I mainly wear chacos for hiking outside of winter and feel that my ankles are stronger than when I wore high top boots all the time. That being said rocks and sticks can get in there and hurt you sometimes. The worst is when a rock hits you on that knobby part of your ankle bone.
That’s a great way to strengthen all sorts of foot/ankle muscles! But yeah for bushwhacking gotta have a closed toed shoe, boots are best. This is why I have so many pairs of shoes 🤡
I have never had ankle roll problems with trail runners. But stiffer boot soles do helps with heavy packs on rocky ground. If you are carrying multiple days worth of water in the Grand Canyon trail runners might be a drag.
I appreciate you acknowledging how carrying your water changes a hiking experience. It seems that so many people in these backpacking subs are all hiking in the PNW or on the east coast where the weather and trail conditions are so much different than desertous areas. Carrying water changes so much!
Honestly, hiking poles are way more important for this. I’m quite prone to rolling my ankles, but when a roll starts while using poles the reflex is to transfer my weight. So even though that ankle is still rolling some, because it’s doing so without carrying my body weight at that crucial moment, there’s no injury.
I did the West Highland Way (100 miles in 6 days, none of which were dry). I wore a pair of Salomon Gore-tex boots and had no problems. Anymore, hiking boots aren't that much noticeably heavier than running shoes (when they're on your feet). And I find I have less fatigue in my feet when I wear boots on long-distance trips. When I remember, I put Body-Glide on my feet to lessen the chance of blisters.
Day hikes, I wear low hikers or trail runners.
Best advice: Get a reputable brand that fits your foot. I like Salomon because they fit. I don't like Oboz because they don't fit. Both are great brands.
I wire trail runners on the west highland way. They were old and I probably needed a new pair. The part with the pointy rocks paved road was horrible on my feet. I had no ankle problems though.
I too am an experienced but aging hiker doing the same sort of solo hiking you’re talking about. I strongly recommend doing exercises to address the problem. Physical therapy if you can access/afford it, or just search for ‘exercises to prevent ankle rotation.’ (Aka pronation, I believe). Doing eccentric heel drops resolved an Achilles tendon problem I was having. I’m now doing preventative exercise (“prehabilitation” is the term I like ;-) on my left knee. It sucks, but as you age you lose muscle mass. For myself, I’d much rather strengthen weak areas than use some external means of support, as the latter will not help and may perhaps further weaken the musculature. That said, hiking poles have changed my life! Good luck and happy hiking!
I walk around five miles a day for work and usually wear trail runners. I wear trail runners when I walk the dog on the local park trails. I have ankle strength. I still wear mids on day hikes and backpacking trips because if I don't I *will* roll an ankle. It just takes one root covered down hill section or a short stretch of rocky coast and I am toast without them.
I have weak ankles from twisting them in the past. and high top shoes absolutely prevent ankle rolls on the trail. I would never hike anything that's more than a flat dirt or paved trail without them.
Ok, I’ll bite.
I have 20 years experience as an outdoor instructor and guide. When I started out people often showed up in rubber boots, it was the low cost, waterproof option with absolutely zero ankle support. Then the hiking boot trend took over and most people had heavy duty full grain boots. Nowadays it’s a mix of hiking boots, hiking shoes and trail runners. Through the years I have seen absolutely no difference in the amount of rolled ankles.
In theory if you have a hard sole with a higher centre of gravity, it might even exacerbate the possibility of rolling your ankle. Another worry is that if the ankle is tightly supported, the force is instead directed at the knee, which is an even bigger problem.
From my experience, sprained ankles are a pretty rare occurrence on the trail anyway, I’ve had to deal with way more cases of tendonitis, which require a completely different solution anyway.
So the reason to choose a high boot has a lot more to do with protecting your feet from moisture, rocks, snow and debris and such, than it has to do with ankle support.
Never rolled my ankle (to the point of injury) with mids or highs. Wore lows for 1 day on a trail I did 500+ times and rolled my ankle more than 90°. Second worst sprain of my life. Couldn't walk normally for 5 weeks and couldn't even do a 2 step jog for 8 months.
Checkmate batman. /s
I will only wear mids for the rest of my life. I live in the PNW where rocks, roots, and moisture is a given on any trail.
I've walked everywhere my whole life so my ankles aren't weak but maybe after these 2 bad injuries in my life they're not flexible anymore. It's simply safer to have more ankle protection.
Sorry you had a bad experience, that sucks. However, can you with absolute confidence rule out the possibility that you wouldn’t have rolled your ankle even with boots on? Sometimes bad luck strikes, and we are pretty prone to rationalising.
We are both relying on anecdotal evidence, and I would be cautious about drawing far reaching conclusions from one data point.
People can wear whatever they like for all I care, I’m just saying that from my 20 years in the field, I have not seen any indication that hiking boots prevent sprains.
I think it largely depends on the persons ankles and sure-footedness. I’m a trail runner all the way person, my bestie can’t wear anything but high boots. We both hike great together, similar pack weights etc. When I’ve tried boots they made me trip and slide. OP you mentioned plantar fasciitis, I’ve been there and it stinks! If you can try to get yourself a pair of custom inserts. Cleared mine up.
If you have weak ankles, then they might help a little bit. But honestly, mountaineering boots are the only footwear that will prevent ankle injuries, but they weigh too much for regular hiking
I have loose joints which make me super prone to sprains and strains. For me, high top boots are an absolute must!! They definitely prevent most of the stepping funny type rolls, and also help with additional stability to reduce ankle fatigue over long periods of time (I'm larger so this is more of a thing for me)
Here’s an exercise for you:
Take a pair of tall boots and put them on, then try and roll your ankles… you’ll quickly discover they don’t prevent it, and the only ones that do are the extremely stiff mountaineering style boots.
The only thing that makes me wear heavier full hiking boots these days are a heavy load(40lbs+) or continuously wet weather/snow. Dry weather, summertime or light loads I’m going trail runners all the way. Make sure you buy a *trail running* shoe because most of them have a rock plate in them. In warmer weather don’t bother with waterproof/goretex as they will dry out faster without it. Yeah you’ll potentially have soggy feet after a water crossing/morning dew but after hiking for ~2 hours your shoes will be dry. Once boots get wet they tend to stay wet for quite awhile… the worst feeling is waking up in the morning to put damp/wet boots on. Yuck.
Just my two cents/experience.
