Hiking Shoes: Hi-Tec vc Gore Tex?

What%26#039;s the difference(s) between %26#039;Hi-Tec%26#039; and %26#039;Gore Tex%26#039; hiking shoes? Which is better? Why the big price difference? I need it for hiking when the humidity is very high (~90%). Can I use my waterproof hiking boots as %26#039;wet%26#039; shoes for water activities? By the way, what are %26#039;wet%26#039; shoes exactly? Can I wear sandals instead of my hiking boots for water activities when it was mentioned that %26#039;wet%26#039; shoes must be able to provide full protection to the feet?

Hiking Shoes: Hi-Tec vc Gore Tex?
As for the wet shoes portion of your question, no sandals aren%26#039;t considered wet shoes. You need something that has a full grip on the bottom and can be submerged in water without damaging the shoe.





Look up Salomon Sandals to get an idea.





Waterproof hiking boots will keep your feet dry from puddles and rain but not when submerged in water.
Reply:I have hi-tec shoes because i couldn%26#039;t afford good goretex and the boots work just fine. DONT WEAR SANDALS! I don%26#039;t care if you think they%26#039;re comfortable it%26#039;ll ruin your feet if you are walking in water. You don%26#039;t want your feet to keep getting wet it can lead to infections and possibly gangrene. I know it%26#039;s hard to wear boots when hiking in hot weather but it%26#039;ll be good for your feet. My boots were 40 bucks and are waterproof as well. Also, get some hiking socks, preferrably wear liners which are thin socks to help rubbing aganist your feet and helps blisters, then get thicker hiking socks on the outside - it%26#039;ll be hot but worth it and comfortable. Go to a store like REI where the people who work there are incredibly nice and helpful.
Reply:Hi-Tec is a brand name of footwear. Gore-Tex is a fabric designed to allow moisture out, but not in (breathable- waterproof).





Hiking BOOTS: (good boots)


Designed to give ankle support by having a higher top that laces. The soles are rigid and thick. This allows you to carry loads on your back while not compromising your feet comfort. Designed to allow the wearer to walk over uneven surfaces without %26quot;feeling%26quot; every rock and root. Soles usually have metal or synthetic shanks (flat pieces horizontal to your foot) or a molded sole distributing the sharp impact of a surface (i.e. rock) across your entire foot. Can be waterproof if it has a fabric like Gore-Tex built in.





Hiking SHOES: Anywhere from leather to synthetic materials. More rigid than %26quot;tennis shoes%26quot; but lower cut and not typically designed to carry weight (softer soles). Can be waterproof if it has a fabric like Gore-Tex built in.





Water Shoes: Designed to be used in and out of the water and can dry quickly. Non leather. Very breathable and usually not designed for moderate activity out of the water. These are more designed for canoeing, swimming, fishing, etc. You will get them wet and will walk on rocks and such, but will not be wearing them on long hikes.











Waterproof shoes will generally also keep moisture in. Some people can have Gore-Tex boots on and their feet will never get damp. Others, who sweat a lot, will stay damp causing them to be prone to blisters. Unless I know I am going to be in very wet conditions I wear boots that are very breathable. Even if they get wet they will dry fast on the trail with good merino wool (or similar) socks.





Water sports I wear a show that is designed to get wet and has a neoprene layer that keeps rocks out of my shoe. Saloman does make some great footwear. Also check out Teva.





Advise-


Have a professional help you get fitted for boots. VERY VERY important to have a good fit. Tight in the heel, wiggle room in the toe box, and small enough that you toes do not slide forward when going downhill. You invariable will lose a toenail because it will go black and fall off if you have lots of downhills. Seen it happen.





You get what you pay for.





Waterproof not always the best and for good boots are a lot more expensive.








Try on some boots at a good outdoor store with attendants that know what they are talking about. Then you might look online for the shoes you want; you can save a lot of buck$.





What you need depends on what your activity. Hi-Tec is a pretty good company that makes fair products. Not bad for what you pay for. Asolo, Vasque, and Merrell are made really well and I have never had problems with any of them.





Hope this helps!



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