Are boots much more protective than trail runners?

Everyone’s feet are different.  For me, high boots make me more prone to twisted ankles, but I need the sturdier soles and like the impact protection for my ankles.  Trail runners–most of them anyway–flop around on my feet.  Ideally, I could find low-tops that fit snugly and have very sturdy soles.  I don’t think they make such a thing.  (Narrow, bony feet.)

I am off trail a lot, and I like to wear lightweight boots, the ones I wear don’t feel very clunky, but they are definitely more structured than my trail runners. My rationale is not primarily to avoid twisting, but they protect my ankles from banging against stumps, big rocks, debris, etc. This happens a lot because I am often stepping blindly off trail, and when I wear trail runners my ankles get banged up. Maybe I am clumsy. It’s possible that they help a little to reduce twisting, I don’t know.

There are also a couple of secondary advantages for me. For example, I like Gore-tex boots, and they keep my feet dry when wading through shallow creeks. Also, they are good for walking across steep loose side-slopes. I understand that other people have different solutions for these scenarios, but I find the lightweight waterproof boots work well for me in my typical conditions.

For day hikes, I do like to wear trail runners, Salomon Speedcross work well for me because they come in wide sizes.

Trail Runners for trails.

Boots for off trail. Unless it’s very easy off trail. Boot protect your feet better.

“Ideally, I could find low-tops that fit snugly and have very sturdy soles. I don’t think they make such a thing. (Narrow, bony feet.)”

Topo Ultraventure Pro… if your feet are very narrow, then buy the women’s as they are cut narrower… The Ultraventure Pro is sort of a hybrid between a low cut boot and a trail runner… much more sturdy than most trail runners. Sizing in women’s… generally add 1 1/2 to your men’s size… For instance, if you wear a men’s 9, then buy a women’s 10 1/2…. I suppose this does not work if you wear a men’s 12 as I don’t think women’s come in 13 1/2    :(

First of all: Todd – look into approach shoes.  That was a secret-weapon solution, for me, in exactly the situation you describe.

Continuing on to the point…

Sorry to hear about your injury, Rachel; I hope you get well soon.  Also, Todd is right: everyone’s feet really are different, so boots might work well for you in certain situations…but it’s impossible to say what would have prevented that fracture.  It’s not just the physics of the fall or the shoe that are to blame, but a combination of that and a thousand other factors; I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tripped, slipped, stumbled, fallen and been deliberately thrown into the ground by an angry gravitational force and not been injured…but I can tell you all about the time I stepped off a curb and shattered an ankle.  Injuries are, by nature, unpredictable…as are their preventions; perhaps this is simply a matter of sizing the shoe to the conditions.  DWR has a good, simple example of that in his post…and I think that’s a good distillation of the basic principles: the more difficult the terrain, the more protection and stability you will likely need.  I generally use trail runners for trail running and carrying light loads up to about 45 pounds; after that, I switch to an approach shoe with some serious midsole rigidity and (in the winter) enough solidity for microspikes.  If things get more serious than that, the boots come out.

I suppose this does not work if you wear a men’s 12 as I don’t think women’s come in 13 1/2 :(

Nor do they have women’s 16 1/2.

trailrunners for everything

I’ve had great luck with many pairs of Salomon XA3d pro ultras in gore text. https://www.salomon.com/en-us/shop/product/xa-pro-3d-v8-gtx.html#color=44161

They are kinda narrow in my opinion but lots of protection.

The mesh version are terrible though are there are edges that dig into my feet.

I am in the same camp as John S; trails runners for everything.  I’ve exclusive in trail runners since 2008. There have been a couple times off trail where a boot would prevented a bruise metatarsal or shredding the skin off my ankle but on the whole I am much more stable and more nimble in trail runners.  I slip less and fall less, quite helpful navigating talus fields.

Sorry about your incident Rachel and understand your questioning.  The few times I wish I had boots I didn’t break anything so can’t say for sure if I’d remain as zealous for trail runners.  If you have prior experience with boots you have a reference for comparison but if not get some and see what you think.  I still have mine, they are just pretty much relegated to days I need to clear snow from my driveway.

there is no universal answer valid for everyone. You have to know your own body enough to disregard advice given by others who claim to know the right way for everyone. Not that people here are doing that! Everyone is simply responding according to their own experiences.

I hike in the Sierra primarily, which is very, very rocky. I like a good bit of protection underfoot as well as protection from jutting stones at ankle level, especially when moving downhill with weight n my back. Plus, my feet blister almost immediately if my footwear becomes wet in river crossings. As such, I’ve dialed in footwear that is appropriate for me. It wouldn’t be optimal for many others.

Still, off trail, I agree with those that advise more protection and sturdiness in footwear.

“Trail Runners for trails. Boots for off trail.”

BPL is a haven for false dichotomies.  Probably because many of our educators over simplify.

There are many in-betweens, from Salomon, Keen and others.  Not liking the weight of two pairs of footwear, I opt for the mids, and use dive sox for short trips outside the tent.  Bruised a foot only once when I was dumb enough to buy mids that felt great in the store, but pushed the big toe against the second toe; so now go to great lengths to be sure of ample toe room.

Thanks for all the replies, I wasn’t expecting so much input! I’m now leaning away from ‘trail runners for everything’, but the problem with ‘get some boots and try them’ is that there’s nowhere here selling a range of boots that you can try on (apart from the Tractor Supply). And judging by the number of options you’ve all mentioned, it sounds like the footwear landscape has changes since I bought my last pair of hiking boots about 20 years ago. So I think I need to go to an REI or something like that next time I’m on the mainland and see what’s on offer that might work. Sounds totally obvious now but thanks for helping me crystallize what I want to do.

“ARE BOOTS MUCH MORE PROTECTIVE THAN TRAIL RUNNERS?”

