The great debate...high or low ankle hiking shoes

[ ~ 9 minute read ]

Let’s answer this one, once and for all. Which is better; high or low ankle hiking shoes?

Alright folks it’s time we finally put this one to rest. I’ve been reading about which style of trail shoe is better since I was born (I was an early reader) and I’ve never come across someone who has just definitively said “This one is the best!”. It’s always some wishy-washy, CYA conclusion like “They are both great, depending on what you’re doing!” Uh-uh. That’s not going to fly. Not here. Not on my watch. So we’re taking a deep dive to figure out once and for all which is the winner, so the loser can go home, and stay there. Let the battle begin!

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HIGH ANKLE BOOTS

First let’s clarify; when I’m talking about “high” ankle boots in this article I’m including both mid- and high-cut styles...basically anything that covers the medial and lateral malleolus (that’s fancy talk for the pointy part of your ankle that will cause you to explode if you bang it on a rock). I decided to do it this way because when you’re comparing mid- vs high-cut boots, you’re just comparing the degree of the feature, and I don’t think that’s as important as figuring out whether or not you should have that feature in the first place.

Ok, ok, enough of that. Let’s get down to business. First we will look at the benefits of having a high ankle boot, then we’ll look at the benefits of the low-cut trail shoes.

Benefits of high ankle boots

Ankle Support

Yes, ankle support. It does exist and having a higher boot will make it tougher for you to roll or twist your ankle. For some crazy reason, there are still people out there who believe that a higher-cut boot actually does not provide more support.

What the? How the? Why the? I don’t know how you could ever think that if you’ve ever actually worn a high ankle shoe for any reason (cleats, basketball shoes, combat boots). Now listen, I’m not saying that a high ankle boot is bombproof, or it’s impossible to roll your ankle when your wearing one. If you jump off a 3 foot ledge with a 50 pound pack on, yeah you can roll your ankle with high-cut boots on; and yeah, it’ll hurt like hell. But I guarantee you that if you had a low-cut shoe on, your foot would’ve broken off and you would have to carry it home in your, now 51 pound, backpack. Rolling or twisting your ankle is bound to happen more often without the extra support from a higher boot.

I’ve also read many articles about how high ankle boots are for beginners and once your ankle muscles are stronger and more adept at hiking, you don’t need them anymore. That argument basically states “Yes, high-cut boots provide more support, but I don’t need that support because my ankles are strong enough to support themselves.” While we are all very proud of you for having buff ankles, wouldn’t it still be wise to have even more support for those ankles by wearing a high-cut boot?

The bottom line here is that any high-cut shoe is going to provide more ankle support than a low-cut shoe. Whether or not you want or need that support is up to you, but let’s make sure we aren’t skewing the facts.

Protection from bumps, scrapes, abrasions, and other painful crap

Aside from just protecting you from rolling your ankle and doing internal damage to your ligaments, muscles and bones, a high-cut boot will protect your ankle from external damage as well,

like bumping your ankle on a rock, scraping it on a sharp branch, or burning it in a fire that you’re jumping over while running away from a man-eating tiger. If you’ve ever experienced hitting the side of your ankle on a rock, you know how important this feature can be. This benefit is especially important if you frequently hike in areas that do not have well-maintained trails, or you’re going to be scrambling on loose rock or scree fields (“talus slopes” for all the oddball’s out there!)

Seals out the bad stuff

The last major benefit that I think higher-cut boots provide is their ability to keep out all the bad stuff you don’t want getting in your shoes. Pebbles, dirt, sand and other debris all have a much

better chance at finding their way into a low-cut shoe than they do at getting into a high-cut boot. Another thing they help seal out: water! Many of the low-cut hiking shoes boast Gore Tex, Omni-Tech or some other proprietary waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry, but it doesn’t make much of a difference if you end up splashing water up over the side of your shoe! Yes, you can use gaiters when wearing low-cut shoes, but it’s just one more thing to buy, to lose, to destroy, and ultimately one more thing to complicate your outdoor experience.

Alright so there is one more benefit that I think counts as half a point and that’s the fact that with high-cut hiking boots, you have a lot more room to lace your shoe, therefore providing a more customized fit. I know, I know, this kinda falls in line with point #1 and more ankle support, that’s why I’m only counting it as half a point. New lacing systems allow you to relieve pressure points and reduce lace bite.

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LOW ANKLE SHOES

Ladies and gentlemen, you know the drill...let’s do this.

Benefits of low ankle shoes

Size and weight

If you have ever owned a classic pair of leather hiking boots you know that they are not the lightest shoes out there...actually they might make you feel like you’re about to get tossed in a river by the mob.

A rule of thumb with high-cut hiking boots is, because there is more material, they are always going to be heavier than their low-cut counter parts. Yes, you will find some boots that are lighter than trail shoes, but if you’re comparing the Merrell Moab 2 Mid vs. Low, the low is obviously going to be lighter. Trail shoes are designed to be smaller, lighter and provide more freedom than a high-cut boot.

