The ONE Tip You Need to Choose Between Hiking Boots, Shoes, and Trail Runners

When it comes to deciding between hiking boots vs hiking shoes vs trail runners, there’s really only one thing to know. Buy the shoe that fits! PSA I’m not a doctor, so if you have medical issues, always check with your care providers for advice on footwear. Support my channel - buy me a backcountry coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/megintheforest I don't accept sponsored gear or trips. I don't hawk courses. And I don't gatekeep information. My mission is to tell my story completely for free. This channel is completely funded by me. This advice is only meant to guide if you want to know the finer differences between these pieces of footwear. If you’re JUST getting into hiking, then the best place you can spend your money is on your feet. Bad footwear = a bad time. Choose what fits you best given the conditions you’re primarily hiking in. So if you live near mountains but winter doesn’t interest you, a hiking shoe will serve you best. But if you live in the SouthWest, start with a trail runner or breathable hiking shoe (likely not waterproof). But I’ll level with you. If you REALLY get into this hobby, you’ll eventually end up with all 3 types of shoes. I’ve got it all over the years from hard-shank mountaineering boots to uber-lightweight trail runners. Again, it all comes back into investing in your feet. But it takes TIME to build up everything you need and your needs WILL change when it comes to what hiking footwear to use. My last big piece of advice - RUN FAST from ANY influencer or content creator convincing you to buy a specific shoe or boot. Frankly, your feet are as unique as your fingerprints. Someone else’s sales pitch on specific footwear is absolutely trash and they are trying to make a sale from you, not recommend a product you’ll actually like. Red flags all around. Same goes for big-name publications, media outlets, and blogs reviewing footwear. 95% of these reviews are totally worthless. The only thing you should consider when reading these reviews are the aspects of durability or features such as breathability and waterproofing. The rest is garbage with a capital G. FOOTWEAR IS PERSONAL! More incredible gear I love: https://www.amazon.com/shop/megintheforest ✨ Follow me… Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Aforestfox/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megintheforest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megintheforest/ #hiking #hikinggear #hikinglife #hikingtips #hikingfootwear #hikingboots #hikingshoes #trailrunner #backpackinggear #backpackingtips #backpacking ✨Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 00:10 - when to use each shoe 00:30 - Choosing a shoe based on where you hike 00:54 - What activities do you enjoy the most? 01:35 - What to consider medically 02:16 - pros and cons of hiking boots 02:40 - pros and cons of hiking shoes 03:23 - pros and cons of trail runners 04:17 - improving the lifespan of your trail runners 04:24 - The biggest thing to consider when choosing hiking footwear