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Home / Travel Gear

Best Minimalist Hiking Shoes

Travel Gear Last Updated · Aug 26th, 2022 · Layer Culture

Are you in the market for a pair of minimalist hiking shoes?

minimalist hiking shoes
Find the perfect pair of hiking shoes

Traveling in a good pair of shoes is never easy – you often need to look extensively to find what you are looking for.


Quick Answer: Best Minimalist Hiking Shoes

  • Made With Tough Rubber Soles – For The Athletically-Minded
  • 5 Toe Design Style – Protect Your Feet In Style
  • Let Your Feet Breathe – Breathable Polyester Fabric
  • Modern And Stylish Design – Offers Arch Support
  • Travel Buyers Guide – Minimalist Hiking Shoes

The same is true of minimalist hiking shoes. If you want to find quality hiking shoes, where should you begin that particular search?

If you’ve just discovered minimalist shoes the main issue you’ll have when looking for the minimalist style is knowing where to start.

Table of Contents

  • Men’s Minimalist Shoes
    • Choosing Your Minimalist Hiking Shoes
  • Best Minimalist Hiking Shoes
    • Vasque Breeze AT Low GTX Hiking Shoes
    • Oranginer Men’s Barefoot Shoes
    • Teva Men’s Arrowood 2 Knit Sneaker
    • Merrell Men’s Vapor Glove 2 Trail Shoe
    • Adidas Terrex Two Parley
    • Troadlop Mens Quick Dry Hiking Shoes
    • Vibram Men’s KSO EVO Cross Training Shoe
    • Vivobarefoot Men’s Stealth 2 Walk Shoe
    • New Balance Men’s MT10V1 Minimus
    • Merrell Men’s Trail Glove 4 Runner
    • Xero Shoes Xcursion Minimalist Hiking Boot
    • HOKA ATR 5 Trail-Running Shoes
    • Vivobarefoot Tracker FG M Leather Shoe
    • New Balance Minimus 10 V1 Trail Running Shoe
    • SalomonXA Elevate Trail-Running Shoes
  • Minimalist Hiking Shoes: Conclusion
    • Need More Packing Inspiration?

Men’s Minimalist Shoes

A big part of the challenge when choosing often stems from not knowing what constitutes minimalist or not.

Meaning that they’re minimalist in terms of their size and bulk, but not in terms of their actual use when you’re out hiking!

Choosing Your Minimalist Hiking Shoes

If you want to make sure that you buy hiking shoes that feel good to put on, consider some of the following points:

Make sure you are happy with the material: Hiking boots and shoes come in various styles, so make sure you are happy with the material used – it’s a long journey!

Check out the kind of structure of the shoe: Do you have enough support for the arches of your feet? What about your general ability to move your toes around?

hiking shoes climbing rock
Climbing a rock in Colombia

When you put the shoes on: Do they feel like you could walk in them for a while? Always read into the kind of support that they give to the overall structure of your feet: that’s vital.

Never take a risk: When it comes to buying minimalist hiking shoes be sure you go with a trusted brand that has been tried and tested by experienced walkers and hikers.

How do they strap up or lace-up? – Is it a style that you like wearing? Would you feel comfortable changing them when you are in tough weather?

If you feel like they lack durability or depth then you should definitely look to get another pair.

So, with the above in mind, let’s take a look at some professional suggestions regarding what kind of hiking shoes you should be buying.

Best Minimalist Hiking Shoes

When you are next on the market for a pair of quality hiking shoes, where do you start?

Vasque Breeze AT Low GTX Hiking Shoes

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Great for high-intensity hiking
  • Protects the foot in full
  • Retains your balance when running

Check Price via REI

Make sure that you can enjoy the correct kind of running experience with these GTX hiking shoes which are designed to give you supreme comfort and running consistency. Retain balance, avoid tripping, and give yourself shoes that make it easy for handling the physical challenge that hiking can bring to the table.


Oranginer Men’s Barefoot Shoes

minimalist hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Offers arch support
  • Great for training
  • Barefoot inspired design

Check Price via Amazon

Perfect for those who want to have shoes that don’t really feel like shoes. These barefoot shoes are perfect for giving your feet the chance to spread out exactly as they would if you were not wearing shoes, all the while offering the elemental protection needed when embarking on a hike.


Teva Men’s Arrowood 2 Knit Sneaker

minimalist hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Made from durable fabric
  • Great foot protection
  • Modern, stylish design

Check Price via Amazon

Great for hikes as much as for wearing out when you are going for something to eat, these cool little shoes should be good for any kind of casual event. They look good, feel good around the feet, and offer your feet the kind of protection and safety that they need.


Merrell Men’s Vapor Glove 2 Trail Shoe

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Full mesh shoe
  • 100% Breathable
  • Rubber sole

Check Price via Amazon

Keep your feet feeling good with this 100% Mesh pair of shoes. They are made to give you all the help that you need to support your feet, with the shaft offering you plenty of room to get your feet in and out of the shoe without any discomfort.


Adidas Terrex Two Parley

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Great for daily trips
  • Compatible for trail running
  • Designed to last long-term

Check Price via REI

When it comes to enjoying a running experience, you have the challenge of finding shoes that can handle the shock and absorption. If you find trail running on other shoes to be too difficult for your feet, then you should look to try out these new and improved Adidas shoes.