The size can be a real asset too. I think you really tend to notice the size of your shoes when you are packing them for a trip. Whether you’re trying to stuff them in a suitcase or shove ‘em in a backpack, you really only notice the size of a high-cut boot when you need them to be small, and they’re not small, they’re freakin’ gigantic. A smaller low-cut shoe can be great for day trips where you know you’ll be changing your shoes, or keeping an extra pair in your car in case you find the perfect trail on your commute to work!

Get agile!

Another drawback of you’re giant, heavy boots is that because they are stiff and provide that extra ankle support they allow less movement in your ankle, therefore making you less agile.

Wanna be the next Ninja Warrior? Don’t bank on it when you’re wearing your Asolo TPS boots. Need to run away from that man-eating tiger? Bid your friends farewell if you plan on wearing your Alico’s. Wanna jump as high as a… ok, ok, you get the picture right? Trail shoes allow you to twist and turn your ankle more freely than a boot that is specifically made to restrict the movement of your ankle. Jumping over puddles and streams, light rock climbing, and faster, more precise movements will be much easier in your low-cut trail shoes.

Maxin’ and relaxin’ with a more comfortable shoe?

Ok, this one I’m not so sure about. High-cut boots are often stigmatized as being less comfortable than their low-cut buddies. High ankles can cause irritation or discomfort in the ankle area where the boots might rub or chafe. Personally, I think this comes down to sizing issues and improper fitting boots. Yes, a heavy, high-cut boot will probably take longer to break-in than a low-cut shoe, but once that break-in period is over, comfort should not be an issue. But sizing a boot and finding the right fit for you is certainly more of an art than a science, and if you haven’t been able to try on many different boots it’s easy to get stuck with a blister machine. Low-cut trail shoes are definitely more comfortable right out of the box, and some people equate the mobility and freedom of the low-cut ankle to a more comfortable fit.

Other Key Differences

Apart from the benefits and drawbacks of each style of shoe, there are also some key differences that aren’t good or bad...they are just different. One of those differences is that high-cut boots tend to have stiffer outsoles or shanks, which makes them feel much more stiff and rigid. It also makes it so that your foot doesn’t feel the nooks and crannies of the terrain beneath you; you could step on a sharp, pointy rock and you wouldn’t notice. Trail shoes tend to resemble a training shoe in that they usually have a more flexible outsole with a softer or shorter shank. This means you’ll feel more of what’s going on underfoot, but that can be a good thing if you need to control where your foot lands with more precision. Try taking quicker steps and landing on the balls of your feet with your boots on...not very comfortable.

Trail shoes also tend to be made from synthetic materials like nylon mesh, polyester, and rubber compounds. Many boots are now using this approach as these materials tend to be lighter and cheaper to produce while still offering breathable and waterproof features (with an added membrane). But there are still many boots out there that use leather uppers, which many people prefer as they tend to last longer and hold a more customized fit once you break them in. You will be hard pressed to find a leather hiking shoe though; they are out there, but there are not many options.

Final Conclusion

Ok gang, it's time for our final conclusion. No more beating around the bush, no more noncommittal answers, no more wishy-washy, CYA resolutions!!

What is the best type of hiking shoe? High-cut boot, or low-cut trail shoe? Well...it depends.

SON OF A B****!! I can't believe I just said that.

Wait, wait, I'm not letting myself off that easy...If you want my personal opinion (which I guess you do since you're reading my personal blog) my definitive answer is....High-cut boots, if you couldn't have guessed that already.

I think that the benefits far exceed the drawbacks and if I were only able to have one pair of shoes, they would definitely be a high top hiker. I just don't think that you can beat the overall comfort, support, durability, and reliability of a good hiking boot. A high-cut boot is a well rounded shoe that is going to work well in almost any conditions. When you strap on a well fitting pair of hiking boots, you are ready to take on the world, whether it be sloppy wetlands in the Pacific Northwest, sand dunes in the Australian outback, or the rain forests of Ecuador. And honestly, I just don't think you can say the same about trail shoes.

Yes, low-cut hiking shoes have their place, and I own several pairs that I use on a semi-frequent basis when I know where I'm going and know that the terrain will be suitable for a lighter hiking shoe. I don't think there is anything wrong with a trail shoe, in fact, I admit they are better than boots in some very specific situations. But when I'm tackling a longer hike or a hike I've never done before I always strap on my high tops, because I'm 99% sure they are going to get me through in one piece!

When it comes to high or low cut, what type of shoes are your favorite and why? What are your go-to hikers that you take with you into the unknown? I'd love to hear from you all about why you agree or disagree with me so please, comment below and let's have a chat!

As always, thanks for reading!