Hiking, Trail Running, Rock Climbing: The best shoes for all kinds of terrain

After a week of gloomy, rather Scandinavian weather, the sun is finally peeking bright and we’re hoping for a balmy weekend ahead. Setting off on the trails, or pounding the pavements – a strenuous outdoor activity keeping Covid restrictions and the right footwear mind, sounds like just the kind of endorphins we need. 

Hiking, trail running or climbing gafencu definitive guide to choosing the right outdoor footwear (5)
(Photo: Hoka One One)

1. Getting the right size

Making sure you have the right size shoe to run or hike in is essential to keeping the feet healthy and comfortable. A common mistake people make is getting a size that matches the length of their feet. Professionals recommend getting shoes a half or full size up to give the toes a comfortable wiggle room, especially since the feet expands as we run. An easy way to tell if you’ve got the right size on is making sure you have a thumb size or two finger size gap from the shoes to your toes and your heel.

2. Choose your shoes according to your trail

Choosing a pair of hiking boots or trail running shoes depends on your objective and trail. A few things to consider: the distance, the terrain and how heavy the load on your back will be. This will determine the right type of footwear for your trail. For example, hiking boots typically have durable outers, rigid soles and high cuts to provide support to the ankles, while also protecting the toes and soles of the feet on rough and rocky terrain in case you trip or slip. On the other hand, casual day hikes or paved paths don’t need high durability and would be a more comfortable experience in lighter shoes made with breathable and flexible material for optimum comfort.

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(Photo: Salomon)

3. Consider how much support or protection you will need

If you are ambitious about tackling challenging slopes, trekking upstream or climbing over rocky terrain, it is crucial to consider how much support, protection and flexibility you will need on your adventure. For easy to moderate flat surfaced hikes, a pair of lightweight, low-cut trail running shoes will offer more flexibility in movement because of its light and springy build. Meanwhile high-cut hiking boots are best fit to serve those trekking unstable trails with loose rocks; they provide good grip and support on the soles and around the ankles, especially for those who are prone to ankle injuries and need the extra support. 

4. How heavy is your backpack?

Another thing to consider before picking out a pair of shoes for your adventure is to consider the weight of your load or backpack. With camping becoming a popular hobby for many Hongkongers, particularly for photography enthusiasts, hiking uphill with a full gear can be cumbersome and take a toll on your soles for supporting a lot of the heavy lifting. In this case, hiking shoes (not boots), which are a cross between hiking boots and trail running shoes, provide the lightness and flexibility of trail running shoes while adding stiffer and thicker soles for more comfort and protection.

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(Photo: Hoka One One)

5. Waterproof is not always best

Contrary to what most people believe, waterproof shoes aren’t necessarily always best for hiking – depending on where you’re going. We say this if you are going on long hikes, your feet are likely to expand and sweat. Breathable materials – preferably mesh – will allow air to flow out through the material, keeping the feet cool and comfortable. However, if you are hiking in water or canyoning, waterproof shoes that have shallow lugs (keeping close contact to the ground) with good grip and flexible material will ensure your feet and you safe and protected. 

Also Read: Essential camping gadgets to level-up your next outdoor experience

What to Get

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For day hikes and mostly flat surfaces:

Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX: Pros: Built like trail running shoes but with added ankle support and toe protection, stable chassis and lug design as well as a comfortable X Ultra lightweight construction.

La Sportiva’s Nucleo High II GTX: Light, flexible, but impressiely durable and protective with mid-height design and good traction for rocky and  muddy trails. It is suitable for day hiking and easy back packing trips. Not only is it waterproof, it lets the air inside exit through the top and bottom thanks to its web-like mesh design along the sides. 

For trail running or climbing:

Hoka One One Speedgoat 4: Plush cushioning with grippy and comfortable soles and is extremely lightweight but soles wear down easily.

La Sportiva TX4: Categorised as Approach Shoes, this pair allows its wearers to move fast while trekking lightly and flexibly yet  still offer a comfortable and supportive construction for challenging trails or for rock climbing.

For backpacking and uneven terrain:

Salomon Quest 4 GTX: Provides great ankle support and protection, and has durable upper, cushioning and protective underfoot that keeps the feet comfortably supported and safe from rough terrain. 

La Sportiva Spire GTX: Sturdy and with good stiffness and thick midsoles that protects the feet from rocky trails. Has good grip built for long hikes and for climbing objectives.

Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX: Durable for backpacking over rough terrain, but is still reasonably light (2lbs) and pretty flexible. Can provide enough comfort to cover ground for days while keeping the feet and protected in rocky, snowy  or wet conditions. 