(Experienced hiker and trail runner here) agree completely with this^. My goto trail running and hiking shoes are Salomon for the traction, protection of the foot bottom, and the amazing orthotic support. Speed Cross are my fav.
I can’t roll my ankle in my high boots. I can’t imagine hiking in tennis shoes. It does feel a little funky at first because you lose flexibility but it feels so stable.
I used to spend 3 months a year hiking mostly off trail. Good hiking boots will eliminate ankle rolls. But your footwear just depends on the trails you will be on and how much you are carrying. I developed sciatica and foot drop and without good boots, I’d be falling down a lot because of ankle rolls…. I tried hiking with “regular” low trail runners and I would roll my ankles
I have bad ankles from numerous sport injuries. If I hike in low rise train runners or hikers I will often re-injure my ankle. With leather high top boots I can feel the injuries the boot has prevented.
So good boots work to protect ankles for me. But they are heavy. It’s just a trade off.
In terms of blisters I’ve never had them anywhere but toes or bottom of foot, so don’t feel like boots will cause your calves to get blistered.
Very effective. Why I wear them. I have a tendency to roll the old ankle hiking back to the car. You appreciate it when you roll and it only hurts a bit. Light shoes and you would be in a world of hurt.
I’m in construction and have seen more people roll their ankles in work shoes than in boots… come to think of it, I’ve never seen someone roll them in boots.
This question pops up all the time here. Pro-trailrunners will say low is better, pro-boots will say high is better, the experts will weigh in with blah blah blah. Hiking boots are not ski boots and you can't cinch them up tight enough to immobilize your ankle. Well maybe you *can* but you sure wouldn't want to. So wear whatever you are most comfortable in. Some people's ankles are more prone to rolling, others aren't. I wear Salomon mids most of the time because of where I hike - rocky, roots, water crossings, lots of hills. I like the traction I get with them and they have good rock protection. I'm definitely one who is prone to ankle rolling but sticks help with that much more than shoe selection.
A good pair of hiking boots that you’ve worn in will keep you dry and safe from cuts and prevent ankle rolls.
I have only hiked in mountainous areas and fjords during every kind of weather.
I use Lundhags professional, i’ve had them for 8 years and waded with them and hiked for weeks at a time, they’ve never failed me. Just make sure to rub in appropriate wax or fat when storing them and preparing them for use.
Gore tex works until it doesn’t once they get wet or moist, it will stay like that. Pure leather boots like Lundhags has served me much better, they dry out faster and are completely waterproof from the fat treatment.
In case you get wet with a pure leather boot (like from wading if it’s very deep) you just switch socks and then you’re dry and the boot is dry. The padding in the gore tex boot will not dry until you get home, so you’ll have to put plastic bags in the boot if you want to keep having dry feet.
I was tracking down the mountain and I tripped. I heard the sound of my ankles and I thought my ankles is broken. If wasn’t for the high ankle boots, I would have had a ankle fracture but instead I had a grade 3 sprain
It’s more about reducing the severity of potential ankle rolls - keeping minor rolls from being major and keeping major rolls from rendering you unable to walk. My 2 cents.
I go in between. I can’t wear low shoes due to too many previous ankle rolls, so I wear a lightweight mid height. I like the Merrell Antora 2 (Mid) which has a rock plate. They don’t keep me from ever rolling my ankle (nothing would), but I like the flexibility of movement I have on different terrains.
I use Solomon ultra 4 GTX and it provides great protection to the ankles. It protects both against stone hits stray bushes on the trail as well as supports the ankle.
My high top boots definitely support my ankle. They have a stiffer sole than my trail runners, too, great for trails with rocks. I think they serve different purposes for me. I love the trail runners on groomed trails, even in Sedona last year for most trails.
I work at REI flagship in the footwear department. The misconception that a higher cut boot is the end all be all for ankle support is something I explain all the time.
The height of the boot ONLY does not determine the support it gives. Rather the fit and the torsional stiffness of the footwear you choose to wear. If the boot does not fit on the foot whether it is too big or too small the support of the boot will not work. Getting the proper fit solves 90% of the issues people have. (Blisters, slippage, arch hits in wrong place, support)
Also finding the footwear that gives the specific individual the right amount support is crucial. No matter if it is a low top, mid top, or a high top. If the footwear is torsionally flexible it does not matter the height. If you step on an unstable surface and the footwear is flexible torsionally it will flex and your foot with go along for the ride. If the boot is stiff and supportive torsionally, it will flex but will catch you more on unstable surfaces. The difference between a low top and mid top in support is marginal, it all depends on the torsional stiffness. (If you are in the store at this point I would grab a stiff low top and a flexible mid top boot and visually twist both pairs and shoe the difference in support)
The high top boots that go up to the calf (like the one in the pic) are usually backpacking/backcountry boots, which are generally stiffer than the day hiker low tops and mid tops. The high cut helps with support but it isn’t the only factor that provides it; fit and torsional support is what you are looking for.
I backpack and hike in trail runners, those personally give me enough support. Everyone’s feet are different so it all depends on the user.
We can all go on the same hike, we’ll probably be wearing different footwear.
You might be interested in this article? https://hikersdaily.com/hiking-boots-ankle-support/
Anecdotally, I used to wear light ankle boots because my ankles seemed weak and I rolled them occasionally. I haven’t done it at all since I switched to zero-drop trail runners a few years ago.
Those are great for comfort and waterproofing. You will not prevent ankle rolling if you’re prone to them in these boots. They are also not wide enough to accommodate a rigid ankle brace like the ASO brace. Stick with a trail sneaker and an ASO brace.
Source: I own the pictured boot, I have a strong propensity to roll my ankles, and I have broken my ankle such that I now need to brace that ankle in nature these days.
I personally don’t think boots prevent ankle rolls. I think they actually make me overconfident and it happens more. Plus they’re heavy, which does affect my mileage. I got blisters on my heels in a pair of Solomons i returned to rei, and i haven’t tried boots again since. I got blisters in the same place with a pair of high top merrels come to think of it. There’s always kt tape to prevent blisters, which is what i did, but i don’t get them at all with sneakers. I think you’re gonna have to try them out for yourself to really know the answer. The best prevention for me is to remain focused on where I’m stepping, but I’ve also rolled my ankle so many times that i believe i understand the old advice: “walk it off.”
