Buying hiking shoes
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
MA
Hi there,

I go on mountain hikes lasting about ten days with a backpack that doesn’t exceed 11 kg. I’d like to switch to a different category of shoes now. Up until now, I’ve been using semi-rigid leather mid-height models, but I’ve had major after-sales service issues with them. They’ve been sent back for repairs three times—5 months, then 6 months of waiting—because the toe cap came unstuck. It just doesn’t hold up.

I’m thinking of switching to mid-height or even low-cut models. But I’m wondering if this change comes with any risks. Also, which category would be best suited: trail shoes, approach shoes, or mid-height? Thanks in advance for your insights!
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
I’m still wondering if this change involves any risks.

You’d need to specify what kind of risks you’re talking about. We can’t put ourselves in your shoes. Semi-rigid boots like Meindl are perfect for high and mid-altitude hiking. However, for trail running in the mountains, they’re obviously not ideal because they’re not flexible. So it really depends on what you plan to do.
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
Hello,

It depends on what kind of hike you're doing. High mountain? Snowy or rocky sections? Personally, outside of mountaineering, I’ve always preferred high-cut but flexible boots for scree, rock, and occasional snow patches. For me, the ideal pair of shoes is first and foremost the one that feels comfortable. Since I have wide feet, some brands like Salomon don’t work for me. Decathlon’s high-cut "trekking" models (Forclaz) are enough for me. If you don’t have weak ankles and are comfortable with low-cut shoes, they might be sufficient for easy trails without scree or snow...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY

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