h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If I want lightweight trainer type footwear for mostly off-road walking, am I better to get a trail shoe or a walking one?

Although I don't go on big hills nowdays I get a lot of minor ankle twists which can spoil my yearly country holiday even on small hills. As I get older I think I am less tolerant of walking around 3 hours a day for a week so bought a proper pair of lightweight walking boots by Karrimor. They have a proper ankle support and find them more supportive than trainers I used before, they are warmer in summer than trainers but have helped prevent injuries so great for me.

A trail shoe?? Can't say I've heard of them.

But if you're going rambling or hiking or something, you'd be best getting something that'll be comfortable, have good grip and with good soles. Even good trainers/running shoes might be good depending on where you're heading.

I love my lightweight walking boots. I believe they are gortex (Suede/cordura) uppers so breathable-ish and comfortable. I had leather boots years ago and found them uncomforatable and a lot more heavy. I find my new ones flex but are supportive and have had no blisters.

Yeah, I'd a pair of hiking boots for Guide/Scout camps, but they were big and heavy and I wound up just wearing trainers. A lot cooler too. Need something to keep your feet cool too.

If I remember correctly it is "A pound on the foot is worth five pounds on the back" in other words heavy boots are tiring!

Depends on how much you want to spend as well; I'd recomend spending as much as you can; My Zamberland (SP), err.... treck light or somethign I think they were cost me an absolute fortune, but at about 16 to 17 years of age as they now are they're still going strong with not a sighn of any visable wear on either the leather or the soles of the boots, despite wearing them daily on my feet for a couple of years so they got used a lot on roads/pavements, which is ment* to wear them quicker They're not that* light but not overly heavy either and certainly I really like the ankle support they provide and they've got really good tortion too to prevent any damage with peculiar movements of the foot in that direction as well.. Never found them overly hot even in summer despite them being just quite thick leather uppers Having said which, I've been through dozens of pairs of laces with them and replaced the insurts I think about twice or more in the time I've had them

Sounds like a good pair of shoes there.

I got some light shoes for walking on holiday last year. They were sold as "trekking" shoes and didn't have ankle supports. We went on some organised hikes (it's a long story), but I wasn't really there for the walking.

The others in the group were very sceptical. I did regret not having "better" boots at times as we were walking on quite rough ground. I actually slipped and fell - well, my ankle gave way - at one point, and everyone was very sweet but I could hear them thinking "I told you so". It was pouring with rain and EVERYONE was slithering and slipping around - even those in hiking boots.

After my fall, they lent me some hiking boots which were the conventional kind, but were lighter and more flexible than my own hiking boots (which I'd left at home).

So - to answer your question - I would get hiking boots, certainly something that goes over the ankles, but make sure they're as light and supple as possible. A good tread, it goes without saying, is vital for wet surfaces. If you have weak ankles, do exercises to strengthen them in the weeks before you go.

I really don't get on with boots - I will wear them for wet trudging in this country, but I much prefer the feel of lower cut walking shoes (I just feel more agile and therefore more sure footed). I am about to buy my second pair of Merrell Siren Ventilators. Absolutely cracking grip, bounded around Cretan mountainsides quite happily, but incredibly lightweight and cool (the uppers have a lot of mesh in them) - they also do a boot, if you must. I guess one day I'll wreck an ankle, but given that the last couple of times I have I've been walking down a town street, I'll take the chance.

if you are serious about walking go to an outdoor supplies or other specialist outlet and get a pair of off road shoes. they are like cross trainers but heavier duty fabric on the uppers and better tread on the sole, which will also come up a little further on the sides to give you some marginally better protection from dampness. you only need boots in heavy country.

cross trainers from a sports store will usually not have a decent tread. shoes and boots with a heel are a 'don't do'.

be prepared for some sticker shock because these things can get expensive.

cross trainers, particularly those meant for field sports like hockey, are perfectly fine if you are on a tight budget, the country is relatively easy going and you don't mind the fact they will wear pretty fast. my kids wear nothing other than these types of shoe when we go walking.

boots are not intended to provide ankle support btw. if they were capable of doing so your movement would be dangerously restricted. their function relative to shoes with regard to off road walking is to provide protection against scrapes etc and to reduce stuff getting into the inside of the boot.

a lot of research was done on high cut boots for sports from the 60s onwards and the findings were unequivocal. no reduction in ankle injuries and greater incidence of knee injuries. which is why footballers of every code now wear low cuts.

well I'm pretty sure as a user perspective that having the extra support on the ankle has prevent more than a few sprained ankles (never had any after a couple decades walking)
But mind, I feel quite happy that I paid £220 for my hiking booots (admiditly about 17 years ago), and they're still going strong, whilst in teh same period I don't feel any problem about my £120 'fashion' 'boots' have in three and a bit years cost me two new soles (£80 ish ) well, at least when the rest of my body fails (as it ofetn does) my feet never have yet seriously though, those majorily expensive hiking boots have proved worth every penny (having spent the previous few years messing about in forty and fifty quid rubbish pairs of boots

Well my walking boots have also prevented a lot of ankle twists. I am not talking about major twists where you can't walk but small accumulative ones that mean I end up with being unable to walk far at week's end without boots. I also find that being more stable I get less knee aches. I find it best to tighten laces if going on to small hills. As an example I walked diagonally coming down a hill without boots and in trainers and got a minor twist but the walking boots seem to give just enough support to prevent the minor twists that cause the problems. Mine are fabric walking boots so not the totally rigid really heavy leather boots I had in past so perhaps better with support but not too much.

Hope this isn't seen as advertising, but I have a pair of Nike trainers that were advertised as hiking trainers. I have to say, I've had them over a year, done some pretty epic walks *cough* A24427992 *cough* and they've done well - only just thinking about replacing them.

Would be worth seeing if other trainer makers do similar.

I have a problem with very narrow feet, so I'm limited for choice - will probably have to buy online. Even good outdoor stores don't seem to have enough range of sizes for me.

A few years ago I bought some good walking boots (New Balance) which are great for wet and muddy conditions. What I'm after now is something a little more general purpose for Summer walks on e.g. footpaths, woodland & stony ground. I'm looking for breathability & traction. I've seen lots of New Balance styles that look suitable, but not sure if I should go for trail (seems to better for traction and flexibility), or walking (more cushioning & thicker sole).

Any more thoughts?

In an ideal world, you should be able to find a good sports/outdoor shop where a nice salesperson who knows what they're talking about, and who has done lots of walking themselves, will find exactly what you want for you. As everyone on this thread seems to have different needs and different anatomic requirements, including me, we have all given advice on what our own requirements would be.

So, armed with the knowledge provided by your fellow hootooers, you can now take yourself along to a good shop, ask some relevant questions and get some sensible tailor-made advice and have a lovely time hiking.

Alas, this isn't an ideal world!

I've explained why I don't want to buy boots, as some have advised, so now I want to find out if anyone has direct experience of the different types of trainer type construction.