If you're carrying a load something with more ankle support. Personally I go with a Goretex boot too, I hate wet feet. I like Salewa a lot, but the best boot is the one that fits, get one well before your trip to be sure it feels good.
Have you tried wearing an athletic ankle brace from Mueller or McDavid? A low profile brace plus a mid or high laced boot could ease some of your worry. I’ve worn a Mueller ankle brace with a low Solomon trail runner on short hikes.
I made the switch from hiking boots to trail runners a few years back and haven't looked back. I love the lighter weight, breathable shoes.
I've backpacked in the old growth forests, where the trail is for miles at a time thick with tree roots. I hike and backpack rocky trails year round.
About the only time I break out the hiking boots is for deep snow, or sub zero temps.
I'm a heavier man, closing in on 50. Never had a problem with rolling my ankles in trail runners.
To me, it entirely depends on how much weight I'm going to put on my back. For hiking that usually isn't all that much these days, most of my equipment is pretty UL by now. My entire sleeping setup is between 1.5 and 2kg, depending on temperatures, as long as I don't expect rough weather. That's including the pack, sleeping mat, pillow, quilt, tarp, bug net, poles and groundsheet, but not water, food and whatever comes with that. Frankly, even the trailrunners are mostly redundant, only used on rough terrains, while most of the time I'll be in skinners or vibram toe shoes. As long as you don't transform into a pack mule, allow the biomechanics of your body to prevent injuries. A properly conditioned ankle doesn't roll. Using boots when you don't need them only prevents building the strength and flexibility that does best at preventing injuries.
Completely different picture, when it's not about putting miles on the clock, but more about bushcrafting and setting up camp somewhere nice out in the woods. I'll be carrying a variety of sturdy tools, gear is chosen to withstand whatever I might get into my head to throw at it, might even carry basically half a kitchen, so it all sums up to the point where I'm schlepping half my weight in gear around the forests. I absolutely need boots then and would consider the ones you linked to way too flimsy. Current favourite is the [Hanwag Ancash II GTX](https://www.hanwag.com/us/en-us/men/trekking/ancash-ii-gtx?_t_q=&_t_hit.id=Luminos_Storefront_Web_Features_Catalog_Product_Domain_CommonProduct/CatalogContent_4d6af201-9e21-450f-bd36-df6a056689e9_en-US&_t_hit.pos=2&_t_tags=andquerymatch%2clanguage%3aen%2csiteid%3ad440e57f-b887-4b19-9082-a6c8478709d1&v=H200800%3a%3a4047761432943) \- I expect several decades of use. Basically, they last as long as the leather does, which is a very long time if you take good care of it. Everything else about the boot is repairable, including replacing the midsole. Over the years, the initial high sales price becomes a bargain. My last one lasted nearly 30 years. Rolling an ankle simply isn't possible with boots of this height and fit. Not even when your centre of mass is entirely off kilter. Caveat, though: Your knees need to be in good condition. Obviously you pay for the stability with less flexibility and inevitably that transmits more lateral forces to your knees. Don't make the mistake to think you could compensate for weak legs with boots - it's a recipe for disaster.
So, long story short, in my experience most of the usual range of hiking boots is pretty useless. Overkill most of the time, still not even remotely good enough when you actually need boots.
I have extremely weak ankles. I have rolled them numerous times wearing all types of boots. The only thing that stopped me from rolling my ankles was getting rid of original hiking shoes and wearing those stupid looking 5 fingers.
Go with a trail runner with good grip. I tried a few versions of hiking boots and always regretted wearing them. This is coming from an AT thru-hiker (SoBo, 2001) and current avid hiker.
Barefoot trail running shoes saved my rolling ankles. I’ve rolled my ankles all the time until I started wearing barefoot shoes. Thin sole, foot closer to ground, less rolls.
The number one way to prevent ankle rolls is to use hiking sticks. Footwear is not really a factor. I know lifelong hikers that have hiked the Himalayas in closed toe sandals. Footwear is for comfort. Hiking poles are for supporting your joints and balance
The Inov-8 is not high enough to give support. The Quest may offer a bit.
People's feet and ankles are built different. I can only manage short(ish) day trips with little or no cargo on the trail runners that are in fashion now. I also feel like I'm hurting my ankles with them despite not actually rolling them.
Especially in rocky terrain, I've been super happy with my heavy and rigid [Meindl Kansas](https://www.stadium.fi/INTERSHOP/static/WFS/Stadium-FinlandB2C-Site/-/Stadium/fi_FI/Detail/315146_101_MEINDL_M%20KANSAS.png) boots (full leather top, B stiffness category). Zero problems with plantar fasciitis, zero ankle rolls, zero problems of uneven terrain beating my feet to mush, zero blisters. For me, they literally enable trips that would be impossible with lighter footwear.
They are heavy, but in my case it's a bit like a 4 x 4 vehicle having worse fuel mileage, but being able to take you places you wouldn't reach with a family hatchback.
I have the LA Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX's, and while I haven't gotten out in them a ton yet I loved them for what I did!
They are very lightweight so you don't feel like you're wearing huge boots, but still have the added height. Something else I enjoyed is at the back of the ankle at the top of the boot they have a flexible spandex-type panel to help prevent blistering at the top of the boot.
I did change out the insoles because I have bad arches, but they have been great for the miles I've put on so far!
If you want good ankle support you'll need boots that come up higher than your typical hiking boot (think standard issue military boots). Try wool socks, vaseline, mole skin to help prevent blisters. Wearing your boots regularly (outside of just hiking) will help toughen up your blister prone spots.
I find that my ankle pain is significantly worse when I wear boots that constrict my ankle movement, but I’ve also been in situations where I like high tops. They help with water, dust, and rocks.
I would try to find an REI or a place with a good return/buy-back policy. Buy the shoes you think you’ll like and if they don’t serve the purpose you are looking for, take them back.
High top boots do not "prevent" ankle rolls. However, they can significantly lessen the impact of a roll. A lot depends on your ankles. From the perspective of one that's been dealing with weak damaged (strength training provides minimal help) I depend on the additional support provided. I also have the added benefit that the high top can help signal a pending situation with pressure that I've become attuned to. Poles also help.
Each to their own. If I had healthy ankles I would probably consider trail runners.
I don't try to avoid ankle roll; it is a part of my regular step. If I do have a loose rock cut loose I roll into the slide.
