Which trekking boots should I choose? S'portofino guide

What makes shoes trekking or outdoor?

Trekking or outdoor shoes are different from regular shoes because of their intended use. They are designed for hiking and trekking. This involves trips that last for hours or even days on varied and demanding terrain: stones, field and forest paths, significant climbs, mud and everything else that you might encounter under your feet on a hiking trail.

You should not take the risk of hiking in your everyday shoes. Even sturdy shoes that are not adapted to the conditions will not provide adequate grip, cushioning, or protection from water and cold. Trekking shoes provide all of this because they are designed for outdoor challenges.

The materials used and the specific design determine the hiking nature of the boots. What does it mean that the boots are for hiking?

• They allow you to walk for many hours without significant chafing and sweating (if you choose and lace up the boots correctly – more on this later)
• They do not get wet in the rain or snow, and even allow you to cross small streams and wetlands.
• They ensure thermal comfort both at the foot of the mountain and on the snowy summit.
• They cushion your steps, even when you are walking on very hard rocks.
• They have good grip, so you can safely walk on wet and uneven stones by a mountain stream, for example.
• They can be adjusted to the shape of your foot.
• They protect your feet and ankles from injury.
• They are very lightweight and specially designed to make walking for many hours less tiring.

To meet these requirements, suitable materials and design solutions are needed. Trekking boots therefore feature, among other things:

• membranes to ensure waterproofing;
• special inserts in the soles, which are designed, for example, to absorb shocks or to accumulate and release energy to make walking easier;
• tread patterns that increase traction;
• lacing systems that allow you to quickly tighten the laces with one movement or protect against unlacing when your foot touches another foot or a branch on the trail;
• snow guards that prevent snow from getting into the shoe from above;
• reinforcements, e.g. around the toes and heels;
• design solutions that increase braking when descending a hill and reduce muscle strain;
• multi-directional hinges in the upper, so that ankle mobility is not restricted.

These are just a few examples. The technologies used in the individual models vary considerably, so it is crucial that you carefully read the specifications of outdoor shoes.

Trekking shoes with or without a membrane?

A membrane is a special layer that protects the feet from getting wet, but allows moisture to escape. This is possible thanks to pores that water molecules cannot pass through, but vapour molecules can. This way, water stays on the shoe, but sweat is transported to the outside.

Gore-Tex is the best-known membrane. However, it is just one of many names for a material with similar properties. Depending on the shoe manufacturer, you may come across different names for waterproof membranes.

Do membrane trekking shoes have any disadvantages? Yes. The vapour permeability of such shoes decreases as the ambient temperature rises. On warm days, the membrane will limit the removal of moisture from the foot. This can not only cause the legs to overheat and the socks to get wet, but also cause blisters and chafing.

If you are planning summer trips, get yourself some hiking boots without a membrane. You can protect them from a small amount of water by using waterproofing products, e.g. in the form of a spray.

If you want to hike in the period from autumn to early spring, when temperatures are low and there is a lot of moisture, boots with a membrane are definitely a better solution.

Trekking boots – leather or synthetic materials?

Many trekking boots have parts made of natural leather: grain leather, nubuck and suede. Leather is valued for its durability, abrasion resistance, breathability and water resistance.

However, technology is progressing and many synthetic materials can match the properties of natural leather and sometimes even surpass them. Trekking boots are made of materials that are resistant to external factors, yet much lighter and easier to maintain than natural leather.

Leather shoes are generally heavier than those made of synthetic leather. They are used during the most difficult expeditions. If you are not a professional outdoor enthusiast, you can choose lighter footwear without natural leather. The important thing is that the upper is made with attention to detail and from high-quality materials.

It is also worth knowing that different materials interact differently with waterproof membranes. In this respect, synthetics outperform natural leather. So if you want to buy membrane trekking boots for autumn and winter trips, plastic may be a better choice.

You may also come across mixed variants, i.e. trekking boots with a two-layer coating. It consists of a combination of leather and fabric. They are combined in such a way as to make the best use of the characteristics of both materials, achieving good breathability without restricting foot movement. Such footwear is recommended for hiking in spring and summer.

