Hiking/Walking Shoes for Hot Feet

May 7, 2020 10:32 PM

Which shoes do you recommend for someone whose feet heat up and are blister prone?

I've done the Camino and suffered intense blisters, and just spent summers walking and again intense blisters, and I finally realized last year that my feet just seem to heat up an insane amount. Also one of my knees (sigh) is occasionally temperamental so I need to fact that in as well.

I also walk really long distances and this year may be in boiling hot NYC for the summer, or maybe not, depending obviously on what's happening 'out there'. Anyway, I just spent hours searching and haven't got much further. I like the cool Salamon quick laces, want to try highly ranked Sauconys but may be relegated to being a Keen's person?? I wore Danksos for what felt like millions of years teaching so that level of comfort, but need to be much sportier and suitable for all weather (but looking like hot cement and parks if we are allowed in them) terrain. Long distance walking. Thank you. (Also sizing seems to be an issue with various brands and I have to order online currently of course).

posted by bquarters to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (18 answers total)

I am not sure one shoe for this range of uses will ever be anything other than a compromise. You don’t need a closed shoe that is waterproof to pound the pavement/amble round the park in cities. The coolest option for that would probably be walking sandals.
posted by koahiatamadl at 11:59 PM on May 7, 2020 [2 favorites]

Just get some good running shoes—road shoes for the city, or trail runners for otherwise. Get the right ones for your feet with respect to stability and cushion, and add some insoles if you need some arch support. Unless you’re carrying crazy amounts of weight, there’s no need for anything more; most of my friends in mountaineering and backpacking these days just use trail runners unless there’s technical terrain involved. Definitely avoid waterproof, too—they’ll just keep your feet sweatier on balance.

I’m curious, though—what socks are you wearing? If you’re just wearing some cotton jobs, you need to get rid of those ASAP and switch to wool or wool-synthetic hybrids. I swear by the Smartwool ultralights in the summer unless I’m wearing boots.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 12:22 AM on May 8, 2020 [5 favorites]

+1 on walking sandals. Look at recommendations for Americans going to Disney World (i.e. where they will walk a lot and are not accustomed to walking much at all usually): Tevas top the list.
posted by batter_my_heart at 12:43 AM on May 8, 2020 [1 favorite]

I'm a big fan of Chaco sandals for trail walking... they've worked well for me (for example, Devils Path in the Catskills... 26mi and 14k ft of overall elevation change)... not sure if they have a version with a toe box... i haven't had problems with my open toed pair
posted by kokaku at 1:02 AM on May 8, 2020 [1 favorite]

+1 on walking sandals.... Tevas top the list.

Teva's were a revelation to me when they first came out in the 80's. Proper support and firmly strapped to the feet unlike the flip-flops I was raised on.
posted by fairmettle at 1:05 AM on May 8, 2020

look at keen H2 sandals. they have a lot of support and a closed toe, but plenty of ventilation. kind of the best of both worlds.
posted by koroshiya at 2:12 AM on May 8, 2020 [3 favorites]

on further reading i see you've mentioned keens, but i really found them to be super comfortable walking (and walking, and walking) around in NYC summer in them. i am a person who ALWAYS runs hot, and they basically saved my ass when i had to make with the wandering.
posted by koroshiya at 2:14 AM on May 8, 2020

Best answer: I came to ask you about your socks. I'm a long-distance hiker and my socks are the only gear I spend serious $$ on. Otherwise I get heat rash, hot feet, you name it. I buy Falke running socks made for hot summer with cooling effect, and these are literally all I am able to wear for anything over 4 hours at a go.
posted by frumiousb at 4:15 AM on May 8, 2020 [4 favorites]

Rieker shoes are for European sizes so I find some of them a bit narrow, but they are designed as walking shoes
posted by Barbara Spitzer at 4:52 AM on May 8, 2020

My wife and I have lots of foot and ankle related problems. We each got a pair of Keen Newport H2 sandals before going to India last year. Our feet had no issues with the summer temperatures in Mumbai last year (~94F). Comfort-wise, they were fantastic. My keens are the only shoes that I can wear without my custom insoles, and not have lasting pain.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 5:25 AM on May 8, 2020 [1 favorite]

I guess I'm one of those Keens persons... I live in my Keens all summer long, and they last and last, and so do I. I've worn them on all kinds of terrain. Where it's rocky, you'll appreciate the toecap! Where it's muddy, you'll appreciate the washability.
I even found a model with a closed heel so I can wear them with orthotic insoles. (Newport H2 in a youth size)
I used to live in Tevas and they're great too. But Keens are more shoe-like.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:38 AM on May 8, 2020

Have you considered Crocs, particularly the models made purely out of Crosslite and TPU? They're somewhat (in)famous for being extremely comfortable and, traditionally, very obnoxious... but it doesn't have to be the super-recognizeable bulky "classic clog", it could be, for example, the somewhat more styleish "Swiftwater Wave" model (these ones) if you don't have super-wide feet. I was sick of flimsy sandals and shoes, particularly mesh/fabric crap that falls apart after a few years, so I said "social stigma be damned" and bought these some years ago.