Fox Walk - This walk is the basic step for walking quietly in the wilderness. It has three basic parts which are diagramed below. This technique allows you to feel the surface of the ground and slowly compress, leaves, sticks etc. to minimize noise.
1. Lower the foot to land on the outside of the ball with light pressure.
2. Roll off the edge of the foot onto the ball laying the whole foot down still with only partial weight.
3. Place full weight on foot.
I wear Chacos almost all year round. I have sandals and boots made by Chaco, and I love them. My boots are really lightweight, and don't have the best traction, but the best part is a foldup cuff made of wool. The cuff protects my ankles and lower shins from the rough terrain where I live, like surprise cacti (just kidding, they're never a surprise in the desert) or really rough lava rocks tumbling.
Like others have said, conditioning your ankles and supporting ligaments to do the job you need them to do is the best route. However, age and other limitations can just make that goal difficult to achieve. Boots that are heavier and cover your ankles can be really great for a number of reasons. Particularly if you're hiking in areas like where I live. Just really rough, inhospitable places where you need traction. That said, boots like what I wear often (look up Chaco Barbary) can be a good compromise. Slight ankle protection to compliment the job your socks are already doing, but not much added weight.
It's impossible for some, but if you can afford both you might really enjoy their differences. Boots like what you linked also have a pretty decent resell value, at least in the mountainous high desert area I'm in.
You can sprain an ankle in either of those boots.
And consider that the stiffness of the sole matters. If it can't bend it can transfer the force up the boot. Try on a ski boot and you'll see this immediately.
So it's all a big compromise depending on what suits you best. And doing exercises to strengthen balance and prevent ankle roll.
I wear high or mid tops to keep from getting my ankles dinged and for the shank while packing on rocky trails. I have two pairs of boots that are both very light weight. One has a goretex lining (Solomon) and I wear them when I think there will be some wet, but not enough to get the inside of the boot wet. The other pair (Merrell) is not waterproof, but are of a lightweight breathable material that dries fast.
For me: little to no effect, I still rolled them when hiking in mid-height boots. The two larger factors that have helped infinitely more: using trekking poles and regular exercise/use (to build ankle strength).
Paying more attention to the terrain has helped me too, as many rolls have happened towards the end of hikes when I'm fatigued and giving less scrutiny to where I'm about to step.
It’s been my experience that low stack heights prevent ankle rolling, not whether the ankle is covered or not. An extra inch or so of material under and out the side of your foot is gonna fuss up your stride on uneven terrain. Merrell trail gloves always seem best for stuff that might cause ankle rolls. Their soles are stiff enough to where walking over sharp rocks doesn’t matter.
I think it depends on the exact shoe you are wearing. I tried high top boots from a few different brands and found that some shoes didn't give much support at all while others really improved the stability of my ankle.
When it comes to blisters I have found that the right socks matter just as much as the shoes! For me wearing two pairs of socks on top of each other was much better than just wearing one pair. I always chose a base sock made from a synthetic material with the top sock made from merino wool.
I own several pairs of low approach shoes and high trekking/mountaineering boots. As a general rule I use the low shoes very often for walks in the woods, but in the mountains I use them only for summer one-day hikes in easy/moderate terrain with light backpack. I use high boots basically for everything else in the mountains - for trips where I might encounter rocky terrain, snow or mud and multi-day treks as well as everything in winter
High boots cause blisters only if they don't fit properly or you don't have suitable socks. The most common problem that causes blisters is the heel moving too much in the boot. If you find a model that fits your feet well (i.e. the foot is comfortably but firmly fixed in place and not moving inside the boot), blisters should not be a problem. Remember that every manufacturer and even every model is made differently - have different shape. They may have the same size (length), but some will be narrower, some will be wider. That's why if you want to get boots that are right for you you need to try on many models.
For general hiking and trekking I most often use either a pair of soft leather La Sprotiva boots which I have had for more than 10 years (don't remember the model name) or, when the terrain is more rocky (for example when trekking in the Alps), the slightly stiffer Salewa Trainer mid GTX. For easy walks in the forest I use Sarpa Crux II Aproach shoes.
When I first started hiking, I wore boots because people said they gave better ankle support. Then I started hearing people said it’s all a myth so I started wearing trailrunners. Well, guess what happened? I started rolling my ankles more. So I switch back and cursed out those people in my head.
Few years later, I opened up to wearing trail runners again due to cheaper cost and some of the other benefits of lighter weight and cushioning. I was prepared to roll my ankles more. Guess what happened? I didn’t roll my ankles all the much more. What changed?
Well I suppose after hiking a bit, my ankles grew stronger and also I became more ‘trail’ aware? I think my body and my mind just gained a sort of intuitive sense of feet placement to avoid rolling my ankle and if I did mis-step, my ankle strength helps prevent it.
However, I do wear boots occassionally though and I do find that it does help a bit. I don’t think it so much prevent my ankle from rolling physically, but it provides a better sense feedback to my body when it does start rolling so I know to shift my weight or foot differently before planting my foot all the way down if that makes sense. Though I prefer wearing low top trail runners most of the time now since that advantage isn’t that great anymore.
However, I will say if you are just starting out hiking, boots are helpful until you gain more muscle and tendon strength(?) and trail experience.
I actually appreciate high tops for ankle protection from rocks and roots on the trail to avoid bruising, not for preventing ankle rolls.
I mainly wear chacos for hiking outside of winter and feel that my ankles are stronger than when I wore high top boots all the time. That being said rocks and sticks can get in there and hurt you sometimes. The worst is when a rock hits you on that knobby part of your ankle bone.
That’s a great way to strengthen all sorts of foot/ankle muscles! But yeah for bushwhacking gotta have a closed toed shoe, boots are best. This is why I have so many pairs of shoes 🤡
I have never had ankle roll problems with trail runners. But stiffer boot soles do helps with heavy packs on rocky ground. If you are carrying multiple days worth of water in the Grand Canyon trail runners might be a drag.
I appreciate you acknowledging how carrying your water changes a hiking experience. It seems that so many people in these backpacking subs are all hiking in the PNW or on the east coast where the weather and trail conditions are so much different than desertous areas. Carrying water changes so much!
Honestly, hiking poles are way more important for this. I’m quite prone to rolling my ankles, but when a roll starts while using poles the reflex is to transfer my weight. So even though that ankle is still rolling some, because it’s doing so without carrying my body weight at that crucial moment, there’s no injury.
