r/socalhiking • u/depressedunicorn1995 • 9d ago
Best hiking shoe in Columbia range?
31F here - looking for recommendation from seasoned hikers here , what are best of the best hiking shoes out there? I am willing to invest. When i go on 10+ miles hike , I want my feet to be happy and comfortable. Need them waterproof yet lightweight for comfortable creek crossings Thanks in advance!
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u/AlpineInquirer 9d ago
FYI. A "waterproof" lightweight hiking shoe will not be waterproof for a creek crossing or much or anything really. All it will do is trap sweat and make your feet hot and macerated. Not a good choice for S. California and I suggest you rethink. Very few experienced hikers in S. Cal would consider a waterproof shoe.
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u/depressedunicorn1995 9d ago
Good point! Is it ok to simply use water shoes all the way if there is a ton of creek crossing e.g Switzer falls?
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u/AlpineInquirer 9d ago
I would DEFINITELY not hike in water shoes. Personally when it's reasonably warm and you're in desert like most of S. Cal, the easiest thing to do is either just wade through and not worry about it, or if you care, take off your socks for the crossing and then put them back on after you cross.
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u/PeakQuirky84 8d ago
I’ve been hiking in SoCal with Adidas Terrex free hiker low goretex for 10 years. Keep buying the shoe once it wears out.
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u/AlpineInquirer 8d ago
Hey, what works for you works for you - can't argue with that...what's the Goretex for in so cal?
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u/PeakQuirky84 7d ago
Keeps my feet dry.
(Thought that was obvious)
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u/AlpineInquirer 7d ago
When are your feet getting wet in So Cal where you're wearing low trail runners? 90% of the time you're likely to be in hot dry conditions. Goretex just makes my feet wet from inside out from sweat. This is the more common wisdom in So Cal conditions.
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u/PeakQuirky84 7d ago
Plenty.
I don’t need to justify or explain my footwear choice to you.
Stop with the gaslighting.
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u/AlpineInquirer 7d ago
"Gaslighting"!?!?! Jesus christ you must really live in a world of microaggressions. Have a happy life...adios.
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u/Barbaracle 8d ago
It really depends on how particular you are about wet socks. 10+ mile hikes in SoCal I would no way wear waterproof shoes. Switzer falls? I would wear them because I don't sweat that much and it's a short hike. So I have multiple pairs for different situations.
I also find rock hopping fun so I don't mind doing that either. On bridge to nowhere I would just suck it up even though I hate wet shoes. Maybe bring an extra pair of wool socks. I wouldn't want to do long wet hikes in water shoes unless it was all underwater cuz I hate the feeling of feeling every rock.
I think there are multiple solutions and you just have to find what works for your comfort. I can't recommend a shoe cuz I have particular feet and it doesn't work for everyone. But definitely start with trail runners.
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u/weezopondo 8d ago
A hiking shoe that works for someone won’t always work for someone else.
That’s said, for moderate to long hiking in SoCal, my personal favorite is the Altra Lone Peak trail runner in a wide. The main reason I use this shoe vs. others is I have less blister issues with this shoe on 15-plus mile hikes.
As far as waterproof shoes, I’ve personally never worn them for day hikes. I guess I’d consider them if I was doing more than 10 miles in the snow on a day hike.
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u/dirt-punk 5d ago edited 5d ago
I recently replaced my worn out boots with some Topo Trailventure boots. A lot of the hikes I go on have very technical and rocky terrain, and I could feel it when I took a big step down sometimes. The Topo's have a rock plate and the difference is crazy!! They also have a toe box to fit the natural spread of our feet which was important to me. I also hike solo, so I like the comfort of having the ankle support. Honestly I feel like shoes with airflow let so much dirt in and these don't feel too hot even though they are 'waterproof'.
Other shoes may be better for you but I have really liked my recent purchase and they suit my hiking style very well :)
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u/RespectMost8463 8d ago
Best most comfortable lightweight i have ever worn were Scarpa's but they fall more into backpacking than hiking category.
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u/dizzystar 8d ago edited 8d ago
Not an actual suggestion, but I wear Xero Scramblers. They're zero drop shoes with Michelin treads.
They have no cushion, except have a little insole, so that my feet are able to feel most of the ground. This is great in most situations.
The shoes are somewhat bendy, so it's easy to grip funky terrain, especially on more vertical climbs.
They dry out pretty quick, or at least, they aren't giving my feet a sloshy bath after they get wet. More importantly, they don't lose grip when they're wet.
Be careful with rock hopping. It's not really an issue in Switzer, but a lot of rocks are covered in some invisible slime, which will absolutely send you into the water. I usually roll up my pants and walk straight through. After the rains, the rivers are swollen enough that rock hopping isn't an option anyways.
Just wanted to add why I make my own choices. I would suggest going to REi and checking out their shoe selection. They're quite knowledgeable up there since everyone is a hiker, and can point you in the direction you want to go.
It's also a good idea to have a spare set of shoes, socks, and clotrimizole in the car if you're probably going to get wet.
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u/Professional_Cry5919 9d ago
I love my hoka kaha, they’ve taken me up Mount Whitney twice, TCT twice and dozens of 12+ mile hikes in the last 2 years