When preparing for a backpacking trip, footwear will be one of the most important gear decisions you’ll make. Blisters, strained muscles, and scrunched toes can quickly ruin any backpacking trip, so this is an area where testing and experience go a long way.

We almost always backpack in lightweight trail runners for our spring, summer, and fall trips. They keep our feet nimble, minimize blisters, dry quickly, offer excellent traction, and don’t exhaust our legs over long days of hiking. That said, many people still prefer the durability and support of hiking shoes and boots. In this article, we outline our top picks in all three areas: trail runners, hiking shoes, and hiking boots.

Best Lightweight Trail Runners

We’ve hiked thousands of miles in trail runners over some of the toughest terrain on the planet, including the Himalayas, Andes, and the Rockies. Trail runners are by far our top choice for almost every 3-season backpacking trip we take. In addition, trail runners are the most common footwear choice for thru-hikers tackling long distance trails like the AT, PCT, and CDT.

Saucony Peregrine ISO

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 5 oz (pair)

We’ve been hiking with Saucony Peregrines for years now and they’ve remained at the top of our list for good reason. In 2019, Saucony released the new Peregrine ISO (men’s and women’s) as the successor to the Peregrine 8. The ISO retains of the qualities we love in the Peregrine- lightweight, incredible traction, comfort, and quick dry times – and somehow made them even better. One of the most notable upgrades is the ISOFIT system, which is essentially a sock-like upper that morphs to your foot as you lace, providing a more comfortable and customizable fit. The Peregrine ISOs are a well-rounded lightweight trail runner that will keep your feet happy on the trail all day long.

Altra Lone Peak 4

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 3 oz. (pair)

The Altra Lone Peak 4 (men’s and women’s) are incredibly popular trail runners in the lightweight backpacking community. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and feature a very roomy “foot shaped” toe box. The Lone Peaks have a cushy sole, dry quickly, and have great traction for rugged mountain terrain. Altras are built with a zero-drop build, meaning the heel and ball of your foot will be the same distance from the ground (more on this below). Altras have a unique look and fit due to their wide toe box, but as far as functionality goes, they’re at the top of the list for trail runners.

Brooks Cascadia 13

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 8 oz. (pair)

The Brooks Cascadia 13 (men’s and women’s) trail runners are quite popular in the backpacking community. They have a comfortable sole and a more durable upper mesh section, so you’ll be able to clock more miles in them. They’re a bit heavier than shoes we prefer to hike in, but they’re still within reason. The traction is adequately grippy and they feel comfortable on the foot straight out of the box. The Cascadia 13’s do have a more narrow fit than others, such as the Peregrines or Altras. One area where the Brooks Cascadia 13’s really shine is in their durability. Our biggest gripe is that they don’t dry quite as quickly as some other footwear on this list.

La Sportiva Bushido II

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 5 oz. (pair)

The La Sportiva Bushido II (men’s and women’s) is a burly, technical shoe with awesome traction. For rough terrain, the Bushido II offers a toughness and durability that can be lacking in other trail runners. Updates in 2019 include a rubber-capped toe, a comfortable tongue design, and increased durability. Our biggest issue with the Bushido is the stiff sole, which can be great for those looking for more protection under foot, but we generally find this to be less comfortable and a bit of an overkill for more casual hiking trips. If you’re looking for a durable and more technical shoe with excellent traction for rough trails, the Bushido II is worth considering.

HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat 3

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 4.6 oz.

HOKAs have long been known for their outstanding comfort and featherlight weight on the trail and the Speedgoat 3 (men’s and women’s) is our top pick in their line for the trail. These trail runners provide the standard HOKA cushy comfort we love with burly 5 mm lugs on the Vibram outsole to provide outstanding traction on rough terrain. The Speedgoat 3 features a wider than normal toebox, which is great for long days on the trail. While the thick midsole does a great job of providing protection underfoot from rocks, roots, and other debris, we find the tall stack height in the midsole can make us feel a bit unstable at times. That said, there’s a lot to love in the latest iteration of the Speedgoat.

Best Lightweight Hiking Shoes

For those who aren’t quite sold on wearing trail runners for backpacking trips, but don’t want to lug around the weight of hiking boots, may find a hiking shoe to be a good middle ground.

In general, hiking shoes have a tougher, more durable construction than trail runners. With less unsupported mesh and often made with a leather/mesh combo, they generally last longer. Because their soles tend to compress less, you’ll almost always notice a more rigid and stiff sole with hiking shoes compared to trail runners. This can be a good thing if you don’t want to feel the rocks under your feet, but will also mean less comfort and possibly more blisters.

Depending on the model you choose, many hiking shoes are built to be more water resistant. As we mentioned above, this may also mean they take longer to dry on multi-day trips. Below we recommend our favorite hiking shoes that balance weight, comfort, and functionality.

Salomon X Ultra 3 Low

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 10 oz. (pair)

The Salomon X Ultra 3 Low (men’s and women’s) is a burly trail ready shoe with a comfortable fit, awesome traction, and more durability than their trail runner counterparts. The Ultra 3’s come with their signature one-pull quick lacing system, which can take some getting used to – people either love it or hate it. We’ve found that these shoes to need a bit more time to break in compared to others. Also, the toe box is more narrow, so those requiring a wider fit may want to look elsewhere. Salomon does offer this shoe in a waterproof gore-tex model. Though heavier than what we usually wear on the trail, what you get in the Salmon X Ultra 3’s is a burly, durable, and well-built hiking shoe. If you want more ankle support, they also offer this shoe in a mid height model.

Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Low

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 15 oz. (pair)

If you’re not quite sold on hiking in trail runners and want the durability of a hiking shoe, we recommend checking out the Merrell Moab 2 Vent Low (men’s and women’s). Merrell has really nailed comfort with this shoe. It fit our feet well straight out of the box and its cushy soles and tongue feel nice. The combination of suede leather and mesh allows your foot to breathe fairly well but adds durability and protection. The Moab 2’s have Vibram soles which offer decent traction, though we felt some of our trail runners outperformed the Moab 2 in this area. For a couple more ounces, Merrell also offers this shoe in a waterproof version.

The North Face Ultra 110 GTX

WEIGHT: 1 lb. 15 oz. (pair)

The North Face Ultra 110 GTX (men’s and women’s) hiking shoe offers trail-ready comfort right out of the box. They are lined with waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex, which make them a good choice for wet and muddy day hikes. The combination of leather and tight mesh make this shoe a more durable option than the trail runners listed above. The Ultra 110 shoe has a solid and varied lug pattern, offering great traction on varying terrain. The soles of these shoes are stiffer than some others. They offer great protection, but can take a bit longer to break in. Another popular hiking shoe from North Face with similar weight and functionality is the Hedgehog Fastpack GTX hiking shoe.