Best Camping/Hiking Shoes For Men – Reviews and Guide 2020

Benefits

• Men’s hiking shoes make things comfortable for you when you are moving across different terrains.
• Being lightweight in design, they provide you with all-day comfort.
• They are extremely breathable and keep your feet fresh and odor-free.
• You’ll get enough support to keep your feet secure during long hikes.
• Easy to clean and don’t take a long time to dry either.
• Waterproof features make them great to use in wet conditions.
• A quick and easy lacing systems which makes it easy to wear and take off.
• They are designed to keep you on the go and to ensure that you can comfortably move around on ranging terrains without any fuzz.

What to Look for When Buying Trekking Shoes for Men?

There are different types of trekking shoes for men. And they all have different characteristics. Some of them focus more on cushioning and support while others emphasize on lightweight and aesthetics. You need to identify what are your needs and requirements before you choose a pair. In this section, we have highlighted some important points that you need to consider before buying camping sneakers for men.

Weight

As we have mentioned earlier, the new generation of comfortable men’s hiking sneakers don’t have much weight on them and they are very lightweight. They are specifically designed to move around comfortably.

You won’t feel any discomfort because your feet will be airy as if you are not wearing anything. But there will be less cushioning and support as well and you have to be more careful moving around on different types of terrains.

Stability and Support

The new generation of these hiking boots for men focuses more on stability than cushioning that is why they are lighter in weight as compared to their predecessors. Both rear and front ends of the sneakers come with equal amounts of support.

And with proper traction, they become extremely high performing on various terrain with better control and grip. Heel and toe will be highly supported but you won’t find much cushion on the ankle to keep the shoe lightweight. If you have some ankle related issues, you can go for exclusive ankle support.

Comfort

Comfort is probably the most important feature that you need to consider when looking for a pair of camping sneakers. If your sneakers are not comfortable, you won’t feel relaxed having them on. Eventually, your movement will be limited.

You need to make sure to try your shoes before you buy them. Always look for return policies if you are buying them online. Don’t keep wearing your uncomfortable pair of sneakers even if you like the design a lot.

Water Resistance

Water-resistance is a very important factor if you are planning to hike in a region that sees a lot of rain. With the moisture-wicking layer, you will have to consider the point that they should come with high ankle support.

The sneakers with low top water-resistive features will take a lot of time to dry if moisture enters them from the top. You will have to compromise on the breathability factor if you’re going for waterproofing.

Breathability

Speaking of breathability, if you are planning to hike in summers and the climate is humid, you must go for a pair of hiking shoes that are extremely breathable. If they are not breathable, you won’t feel comfortable at all. The odor will be another issue and you will have to deal with it. Bear in mind that with high moisture-wicking properties, sneakers become less breathable.

Lacing Systems

When you are on the frontier, you need to be on the move all the time. You might have altered your plan or the weather has changed or maybe you have come up with a new plan altogether! In either case, you will have to be ready to move.

And for this, you should choose a pair that comes with a proper lacing system. Many manufacturers make sure that they integrate fast and superior lacing systems to ensure that you get them on and off in no time.

Insoles

If you have developed some feet conditions over time, then you will also need some insoles. And of course, you will need to have some extra room to place your insoles aptly.

Therefore, choose the design accordingly. Some manufacturers provide you with their insoles to pair well with the sneakers or you can buy the insoles separately. Just make sure that your insoles are the right size and they add to the overall comfort of your feet.

Upper Materials

Different manufacturers use different materials to create the upper of their hiking shoes. But the most common materials used for this purpose are synthetic, nylon, and nubuck leather.

Synthetic Nylon and Mesh

If you are looking for a budget option, it is better to go for synthetic materials. Synthetic nylon and mesh keep your hiking sneakers very light and breathable and they are also very easy to clean and maintain. Durability is not an issue with these materials and they won’t break your wallet in half either.

Nubuck Leather

Nubuck leather is a quality material featuring top-grain leather from the cattle. It has been sanded on its grain-side or outside. This buffing gives it a slight nap of those short protein fibers and the velvety feel on its surface. This material is resistant to wearing and available in a range of different colors.

Midsoles and Cushioning

Midsoles and cushioning are very important because the terrain will be very rough. There will be very uneven surfaces and the midsole section of your sneakers need to be properly cushioned for better comfort and support. There are two types of midsole cushioning available. One is EVA and the other is TPU.

EVA

There are midsoles made of EVA or ethyl vinyl acetate material which are used for the construction of orthotic top covers. But the kind that is used for the midsoles is a gray EVA material is firmer while its white counterpart is soft. With a firmer midsole, the shoe will be heavier and stiffer.

TPU

Thermoplastic polyurethane or TPU is lighter with its modern version. The engineers have found a way to blow in air bubbles to make it lightweight and durable, but this material is slightly expensive. However, this type of midsole is more frequently used in the construction of sports.

Outsoles and Traction

As you are going on different terrains, you need good quality traction and an extremely durable outsole. Rubber soles will work the best and you need to choose them because they provide you with superior traction and floor gripping. Rubber is also waterproof and adds much-needed weight and stability to the overall design and construction of your camping sneakers.

Protection

Your sneakers need to come with a quality toe box and enough heel protection. There are different camping shoes available to cater to various foot conditions. If you have any, you need the right kind of foot protection.

Hiking Shoes vs. Hiking Boots

The most noticeable difference between these two types of hiking footwear is, hiking sneakers are more flexible and softer than hiking boots. Hiking shoes are also not very tricky to fit for comfort and they also don’t need to break in.

Hiking sneakers are better to wear on gentle terrains and dry weather but some of you find them to be useful in wet conditions too. Hiking shoes leave your feet in better shape when you are done with hiking.

Hiking boots on the other hand are more robust in design as compared to the hiking shoes. These are designed for work-based activities than recreation. Therefore, you will find them to be more static in their features. Hence, hiking boots are better when it comes to traction and moisture protection.

Conclusion

There are various important aspects that you need to consider before buying camping shoes for men. Make sure that the pair you are looking for is comfortable to wear, and taking it on and off is not troublesome.

It needs to be breathable and if you like to hike more in wet conditions; waterproofing and traction should be there. The outsole needs to be durable and the midsole needs to be light and cushy. You can also go for insoles or some special purpose hiking boots according to foot conditions.

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