Hiking and other outdoor activities are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. Many of them are looking for the best hiking shoes for flat feet, if they have flat feet and pain from hiking.
This is hardly unexpected, given that flat feet affect 25 to 30 percent of the population. Many hikers, both novice and expert, are unaware that they have flat feet.
It never ceases to amaze me how complex our feet are. There are 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 ligaments that link everything in our feet. But that’s not all; 20 muscles and their tendons are also involved in moving the foot and maintaining a stable posture. The human hand, for comparison, has 27 bones and 36 joints, making it just slightly more complicated.
The most common misalignments of the foot are splayfoot, arched arches, flatfoot and arched foot, but for this post we will only be considering shoes for those with the most common, flatfoot. Splayfoot, like all other types of troublesome feet, requires proper prevention by wearing the suitable shoe.
How Feet Act When Hiking
Man is well-suited to walking great distances on the ground. The foot also serves as an energy converter and storage when moving: The muscles and tendons of the sole of the foot, as well as the Achilles tendon, store around 45 percent of the energy generated during walking and release it when the foot is extended for the following step.
We walk with our heels, unlike most other animals, who move rapidly across long distances. Scientists have long puzzled about why this is the case. Treadmill tests at the University of Utah have recently revealed that this stride is the most energy-efficient, making it ideal for our forefathers, who walked 30 to 50 kilometers a day.
How important are the right shoes?
Many foot conditions are self-inflicted instead of inherited, and are frequently caused by improper footwear. “To avoid numerous foot deformations, you must choose appropriate, comfortable shoes. Dr. Cutter says that a shoe should have a solid hold on the foot and guide it. “It’s not only shoes that are too tiny that have deadly health consequences,” says the author. When the shoes are too large, the foot loses its grip and slides back and forth in the shoe. As a result, every stride squeezes the toes, exactly like a shoe that is too tight.
Wearing the appropriate shoes, whether you hike or not, is critical to your health. The incorrect shoes can cause discomfort in your ankles, knees, hips, and back since your feet bear your whole body weight. We’ll show you the best hiking boots for flat feet in the next section so you can start your journey healthy and injury-free.
The best hiking shoes for flat feet
| Title | Preview | Pros | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jack Wolfskin Vojo 3 Boot |
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| 2. Jack Wolfskin Vojo 3 Shoe |
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| 3. Lico Men's High Rise Hiking Shoes |
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| 4. Jack Wolfskin Women's Woodland Texapore Mid W Hiking Boot |
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| 5. Columbia Men's Peakfreak Venture Waterproof Hiking Shoe |
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| 6. Grisport Men's High Rise Hiking Boots |
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| 7. Salomon Men's Authentic LTR GTX Backpacking |
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| 8. Salewa Unisex Kid's High Rise Hiking Boots |
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| 9. Merrell Women's Moab 2 Waterproof Hiking Shoe |
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| 10. Merrell Men's Moab 2 MID Waterproof Hiking Boot |
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| 11. Lowa Men's Bootie Ankle Boot |
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Advice: Buy the right hiking shoes for flat feet
What are flat feet?
Flat feet or is you are flat-footed, you do not have arched feet. Looking at your feet and checking if they are arched will tell you if you have flat feet.
Flat feet are defined as having a low arch or no arch at all. This might happen in one or both of your feet.
Why is this arch necessary?
Your feet bear the brunt of your body’s weight. The arch of the foot works as a spring, absorbing shock and evenly distributing body weight. The way you walk, run, or trek is determined by the arch of your foot.
Flat feet, on the other hand, cause the feet to roll inward when standing or walking. Overpronation is the medical term for this problem. Overpronation causes the feet to roll inward, therefore overpronated shoes are recommended.
Don’t be concerned if you have flat feet. Many people are unaware that they have flat feet and go about their daily lives without incident. However, severe flat feet can lead to a number of problems, one very common painful condition of which is plantar fasciitis, which causes pain in the heel. People have a higher risk of developing plantar fasciitis, if they wear shoes with insufficient support.
Types of flat feet
Flat feet may be classified into three categories based on the anatomy of your feet.
1. Neutral pronation
The ankle bends inward or outward depending on the weight of the body on the feet. Each stride in neutral pronation causes the ankle to turn no more than 15% inward.