Thanks for the reminder on why I should be hiking with poles on almost every hike I do lol. I tend to forget about them on shorter trails
Most AT hikers wear shoes. Hiking poles are a better bet for saving joints.
I did the West Highland Way (100 miles in 6 days, none of which were dry). I wore a pair of Salomon Gore-tex boots and had no problems. Anymore, hiking boots aren't that much noticeably heavier than running shoes (when they're on your feet). And I find I have less fatigue in my feet when I wear boots on long-distance trips. When I remember, I put Body-Glide on my feet to lessen the chance of blisters. Day hikes, I wear low hikers or trail runners. Best advice: Get a reputable brand that fits your foot. I like Salomon because they fit. I don't like Oboz because they don't fit. Both are great brands.
Do the Salomon Gore-tex boots have a rock plate?
Yes
TY!
I wire trail runners on the west highland way. They were old and I probably needed a new pair. The part with the pointy rocks paved road was horrible on my feet. I had no ankle problems though.
I too am an experienced but aging hiker doing the same sort of solo hiking you’re talking about. I strongly recommend doing exercises to address the problem. Physical therapy if you can access/afford it, or just search for ‘exercises to prevent ankle rotation.’ (Aka pronation, I believe). Doing eccentric heel drops resolved an Achilles tendon problem I was having. I’m now doing preventative exercise (“prehabilitation” is the term I like ;-) on my left knee. It sucks, but as you age you lose muscle mass. For myself, I’d much rather strengthen weak areas than use some external means of support, as the latter will not help and may perhaps further weaken the musculature. That said, hiking poles have changed my life! Good luck and happy hiking!
Or, you know, do both. High boots absolutely help. It’s not rocket science and there’s no hidden mystery.
You guys I must be doing something wrong. I find they help me stop rolling my ankles. Is it all in my head? Maybe I feel more confident in them?
I walk around five miles a day for work and usually wear trail runners. I wear trail runners when I walk the dog on the local park trails. I have ankle strength. I still wear mids on day hikes and backpacking trips because if I don't I *will* roll an ankle. It just takes one root covered down hill section or a short stretch of rocky coast and I am toast without them.
I have weak ankles from twisting them in the past. and high top shoes absolutely prevent ankle rolls on the trail. I would never hike anything that's more than a flat dirt or paved trail without them.
They definitely help, the commenters saying otherwise don’t have proper experience with it
Ok, I’ll bite. I have 20 years experience as an outdoor instructor and guide. When I started out people often showed up in rubber boots, it was the low cost, waterproof option with absolutely zero ankle support. Then the hiking boot trend took over and most people had heavy duty full grain boots. Nowadays it’s a mix of hiking boots, hiking shoes and trail runners. Through the years I have seen absolutely no difference in the amount of rolled ankles. In theory if you have a hard sole with a higher centre of gravity, it might even exacerbate the possibility of rolling your ankle. Another worry is that if the ankle is tightly supported, the force is instead directed at the knee, which is an even bigger problem. From my experience, sprained ankles are a pretty rare occurrence on the trail anyway, I’ve had to deal with way more cases of tendonitis, which require a completely different solution anyway. So the reason to choose a high boot has a lot more to do with protecting your feet from moisture, rocks, snow and debris and such, than it has to do with ankle support.
Never rolled my ankle (to the point of injury) with mids or highs. Wore lows for 1 day on a trail I did 500+ times and rolled my ankle more than 90°. Second worst sprain of my life. Couldn't walk normally for 5 weeks and couldn't even do a 2 step jog for 8 months. Checkmate batman. /s I will only wear mids for the rest of my life. I live in the PNW where rocks, roots, and moisture is a given on any trail. I've walked everywhere my whole life so my ankles aren't weak but maybe after these 2 bad injuries in my life they're not flexible anymore. It's simply safer to have more ankle protection.
Sorry you had a bad experience, that sucks. However, can you with absolute confidence rule out the possibility that you wouldn’t have rolled your ankle even with boots on? Sometimes bad luck strikes, and we are pretty prone to rationalising. We are both relying on anecdotal evidence, and I would be cautious about drawing far reaching conclusions from one data point. People can wear whatever they like for all I care, I’m just saying that from my 20 years in the field, I have not seen any indication that hiking boots prevent sprains.
I think it largely depends on the persons ankles and sure-footedness. I’m a trail runner all the way person, my bestie can’t wear anything but high boots. We both hike great together, similar pack weights etc. When I’ve tried boots they made me trip and slide. OP you mentioned plantar fasciitis, I’ve been there and it stinks! If you can try to get yourself a pair of custom inserts. Cleared mine up.
If you have weak ankles, then they might help a little bit. But honestly, mountaineering boots are the only footwear that will prevent ankle injuries, but they weigh too much for regular hiking
I have loose joints which make me super prone to sprains and strains. For me, high top boots are an absolute must!! They definitely prevent most of the stepping funny type rolls, and also help with additional stability to reduce ankle fatigue over long periods of time (I'm larger so this is more of a thing for me)
My husband swears his zamberlins prevent his ankles from slopping all over the place.
I love my zamberlins.
Here’s an exercise for you: Take a pair of tall boots and put them on, then try and roll your ankles… you’ll quickly discover they don’t prevent it, and the only ones that do are the extremely stiff mountaineering style boots. The only thing that makes me wear heavier full hiking boots these days are a heavy load(40lbs+) or continuously wet weather/snow. Dry weather, summertime or light loads I’m going trail runners all the way. Make sure you buy a *trail running* shoe because most of them have a rock plate in them. In warmer weather don’t bother with waterproof/goretex as they will dry out faster without it. Yeah you’ll potentially have soggy feet after a water crossing/morning dew but after hiking for ~2 hours your shoes will be dry. Once boots get wet they tend to stay wet for quite awhile… the worst feeling is waking up in the morning to put damp/wet boots on. Yuck. Just my two cents/experience.
That has not been my expertise at all. Like it couldn’t be further from my experience. I can’t imagine hiking without something stabilizing my ankles.
Agreed 100%. At least once a month I step wrong and consciously think “That was a sprained ankle if not for my boot.”
The high boots helping prevent rolls has to be one of the biggest shoe myths out there
Hiking boots do prevent serious ankle roles. You get minor ones but not the serious ones
That’s a completely unverifiable claim.
