When it comes down to it, the only thing you really need to get out on a trail (besides clothes) is a trusty pair of hiking boots or shoes.
Trusty because the whole experience pretty much rides on what’s on your feet. You want to know when you lace up your pair of hikers, you’re good to go – especially when your hike takes you way off the beaten path.
Your favorite pair of hiking boots or shoes is your most essential piece of gear. Here’s what to look for when shopping for a hiker that’s made for rough terrain and made to last.
What Is It Made Of?
What a hiking boot is made of is a key aspect of its durability, and an abrasion-resistant upper can help it stand up to wear and tear on the trail, and hike-after-hike use.
Full-grain leather is naturally tough due to its tightly woven fibers, and it ages well. While abrasion-resistant performance mesh is engineered for durability with less weight – ideal for fast & light hiking. KEEN makes durable hikers using both leather and performance mesh, and sometimes a mix of both materials, like in the Hightrail all-around athletic hiker. KEEN Pyrenees is a bestselling full-grain leather boot inspired by classic European backpacking boots, while Targhee Apex features a super-lightweight, abrasion-resistant technical textile upper.
Look for reinforcements like overlays and mud guards that can add extra protection against the elements and are often added in high-wear zones.
How Does It Grip?
Another thing you want to count on hike after hike is your footing. That’s where outsole material and lug height come in. Rubber and engineered outsole compounds are typically harder for more abrasion-resistance on rough terrain like loose scree, tree roots, and uneven terrain. We took abrasion-resistance to the next level with our KEEN.RUGGED outsole that has been independently tested to be twice as durable as rubber. You’ll find it in our Targhee IV collection.
Lug heights for hiking generally range from 2 to 6mm, depending on the ideal end use. Obviously, the taller the lugs, the longer it will take for them to wear down. But it’s a balance. Lower lugs offer more surface contact for better agility. So, an ideal all-around height is about 4mm. That’s why you’ll find most of our hiking boots have 4mm lugs, including the 450 Dirt hiker and Targhee II hiking boot. Our winter hiking boots may have deeper lugs for better grip in mud and snow – for example, our Revel IV Polar hiking boot has 5mm lugs.
How Is It Constructed?
Most hiking boots have a cemented construction – the sole is adhered to the upper with a high-strength glue. Because it creates a light, flexible feel, cement construction is commonly used in a wide range of shoes, including running shoes, casual shoes, lighter-duty work boots, and any shoes where natural flexibility is a priority. Because cement construction doesn’t use any stitching, it has a clean, streamlined look – like the KEEN Zionic hiking collection.
KEEN has taken hiking boot construction durability even further with KEEN.FUSION. By fusing the sole to the upper with heat and pressure, it eliminates the need for glue and creates a stronger, mechanical bond that won’t separate. (Bye, delamination!) This groundbreaking innovation can be found in the Targhee IV hiking boot.
Will the Cushioning Last?
You want resilient cushioning that will stay supportive and comfortable and resist compression over time. For example, the foam that’s often found in athletic shoes is soft and springy, but typically starts losing its cushioning properties around 100-200 miles of use. Hiking boots often include PU foam midsoles, or a blend, to create a best-of-both-worlds approach that’s responsive and compression-resistant. Our Zionic NXT hiking collection features our higher-rebound Katalyze+ midsole for greater, longer-lasting bounce.
After finding your perfect pair of durable hiking boots, you can help them last even longer by taking care of them. Check out our shoe care tips for hiking shoes and boots to keep them going for many more miles of exploring.
