What is the difference between hiking shoes and mountaineering shoes

Regular physical exercise can make our bodies healthier, but choosing appropriate shoes can avoid foot injuries during exercise. Especially those who often climb mountains must choose shoes that suit them to better protect their feet. There are certain differences between the hiking shoes and mountaineering shoes that we wear most often in our daily lives. Let's learn about the difference between hiking shoes and mountaineering shoes.

What is the difference between hiking shoes and mountaineering shoes

First of all, in terms of applicable occasions, mountaineering shoes are generally suitable for rocky mountain roads, while hiking shoes are more suitable for relatively flat roads with fewer sharp objects. This is the most obvious and the starting point for analysis.

It is said that functions change with demand, and analyzing functions based on demand is also a good approach. Hiking shoes are mostly used on mountain trails. Mountain roads are rugged and it is easy to sprain your ankle, so hiking shoes are mostly designed as mid/high tops to effectively protect the ankles. There are many gravels on mountain roads, which can hurt your feet and make you slip easily, so hiking shoes have put a lot of effort into making the soles of the shoes anti-slip and anti-impact. The soles of hiking shoes are hard. The outsole is mostly made of rubber + machine-made carbon, which is puncture-resistant and not easy to deform, effectively protecting the soles of the feet from pain. The outsole has sparse texture and is effective in preventing slipping. The midsole is mostly designed to be shock-proof, decompressive, and hard, increasing the overall stability and support effect of the shoe. There is nothing special about the insole. In addition, due to the uneven mountain roads, the entire shoe surface is subjected to strong impact, so the upper of hiking shoes is generally made of full leather or whole leather, which effectively prevents the shoe from deforming. Hiking shoes are mostly used for long-distance hikes on flat roads, and they focus on being soft, comfortable, breathable and sweat-wicking. Therefore, hiking shoes are mostly low-top, and mid-high-top are rare. In addition, the uppers are generally a mixture of leather + fabric to ensure the breathability of the shoes. The midsole of hiking shoes is designed to be softer and have better shock absorption. The insole is designed according to the shape of the human foot, taking into full consideration that the arch of the foot will become fatigued due to long-term pressure. Therefore, the insole is closer to the shape of the foot and uses a soft insole.

Usually the most obvious thing is that hiking shoes are usually low-waisted, because hiking shoes are designed for walking on roads with better conditions and for long periods of time, so the protection provided by the soles of hiking shoes is to protect your feet from sweat and breathability, which is an important reason why hiking shoes can be worn as casual wear in the city; while hiking shoes are all high-waisted, which can protect your ankles from sprains on uneven roads, and more importantly, the soles of hiking shoes are harder in texture.

The structure of hiking shoes is to provide users with better hiking technical support. A pair of professional hiking shoes generally looks like this:

1. The front and rear edge patterns of the front and rear soles are designed to grip the ground and rock more firmly.

2. The main function of the subsequent patterns is to brake and effectively promote walking.

3. The lines on the left and right sides are used to prevent side sliding.

4. The middle part of the outsole and the front part of the heel are the steering balance braking areas.

5. The drainage grooves on the outsole can efficiently drain rain, snow, water and mud out of the outsole, further improving the anti-slip and shock-absorbing effects of the outsole.

Hiking shoes consist of an upper and a lining. The upper is usually made of leather, nylon, or a mixture of leather and nylon. The lining is usually made of artificial material or soft leather, and some shoes are also padded to improve warmth and comfort. Although man-made materials are becoming increasingly advanced, full leather uppers are still the best. Leather is not easy to deform, and its waterproof, breathable and warm properties are better than any artificial material. A good pair of shoes is usually made of a whole piece of leather (except for the heel and tongue), so such shoes can maintain a relatively good shape after being worn for a period of time.

There are always chances of accidental injuries when exercising. The above is an introduction to the difference between hiking shoes and mountaineering shoes. After understanding, we know that generally mountaineering shoes are high-top and have anti-slip function. We must choose appropriate shoes when exercising, so as to reduce some accidents.