Hiking through the desert isn’t always about conquering the desert, it’s more about conquering ourselves and connecting with our souls. So let’s find ourselves the Best Shoes For Desert Hiking to conquer our souls.
The vastness of the desert will teach you so many beautiful things. But it will also test your endurance levels.
Its scorching heat, soft hot sand, and rough grounds will force you to push your endurance limits. Straining your body and feet more than you can ever imagine.
Blisters and sore feet might become the new normal for you if you don’t find yourself the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking.
The Desert boots you select need to cover a few important points. They need to offer good durability and breathability.
Alongside this, they need to be light-weight to prevent any additional stress or strain on your feet.
Looking for a quick pick of the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking below is a summary.
Let’s look at some of the key features needed for The Best Shoes for Desert Hiking.
- COMFORTABLE SHOES:
Ensure the boots you buy are not only functional but also provide the needed comfort for those long hot days.
- LIGHTWEIGHT SHOES:
Finding just the right balance between a light-weight pair of shoes and a durable one is key. The Shoe you pick should not be too light that they don’t stand the test of time and strain in the desert.
But they shouldn’t be too heavy to give you foot fatigue. Try and avoid boots that are fully constructed with leather or heavier materials.
- GOOD TRACTION:
A feature that can either make or break the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking is their traction. The best Shoes for Desert Hiking need to provide you with the needed stability and grip.
Both of which are essential for a trail that includes sandy, rocky, and muddy surfaces. Rubber and other materials that perform similarly are always advised.
- SUFFICIENT BREATHABILITY:
With the hot temperatures and varied climatic conditions having a pair of shoes that are breathable is essential. Don’t forget you will need shoes that are also waterproof.
Hence ensure you find boots whose waterproofing treatments don’t compromise their breathability. Ventilation is vital regardless of the temperatures outside.
- DURABILITY:
Desert boots have to withstand a lot, not only extreme climates but also rough sandy terrains. To ensure you come home safely after a long trek you need to ensure the boots you select last you until the end.
They should not wear out or give up in-between your journey. Hence durability is very essential.
- WATERPROOFNESS:
I understand you must be thinking why waterproof? I’m in the desert. However, it’s essential to always be well prepared no matter the situation.
Find yourself light-weight boots. Most of the light-weight options come with waterproof membranes.
- ANKLE HEIGHT:
Having boots that are the right ankle height is very important to keep sand from getting into your boots. This also helps provide sufficient ankle support for those long difficult hikes.
Don’t forget to pick boots that offer just the right mix of ease of motion and ankle support. Even if you are someone who doesn’t have ankle issues you need the additional support.
- AMPLE OF CUSHIONING:
Find boots that have ample cushioning. This will ensure your feet are comfortable and well-protected at all times. You need to ensure they offer good shock-absorption and support.
Walking across those vast deserts that are rough isn’t easy, to begin with. But if your boots don’t have enough cushioning it’s just going to get harder than usual.
- PERFECT FITTING:
Finding shoes that fit well, sometimes can be difficult. Yet before you go on a desert hike you must always ensure you have a pair of tried and tested Boots. Make sure you have broken into the shoes before you start your trip.
You cannot afford to be stuck with a pair of broken or worn-out shoes mid-way. Since all of us have very different types of feet and foot needs, we must ensure we take care of them.
Try out the shoes before you settle on your pair of the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking.
- KEEP THE SAND OUT:
Hiking through the deserts isn’t as easy as one thinks it might be. Walking through vast spaces of hot soft sand does get even harder if your shoes start to fill up with this sand.
Ensure your shoes have an ankle height that is high enough to keep out the sand. An additional feature of gusset in-between the shoe’s tongue and main body can prevent the sand from getting in.
Try and avoid shoes with a GTX lining, as this hampers the breathability of the boots and can cause blisters.
- PRICING:
Sometimes it is difficult to escape a higher price on a great pair of boots. Now, this surely is because of the functionality and amazing features they come with. Most of the boots you will see on our list are within $250.
Make sure you don’t compromise on the pair of shoes you buy just because of the price. You will them to last you till the end of your trip, which means through all the strenuous desert hiking.
So, all the very best in finding your pair of the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking.
The 3 Best Shoes For Desert Hiking Reviewed:
The One's That Will Stand By You No Matter What
Let’s dive straight in and find the support and protection your feet need. Let’s make this Desert Hike one you will never forget.
Best Shoes For Desert Hiking - Lowa Men’s Elite Desert WXL-M Reviewed
MENS STYLE
The Lowa’s Elite Desert Boots are the toughest and the most comfortable boots one can ask for.
They are light-weight and offer the perfect breathability. They provide just the perfect ankle support along with the right about of flexibility for ease of movement.
These boots offer the perfect shock absorption and traction. They are truly loved and appreciated as one of the most durable and comfort friendly boots one can wear on a desert hike.
Let’s take a look at what makes them so loved.
What features make them the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking?
- They are made from 100 percent suede split-leather uppers
- These uppers are cemented to the sole to provide better durability
- Their soles are made from Vibram MVS. These rubber outsoles offer the perfect traction
- They also have lugs on their outsoles which are multi-directional for better grip
- Their breathability comes from their textile lining
- A very important feature is their gusseted tongue. This helps prevent sand from getting in
- These shoes offer the utmost stability one can ask for
- They are also one of the lightest desert hiking boots on the market
- They come with a replaceable well-padded insole.
