What shoes do I need to wear for a hike?

The short answer is the ones you already have. However there are some thing to consider when you're just starting out.

Ankle Support vs No ankle support

This is an age old question which is debated throughroughly between outdoor professionals. Think about the environment and conditions you are walking in. If you are not used to travelling across uneven terrain or you're carrying a heavy bag ankle support is essential. The last thing you want to do is roll an ankle with a 15kg bag on your back. However if you're moving light and fast or conditions are hot and dry think about a trail shoe.

Waterproof vs Breatheable

Wet feet suck, however once a waterproof shoe gets wet it starts to act like your foots own personal swimming pool. Despite this, I still prefer a gore-tex shoe in wet conditions. If it means that I can at least defend off wet feet for a couple of minutes longer then I will pay the extra. However if I know I'm going to be out walking for a couple of days with limited drying opportunities, I'll probably opt for a breathable shoe. If my feet get wet, I know that my boots will have a chance to dry out before I have to put them on the next morning.

Leather Vs Synthetic

In the UK we seem to be wedded to wearing leather boots and while they are extremely hardwearing and will last you a very long time, as soon as they get wet, it will take 4 to 6 working weeks to dry out. The other side of the coin is a synthetic boot or shoe, normally lighter and more breathable however if you're starting to clock up the miles you may find that they will start to disintegrate around your feet.

Tread

Now this is something that isn't up to personal opinion. Having decent tread on the bottom of your boots is essential. A lot of walking boots have vibram soles or equivalent which will protect the bottom of your feet through varying terrain. Approach shoes usually have similar leather to climbing shoes so will stick to rock and provide better grip if you're moving through rocky terrain or going scrambling. Many trail shoes will have lugs on the bottom to provide a bit of grip in gravel or mud.

Levels of Boot

 You may find while shopping for boots that they start to have different levels such as B2 or B3. Heres a quick guide to what the different B grades mean:

B0

Soft boots that are ideal for non-technical walking and Summer conditions. They will not take a crampon.

B1

Slightly stiffer than a B0 and are designed for a bit more protection against the elements. They will have a 'rand' to help keep the weather out. Ideal for non-technical mountain walking. They will take a C1 crampon.

B2

Again, stiffer than the B1s and a winter boot that will take a C2 crampon. This is the sort of boot that will be used for more technical terrain and winter walks.

B3

The stiffest boots made and designed to take a C3 crampon. They are ideal for winter mountaineering and climbing. These are the type of boots that you would wear to climb everest!

As you go up the grades, the price increases. Unless you want to spend loads of money or you have great plans to get into mountaineering or Scottish winters, a B0 or 1 will get you through most things. My B2s only get rolled out if I know it's going to be a particulary wet and miserable day (or if I want to add an extra inch on to my height).