Buying hiking shoes

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!

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.

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...