We love hiking with our international friends. Many also enjoy exploring with their classmates.
Eventually the question comes up about the best way to buy good hiking shoes & boots that strengthen ankles, don’t slip as much on graveled slopes, tough & stable against pointy rocks.
We’ve heard some students bring up well known brands. They’re good but can be expensive. Here’s a good local selection.
Big Five Sporting Goods, 2259 N Fremont St, Monterey has many good hiking shoes and boots at very good prices. They also have special weekly sale ads.
Walmart in Marina is another good store. They have a good selection in the store, but a lot more are available online. Here’s a link to their “Hiking Shoes.”
Fifteen years ago, I bought a great pair of hiking boots at Walmart – fit like a glove. I just now bought another pair of the same boots because the older soles are finally wearing out. The new ones only cost $39. I went to see what they had at the store, then ordered my size online.
Remember, with either store, even online, it’s easy to return them if they don’t fit.
What to look for:
If you want waterproof, you need boots. If you have weak ankles, consider boots for support on uneven surfaces, rocks and slopes. Otherwise get hiking shoes.
Realize “hiking” shoes may look like other sport shoes but they are not. They have stronger sides. More importantly they have thicker soles with different treads. Shoes good for running are not ideal for hiking. Converse style shoes are the worst. They’re thin on the sides and have very thin, slippery soles.
I pulled this off a search online:
Comparing Traction… between hiking boots and special trail running shoes. (Note, I couldn’t find comparisons with regular shoes except that regular tennis shoes are “only considered fine on paved trails.”)
"Hiking boots (and lighter hiking shoes to a lesser degree) generally have thick lug soles to bite into soil and a rubber that grips well on a variety of surfaces. Light trail runners offer minimal grip. Some trail runners also feature a sticky rubber compound for enhanced grip on wet rocks and logs.
But, be aware, many trail runners are actually designed to grip on the fly and they won’t have the same level of traction at a slower hiking pace. The physics change when you apply less force on each stride."
Hope this helps. With so many great trails to explore, between the coast and the many mountains, it’s a whole lot more enjoyable when you can feel safe and secure.
Eventually the question comes up about the best way to buy good hiking shoes & boots that strengthen ankles, don’t slip as much on graveled slopes, tough & stable against pointy rocks.
We’ve heard some students bring up well known brands. They’re good but can be expensive. Here’s a good local selection.
Big Five Sporting Goods, 2259 N Fremont St, Monterey has many good hiking shoes and boots at very good prices. They also have special weekly sale ads.
Walmart in Marina is another good store. They have a good selection in the store, but a lot more are available online. Here’s a link to their “Hiking Shoes.”
Fifteen years ago, I bought a great pair of hiking boots at Walmart – fit like a glove. I just now bought another pair of the same boots because the older soles are finally wearing out. The new ones only cost $39. I went to see what they had at the store, then ordered my size online.
Remember, with either store, even online, it’s easy to return them if they don’t fit.
What to look for:
If you want waterproof, you need boots. If you have weak ankles, consider boots for support on uneven surfaces, rocks and slopes. Otherwise get hiking shoes.
Realize “hiking” shoes may look like other sport shoes but they are not. They have stronger sides. More importantly they have thicker soles with different treads. Shoes good for running are not ideal for hiking. Converse style shoes are the worst. They’re thin on the sides and have very thin, slippery soles.
I pulled this off a search online:
Comparing Traction… between hiking boots and special trail running shoes. (Note, I couldn’t find comparisons with regular shoes except that regular tennis shoes are “only considered fine on paved trails.”)
"Hiking boots (and lighter hiking shoes to a lesser degree) generally have thick lug soles to bite into soil and a rubber that grips well on a variety of surfaces. Light trail runners offer minimal grip. Some trail runners also feature a sticky rubber compound for enhanced grip on wet rocks and logs.
But, be aware, many trail runners are actually designed to grip on the fly and they won’t have the same level of traction at a slower hiking pace. The physics change when you apply less force on each stride."
Hope this helps. With so many great trails to explore, between the coast and the many mountains, it’s a whole lot more enjoyable when you can feel safe and secure.