Trail shoes

If you’re after fast and light summer days, then trail shoes are the way to go.

Trail shoes vs hiking boots: it’s one of the great gear debates of modern times. Obviously, the major advantage of going for shoes over boots is their lighter weight. This makes even more sense in the prime hiking seasons, from late spring through to early autumn. After all, as soon as the warmer months arrive, many experienced hillwalkers ditch their heavier trousers, jackets and other layers in favour of lighter alternatives. So why wouldn’t you do the same with your footwear?

And there’s another well-known bit of walkers’ wisdom which adds further weight to this argument – ‘one pound on your feet equals five pounds on your back.’ Supposedly, this rule-of-thumb was first developed by Sir Edmund Hillary and the other climbers training for the 1953 Everest expedition. It’s a sage bit of advice that has been repeated by some of the greatest exponents of ‘fast and light’ backpacking, most of whom favour lightweight, trainer-inspired hikers over heavy all-leather clodhoppers.

Of course, this isn’t to say that trail shoes will work for everyone. Ultimately, a lot depends on where and when you go walking – because let’s face it, some of Britain’s bogs stay boggy year-round, and in that sort of terrain a Gore-Tex lined leather boot is always going to make a lot more sense than an unlined hiking shoe. And similarly, if you prefer the ankle support, the added protection and the long-term durability of a high-quality pair of boots, there’s no real reason to change.

On the other hand, if you’re attracted to the idea of being a bit swifter and more agile in the hills, trail shoes might just be the way to go. The choice is apparently endless. Which is why our testers have picked out the best of the current crop, selecting those that strike the best balance between comfort, support, cushioning, weight, durability and traction – the perfect companions for fast-paced hill-bagging days.