Want to lighten up your footwear and move faster and lighter in
the outdoors? The good news is that it's never been so easy, there's
a massive choice of lightweight boots, shoes, sandals and hybrids out
there, all of them with their pros and cons.
Our latest buyers' guide is intended to help you decide which
option will work best for you.
First Principles
Traditionally British mountain footwear has been stiff, heavy and
clumpy. That's great with crampons, but losing weight from your feet
makes a massive difference to both comfort, nimbleness and, over the
course of the day, fatigue, since you're lifting less weight with
every step.
Traditionalists
will argue that you need stiff footwear on rough ground and with
heavy loads to maintain stability, but with gear getting lighter and
lighter and with better designed lightweight footwear, that's
becoming less and less the case.
Lighter, lower cut footwear allows far more ankle mobility letting
you adjust your feet more precisely to the terrain and making for
easier, more economical and nimbler movement.
That's fine if you're strong and sure on your feet, but clumsier,
less experienced walkers may be better off going for a lightened
conventional boot rather than a shoe to start off with.
Top tip Even conventional stiffer boots are lighter these
days thanks to advanced materials and construction - carbon fibre
shanks anyone - so you may be able to lighten up without losing
underfoot stiffness if you feel that's important for you.
Ideally...
Whatever footwear you're looking for, there are several basic
properties we check before buying.
Torsional
Stiffness - grab the toe and heel of the sole unit and twist
hard. There should be good resistance to torsional flexing, if
there isn't, the sole may feel sketchy on uneven ground.
- Heel Support - most people think stability is down to a
high-cut ankle, but it's more about a supportive, good-fitting
heel cup. If you pinch the outside of the heel section of the
uppers between your thumb and forefinger, it should feel stiff. If
it doesn't, there's a good chance your heel will move around
making the shoe or boot feel unstable.
- Longitudinal Flex - check that the sole flexes
reasonably easily and that if there's a defined flex point, it
matches the point where your foot bends when walking.
- Sole Grip - the downfall of some lightweight footwear
is a shallow grip pattern on the sole. That may be fine for dry
conditions use, but on softer ground, you need more grip, so take
a careful look at those cleats and studs.
Top tip Check the basics, they make a huge difference to
how a boot or shoe performs.
Lightweight Boots
Shoes may be the current 'in thing' but there's plenty of scope to
simply buy a modern, lightweight boot that slashes several hundred
grammes off the weight of a conventional walking boot but still gives
reassuring ankle protection.
Most
top footwear brands now have lighter options in their ranges. The
weight savings come from using lighter components and materials
throughout the boot. That could mean a thinner sole unit, a
carbon-fibre or moulded shank, thinner leather or fabric uppers,
lighter lace hardware and, mostly likely, a combination of all the
above.
A higher ankle cuff won't necessarily give more stability - that's
down to the overall design and the heel cup in particular - but it
will protect your ankle from scrapes on say, scree slopes and boulder
fields as well as making it less likely that stones will work their
way into the interior of your footwear.
For an idea of what's possible, take a look at Brasher's Supalite
range which has taken the standard walking boot and massively
reduced its weight with impressive results.
Top tip Fabric boots aren't always lighter than leather,
most use large suede panels, so don't assume lightweight boots means
fabric boots by default..
Approach Shoes
Approach shoes were originally aimed at climbers wanting something
light and capable for walking in to their routes and some are still
built that way with sticky soles, rubber rands and a close fit. Most
though have metamorphosed into general outdoor and walking shoes.
There's
more detailed information in our Buyer's Guide to Outdoor
Shoes but shoes seem to have borrowed both from boots and
running shoes. That means you may well get a running shoe-type upper
and heel counter, but coupled to a soul unit that's more like a
lightweight boot's and generally stiffer than a running shoe.
They make a good compromise between a lightweight boot and a
trail-running shoe, and most, while too clumpy and high for proper
running, do make decent walking shoes thanks to the extra stiffness
and cushioning from taller mid-sole units.
We've found sole units with a distinctly flared heel give the best
stability on rough ground, with narrow-heeled soles feeling
distinctly iffy. Many feature waterproof breathable linings which are
a boon in damp conditions, but may make your feet too hot in warmer
weather. Fit needs to be snug and supportive. If your foot can move
around in the shoe, it'll feel loose and unstable underfoot, so look
for a slick lacing system that you can adjust easily to suit your
foot.
Some shoes are also available in 'Mid' versions which can make a
good halfway house between a boot and a shoe, if you're wary of low
ankle cuffs.
Top tip Many approach shoes have quite shallow tread on the
soles. That's fine on dry and rocky terrain, but can mean less grip
than you'd like on damp, soft ground so check carefully.
Trail Running
Shoes
We'd draw a distinction between trail-running and even fell shoes
and more general approach shoes. Companies like Inov8 are producing
shoes which, although primarily designed for running, also make good
lightweight walking footwear.
Trail
running shoes tend to have more underfoot cushioning than pure fell
runners, but are still low enough to the ground to give some of the
advantages of fell-running shoes - fell runners tend to be too
minimalist for more general use with great underfoot grip and
stability but very little cushioning or support.
Trail runners often make great warm weather options because they
generally use fabric and mesh uppers with no waterproof membrane to
keep the sweat in. Of course that's a double-edged sword as water can
also get in from the outside.,ore easily.
Look for a close, glove-like fit, toe and heel reinforcement to
deal with rock abrasion damage, low but grippy soles. Running shoes
are built lighter and flexier to allow your foot to move more easily,
but the pay-off is reduced durability compared to an approach shoe or
boot and, for some, more localised foot fatigue at the end of a long
walk, until your feet adapt anyway.
The pluses are a combination of great grip and nimbleness
underfoot.
Top tip Most trail-running shoes use EVA for cushioning.
This works well when new, but tends to compress and lose its spring
with use. It's also vulnerable to abrasion damage, so expect to
change trail runners more than you would, say, approach
shoes.
Sandals And
Hybrids
Yep, you may be shaking your head, but it's perfectly possibly to
walk on mountain terrain wearing well-designed sandals or
hybrids, though it is something of a minority trait.
Obvious
advantages are ventilation in hot weather and lightness. Downsides
are that it's quite easy to bang your delicate toes in rocky areas
and small stones can get into your sandal, though they're generally
easy to remove as well.
The toe issue has been addressed with closed toe sandals, most
notably by Keen. Generally we've found the most functional sandals
tend to be those designed for running and sports. Check for a snug
fit with lots of adjustability and make sure none of the buckles rub
against your foot while walking.
If you intend to use them barefoot then an anti-microbial sole
unit will be a bit step in avoiding pongs. It is possible to fit
aftermarket footbed or orthotics in some sandals - Bite for example -
but most have an integral footbed.
Top tip Looks for strategic padding on straps, but make
sure stitching isn't likely to rub against your skin.
More Help And
Advice
This article should have given you some basic pointers. The good
news is that there's a load more advice on OUTDOORSmagic:
Ask on the gear
forum about general issues or specific items.
Check the member
reviews section for user experiences of kit.
See OM editorial reviews on the front of the site for our
impressions.
Ask
Richard Gear if you have a specific question you need
answering.
alex Popescu