Troadlop Mens Quick Dry Hiking Shoes

minimalist style hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Adorable rubber soles
  • Five toe shoe design
  • Breathable polyester fabric upper

Check Price via Amazon

Keep your feet safe but dry on any journey that you go on with the help of these solid drying trail running shoes. A fine choice for various reasons, not least the fact that your feet can breathe and sweat normally without any issues regarding odor or discomfort.


Vibram Men’s KSO EVO Cross Training Shoe

best hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • 5 toe design style
  • Lightly padded tongue area
  • Great for foot protection

Check Price via Amazon

With a durable rubber sole and a high-quality polyester fabric, these shoes go such a long way to protecting your feet. Make sure you have no problems at all in making sure your feet can stay protected from the outdoors, too, with their serrated blade lug design.


Vivobarefoot Men’s Stealth 2 Walk Shoe

hiking shoes for men

Shoe Features:

  • Solid textile/synthetic finish
  • Comfortable rubber sole
  • Offers natural ‘bounce’

Check Price via Amazon

Put these on and your feet will thank you for the choice. They feel good and smooth around the foot, while they make sure that you can walk without any discomfort. They provide the kind of natural support for all major parts of the foot that we need to enjoy walking.


New Balance Men’s MT10V1 Minimus

minimalist hiking shoes for men

Shoe Features:

  • Synthetic, mesh design
  • Rubber shoe sole
  • Made for athletically-minded people

Check Price via Amazon

With these New Balance, your feet will feel so much more protected for the days ahead. A fine choice for various reasons, not least the fact that it should go some way to helping your feet feel good, look good, and also take the pressure off your feet when walking.


Merrell Men’s Trail Glove 4 Runner

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Ideal for outdoors
  • Rubber sole bounces
  • Breathable mesh material

Check Price via Amazon

Whether you are going hiking, running, or strolling, you will enjoy wearing these rubber-soled minimalist hiking shoes. They offer ample foot support so that you can walk for hours without discomfort, while the 3mm insole offers ample room for your feet to get protected without feeling as if they are compressed into the shoe.


Xero Shoes Xcursion Minimalist Hiking Boot

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Protect your feet daily
  • Ideal for long-distance hiking
  • Encases the foot safely

Check Price via Amazon

Avoid wearing minimalist hiking shoes that also let you down when it comes to all-day protection. These minimalist hiking shoes look great and tend to give you the protection you need around key parts of the foot.


HOKA ATR 5 Trail-Running Shoes

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Designed for footwear protection
  • Perfect for trail running
  • Keep your feet protected

Check Price via REI

Nothing is more annoying than coming home from a run to feet that feel painful and damaged. This helps you to avoid that problem easily, giving you trail running shoes that give you the protection that you need whilst retaining a modern style design.


Vivobarefoot Tracker FG M Leather Shoe

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • 100% leather walking shoes
  • Rubber sole for protection
  • Premium, high quality walking companion

Check Price via Amazon

Make sure your feet don’t bear the brunt of the walk with the help of these leather walking shoes. Designed for long-distance walking but also easily worn for a more formal setting, too, these are a great choice of boots when you need something extremely comfortable.


New Balance Minimus 10 V1 Trail Running Shoe

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Comes in various styles
  • Suitable for trail running
  • Minimalistic without reducing protection

Check Price via Amazon

Keep yourself in the right condition physically with shoes that are made for your intended purposes. These New Balance Minimus models make sure that your feet can breathe fully, allowing you to move around with ease and comfort regardless of where your next trip happens to take you to.


SalomonXA Elevate Trail-Running Shoes

hiking shoes

Shoe Features:

  • Bright, easy to spot in darkness
  • Ideal for late-night trails
  • Keeps feet well-protected

Check Price via REI

It can be tough to find shoes that are right for you personally, but these trail running shoes from SalomonXA can make sure your feet always feel properly encased, avoiding any risk of long-term damage or hurt over time. A good choice, without a doubt, maximizing comfort during any trip or trail run.


Minimalist Hiking Shoes: Conclusion

Remember that one of the most challenging parts of your experience comes from buying the right kind of shoes.

Using the guide above, you should find it easier to select a pair that you not only enjoy wearing but get many years from!

📌 Like this article? Pin it…

travel shoes for hiking
minimalist travel shoes

Did this help your search for a pair of minimalist hiking shoes?

Need More Packing Inspiration?

Hopefully, you’ve found the perfect hiking shoes for your next trip.

Feel like you need more travel gear for your trip?

  • Comfy Travel Shoes – Maintain happy feet at all times.
  • Travel Shoe Bags – Keep your shoes well protected.
  • Flat Foot Hiking Shoes – Footwear with arch support.
  • Best Wheeled Backpacks – Designed for short and long trips.
  • Travel Hoodies – Stay warm without a jacket.

Or, maybe you’re even considering buying a gift for a fellow traveler? Check out our best travel gear page for even ideas on what to carry.


“Dear friend! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps me to keep traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”

Filed Under: Travel Gear

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