What are hiking shoes for?
Hiking shoes improve the hiking experience, making it safer and more comfortable. Specifically, they are suitable for daily use, for medium difficulty routes and with light loads.
Suitable for less complex natural terrain, such as dirt or wooded paths. They offer good protection against irregularities in the ground, such as roots and small stones, thanks to resistant and non-slip soles. Ideal for mountain walks or trekking on easily passable paths, these shoes are designed for outdoor activities that do not require specific equipment for extreme terrain.
How to choose hiking shoes?
When choosing your hiking shoes make sure they have the following features:
Comfort and Fit : Materials must be breathable and shock-absorbing to ensure a comfortable fit during long walks.
Resistance : the quality of materials, such as leather and synthetic fibres, must ensure durability and resistance to wear.
Traction and Stability : High-grip rubber outsoles provide excellent traction on wet and slippery surfaces, while the tread design ensures stability.
Waterproof : Many models feature waterproof technologies like GTX to keep your feet dry even in the most adverse conditions.
Ankle Support : Some models offer extra ankle support, ideal for rough terrain.
In all AKU product sheets you can also find an information section on the traceability of each individual material used to produce the footwear.
What shoes should you wear for walking in the mountains?
To choose footwear for walking in the mountains at medium altitudes you can consult the men's hiking and women's hiking collections. Our icon AKU Slope is a versatile shoe for any type of use, suitable for non-difficult routes and with light loads. It includes different versions for different needs.
AKU Hiking Shoes
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Which hiking shoes should I choose: high, low or mid?
The choice between high, low or mid-cut hiking shoes depends mainly on the type of terrain, the duration of the hike and the level of support you are looking for.
Low hiking shoes : lightweight and flexible, perfect for short hikes on beaten terrain such as trails or mule tracks or for summer walks. They allow greater freedom of movement and breathability but offer less support.
If you already have experience on the trails and are looking for a technical but low-cut shoe, AKU offers the Link GTX model
Mid hiking shoes : These offer more support than low-tops and are less bulky and heavy than high-tops. Great for medium-difficulty day hikes and mixed terrain.
They are the right compromise between a low shoe for light hiking and a traditional boot.
AKU offers models in both versions as Flyrock and Flyrock mid .
High hiking shoes : ideal for technical and rough trails, mountain excursions and trekking.
To choose the right shoe, also consider the season, the weight of the load and your experience on the trails.
Here are some models dedicated to particular seasons or outdoor environments: discover winter shoes or shoes for the desert . If you have to face humid environments, remember to check that the pair is equipped with a Gore Tex membrane.
Does AKU also offer hiking shoes that use sustainable materials?
AKU is committed to being a responsible and sustainable brand. The collection always offers models that are “Designed to reduce” like the Omnia.
For more information, visit the responsibility page or download the Responsibility Report.
The AKU Brand
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History
AKU is an Italian company born in Montebelluna, in the heart of the Italian sports footwear district.
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Responsible action
AKU is committed to multiple activities to reduce its environmental impact and to raise awareness among people of a better approach towards the mountains and the environment.
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Technologies
All AKU hiking shoe models feature the best technologies. In all product pages you will find the dedicated section.
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Tagebuch
All the news from the AKU world collected in a blog to keep you updated on AKU and community activities.
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Video
On this page we collect all the videos where you can see the hiking shoes in action and how AKU lives the outdoors.
How long can a hiking shoe last?
AKU footwear uses the best materials and technologies and the brand has a long history of manufacturing outdoor footwear. Consider that our collection offers different models that have different characteristics.
A shoe made of synthetic materials will be more comfortable than a leather one and will adapt to your fit quickly, but will have a shorter overall lifespan.
Also consider the environmental impact of your purchase choice. Read here if you want to learn more about this topic: Impacto .
Resoling : Only some boots can be resoled. If you want your mountain boot to have a long life, even after the sole has worn out, contact us to find out which boots can be resoled and how.
Explore nature with AKU footwear
