Trail-running shoes are, imo, the best shoes for hiking. I do a ton of hiking and see people all the time in those thick, clunky hiking boots they sell for $200 at REI. Totally unnecessary.
Depends on what you're hiking.
Boots protect against minor injuries and frostbite to shins, calves, toes, soles and ankles and reinforce the same if you do tear something and end up having to limp for miles (splint or not).
Re:The Looming End of Payless ShoeSource
by onlyrealcuzzo on Sunday April 28, 2019 @11:38PM
(#19775657)
Also, if it's really wet / swampy, you're gonna have a bad time without boots.
I've found a pair of Asics that have decent traction for basketball. I wore those for years, and then they turned into just my running shoes for years, and I'm still wearing them 6 years later for hiking.