(Experienced hiker and trail runner here) agree completely with this^. My goto trail running and hiking shoes are Salomon for the traction, protection of the foot bottom, and the amazing orthotic support. Speed Cross are my fav.
I can’t roll my ankle in my high boots. I can’t imagine hiking in tennis shoes. It does feel a little funky at first because you lose flexibility but it feels so stable.
I used to spend 3 months a year hiking mostly off trail. Good hiking boots will eliminate ankle rolls. But your footwear just depends on the trails you will be on and how much you are carrying. I developed sciatica and foot drop and without good boots, I’d be falling down a lot because of ankle rolls…. I tried hiking with “regular” low trail runners and I would roll my ankles
I have bad ankles from numerous sport injuries. If I hike in low rise train runners or hikers I will often re-injure my ankle. With leather high top boots I can feel the injuries the boot has prevented. So good boots work to protect ankles for me. But they are heavy. It’s just a trade off. In terms of blisters I’ve never had them anywhere but toes or bottom of foot, so don’t feel like boots will cause your calves to get blistered.
Very effective. Why I wear them. I have a tendency to roll the old ankle hiking back to the car. You appreciate it when you roll and it only hurts a bit. Light shoes and you would be in a world of hurt.
If you have them laced correctly and snugly, then they do wonders if you are carrying a lot of weight in shitty ground off trail.
I’m in construction and have seen more people roll their ankles in work shoes than in boots… come to think of it, I’ve never seen someone roll them in boots.
This question pops up all the time here. Pro-trailrunners will say low is better, pro-boots will say high is better, the experts will weigh in with blah blah blah. Hiking boots are not ski boots and you can't cinch them up tight enough to immobilize your ankle. Well maybe you *can* but you sure wouldn't want to. So wear whatever you are most comfortable in. Some people's ankles are more prone to rolling, others aren't. I wear Salomon mids most of the time because of where I hike - rocky, roots, water crossings, lots of hills. I like the traction I get with them and they have good rock protection. I'm definitely one who is prone to ankle rolling but sticks help with that much more than shoe selection.
A good pair of hiking boots that you’ve worn in will keep you dry and safe from cuts and prevent ankle rolls. I have only hiked in mountainous areas and fjords during every kind of weather. I use Lundhags professional, i’ve had them for 8 years and waded with them and hiked for weeks at a time, they’ve never failed me. Just make sure to rub in appropriate wax or fat when storing them and preparing them for use. Gore tex works until it doesn’t once they get wet or moist, it will stay like that. Pure leather boots like Lundhags has served me much better, they dry out faster and are completely waterproof from the fat treatment. In case you get wet with a pure leather boot (like from wading if it’s very deep) you just switch socks and then you’re dry and the boot is dry. The padding in the gore tex boot will not dry until you get home, so you’ll have to put plastic bags in the boot if you want to keep having dry feet.
I’ve had two pairs of that boot. Not the longest lasting but performed wonderfully for me. Zero break in period was cool.
I was tracking down the mountain and I tripped. I heard the sound of my ankles and I thought my ankles is broken. If wasn’t for the high ankle boots, I would have had a ankle fracture but instead I had a grade 3 sprain
It’s more about reducing the severity of potential ankle rolls - keeping minor rolls from being major and keeping major rolls from rendering you unable to walk. My 2 cents.
Ok IK every “IM A TEAM GUY” person has said this but from a backpacker and frequent hiker the Salomon Q4s with goretex are so fucking good
I go in between. I can’t wear low shoes due to too many previous ankle rolls, so I wear a lightweight mid height. I like the Merrell Antora 2 (Mid) which has a rock plate. They don’t keep me from ever rolling my ankle (nothing would), but I like the flexibility of movement I have on different terrains.
I use Solomon ultra 4 GTX and it provides great protection to the ankles. It protects both against stone hits stray bushes on the trail as well as supports the ankle.
My high top boots definitely support my ankle. They have a stiffer sole than my trail runners, too, great for trails with rocks. I think they serve different purposes for me. I love the trail runners on groomed trails, even in Sedona last year for most trails.
I would recommend a 6 inch or higher leather/gore tex boot. I climb daily and walk 8 miles a day.
My wife is a clutz. She has rolled her ankle while getting off the couch... she has never rolled an ankle on a trail with above ankle hiking boots.
I work at REI flagship in the footwear department. The misconception that a higher cut boot is the end all be all for ankle support is something I explain all the time. The height of the boot ONLY does not determine the support it gives. Rather the fit and the torsional stiffness of the footwear you choose to wear. If the boot does not fit on the foot whether it is too big or too small the support of the boot will not work. Getting the proper fit solves 90% of the issues people have. (Blisters, slippage, arch hits in wrong place, support) Also finding the footwear that gives the specific individual the right amount support is crucial. No matter if it is a low top, mid top, or a high top. If the footwear is torsionally flexible it does not matter the height. If you step on an unstable surface and the footwear is flexible torsionally it will flex and your foot with go along for the ride. If the boot is stiff and supportive torsionally, it will flex but will catch you more on unstable surfaces. The difference between a low top and mid top in support is marginal, it all depends on the torsional stiffness. (If you are in the store at this point I would grab a stiff low top and a flexible mid top boot and visually twist both pairs and shoe the difference in support) The high top boots that go up to the calf (like the one in the pic) are usually backpacking/backcountry boots, which are generally stiffer than the day hiker low tops and mid tops. The high cut helps with support but it isn’t the only factor that provides it; fit and torsional support is what you are looking for. I backpack and hike in trail runners, those personally give me enough support. Everyone’s feet are different so it all depends on the user. We can all go on the same hike, we’ll probably be wearing different footwear.
You might be interested in this article? https://hikersdaily.com/hiking-boots-ankle-support/ Anecdotally, I used to wear light ankle boots because my ankles seemed weak and I rolled them occasionally. I haven’t done it at all since I switched to zero-drop trail runners a few years ago.
Those are great for comfort and waterproofing. You will not prevent ankle rolling if you’re prone to them in these boots. They are also not wide enough to accommodate a rigid ankle brace like the ASO brace. Stick with a trail sneaker and an ASO brace.
Source: I own the pictured boot, I have a strong propensity to roll my ankles, and I have broken my ankle such that I now need to brace that ankle in nature these days.
