Hiking Boots vs Trail Shoes, Settled on Weight and Ankle Support

The two questions that decide it

The weight difference, honestly stated

Merrell publishes 1 lb 1.45 oz per shoe for the Moab 3 Mid Waterproof and 12.69 oz per shoe for the Moab Speed 2. That is about 4.8 oz per foot, or a little under 10 oz for the pair.

The old rule of thumb is that a pound on your feet costs about as much energy as five on your back. Treat that as a rough heuristic rather than a measured constant, but the direction is right: weight at the end of a swinging limb costs more than weight carried on your torso. Ten ounces across a pair is not nothing on a long day, and it is also not the difference between finishing and not.

The ankle support argument, examined

The claim that mid boots prevent ankle injuries is far less settled than the marketing suggests. A boot collar does limit range of motion at the extremes, and on scree, boulder fields and off-camber ground under a heavy pack that is genuinely useful. On a maintained trail with a daypack, the evidence that it prevents sprains is weak.

What is not disputed is what the collar does do reliably: it keeps grit, scree, snow and trail debris out of the shoe. Anyone who has stopped four times in an hour to empty a low shoe knows the value of that, and it is why gaiters exist for the trail-shoe crowd.

We are not going to publish injury guidance, because we are not qualified to. What we can say is that a boot that fits badly is worse for your feet than a shoe that fits well, and fit is free — the method is in how to break in hiking boots.

Waterproof membranes, and when they hurt

A membrane keeps water out and also keeps it in. On a wet day in cold weather that trade is clearly worth it. In summer heat, or on a trail with repeated stream crossings, a membrane turns a shoe into a bucket: once water comes over the top it cannot drain, and a wet membrane boot takes a day or more to dry.

The non-waterproof version of the same shoe soaks instantly and dries in an hour of walking, which for many summer trips is the better arrangement. Merrell publishes both a waterproof Moab 3 Mid with an M Select DRY membrane and a non-waterproof Moab Speed 2, which is exactly the choice being described. The other end of the same argument — keeping the shell working — is in how to wash and reproof a rain jacket, and drying either at camp is in how to dry clothes and boots at camp.

What to buy first

For somebody outfitting for camping rather than for hiking specifically, a mid-cut three-season boot is the more useful single purchase. It covers campsite chores in wet grass, cold mornings, day walks and the occasional rough trail, and it keeps debris out. A Moab 3 Mid Waterproof or a Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid are both squarely in that category.

Add trail shoes second, once you know you walk enough to care about ten ounces. The reverse order works too if all your walking is summer day-hiking. What does not work is buying a stiff, heavy mountaineering boot for three-mile trails, which is the classic over-buy in this category — discussed in is expensive camping gear worth it.

Whichever you choose, the socks matter more

Sock fiber and height cause more foot misery than the boot-versus-shoe decision does. Cotton holds moisture against skin and blisters follow; wool or engineered synthetic keeps skin drier. And sock height must exceed the collar height, or the collar rubs bare skin all day.

A midweight merino micro crew suits a low shoe; a full-cushion crew is the right pairing for a mid boot. The full comparison is in best hiking socks, and it is the cheapest upgrade in this entire category.