In short: if you are a hobby hiker and not a competitive one, there is no need to buy trekking boots made of natural leather. Those made of synthetic materials will also be waterproof and breathable, and at the same time lightweight. However, if your trips are more demanding, more robust leather boots are the right choice for you.

High or low trekking boots? What should you choose?

Trekking boots can be high (with an upper) or low (without an upper, low shoes). In the following paragraphs, we discuss the advantages, disadvantages and uses of these two models of hiking boots.

High trekking boots have an upper. They protect the ankle from injury because they stabilise the ankle. This also reduces mobility and therefore walking speed. These shoes are suitable for mountain hiking, where the risk of twisting your ankle is higher than on flat terrain and where walking does not have to be fast but precise.

Trekking boots with uppers influence the amount of weight your feet can bear. They are recommended if you are walking with a heavy load or for several days.

High trekking boots better protect the foot from snow, mud, but also dust, stones or abrasions, e.g. in the forest when you catch your heel on a thorny bush. They are suitable for autumn, early wet spring, winter and for sandy, gravel and forest trails.

Low trekking shoes, i.e. without an upper, end below the ankle. They do not stabilize the ankle joint. For this reason, they are not recommended for inexperienced hikers who want to conquer their first peaks. There are hikers who value high foot mobility, and experience, fitness and favourable weather allow them to tackle more difficult mountain sections in low and light footwear. This not only gives you more freedom of movement, but also a higher walking speed and better breathability. However, this is a higher level of skill and for safety reasons, we recommend walking in the mountains in shoes with uppers.

Low hiking boots are suitable for hiking on plains and in lower mountain ranges, especially if you have a light backpack. Among the low boots, you will also find special models adapted to climbing, especially rock climbing. This type, the so-called climbing boots, is equipped with rubberised areas under the toes called climbing zones. This ensures good grip on boulders.

Low trekking boots are not suitable for high mountains, snow and rain. If you choose models without uppers, you have to expect dust and pebbles to get inside.

Choose low hiking boots when:

• it is warm and dry,
• you are walking across flat terrain or slight hills,
• the terrain is not very sandy,
• the trip will not be long,
• you do not have heavy luggage.

Choose high hiking boots when:

• it is cold,
• it is wet, muddy or snowy,
• you are going to the mountains,
• you have heavy luggage,
• you have many days of hiking ahead of you,
• you are prone to ankle injuries or want to protect them well.

Should trekking boots be bigger? How do I choose the right size?

Maybe you have heard that trekking boots should be bigger than regular shoes. Is that true? Not exactly. Buying trekking boots in size 44 if you usually wear 43 is not a recipe for success. It is more complicated than that.

Trekking boots should be sized according to the conditions in which they will be used. That means: with a specific type of socks, with feet swollen from exertion. To correctly choose the size of your trekking boots, you need to simulate these conditions when trying them on. Here's how to measure trekking boots:

1. Try on your trekking boots with tired legs. You can do this after training or a day's work, for example. If you can't get your legs that tired, you can soak your feet in very warm water. They will swell a little and become more sensitive to any pinching, just like after a few hours of walking.
2. Try on your trekking boots with the socks you intend to wear on your trip. This is especially important for thick winter socks. Different materials and designs of socks provide different levels of comfort when combined with specific types of boots. When trying on shoes, look for the perfect size and the most comfortable combination of socks and shoes.
3. To assess whether the shoes are really comfortable and will remain so throughout the trip, it is not enough to just slip them on. Spend some time in the measured shoes, walking (preferably up stairs that will imitate mountains), positioning your feet at different angles and performing less typical movements, e.g. squats, standing on tiptoes. This is the only way to find out if, for example, the heel rubs, the socks roll, or the inner seam leaves painful corns. You will also be able to assess the breathability.
4. When on the stairs, check if the foot tilted with the toes down does not slide down in the shoe so that it rests on the toes. To find out, stand with your heels on the edge of a step. The rest of your foot should be in the air. Move your metatarsus, raise and lower your toes. Regardless of the angle of inclination, your leg should move slightly in the shoe. If it does, the shoe will not be suitable for hiking, especially when descending.

If your feet are different sizes, choose shoes that fit the larger leg.

How you tie your shoes also affects how they fit. Try out different ways of tying them and you will see how differently they can sit on your feet.

