybe in your neck of the woods you might call them sneakers).

How long are your walks going to be and are they sidewalk walking, flat trail walking or hilly hiking.

For flat trail walking or sidewalk city walking I would use running shoes that have proper arch and heel support. For the next level I do wear a trail running shoe (I run in the trails and trail runners are built for this with a firmer sole, bigger tread and strong heel support. I've learned that because of the stiff sole they are uncomfortable to wear as a walking shoe for long walks)

Hiking boots are probably too much shoe for normal city/trail walking.
lucillle
Original Author
9 years ago
Tennis shoes for me are well built Nike's and the like with support. The walks are for now 30 minutes to an hour on sidewalk and through small parks.
Once I build up some more strength I will be walking through larger state-forest type parks.
I wore my tennis shoes for a walk with 2 dogs a while ago, no problem. Will walk 2 more dogs later.
sjerin
9 years ago
My feet swell when I'm warm so I HAVE to wear sandals when I walk; I wear them from spring to fall, all day. Of course, they're supportive--right now I'm wearing mostly eccos.

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