Because the foot and ankle are in an upright and aligned posture, this is the correct position. The weight of the body is equally distributed between the toe and heel.
2. About pronation
Walking with overpronation leads the feet to roll inward. The weight isn’t distributed properly, putting unnecessary strain on the ankle, causing it to bend inward when you walk. The extra weight on one side causes additional wear and tear on the inner ball.
3. Under pronation
Supination is another term for underpronation. Steps are taken across the outside heel and ball of the foot. Supination causes the foot to roll in too much with each stride. The steps fall over the outside heel and ball of the foot during walking and running.
More wear will occur on the outside of the shoe, between the little toe and the outer heel.
What to look for in the best hiking shoes for flat feet
After you’ve determined your arch type, you should begin shopping for shoes that are designed specifically for your arch type.
Finding a shoe that is specifically designed for each arch type might be challenging. Knowing where your feet are most strained, on the other hand, might help you choose the correct footwear.
Here are some guidelines for finding walking shoes for flat feet.
Hiking shoe for neutral pronation
Hikers and runners who have neutral pronation should use a more stable shoe. The bodily weight is equally distributed in a person with neutral pronation.
If you have a typical pronation foot type, a shoe with a balanced insert pad area is a good choice. While wearing the shoe, this keeps your body in equilibrium.
Hiking shoe for overpronation
Hikers who are overpronated shift their stride hyper the outer heel and inner ball of the foot. When hiking or walking, the foot leaves the heel region first, shifting the body weight inward.
To encourage internal healing, there is greater wear and tear below the big toe region. You should choose for a shoe that is more robust and cushioned on the inside.
Hiking shoe for underpronation
Hikers who underpronate tend to have higher arches and greater weight outside of the foot. Use a shoe with a strong outsole if you have these sorts of feet.
It provides ankle support and comfort. Choose a shoe with a light, flexible sole that supports the arch of your foot. Minimalist hiking boots.
Purchase criteria for hiking boots for flat feet
Comfort
When looking for shoes, the most crucial factor to consider is comfort, especially if you want to use them for trekking. Climbing and descending place additional pressure on the feet during hiking. To allow your feet to absorb extra physical stress, the shoe should be comfortable to wear.
When hiking, we recommend picking a shoe that is comfortable around the toe and heel areas. This will keep your ankle from bending as a result of your flat feet.
Material
A variety of materials are utilized in the construction of a shoe. Hiking results in excessive sweating and flexing. Choose a shoe with a material that allows air to circulate easily to keep your feet dry. If you do not need too much support, choose minimalist hiking boots instead.
Fit
A proper shoe fit is crucial, since overly tight shoes place additional strain on your feet’s ligaments. A shoe that is overly loose might cause blistering due to friction.
It’s important to know your foot size, which you can determine for yourself. You may use your foot size to choose a shoe that fits you exactly.
Durability
You don’t want a shoe to rip off in the middle of a hike or quickly after the first walk, therefore durability is essential. Invest in a high-quality shoe that can survive numerous hikes and is built of dependable, high-quality materials.
People who wear the wrong size shoe frequently experience swelling. Take into mind the sort of socks you’ll be wearing, as your shoe size may fluctuate.
For example, heavier socks are good for trekking in cold weather, whereas thinner socks are appropriate for hiking in hot weather. To avoid any discomfort or disappointment during the trip, keep these factors in mind while selecting the best walking shoes.
Shoe type
This should go without saying. Every day, a large number of people from all backgrounds and experiences go trekking. When hiking, many people walk in regular shoes or wear casual boots.
If you’re going on a short, simple trek, you don’t require special hiking boots. However, if you want to go on a difficult trek, you should use a hiking shoe.
Hiking usually entails following a well-defined trail or discovering new, rugged terrain. Consider the sort of hike you want to take. To properly prepare for the hike, do some study on the sort of hike.
Another factor to consider when hiking in shoes is the amount of weight you’ll be carrying. Larger loads, such as camping gear or goods you want to bring with you, will necessitate a more durable hiking footwear.
We propose hiking boots that are intended for usage on difficult and unexpected terrain for bulky and lengthy trips. To give great foot support, these boots frequently include a high ankle collar.