Best for long daysCushioning for people who walk further than they planned
Hoka Speedgoat 6
The stack height saves your knees on the endless stone staircases; it also puts you further from the ground, which some people never stop disliking.
Best overall
The shoe most people on a teahouse trek should actually be wearing
Merrell Moab 3 (low)
Low-cut, wide toe box, minimal break-in
4.6 on Amazon (3,027 ratings)
Wide enough for feet that swell over a fortnight and comfortable from day one — the sole is soft, so it is the wrong shoe the moment you carry your own heavy pack.
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What you get
- Roomy toe box, which is where most trekkers actually hurt
- No break-in worth the name
- Cheap enough to replace after one big trip
What it costs you
- Soft midsole under a heavy load
- No ankle support on loose descents
- Upper wears through faster than leather
Do not buy this if: You are carrying 15 kg yourself, or you have rolled an ankle before. Take the boot.
Treks we recommend this for
Not every route needs it. These are the ones where our guides would put it on your list.
The alternatives
Everything else we recommend in trail shoes, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Best for long days
Best on rockFor routes with real scrambling in them
La Sportiva TX4 Evo
Sticks to rock in a way no hiking shoe does — the price is a stiff, unforgiving shoe that is miserable on a long flat valley walk.