- This insole which has been lined with textile helps provide superior comfort levels. It is also the reason for its brilliant fit
What holds them back?
- They are slightly stiff in the beginning, but once they are used a bit, they soften up well and fit perfectly
- They are a bit on the more expensive side. However, with all the brilliant features they offer, they surely are the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking
Ridge Footwear Men’s Tactical Military Combat Boots Air-Tac Desert Storm 6” with Zipper Reviewed
MENS STYLE
Ridge Air-Tac Boots are a very comfortable, light-weight option for your desert hikes.
They are perfectly crafted to be breathable and very durable. Looking for a great pair of boots for your desert hike, but don’t want to invest too much, then these are the boots for you.
Let’s take a look at why these boots make it to the 2nd place in our list of the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking.
What features make them the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking?
- They come with ripstop nylon and leather uppers
- Their heavy-duty uppers offer the perfect durability with their triple-stitched bodies
- They are a very light-weight pair of boots, apt for desert hiking
- They have a brilliant dual-chamber Air-Tac outsole made from carbon rubber
- Their well-cushioned PU midsoles and footbed offer elevated levels of comfort and protection.
- They have Superior shock-absorption irrespective of the terrain
- These boots offer generous amounts of traction and slip-resistance
- They are a Vapor-Wick lined pair of boots, with good breathability
- A removable insole allows you to add your orthotics in case you have any sorts of special needs
- Ridge Air-tact Desert boots come with D-Rings. This helps provide a quick and efficient lacing system. Which in turn provides brilliant support
- The YKK full-length zippers with hooks and the looped-flap closures also aid in stability and support. Not only for your ankle but for your entire foot
What holds them back?
- The only complaints so far have been regarding their zippers. Customers mention that they can improve the design of the zipper
Reebok RB894 Stealth 8″ Boots with Side Zipper Composite Toe Women’s Reviewed
WOMENS STYLE
These boots from Reebok are one of the most comfortable and reliable boots for desert hiking. As we all know Reebok is a brand that has always offered us brilliant designs with the perfect quality.
They do the very same with these RB894 Stealth 8″ Boots. These high-performing boots are light-weight, & offer just the needed flexibility & breathability.
They also have well-padded tongues, collars, and uppers, thus their brilliant comfort. Like others in this list, they also have a very light-weight composite toe and a well-cushioned EVA midsole. This provides its good shock-absorption.
These desert fighters are totally metal-free. They also have an easy to wear side zipping-system, that makes them user friendly.
These are some of the most loved boots by a lot of athletes.
What features make them the Best Shoes for Desert Hiking?
- The perfect boots for desert safaris
- The Reebok RB894 Stealth 8″ Boots come with a side zipper and a composite toe.
- They are ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) compliant
- They are perfectly constructed light-weight boots and prevent any kind of foot fatigue
- A well-padded tongue, as well as a collar, helps make the boots comfortable for longer hours
- It is their Cambrelle-Tailex lining that helps with managing moisture, abrasion & climatic control
- A removable, well-cushioned, F2A PU-molded insole offers brilliant comfort and shock-absorption
- Its uppers are made from Leather and breathable Mesh
- These boots have 8-inch stealth with very durable side zips, that allows easy wear
- They have rubber outsoles and an EVA well-cushioned midsole
- The entire pair of boots are well-crafted from 100 percent metal-free materials, including their side zip
- A hundred percent Non-Metallic pair of X-ray friendly boots. Which are legally allowed at airports and makes them very light-weight
What holds them back?
- A few reviewers have mentioned stitching issues
Conclusion:
A desert hike can truly be a life-changing adventure, one you may never forget. To conclude this article, I would like to share a few very important things to keep in mind while prepping for your trip.
These points will help you select your pair of boots for this trip and also help you understand how to use them.
Break Into your boots!
Avoid buying boots last minute. This holds true for all sorts of adventures like hiking and trekking. Make sure you break into your shoes before you set out.
This is very crucial to make sure you don’t have any issues during your journey. Always buy your boots much before your actual trip.
This will give you enough time to use them and break-in. This also helps avoid any last-minute surprises and blisters.
Relaxing during a pleasant summer evening!
During your journey don’t forget to relax and enjoy the wonders of the desert. As the sun sets on the horizon and the temperatures start getting pleasant, don’t forget to use this to your advantage.
Sit back, take off your socks and shoes after that long day, and allow your feet to sink into the sand. This will not only allow your feet to relax but also draw in a beautiful desert feel.
Keep your shoes as dry as possible!
Try and avoid situations where your shoes get wet, if they do allow them to air dry but not in the peak hours. Also, Do not use a hairdryer. This could make them very stiff and this isn’t favorable.
Keep your shoes clean!
Use a clean cloth or a damp cloth to keep your shoes clean after a long day of hiking. Sand isn’t very difficult to get off, you can also use a light shoe brush.
Looking for travel shoes for your next air travel, don’t worry we have that taken care of for you. Read this article on “Best Shoes For Air Travel“.
Desert hiking surely isn’t an easy task, but the harder the task the better the experience. So, give yourself an amazing experience and don’t let the wrong shoes ruin it!!!
Happy Desert Hiking!!!
*** Please note all of the above is written using data, research, and reviews. We don’t intentionally want to recommend one product over another.