If you have wide toes, you can give them some space by starting to tie the laces from the second pair of eyelets. If the high instep of the shoe causes pain when tying the laces normally, you can also leave out this part of the leg when tying the laces. Simply tie a knot in the laces and leave out a few rows of eyelets. There are many more clever ways to lace up your hiking boots. Take a look at them and choose the right ones for your foot.

You can try on hiking boots in brick-and-mortar shops. You will have more models at hand, but you may not be able to find stairs where you can test the boots thoroughly. When you buy shoes online, you have the option to return and exchange them. You can order several models and sizes, test them thoroughly, and leave the ones that fit best, and send the others back.

Top 5 trekking shoes for beginners

Want to buy your first pair of trekking shoes? Check out our recommendations below. Here are the top 5 trekking boots: for women, for men, with a membrane, without a membrane and without a shaft.

Model #1. The best trekking boots for women

Women's feet are not only shorter but also often proportionally narrower than men's. For this reason, trekking boots should not be unisex.

Our choice is the high trekking boots for women Dolomite Nibelia High GTX in a muted sage green colour. These boots are designed for women's feet according to the Perfecta construction. They provide a better fit and precision of step. They combine high breathability with water resistance and mobility with grip. This makes the boots versatile, suitable not only for all weather conditions, but also for different terrains and walking styles: from brisk trekking on flat ground to climbing. This is thanks to modern solutions such as the waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex Invisible Fit membrane integrated into the upper, the Vibram Hiker outsole for grip, and the EVA midsole for shock absorption. The high upper, stretchy and breathable, is additionally equipped with a mesh collar, effectively protecting the ankle joints. All this adds up to a lightweight and versatile trekking boot, perfect for women who have not had much experience with hiking.

See the collection of women’s trekking boots

Model #2. The best trekking shoes for men

For men who are just starting their trekking adventure, the trekking shoes Dolomite 54 High FG EVO GTX may be a perfect choice. They are lightweight, waterproof and windproof thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane, have excellent grip and are comfortable because they adapt to the shape of the foot. The foam in the sole absorbs shocks. All this means that the Dolomite 54 High FG EVO GTX can handle almost any conditions that a novice hiker may encounter. Importantly, the model can also be worn as part of a casual outfit.

See the collection of men’s trekking boots

Model #3. The best membrane trekking boots

The high trekking boots Dolomite Crodarossa Leather High GTX made of natural leather, with a relatively high upper and a Gore-Tex membrane, will perfectly protect the legs of a novice tourist from external moisture, and at the same time efficiently wick away excess heat and sweat. However, dry comfort is just the beginning of the advantages of this model. The Dolomite Anatomic System ensures that the shoes fit the feet perfectly, which reduces fatigue and the risk of chafing. The shoes are equipped with shock-absorbing foam and a climbing zone, which will make it much easier for beginners to attack the summit, increasing confidence and precision of step.

Model #4. The best membrane-free trekking boots

If you are looking for membrane-free trekking boots, we recommend the Dolomite Nibelia. They are suitable for both walking and fast trekking. They are lightweight, breathable, and their casual look makes them suitable for more than just mountain trails. The sole absorbs shocks and provides excellent grip thanks to Vibram Hiker technology. The Perfecta construction system makes the shoes adapt to the shape of the feet. These are shoes for dynamic and active women who want to feel comfortable without sacrificing style.

Model #5. The best trekking shoes without a shaft (low)

There can only be one winner here. The already iconic Dolomite 54 Low Evo combines the classic look of the 54 model with modern solutions and technologies that ensure comfort on the trails. The rubber edge protects the toes from impacts with hard rocks and branches. Anatomical insole reduces fatigue and supports natural biomechanics for efficient movement. The Vibram sole provides traction.

The Low Evo model is available for men and women in a variety of colour combinations.

Summary - how to choose trekking shoes?

Trekking boots are designed for hiking and especially for mountain hiking. They provide good cushioning, are waterproof, windproof and breathable. You can choose between low and high trekking boots, made of various materials, both natural and synthetic, with and without a membrane.

When choosing your trekking boots, you should consider the season, the type of hiking and the terrain you want to cover, as well as your specific needs, e.g. the condition of your ankle joints. You can find the perfect fit for your trekking boots by trying them on and doing a few simple tests.