Are Sneakers Good For Hiking?

Which shoes you decide to hike with is a really important decision. You see people on trails hiking with different kinds of shoes, but some of them aren’t really comfortable. So, are sneakers good for hiking?

Sneakers are a decent choice for short hikes but aren’t really fit for long and difficult trips. While sneakers are light and breathable, their soles aren’t fit for tough treks.

Read on to learn more about what makes good hiking shoes and how sneakers stack up.

Can you hike in sneakers?

Sneakers can be used for hiking, but they’re not the ideal choice for long and difficult trails. They are light and breathable but have soft soles that don’t provide enough protection and traction and aren’t waterproof.

If you’re planning to take a short hike, you’ll probably do fine with sneakers; The weight and breathability might even make the hike relatively pleasant. But if you’re taking anything more than a breezy trip, you’re better off going with a different type of shoes.

If you’re considering whether you should buy hiking boots, I wrote an entire post about whether hiking boots are necessary, and even compared them with the alternatives. Make sure to read it.

Let’s review the pros and cons of hiking with sneakers, so you can make a more informed decision.

Advantages of hiking with sneakers

Weight

The main advantage of sneakers is that they’re relatively light, especially when compared with hiking boots. An average sneaker shoe weighs around 1 lb, whereas an average hiking boot weighs between 2 and 3 lbs.

As an example, I measured the weight of my sneakers. They weighed around 200 grams, which is less than 0.5 lbs – much lighter than most hiking boots.

The weight of shoes is a major factor in how tired you get over time, so sneakers are great for that.

Breathability

Though not as breathable as other types of shoes, for example, runners, sneakers are relatively breathable. This means air can easily get in and out of the shoes, so sweat and moisture can evaporate away.

Breathable shoes usually cause fewer blisters when hiking, and generally feel less hot and sweaty.

Disadvantages of hiking in sneakers

Soft soles

The soles of sneakers and very soft, meaning they cushion the ground less than other types of shoes. Even when compared to runners, which also have soft soles, sneakers aren’t as cushioned, meaning you’ll generally feel every rock you’re sitting on while hiking with them.

This is especially important if you’re hiking with a relatively heavy backpack. Your feet can get a lot of the load and need to be protected from injury by a hard sole shoe.

As a test, I tried bending the soles on my sneakers. While not completely easy, I can bend them with relatively little power. This means the soles won’t provide a lot of protection from the ground.

That’s why hiking on rough terrain isn’t a good idea if you’re wearing sneakers. They’ll make walking on small stones difficult. If you’re hiking on relatively easy trails, you might do fine.

Soft soles also wear out much quicker when you hike. You’re walking on rough stones and dirt, which basically rub the soles off, wearing them out.

Traction and grip

Sneaker soles are usually made of rubber and usually don’t have grooves that provide enough traction for rough trail hiking. These soles are good when you’re walking around on pavements, but not when you’re trying to climb on rocks.

You can see the soles of my sneakers in the image below as an example. The flat rubber soles don’t provide a lot of traction.

While not good enough for tough treks, sneaker soles usually provide enough traction when hiking on relatively easy trails, since you don’t need a lot of traction to walk around.

Waterproofing

If you ever walked in the rain with a pair of sneakers on, you’d definitely learn they’re not waterproof. Water easily gets in the shoes, making them uncomfortable to wear.

This means that generally, sneakers aren’t fit for hiking during winter, or when hiking on wet trails. If you need to cross a shallow river, the shoes would quickly get soaking wet. In muddy areas. hiking in sneakers won’t be fun.

When does it make sense to hike in sneakers?

Considering the pros and cons we’ve discussed, you might be able to hike in sneakers if:

• You’re hiking in a relatively short and comfortable trail (up to a few kilometers, a day-hike)
• The backpack you’re carrying is lightweight
• The weather isn’t too cold or wet, and the trail conditions are dry

In these cases, you might be able to get away with hiking in sneakers. If you have an alternative, you might want to go with it, because hiking with your sneakers can ruin them.

But if you don’t, in these conditions, sneakers are fine for a hike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hiking shoes better than sneakers? Hiking shoes are designed with hiking in mind, so they have harder soles, better traction, and they’re usually waterproof. They are generally heavier than sneakers and less breathable.

Are Converse good for hiking? You can hike in Converse on short and established trails. Avoid hiking with Converse in rocky terrain, in wet conditions, and with heavy gear.

Are Vans good for hiking? Vans can be used for hiking relatively short and easy trails, in comfortable conditions. Don’t hike with Vans if you’re carrying a heavy backpack, or if the trail is too difficult.

Conclusions

In this post, we have covered the pros and cons of using sneakers as hiking shoes. Though light and breathable, their soles are soft, so you’ll feel every rock you’re stepping on, and they don’t provide enough traction and grip for a tough trek.

Additionally, I think sneakers would ruin fast if you use them as hiking shoes.

if you’re taking a short day trip and only have sneakers, you’ll probably do fine still.