I don't know what's your definition of "really long distances" walking, but I used them for a week-long trip in southern Spain in the middle of the summer (so, very hot), where I was visiting cities by foot, and, for what it's worth, one day I walked 20 kilometers on cobblestone (in a hilly city) in one afternoon. That was the only day where my feet were a bit sore, but I think that's mostly because I'm not used to walking that much.

Getting the exact sizing might be tricky (in my case, I have one foot longer than than the other, so that didn't help). The only complaint I may have is that the TPU material (the dark part) can get scuff marks if you're not careful about scratching against big objects, and those show up a bit more due on the black color (I only bought the black model so I'm only guessing that it would be less visible on the "slate gray" color variant; strangely there are only two black-ish color choices on the Crocs website right now, while a lot more color choices are available on the Amazon shop).

I'm not sure this model is designed for running/jogging (hey, it's sandals after all), but if you only care about walking comfortably with something well aerated and with a sole that isn't going to soak up the sweat and stink, it might work for you. At least, it worked for me.
posted by a007r at 6:15 AM on May 8, 2020

The coolest and lightest shoes I've ever worn were the Goretex Merrell hiking shoes (low, without ankle support). They've replaced all my actual shoes (besides my work shoe) and I just wear them all the time. Kilimanjaro, Salkantay, Tongariro, all over the world, plus daily wear in the city. The Goretex just seems to breathe so much better than any material out there, my issue is that my feet get really sweaty in every other shoe I've worn while this one ventilates so well, so maybe this may help?

Also thin wool socks rather than cotton or synthetic. I love merino wool but I doubt I would wear it everyday due to its expense.
posted by xdvesper at 6:55 AM on May 8, 2020

If I didn't know anything about my own preferences, I would start with whatever Andrew Skurka's current shoe recommendations are. Or see what trail runners are popular with the thru-hikers at r/Ultralight. Those people are covering so much distance in challenging conditions that they need a shoe that does what you want: light, comfortable, and very breathable. Some are pretty pricey, but most aren't that bad given the number of miles you'll get out of them.

Absolutely avoid Gore-Tex. It's great for strolls in cool, rainy weather (I have two sets of Gore-Tex boots) but it can't breathe the way you would want it to in the heat. You need real ventilation for exertion when your feet are producing a cup of moisture an hour. Better to get the highest performance socks you can afford to wick the moisture away from your feet, whether coming from the rain, puddles, or self-generated.

Blister management is something most thru-hikers would happily talk about for hours, but the recommendations I've seen are: 1. Get your feet in shape before you do a big thing; tenderfoot is not just a rank in Scouting. 2. Get the wickiest socks you can afford, double layered ones if you're really blister-prone. 3. Take care of "hot spots" before they become blisters by covering them with Leukotape P, the modern miracle replacement for moleskine. Waterproof, removable adhesive, just amazing. If all you can get is moleskine, it goes on the shoe, not your foot, because it's impossible to remove without taking the skin with it. 4. If you feel your feet getting hot and sweaty and blistery, take a break and put your feet, socks, and insoles in the sun to dry everything out.
posted by wnissen at 8:39 AM on May 8, 2020 [2 favorites]

2nding Keen Newport H2. You might also want to try wearing thin socks, which would really help with blisters. I just wear whatever thing cheap socks I have, not cotton, but in your case, look for something more specific. The right socks will reduce friction and wick moisture. I don't get blisters with my Keens; they have a good inside layer, but it's something you should try out. When I know I'm going to cover some distance, I use corn starch on my feet.
posted by theora55 at 8:48 AM on May 8, 2020 [1 favorite]

Sandals with a cushioned rubber insole that won't absorb your sweat - this is critical.
I'm on my third pair of North Face Del Rio sandals - but I think they're out of production. I can go anywhere in them, including bush.
posted by dustpuppy at 11:39 AM on May 8, 2020

So I also have sweaty feet and I'd watch out for sandals. For me even tevas can get slippery because I find without a sock to absorb it sorta sits there, I've definitely slipped on my own sandals before, it's not a great feeling.
posted by Carillon at 12:02 PM on May 8, 2020

I like my Teva Tirras. There are two individually-adjustable straps across the front, which makes them pretty secure, they're really comfortable, and they feel like they have a good amount of cushioning and support.
posted by needs more cowbell at 12:40 PM on May 8, 2020