Different people have different choices. Many people feel comfortable in hiking boots while the rest of us prefer trial-running shoes. You need to take into account the terrain, the weather, and the conditions on offer.

Before going outdoors, you will need to know more about the terrain of where you will walk or run. Is it a rocky terrain? On many occasions, the turfs you need to cross can be uneven, which would further put your boots to the test.

Before hitting the slope, you need to have a closer look at the terrain where you’d be walking or running.

On many occasions, wearing hiking boots are an ideal way to protect the feet while walking on treacherous terrains. These boots are heavier than normal boots, and are therefore, not recommended for undertaking long walks that are most likely to turn into a run.

The trail runner shoes offer a greater degree of comfort and flexibility on hiking trails than all other boots.  These boots are ideal for undertaking brisk walks, but when it comes to providing underfoot protection while making your way through rocky terrains, these boots aren’t of much help.

Hiking boots and trail-running shoes: The striking differences

The first and the foremost difference between hiking boots and trail running shoes is that hiking boots cover the ankle to offer a greater degree of stability. Many hikers like to have their ankles covered, especially while making their way across craggy terrains.

Now comes the downside, these shoes might hamper the speed of movement and the ability to run because of sheer lack of ankle flexibility.

Moving further, these boots have quite a few variations, from lightweight summer boots to stiff and highly durable winter walking boots. Swapping winter walking boots for trainers isn’t a good idea, but a summer boot can easily be swapped with a trail runner if the conditions allow.

Also, hiking boots are waterproof. The ankle prevents water from getting inside and these boots sport a waterproof lining of some kind. The best waterproofing can be seen in leather boots. The soles of hiking boots can effortlessly withstand the rigours and vigors of everyday use.

While trail runners also have grippy soles, when compared to trainers, they aren’t robust and lack the sole of a hiking boot. You’ll find that the soles of these boots are made using grips of different levels depending on the conditions as well as the terrain.

Trail running shoes and their striking features

These are much lighter than the hiking boots and lack ankle support. These shoes offer freedom of movement. They are ideal for brisk running.

You can wear trail running shoes during summer, but you need to take a comprehensive a good look at the soles and the uppers in order to make sure they are suitable for the purpose. Some trail shoes come with grippy soles for running in the mountains. Also, there are those with stiff or more flexible soles depending on where you want to run or walk.

All in all, the best way to choose the ideal pair of shoes is to take the terrain that you’d be walking on into consideration. You also need to keep an eye on the weather. Then think about whether you will be mainly hiking or planning to hike and run.