From cold? Yes

From rocks? Yes

From briars and stickers? Yes

From snow? Yes

And if of WPB liner: From rain when using long rain pants? Yes

So I think I need to go to an REI or something like that next time I’m on the mainland and see what’s on offer that might work.

There are also a lot of options for ordering online and returning if the fit doesn’t suit you; if that’s available in your locale, it might be worth the effort.

Topo offers a very well built and light weight boot: Trailventure 2 …

https://www.topoathletic.com/activities/go-trail

comes in regular and WP (water proof/breathable)… Topo offers a “30 Risk Free Trial” … which means they mail them to you, you try them for a month, and if you don’t like them or they are not a good fit, then just send them back for a full refund… but don’t get the original Trailventure as they are not nearly as well constructed… the “2” is what you want. They run a bit wide so  you might need to wear a boot sock for a  nice fit.

“So I think I need to go to an REI or something like that next time I’m on the mainland”

In northern NH and VT + Kittery Trading Post across the river in ME, there are a few stores that specialize in offering large selections of hiking footwear to try on.  And as tempting as Topo sounds, I can’t imagine getting a good fit without spending a few hours in several of those stores.  That is because every foot is different, just like every face is different.

I used to order custom boots in NH, and have tried some other custom boots by mail order.  None of the mail ordered ones fit well, and I got tired of hauling the heavy local custom ones on my feet; so I have a bunch to go to the dump if I can carry them all (gasp).  A number of  years ago, I decided the heavier custom boots were not worth the heavy weight; hence all the more reason to find stores with wide selections and stocks of many sizes of lighter hiking footwear.

The rub is that not many stores, including REI, carry wide selections and stock many sizes, even here in northern New England where hiking is a way of life.  There is a place in VT, just across the river from NH, that has more to offer than REI.  So possibly your best option is to research what the store options are “on the mainland.” and make sure they stock women’s sizes before you go.  If you can make some progress with that, plan to spend a day or two trying on footwear.  This might sound like a hassle; but once you have found a good fit, it will definitely have been worth the time spent.  Spend a lot of time in the chosen stores walking around with the shoes and your own hiking sox on, and compare different brands.  I like Salomons; but that is only because they use lasts that tend to fit my particular foot.  Other brands fit other people.

The problem with threads like this is that people find a particular brand that fit them, and post about how great they are; but since every foot is different, it does not mean they will be a great fit for your feet.  Yes, it can be a hassle, and that is probably why many go for the glorified light sneakers; but they do present a problem in difficult terrain.  That is why New England’s highest peak, Mt Washington, is called “the rockpile”.   Colorado, with its wide open expanses and well maintained switchbacks is better, but it still has trails that cross large fields of loose shale (sort of like dangerous piles of slippery loose shingles on a roof).  With time you will find what fits you, and it will be a blessing.  A much lighter pack also helps, or even limit your hiking to day hikes.  Walking for days on end over rough terrain with a heavy pack is not the best way to start getting out there into the wilderness, and can be dangerous.  The hiker rescues around here are frequent and keep scores of volunteers very busy.  Thank goodness there are people who care.

Wear the right shoes for the task and beefier shoes will add protection from scrapes and bruises. However, I have a hard time believing if you were in boots you would not have broken your bone. I can’t think of much outside a down hill ski boot that could have made much of a difference.

As Ben mentioned, an alpine ski boot protects your ankles from fractures (of the ankle and foot) but you can’t walk in them.  To be able to walk in boots, mids, or low-cuts, you need to be able to bend your ankle, fully, fore and aft and side to side.  So you’re just as prone to a broken ankle in any of them – the boot just protects your ankles from bangs and scraps (which can be really unpleasant in talus).

In Rachel’s case of breaking a metatarsal, it would seem that ankle coverage matters even less.  Either a stiffer sole (an approach shoe – low-cut, mid or boot-height) or a stronger upper (if an impact from above was the mechanism) might have helped.

I was so thrilled when, in 1981, the Nike Lava Dome came out – a ventilated low-cut hiking shoe with a much stiffer sole than a running shoe and it was my go-to for most of the next decade, despite the ghastly colors.
When Nike revived them circa 2010, I got a pair and found that trail shoes had advanced a lot since then.

My first step when comparing trail shoes at REI, etc, is to grab it front and rear and twist each in opposite directions.  If I can get 30-40 degrees of twist – fine, but lots of running shoes can be twisted 90+ degrees and those soles don’t provide me with enough support for tens of miles of roots and rocks.

I use mids for all.
YMMV

same here, I use mids for all

I don’t lace up the top row of laces because that would be uncomfortable.  They become more like trail runners.

Mids have a stiffer sole, so when I step on a sharp rock it spreads out the load on my foot

Since the mids are higher than shoes, it keeps dirt and rocks and sticks out

Since the mids are higher than shoes, I can walk through water that’s maybe 5 inches deep.  With shoes it’s maybe 2 inches deep.

The other thing is WPB – breathable shoes will get wet with 1 inch of water.  and wet brush or rain.

I have heard discussions about how to deal with wet feet with shoes and especially breathable shoes.  My feet are drier with mid WPB boots.

The original question – are boots more protective?  I don’t think so.  It’s these other factors.

Apparently, my boots are also “mids”. Never realized that before this thread. But I looked at the description online, and sure enough, “mid” was right there in the name.

I’m like Jerry in liking WPB mids. Maybe it’s a pnw thing. Everything’s often wet. wpb has become a bit of a heresy here, but whatever. I’m a rebel who likes dry feet.

yeah, this is only temporary.  This being BPL we will soon go back to demonizing mids, WPB, and coming up with treatments for wet feet : )

if I was hiking in warm weather, and had a lot of stream crossings deeper than 5 inches then I’d use breathable shoes