La Sportiva Wildcat

Where do you plan to run?

• Road or track: Lighter shoes for speed, more cushioned shoes for distance
• Gravel paths: Hybrid shoes, designed for both road and trail

Cushion comes down to "feel" vs. "float"

• Minimal and barefoot cushioning: little to no padding, more groundfeel
• Moderate cushioning: more traditional ride
• Maximum cushioning: softest, bounciest ride

What kind of support do you need?
Depending on your gait, you may need a stability shoe. But most runners will fare well with a neutral shoe.

Make sure the shoe fits.
No breaking in periods, period! Your shoe should fit well from the get go.

Are you new to hiking?

• Look for thicker soles and potentially a higher cuff for better support.

Do you need speed?

• Lightweight trail-running shoes can shave time off the trek.

Check the temperature

• Hiking shoes and trail runner are cooler in hot months; hiking boots provide more warmth.

Match the outsole with your terrain

• Technical terrain requires a beefier outsole and can call for deeper lugs.

How long will you be on the trail?

• Hiking shoes: day hikes or ultralight backpacking
• Hiking boots: multi-day treks with heavier loads

What upper is right for you?

• Leather: water- and abrasion-resistant, durable
• Synthetic: lightweight, break in easily, dry faster

Look at the lugs

• Deep, thick lugs improve grip
• Wider lug spaces sheds mud and offer good traction

Check crampon compatibility
Mountaineering and winter hiking may call for crampons. Narrow your search for boots with crampon compatibility.

Which type do you want?

• Neutral shoes. Great choice for beginners; allow toes to lie flat and provide all-day comfort.
• Moderate shoes. Good all-around shoe. A slightly downturned shape and stickier rubber makes them good for technical climbing.
• Aggressive shoes. The very downturned toes put your feet in a powerful position for challenging sport routes and bouldering; less comfortable than the neutral or moderate shoes.

Choose key features.

• Shoe closure options include laces, straps or slip-on.
• Uppers can be synthetic or lined- or unlined leather. Unlined leather uppers can stretch a full size, while synthetic uppers don't stretch much.
• Climbing shoe last is the foot-shaped model around which a shoe is built. Most rock climbing shoes are slip-lasted, which tend to be sensitive and less stiff than board-lasted shoes.
  

Consider these shoe fit tips.

• Shop later in the day as your feet can swell up to a full size during the day.
• Your toes should lie flat or be comfortably curved; your toe knuckles shouldn’t bunch painfully.
• Try them on in person.