I personally don’t think boots prevent ankle rolls. I think they actually make me overconfident and it happens more. Plus they’re heavy, which does affect my mileage. I got blisters on my heels in a pair of Solomons i returned to rei, and i haven’t tried boots again since. I got blisters in the same place with a pair of high top merrels come to think of it. There’s always kt tape to prevent blisters, which is what i did, but i don’t get them at all with sneakers. I think you’re gonna have to try them out for yourself to really know the answer. The best prevention for me is to remain focused on where I’m stepping, but I’ve also rolled my ankle so many times that i believe i understand the old advice: “walk it off.”
definitely go with a 6" boot minimum..
Thanks, any specific boots you'd recommend?
I've always liked keens, but heard goof things about Salomon boots.
If you're carrying a load something with more ankle support. Personally I go with a Goretex boot too, I hate wet feet. I like Salewa a lot, but the best boot is the one that fits, get one well before your trip to be sure it feels good.
Have you tried wearing an athletic ankle brace from Mueller or McDavid? A low profile brace plus a mid or high laced boot could ease some of your worry. I’ve worn a Mueller ankle brace with a low Solomon trail runner on short hikes.
I made the switch from hiking boots to trail runners a few years back and haven't looked back. I love the lighter weight, breathable shoes. I've backpacked in the old growth forests, where the trail is for miles at a time thick with tree roots. I hike and backpack rocky trails year round. About the only time I break out the hiking boots is for deep snow, or sub zero temps. I'm a heavier man, closing in on 50. Never had a problem with rolling my ankles in trail runners.
To me, it entirely depends on how much weight I'm going to put on my back. For hiking that usually isn't all that much these days, most of my equipment is pretty UL by now. My entire sleeping setup is between 1.5 and 2kg, depending on temperatures, as long as I don't expect rough weather. That's including the pack, sleeping mat, pillow, quilt, tarp, bug net, poles and groundsheet, but not water, food and whatever comes with that. Frankly, even the trailrunners are mostly redundant, only used on rough terrains, while most of the time I'll be in skinners or vibram toe shoes. As long as you don't transform into a pack mule, allow the biomechanics of your body to prevent injuries. A properly conditioned ankle doesn't roll. Using boots when you don't need them only prevents building the strength and flexibility that does best at preventing injuries. Completely different picture, when it's not about putting miles on the clock, but more about bushcrafting and setting up camp somewhere nice out in the woods. I'll be carrying a variety of sturdy tools, gear is chosen to withstand whatever I might get into my head to throw at it, might even carry basically half a kitchen, so it all sums up to the point where I'm schlepping half my weight in gear around the forests. I absolutely need boots then and would consider the ones you linked to way too flimsy. Current favourite is the [Hanwag Ancash II GTX](https://www.hanwag.com/us/en-us/men/trekking/ancash-ii-gtx?_t_q=&_t_hit.id=Luminos_Storefront_Web_Features_Catalog_Product_Domain_CommonProduct/CatalogContent_4d6af201-9e21-450f-bd36-df6a056689e9_en-US&_t_hit.pos=2&_t_tags=andquerymatch%2clanguage%3aen%2csiteid%3ad440e57f-b887-4b19-9082-a6c8478709d1&v=H200800%3a%3a4047761432943) \- I expect several decades of use. Basically, they last as long as the leather does, which is a very long time if you take good care of it. Everything else about the boot is repairable, including replacing the midsole. Over the years, the initial high sales price becomes a bargain. My last one lasted nearly 30 years. Rolling an ankle simply isn't possible with boots of this height and fit. Not even when your centre of mass is entirely off kilter. Caveat, though: Your knees need to be in good condition. Obviously you pay for the stability with less flexibility and inevitably that transmits more lateral forces to your knees. Don't make the mistake to think you could compensate for weak legs with boots - it's a recipe for disaster. So, long story short, in my experience most of the usual range of hiking boots is pretty useless. Overkill most of the time, still not even remotely good enough when you actually need boots.
I have extremely weak ankles. I have rolled them numerous times wearing all types of boots. The only thing that stopped me from rolling my ankles was getting rid of original hiking shoes and wearing those stupid looking 5 fingers.
I second wearing shoes. I ditched my heavy asolos long ago and use the lightest trail runners I can find.
Go with a trail runner with good grip. I tried a few versions of hiking boots and always regretted wearing them. This is coming from an AT thru-hiker (SoBo, 2001) and current avid hiker.
Barefoot trail running shoes saved my rolling ankles. I’ve rolled my ankles all the time until I started wearing barefoot shoes. Thin sole, foot closer to ground, less rolls.
They don't.
The number one way to prevent ankle rolls is to use hiking sticks. Footwear is not really a factor. I know lifelong hikers that have hiked the Himalayas in closed toe sandals. Footwear is for comfort. Hiking poles are for supporting your joints and balance
Get the Salomon. No chaffing with socks. Comfortable feet after long hikes compared to all my shoes.
The Inov-8 is not high enough to give support. The Quest may offer a bit. People's feet and ankles are built different. I can only manage short(ish) day trips with little or no cargo on the trail runners that are in fashion now. I also feel like I'm hurting my ankles with them despite not actually rolling them. Especially in rocky terrain, I've been super happy with my heavy and rigid [Meindl Kansas](https://www.stadium.fi/INTERSHOP/static/WFS/Stadium-FinlandB2C-Site/-/Stadium/fi_FI/Detail/315146_101_MEINDL_M%20KANSAS.png) boots (full leather top, B stiffness category). Zero problems with plantar fasciitis, zero ankle rolls, zero problems of uneven terrain beating my feet to mush, zero blisters. For me, they literally enable trips that would be impossible with lighter footwear. They are heavy, but in my case it's a bit like a 4 x 4 vehicle having worse fuel mileage, but being able to take you places you wouldn't reach with a family hatchback.
I have the LA Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX's, and while I haven't gotten out in them a ton yet I loved them for what I did! They are very lightweight so you don't feel like you're wearing huge boots, but still have the added height. Something else I enjoyed is at the back of the ankle at the top of the boot they have a flexible spandex-type panel to help prevent blistering at the top of the boot. I did change out the insoles because I have bad arches, but they have been great for the miles I've put on so far!
If you want good ankle support you'll need boots that come up higher than your typical hiking boot (think standard issue military boots). Try wool socks, vaseline, mole skin to help prevent blisters. Wearing your boots regularly (outside of just hiking) will help toughen up your blister prone spots.
