Are you thinking about wearing your hiking shoes every day? Maybe your normal day to day shoes have broken down and you don’t feel like getting a new pair right away. If you have an extra pair around the house it may be tempting to lace them up and use them every day.
Can you wear hiking shoes every day?
Yes, you can wear hiking shoes every day. The tread on hiking shoes is more likely to wear out faster if used frequently, however, the support is strong enough for everyday use.
There are however a few differences between hiking shoes and casual shoes. Let’s take a more in-depth look at those differences now!
Hiking Shoes vs Casual Shoes
When picking out shoes there are a lot of personal preferences that go into that decision. Let’s compare some of the key differences that you’ll notice when looking at hiking shoes and casual shoes.
Material
Most hiking shoes you’ll find have some sort of waterproof material. This is because usually there’s no way to avoid some water while out on a trail. Because of this material built into the shoes, it ends up reducing the breathability and increasing the weight of the shoe.
If you have a pair of hiking shoes that are on the lighter side it might be worth considering using those instead. Otherwise, you might find your feet get a little more sweaty and tired if you are walking around in heavier material for long hours at a time.
Traction
The pair of shoes you’re wearing right now probably have quite a bit less traction than on a pair of hiking shoes or boots. This increased traction is one of the great benefits you’ll notice when switching to shoes made for hiking.
The traction and tread on hiking shoes do come with a downside, however. Wearing these shoes on asphalt will lead to a quicker breakdown on the sole which in turn leads to less comfortable shoes.
Cushioning
Hiking shoes are noticeably more stiff than most other shoe types. This construction design makes it so there is less damping throughout the shoe. Longer stretches of walking will make this factor a lot more noticeable. One way to increase cushioning is to get a pair of liner socks to add padding inside your boots.
Ankle Support
Nowadays, more shoes have great ankle support so I think this is one of the less important factors to consider. Hiking shoes will give you a bit more support than other shoes, except for running shoes, but it seems like a marginal difference.
Hiking shoes do offer some great ankle support, but it’s more built towards climbing and changing heights. Walking around on a flat surface all day does nothing to take advantage of the support system offered by these shoes.
Factors Of Everyday Use
Wearing hiking shoes every day might be seeming like a good idea at this point, but let’s look at some other factors that you should consider before deciding.
The tread put on hiking shoes is very different than on running shoes or other types of sneakers. Wearing these shoes every day on conditions that they weren’t built for results in a much quicker breakdown process. This might be an okay compromise for your situation, it just depends on how long you want them to last.
Since most hiking shoes are heavier than casual shoes you will end up using more energy to walk around for an entire day. Your feet will feel more tired or sore because of the added weight, and the fact that there is little breathability in hot temperatures.
Can Hiking Shoes Be Used For Running?
Yes, hiking shoes can be used for running but it is not recommended for many reasons. Hiking shoes are built for rougher territory and therefore do not provide runners with the correct features like ankle support and durability.
Running shoes are designed for speed and stability, factors that aren’t as important when out hiking with some friends. Hiking shoes will lead to a slower runner pace because of the additional weight that is built into the shoe.
The quicker you are moving while using the hiking shoes the less amount of time you’ll get out of them. With the sole wearing off pretty fast while running on asphalt, you’ll end up having to replace some pretty expensive shoes pretty quickly.
Final Thoughts
After looking at the differences and benefits that you can receive by switching to hiking shoes, it really depends on what you’re looking for out of the pair.
Hopefully, this comparison between types of shoes and their pros and cons will help you decide whether you should personally wear your hiking shoes every day!
