[Closed] Trail Running/ Hillwalking All Round Shoe Advice

Watching with interest.

I have a pair of the original Inov8 GTX boot which I did walk/run a lot in when I got them. They are a boot but really just a pair of fell shoes with a bit of ankle support.

Ii wouldn't go down the ON route either, they're nice shoes but the soles are slippy on wet rocks.

Inov8 ? they always look up for the job your after, and on my trails I see quite a few of the more slimmed down running shoes..

I like the Salomon appearance but they have a very high arch so I can't usually wear them.

I prefer to hillwalk in my trail running shoes if it's practical, ie if the weathers looking okay, and I'm gonna be on an actual path, ie the more popular munros.

Shitey weather and bog bashes, it's the boots.

I wear Asics, cos I know my fit and can get them cheap at sportshoes.com or Asics outlet.

I still use old Inov8 Terroc (buy them on ebay when they come up), also have the newer Inov8 boot Roclite 325 which I'm liking very much and give a bit of ankle protection. I have the non goretex, but thinking of trying the goretex ones (GTX). Also, I've found a half size bigger works well for me where Inov8 are concerned (I use custom moulded footbeds tho). Haven't tried other brands tbh so can't give any real comparison experience.
Only Scarpa for me where proper boots are concerned

Should point out that I only use them when I know the going is mostly good, otherwise use my Scarpa Marmolada Trek which you wouldn't want to go running in as they are definitely boots.

I have altra lone peak 4 for trail running and use the waterproof version for walking

We do pretty much all our hill walking in either trail shoes or approach shoes. Only get walking boots out if we need to use crampons (which is pretty rare these days). I like Salomon trail shoes, fit my feet well and fine for all round mountain walking duties in the UK/Alps. I don't always bother with GTX lining, just wear wool socks if it's wet and accept I'll get damp feet at some point.

I'd go merrells every time

Hi, looking to buy a hill/ mountain walking shoe/ boot I can also run in?

You want a pair of fell / trail running shoes. Running in boots or walking shoes is asking for trouble. And goretex lining is a waste of time, it just holds the water in once they get wet.

Echo the above, get some inov8 or other fell shoes and stick some seal skin socks on if it’s wet.

Inov-8 are good if they fit your feet, quite lightly built, but grippy and nimble. The mids are basically a trail shoe with higher cuffs. The new Graphene sole works well too. Salomon rubber ime, is horrible on wet rock. The one downside with shoes for walking is that you spend half your life removing bits of gravel from them. Mids are better at keeping it out, though you could use a dust gaiter-type thing.

If they fit your feet, La Sportive Mutants are absolutely brilliant. They're a sort of half-way house between a shoe and a mid, with a sort of semi built-in gaiter. Enough cushioning for hard ground, enough toothiness for soft stuff and soft enough rubber for wet and dry rock. They seem more durable than inov-8s as well.

These things: https://www.lasportiva.com/en/mutant?options=14402

They're not the prettiest shoes out there, but honestly, who looks at their feet when they're running / walking? I'd also echo what others have said about avoiding Gore-Tex for running anyway.

Salomon rubber ime, is horrible on wet rock.

They vary a lot by compound and tread pattern, some are awful others are excellent* on wet rock.

*well, as good as anything else anyway.

I prefer to hillwalk in my trail running shoes if it’s practical, ie if the weathers looking okay, and I’m gonna be on an actual path, ie the more popular munros.

Shitey weather and bog bashes, it’s the boots.

This.
I have Adidas Terrex gtx shoes and Salomon x-alp mid. Much lighter than anything I've used for three decades before. Much, much better.

Personally a shoe for running in and walking in doesn’t work

Salomon XUltra GTX for walking and Inov8 Roclites for running.

Hoka Tor Ultra Hi - my choice of outdoor footwear. I've tried most of the others which don't come close particularly for doing ultra-distances. Slightly lighter are Speedgoat Mid.

They vary a lot by compound and tread pattern, some are awful others are excellent* on wet rock.

*well, as good as anything else anyway.

Well, I've used a load of them and stuff like Speedcross, even the latest ones with the supposedly grippier rubber, are a bit rubbish compared with La Sportiva or inov-8 or anything with Vibram Megagrip. Maybe their SLab stuff is better? To be fair, a mate of mine of completed the Spine Race wearing Speedcross and thought they were fine until he tried something else.

All a bit academic as the OP wrote them off as 'too ugly'.

Hoka Tor Ultra Hi – my choice of outdoor footwear. I’ve tried most of the others which don’t come close particularly for doing ultra-distances. Slightly lighter are Speedgoat Mid.

I found full cushion Hokas off road a bit like a self-righting lifeboat. Zero ground feel, but a lot of cushioning. I get why people like them, but they are a bit Marmite.

If weight and cushioning aren't priorities, maybe look at a pair of Inov-8 Flyroc 310. Fantastic in mud.

For rubber grip I find 5.10 trail shoes are pretty much unbeatable, but they don't last that well as the rubber is quite soft. The Camp Four has loads of grip, used a pair last year in the Alps, even OK-ish on glaciers sans crampons.