Hiking is a sport that requires you to be on your feet for hours at a time in all different types of terrain. That is why it is extremely important to have a good pair of hiking shoes or boots. Good footwear helps to keep the entire body balanced and aligned. If there is even a slight problem with your footwear it can have a negative impact on various parts of your body, such as your ankles, knees, and back. When choosing what footwear is right for you, you must first determine what kind of hiking you are going to be doing (for example, backpacking vs. day hikes). REI breaks down hiking boots into four categories:
- Light hiking shoes– low cut, light weight shoes that are perfect for day hikes. They are also becoming popular among light-traveling backpackers who like the lightness of the shoe.
- Hiking boots– mid or high-cut boots that are good for day hikes and brief backpacking trips. They are moderately light-weight but still offer the ankle support that a lot of hikers want. However, they are not made for hiking with a heavy pack.
- Backpacking boots– medium weight boots designed for long trips with heavy loads. They are good for both on and off-trail hiking.
- Mountaineering boots– These boots are heavier than the others and have a stiff midsole. They are durable and supportive. Perfect for more advanced, long distance hikes.
Finding the right footwear is something that may require some time and research. I would also recommend going to an outdoors sporting store to purchase footwear rather than buying them online because the most important thing is that the footwear fits perfectly which it is often difficult to find without trying the shoes on first. Don’t’ be discouraged if the first pair you try on isn’t the right one. Often times you will try on numerous pairs of boots and shoes before finding the one that suits you best. When you try on the shoes make sure to bring a pair of hiking socks to wear while testing out each shoe. The last thing you want to do is find the perfect shoe only to bring them home and realize that they don’t fit correctly with your socks.
The perfect shoe should fit three criteria: length, width, and volume. A shoe with the right length should have enough room to wiggle your toes. Next is the width. Your shoes should not be so wide that your foot can move from side to side, but it should not be so tight that you feel like your foot is being compressed. When it comes to volume you want to make sure that your entire foot fits inside the shoe comfortable.
Everyone’s shoe needs are different, but there are hundreds of varieties of good footwear out there to try. Remember that good hiking shoes are an investment, so take your time, shop around, and soon enough you will have your Cinderella moment.
Young Hiker's Guide 
Mountaineering boots are great for glacier travel, good for snow, not not useful for much else. A lot of people rent ill-fitting ones and turn back early.
Personally, I’m part of a growing number of people who refuse to wear boots except when hiking across substantial amounts of snow. They’re just too heavy; a pound on your feet feels like five or more on your back. But it’s very personal, as they say, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”