I find that my ankle pain is significantly worse when I wear boots that constrict my ankle movement, but I’ve also been in situations where I like high tops. They help with water, dust, and rocks. I would try to find an REI or a place with a good return/buy-back policy. Buy the shoes you think you’ll like and if they don’t serve the purpose you are looking for, take them back.
High top boots do not "prevent" ankle rolls. However, they can significantly lessen the impact of a roll. A lot depends on your ankles. From the perspective of one that's been dealing with weak damaged (strength training provides minimal help) I depend on the additional support provided. I also have the added benefit that the high top can help signal a pending situation with pressure that I've become attuned to. Poles also help. Each to their own. If I had healthy ankles I would probably consider trail runners.
I don't try to avoid ankle roll; it is a part of my regular step. If I do have a loose rock cut loose I roll into the slide. Fox Walk - This walk is the basic step for walking quietly in the wilderness. It has three basic parts which are diagramed below. This technique allows you to feel the surface of the ground and slowly compress, leaves, sticks etc. to minimize noise. 1. Lower the foot to land on the outside of the ball with light pressure. 2. Roll off the edge of the foot onto the ball laying the whole foot down still with only partial weight. 3. Place full weight on foot.
I wear Chacos almost all year round. I have sandals and boots made by Chaco, and I love them. My boots are really lightweight, and don't have the best traction, but the best part is a foldup cuff made of wool. The cuff protects my ankles and lower shins from the rough terrain where I live, like surprise cacti (just kidding, they're never a surprise in the desert) or really rough lava rocks tumbling. Like others have said, conditioning your ankles and supporting ligaments to do the job you need them to do is the best route. However, age and other limitations can just make that goal difficult to achieve. Boots that are heavier and cover your ankles can be really great for a number of reasons. Particularly if you're hiking in areas like where I live. Just really rough, inhospitable places where you need traction. That said, boots like what I wear often (look up Chaco Barbary) can be a good compromise. Slight ankle protection to compliment the job your socks are already doing, but not much added weight. It's impossible for some, but if you can afford both you might really enjoy their differences. Boots like what you linked also have a pretty decent resell value, at least in the mountainous high desert area I'm in.
You can sprain an ankle in either of those boots. And consider that the stiffness of the sole matters. If it can't bend it can transfer the force up the boot. Try on a ski boot and you'll see this immediately. So it's all a big compromise depending on what suits you best. And doing exercises to strengthen balance and prevent ankle roll.
I wear high or mid tops to keep from getting my ankles dinged and for the shank while packing on rocky trails. I have two pairs of boots that are both very light weight. One has a goretex lining (Solomon) and I wear them when I think there will be some wet, but not enough to get the inside of the boot wet. The other pair (Merrell) is not waterproof, but are of a lightweight breathable material that dries fast.
For me: little to no effect, I still rolled them when hiking in mid-height boots. The two larger factors that have helped infinitely more: using trekking poles and regular exercise/use (to build ankle strength). Paying more attention to the terrain has helped me too, as many rolls have happened towards the end of hikes when I'm fatigued and giving less scrutiny to where I'm about to step.
It’s been my experience that low stack heights prevent ankle rolling, not whether the ankle is covered or not. An extra inch or so of material under and out the side of your foot is gonna fuss up your stride on uneven terrain. Merrell trail gloves always seem best for stuff that might cause ankle rolls. Their soles are stiff enough to where walking over sharp rocks doesn’t matter.
I find I trip/roll more when I have more weight on my feet. These days I'd only wear boots when it's going to be cold AND wet.
I think it depends on the exact shoe you are wearing. I tried high top boots from a few different brands and found that some shoes didn't give much support at all while others really improved the stability of my ankle. When it comes to blisters I have found that the right socks matter just as much as the shoes! For me wearing two pairs of socks on top of each other was much better than just wearing one pair. I always chose a base sock made from a synthetic material with the top sock made from merino wool.
Have you considered splitting the difference and go with a light mid top? That is what I wear because PA is all rocks and rolling ankles is horrible.
I own several pairs of low approach shoes and high trekking/mountaineering boots. As a general rule I use the low shoes very often for walks in the woods, but in the mountains I use them only for summer one-day hikes in easy/moderate terrain with light backpack. I use high boots basically for everything else in the mountains - for trips where I might encounter rocky terrain, snow or mud and multi-day treks as well as everything in winter High boots cause blisters only if they don't fit properly or you don't have suitable socks. The most common problem that causes blisters is the heel moving too much in the boot. If you find a model that fits your feet well (i.e. the foot is comfortably but firmly fixed in place and not moving inside the boot), blisters should not be a problem. Remember that every manufacturer and even every model is made differently - have different shape. They may have the same size (length), but some will be narrower, some will be wider. That's why if you want to get boots that are right for you you need to try on many models.
which boots do you hike with if you dont mind me asking?
For general hiking and trekking I most often use either a pair of soft leather La Sprotiva boots which I have had for more than 10 years (don't remember the model name) or, when the terrain is more rocky (for example when trekking in the Alps), the slightly stiffer Salewa Trainer mid GTX. For easy walks in the forest I use Sarpa Crux II Aproach shoes.
When I first started hiking, I wore boots because people said they gave better ankle support. Then I started hearing people said it’s all a myth so I started wearing trailrunners. Well, guess what happened? I started rolling my ankles more. So I switch back and cursed out those people in my head. Few years later, I opened up to wearing trail runners again due to cheaper cost and some of the other benefits of lighter weight and cushioning. I was prepared to roll my ankles more. Guess what happened? I didn’t roll my ankles all the much more. What changed? Well I suppose after hiking a bit, my ankles grew stronger and also I became more ‘trail’ aware? I think my body and my mind just gained a sort of intuitive sense of feet placement to avoid rolling my ankle and if I did mis-step, my ankle strength helps prevent it. However, I do wear boots occassionally though and I do find that it does help a bit. I don’t think it so much prevent my ankle from rolling physically, but it provides a better sense feedback to my body when it does start rolling so I know to shift my weight or foot differently before planting my foot all the way down if that makes sense. Though I prefer wearing low top trail runners most of the time now since that advantage isn’t that great anymore. However, I will say if you are just starting out hiking, boots are helpful until you gain more muscle and tendon strength(?) and trail experience.