It doesn’t matter how cushioned, grippy or beautiful a shoe is if it’s too narrow in the forefoot or rubs at the heel. So be prepared to try a few on before you commit.  

When trying on shoes, bear in mind your feet are likely to swell during longer walks and allow a little extra space, especially if you’re shopping early on in the day. It’s also a good idea to take your favourite walking socks and any insoles or orthotics along with you. 

Once you’ve found the perfect fit, it’s time to move onto features. Choose a shoe that suits the conditions and terrain you’ll encounter on your walks. Waterproof shoes are great for keeping your feet dry in mud and wet grass but may feel hot and sweaty on summer days. Aggressive grip is perfect in mud but may lack cushioning if you’ll be walking on roads or hard-packed trails. Whichever shoes you go for, team them up with some good walking socks to add a comfortable, breathable, naturally antimicrobial barrier between your foot and shoe. 

 

Women’s Choices 

 

Merrell Speed Eco RRP £125

www.merrell.com 

Merrell's aim for its brand-new Speed Eco is to create a sustainably produced hiking shoe that still delivers on performance. It includes recycled material in the laces, Jacquard upper, lining, footbed and outsole. As with its predecessors, the Moab Speed and Speed Strike, they’re lightweight but well cushioned throughout, with a grippy outsole and good durability. Also available in a waterproof version for RRP £120. 

 

Salomon DRX Defy Grvl £125

salomon.com

Salomon’s new gravel shoe has the lightweight bouncy feel of a road running trainer combined with the grip and underfoot protection required off-road. The result is a very comfortable shoe that looks and feels great to wear. Best suited to non-technical trails, it’s a great choice for summer and dry weather walking, with a super-smooth transition through the foot on every step, plush cushioning and breathable mesh upper that’ll keep your feet happy all day long. The shape of the shoe is fairly straight, so may not suit those with narrower heels and a wider forefoot.

 

Salewa Alp Trainer 2 GTX RRP £185

www.salewa.com 

Designed in the Italian Dolomites for all-day walking on technical trails, these super comfortable hiking shoes are ideal for routes involving rocky terrain and easy scrambles. The upper is a hardwearing high-quality suede with a waterproof Gore-Tex lining and 360˚ rubber rand to protect both the shoe and your foot. Salewa’s climbing lacing system enables a secure, supportive fit throughout, with fine adjustment in the toe area for extra precision when required. Underfoot, the Vibram Alpine Hiking outsole features dedicated climbing, traction and braking zones and an aggressive lug pattern for all-round outstanding grip.  

 

La Sportiva Akyra II GTX £160

www.lasportiva.com 

Designed for moving quickly and easily on any terrain, with added Gore-Tex weather protection, the Akyra combines hardwearing, protective traction with a lightweight reinforced 3D grid mesh upper. La Sportiva’s Impact Brake System adds stability and support to a substantial sole unit, which boasts an impressively aggressive tread for superb grip in any conditions. The fit is fairly high-volume throughout, which may not suit narrower or lower-volume feet.

 

Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX RRP £180

www.adidas.co.uk 

A different take on a hiking shoe from the traditional models derived from walking boots, the Free Hiker takes its inspiration from trail running, with a lightweight, bouncy feel, plush cushioning and a smooth ride through the midsole, and a grippy Continental rubber outsole. The mid-height, which is somewhere between a shoe and a boot, gives a nice amount of ankle support and wading depth. The Gore-Tex version is ideal for walks and even gentle running on wet ground, keeping your feet warm, dry and comfortable all day long. 

Men’s Choices 

 

Jack Wolfskin Prelight Texashield Low £130

www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk 

Designed for everyday comfort on the trails, these versatile shoes are a great choice for an active lifestyle. They’re lightweight and very comfortable, with a soft padded upper and cushioned sole. The upper is water resistant rather than waterproof, shrugging off rain and damp grass, but they’re not submersible. The upside of this is greater breathability and faster drying time. The sole is flexible at the metatarsal joint but stiff and supportive elsewhere and they feel great to walk in. The tread is grippy in all but deep mud – best suited to dry paths and rocky or gravel tracks. 

 

Scarpa Spin Planet £150

scarpa.co.uk

Hailing from Scarpa’s trail running range, the Spin Planet is designed for long distance trail running on medium difficulty routes. The upper is fully recycled, supportive and airy but not waterproof. The thick, 45% recycled midsole is well cushioned and protective, designed to help propel you forward. The outsole includes 30% recycled rubber, with excellent grip on trails but the tread isn’t deep enough to cope with mud. This all translates well to long distance lightweight walking adventures where the low weight and rocking sole helps to reduce fatigue; it’s also great for trail running and general active wear, especially in the summer.     

 

Berghaus Trailway Active GTX Shoe RRP £135

www.berghaus.com 

Designed as lightweight trail walking shoes, these are an ideal choice for long trails and walking all day thanks to a soft, lightweight polyester upper reinforced with durable overlays around the toe and heel. A Gore-Tex membrane keeps your feet dry and adds protection in cooler weather. The sole unit is nicely cushioned with a grippy studded Vibram outsole that performs well across a variety of terrains and conditions. Overall, best suited to fast and light travel on less technical trails.    

 

Craghoppers Adflex Low RRP £165

www.craghoppers.com 

Designed to be light and breathable for warmer climates, these comfy shoes also work well for less technical trail walking all year-round. The sizing comes up very small length wise – you may need to go up a whole size for a good fit – but they are otherwise quite roomy, good for higher volume feet or to accommodate an insert. The partly recycled upper is nicely padded and features TPU toe and heel bumpers for extra durability. They’re waterproof with an Aquadry membrane, and also have an anti-insect treatment built in. Underfoot, the partially recycled foam midsole and Vibram Litebase outsole are protective and well cushioned, well suited to long days of walking. The overall feel is a bit chunky, so they’re best for less technical trails.      

 

Hoka Speedgoat 5 RRP £140

www.hoka.com 

Described as a ‘workhorse’ of a technical trail shoe, the Speedgoat is designed for trail running but works very well as a lightweight, cushioned and grippy walking shoe. It’s particularly good for fast and light travel on long, dry trails, with a studded, Vibram Megagrip outsole that grips well on all surfaces. The synthetic upper is breathable and well padded, holding the foot securely for all day comfort. The fit is designed with a roomy toe box to accommodate swelling associated with long days on your feet. The heel to toe drop is only 4mm, which may not suit those with Achilles tendon issues. The waterproof Gore-Tex lined version (RRP £150) is probably more versatile, although not as breathable. Overall, while not as durable or protective as traditional walking shoes, they do feel great on your feet.     

 

**Recommended retail prices correct at the time of writing.  Please refer to manufacturer or retailer websites for the very latest pricing information.     

 Our gear testers, Jen & Sim Benson have a wealth of outdoor and walking experience.  They provide regular gear reviews and kit advice in Walk magazine, the Ramblers quarterly magazine that forms part of your Ramblers membership benefits. Join today from only £3.58 per month. 

Ramblers Members also receive a 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor, home to many of the outdoor brands featured in this article and a great place to get expert advice on walking gear. When this discount is used a percentage of the purchase price is returned to the Ramblers to help us look after the places you love to explore.