The Best Sneakers For Walking The right walking shoes for every need, from speed walking to a long day at work.When hot weather hits, I’m sure I’m not the only person to ditch my shoes for a pair of airy sandals. Who really wants to walk around in shoes that are cooking their feet to a sauna like temperature?Usually, wearing sandals around town during such conditions isn’t an issue. But, when it comes to hiking and exploring, I don’t want to trust the safety of my feet and ankles to a shoe that is so exposed. I also don’t want my feet to boil. That is the dilemma. Here is the solution: breathable hiking boots.strongPersonally, I find  to be the most versatile option. Using a breathable hiking boot will allow sufficient airflow in and out of the shoe, keeping feet cool and sweat free. Today I will compare three of the best hot weather hiking shoes that I know of in order to help you determine which fit is right for you. Each boot offers excellent quality, durability and airflow.

With two waterproof options, I’m certain that one of these boots will fit your exploration needs. Each with a unique design centered on airflow, these three hiking boots all offer an excellent build. The Merrell Moab is perhaps the most high end of this list (despite the cheapest price!). The Merrell Moab is a lightweight hiking boot that excels in hot weather due to an effective breathable exterior. A wide forefoot serves as a stable platform for users, ensuring smooth passage over rough terrain. It provides great traction on dry substances (dirt, rocks, gravel…etc.), but not so much in wetter conditions. Air cushion heel pockets provide excellent shock absorption. It can be purchased in both regular and wide sizes. However, it’s not perfect. The ankle collar is short in comparison to other products. This is not a hiking boot for those who need ankle support or foot stability. The sole is also very thin, meaning users will feel rougher terrain. If you’re looking for a hiking boot that offers more support, turn to L.L. Bean’s Waterproof Trail Model.

This hiking boot offers a taller than usual ankle collar, providing outstanding support and foot stability. This hiking boot is TEK2.5 waterproof and uses a breathable membrane. For it’s size, it remains lightweight and does not transmit the feeling of rough terrain to the feel (like the Merrell does). It’s important to note that this shoe does tend to fit large and wide. An in store purchase is recommended. Last we have the Vasque Breeze, a sort of hybrid between the other two. nike shoes 2012 imagesThis hiking boot is the most breathable product by Vasque, to date. nike shoes with pocketThe only shoe that has better airflow that the Vasque Breeze is the Merrell Moab.nike black shoes wide

The bonus with the Vasque Breeze is that while it stays cool in hot conditions, it can also stay warm in cold ones making it a multi-season shoe. This is a hiking boot that is designed to move fast of varied terrain. Durability and waterproofing have been stated as concerns, but reports are varied. Ankle stability and traction is something between the Merrell Moab and L.L. Bean’s Waterproof Trail Model. Not bad, but not great.running shoes low heel rise When it comes to comfort, it’s a close call between the Vasque Breeze and the L.L. Bean Waterproof Trail Model. buy trail running shoesThe Vasque Breeze is a very comfortable and breathable show. top 10 running shoes for wide feetIt is offered in narrow, medium and wide foot sizing in order to ensure a great fit.

No break in time is needed with this hiking boot! The fit is snug and blister free from day one. The shock dual-density insole is one of the best. The L.L. Bean Waterproof Trail Model boasts similar qualities. It has been marketed as having the “comfort of sneakers and support of a hiking boot”. That’s a pretty great trade off. No break in time is needed here either. A comfortable interior lining with a snug fit is all you can ask for in a great hiking boot. L.L. Bean’s Waterproof Trail Model provides that. The Merrell Moab is a bit more of a wild card, simply because the wrong person could find it uncomfortable. People who need ankle support will not find this shoe as comfortable as the former options. However, if ankle support and stability is not an issue, the Merrell Moab is comparable with the rest. A removable foot bed offers the option to customize with a different sole if needed. The hiking boot itself fits very comfortably, most because it is so breathable. However, it does take a few days to break them in.

Water resistance is questionable with all of these products. The Merrell Moab is not waterproof. It will not keep your feet dry at all, even if you are just walking through wet leaves. The Nylon mesh design does absorb and disperses excess moisture, but that’s more designed for sweat than anything else. However, the Merrell Moab does dry out very quickly. Both the Vasque Breeze and L.L. Bean’s Waterproof Trail Model claim to be waterproof. Users have said otherwise. The Vasque Breeze has had mixed responses to this claim. Many customers have complained that water seeps in through the mesh seams. Others have stated no issues at all. Perhaps it is a product flaw? It’s difficult to say for certain. Overall, it will keep you dryer in rain and low water levels than the Merrell Moab would. Similar statements have been made about the L.L. Bean Waterproof Trail Model. Some have gone as far to say that the term waterproof applies to the material and not the act of keeping feet dry.

When it comes to hiking boots, we all know how important durability is. L.L. Bean’s Waterproof Trail Model wins this one. With a more solid construction than the other two hiking boots, L.L. Bean’s boot is designed to last through all the elements. However it does sacrifice airflow for this. Mesh isn’t the most durable material. Of these three hiking boots, the L.L. Bean boot has the least amount of mesh in its design. The Merrell Moab has the most mesh, rendering it the least durable option. This is a hiking boot that users will find to be more “sensitive” on the trail. I would not recommend it for hardened adventures. Stick to the beaten path with this one and it should hold up fine. The Vasque Breeze falls somewhere in between. It has had great success in durability. One user claims to have worn it on a total accumulated distance of 300 miles, through dirt. I’d say that’s pretty good! However, others have commented that it hasn’t withstood the test of time.