Also Read: Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes

With the colder season settling in, it’s time to get your trainers ready for another hiking season. Hong Kong is undoubtedly blessed with forested trails and remarkably idyllic views of coastlines and city skylight. Not to mention, there are a slew of hiking spots across the city to catch the breathtaking sights of the break of dawn. To chase the first ray of light, here’s just where to catch the city’s most beautiful view of the sunrise. 

For an easy stroll: Breamer Hill, North Point

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes gafencu braemar hill
(Photo: Brian H.Y. via flickr)

For those new to hiking, Braemer Hill offers a gentle introduction to the beauty of hiking, leading you to a gentle first glimpse of daybreak with a beautiful panoramic sight of the city. 

How to get there: Take the MTR to Tin Hau Exit B and cross the road. Then, on the right, walk up towards Tung Lo Wan Road until you reach Lin Fa Kung Street West on the left, and continue towards Lin Fa Kung Temple. Here, you will find Lin Fa Kung Garden and a set of steps that mark the starting point of the trail. It’s best to keep your google maps on for this trek as the trail, although short, may be confusing. 

Distance: approx. 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Best for city view: Lugard Road, Central

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes gafencu lugard road victoria peak
(Photo: Johnlsl via flickr)

Another easy alternative on the other end is Victoria Peak, often recognised for its iconic postcard landscape. However a detour towards a lesser trafficked path on the side of the trail, also known as the running trail, leads treats hikers to a lesser known but gorgeous view of Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour. Talk about picture-perfect sunrise.  

How to get there: You can take a bus to Victoria Peak or hike up its morning trail to get to the peak then find the pedestrian path also referred to as the running trail just off the side of the peak which will lead to a viewing point. 

Duration: appox. 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

For a challenging hike: Sunset Peak, Lantau Island

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes gafencu sunset peak
(Photo: discoverhongkong.com)

Although named Sunset Peak (because the sun sets here), this 869-meter high mountain actually serves one of the best views of the sunrise in the city. It is the Hong Kong’s third highest peak and is a challenge that does require a good amount of resilience and a bit of luck foe the weather to be on your side as it is a part of Lantau Island that does get foggy towards the top. 

How to get there: Although this trail is relatively straight forward with a single paved path, the difficulty comes in the form of a couple of hundred steps. Start at Pak Kung Au via bus 3M from either Mui Wo or Tung Chung and follow its paved trail up towards the peak. 

Duration: 4-6 hours

Difficulty: Hard

 

Best Overnight Stay: Tap Mun, Grass Island

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes gafencu tap mun grass island (2)
(Photo: discoverhongkong.com)

With natural rock formations, the beautiful coastline, expansive verdant plains of grass in the day, and a blanket of stars above throughout the night. Campers looking to wait out the golden hour and long night to catch the first light of day, will enjoy the experiencing of camping here. 

How to get there: Take a taxi from Exit B University Station to Ma Liu Shui Ferry Pier or a bus 94 from Sai Kung to Wong Shek Pier for a sampan ride across to reach Grass Island. 

Distance: approx. 1-2 hours

Difficulty: Easy

For Hong Kong’s highest peak: Tai Mo Shan, New Territories

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes gafencu tai mo shan
(Photo: Johnlsl via flickr)

Standing at a mighty 957 metres above sea level, Tai Mo Shan is Hong Kong’s tallest mountain, making it one of the most popular hills to trek among avid hikers. Although many visitors travel here to chase the sunset, its 3am pre-dawn hike up also makes for a trip well worth the climb if you’re up for early start. 

How to get there: Take bus 51 at Tsuen Wan West MTR Station and get off at the country park. Walk up to reach the radar station and continue along the trail until you reach the top.

Duration: appox. 6hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Best for beach stay: Shek O Beach, Sai Kung

Catch the most beautiful sunrise on these Hong Kong hikes gafencu shek o beach

Shek O is no stranger to the city’s eager beach lovers, a hot spot for swimming, surfing and barbecuing. But just before the beach gets overtaken by crowds during the day, this long strip of shoreline actually serves as calming spot to watch the night transform into a beautiful gradient sky just above the South China Sea coastline. 

How to get there: Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan Station Exit A3  and hop onto a the red minibus number 9 to Big Wave Bay. Drop off at the U-turn at the junction of Shek O Road and walk for about 10 minutes to Big Wave Bay Village and beach. Afterwards, you can make your way along the Dragon’s Back trail for a moderately easy hike back Shau Kei Wan, as the trail is not recommended to trek in the dark.

Duration: 30 mins (without hike); 4 hours

Difficulty: Easy (without hike) to Moderate (with hike)