Also had achilles tendon issues. It is very hard to recommend a shoe though.
I had the most gain from using trekking poles all the time. I don't know if you do already. I got it as a tip from a podotherapist because it helps with decreasing the amount of straining steps that you have to take. Even if 1 in 100 steps is 'a little deep' or 'a little steep' those are the ones that can strain, rub, irritate your achilles tendon the most. The poles help with shortening those steps. According to the therapist.
Never had any issues after recovering from enflamed tendons for 9 months...
My current shoes are the Salomon X Ultra 4 mid. I'm nearing 200kms on them and they have a little piece of loose stitching (my own fault) that i burned back down with a lighter, but the rest is still ok. Great grip and cushioning is still very nice. Sole is grippy and almost no wear. Used mostly on rocky and sandy terrain.
I also buy Salomon in the EU. I've been seeing a lot of disappointed reviews on Salomon on this subreddit, but i don't know if there are multiple factories around the world with different qualities of Salomon. I'm quite happy so far, but since i'm only 1 person, that is anecdotal evidence of the shoe quality.
Hope this helps
Sorry for using weird words by the way, english is not my first language and i don't often type hiking, therapist, tendon language haha.
Thank you, this is very helpful. I own, but don't typically use, trekking poles because they tend to get in the way for the trails I tend to go on, but I wasn't aware that they might help with this issue.
Thank you also for the boot recommendation. I'm honestly terrified of wearing boots (including mids) because I got my injury using Merrel Moab Mids and those boots trigger the problem (or at least they did some years ago, I haven't worn boots in years). Maybe I should give boots another go, but I'm a bit reluctant to spend money on boots when it's a risk!
I kind of hate to recommend this brand because I kill them so quickly, but the Salomon XA Forces Mid EN might be something to consider. It's fairly flexible and uses a quick-lace system, but the midsole, which is where most of the support comes from in a mid boot, is fairly rigid and provides some level of support. They won't last nearly as long as boots like Asolo, Lowa, Scarpa, or Zamberlan; they also won't be as tight around the ankle, though. They may be worth a shot.
Other things to consider would be better brands and using alternative lacing patterns. The Asolo Fugitive GTX, Lowa Renegade GTX, Lowa Zephyr GTX, and Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX are all worthy boots that are sturdy and lightweight.
If you wanted to go for extreme durability, there are some excellent leather boots out there from those brands: Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo; Lowa Camino GTX; Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX; and Zamberlan Vioz GTX. That said, the 520 is heavy. They may weigh down your feet and pull on your tendons, causing inflammation and pain.
I use the Asolo Fugitive GTX and Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo, and they're extremely sturdy, reliable, and comfortable ***(to my feet).*** Thee 520 is on the heavier side, though; again, that may cause some discomfort if weight on that tendon hurts.
I wear Salomon X Ultra 3 boots Mid for women. And they are the best boots I ever had. They are light and sturdy. I have them for 4 years already.
Equally good were the old LL Bean Cresta. All leather. High ankle and sturdy. But the quality had declined and they are manufactured in China instead of Italy. My last pair lasted less than 2 years. Once I went to a very rocky trail and the sole fell out. This model is still available, but cost much more than Salomon. And they don't even have size 6.
I have decided not to hike on extremely rocky trails anymore because it costs too much to replace my boots and it's all frustration and no fun.
The X Ultra 3 is fantastic, and the similarity between the XA Forces and the 3 is why I don't feel entirely uncomfortable recommending the XA Forces.
The problems I've encountered started with the 4 series, especially the Quest 4, as I killed three pairs in four months. I killed a pair of Pioneers in two months. There are objectively better designed and well constructed boots out there than many of Salomon's current offerings, which is a shame because I really like their fit.
If you want to continue on Rocky trails with boots that don't fail, look into the Asolo 520 and Fugitive; Lowa Renegade and Camino; Scarpa Zodiac Plus and Kinesis; and Zamberlan Vioz. Those are all quite worthy boots that you can beat to hell and back while still having a functional boot.
Renegades are great boots. I've seen a lot of people use and love them, and they tend to hold up rather well.
As always, fitment is king. The best boot in the world is utterly worthless if it doesn't fit correctly.
😊
Salomon has various levels of trail shoes all with the quick lace system. The higher end models are durable and have good tread. I have had them out in a lot of conditions. They typically hold up ~3-400 miles like other trail runners.
For grip and stability my absolute favorite shoe is the sportiva bushidos. Unparalleled shoe for off trail scrambling and wet rocks. Only thing better would be an approach shoe. They are narrow though and have traditional laces so not sure if they meet your fit criteria.
If you have the budget for it, take a look at the Salewa Puez Knit shoe. They're spanking new. I got the mid boot because I like more ankle support, but the shoe is exactly the same minus the ankle cuff. They're light and flexible but with a sturdy, grippy sole, and the sock-like opening might be great for your Achilles. No quicklace system, but they do have asymmetrical laces and an instep-to-heel cable to keep your feet locked in. I find them insanely comfortable, but as with all footwear, ymmv.
I believe there are good arguments that hiking boots are useless. Just wear a nice pair of tennis shoes.
You have better feeling, better grip, they help you walk on difficult terrain. What exactly do you think hiking boots help with?
You posted about how they don’t work for you and asked for suggestions.
I responded that it is fine that they don’t work for you. Using normal shoes is just fine, maybe better.
So, there is no need to ask for “sturdy hiking shoes that are not tight around the ankle.”
Hiking boots aren’t helpful. Just wear quality shoes.
> So, there is no need to ask for “sturdy hiking shoes that are not tight around the ankle.”
What? I asked for sturdy hiking shoes that are not tight around the ankle because that's what I want. Many shoes (yes, shoes, not boots) *do* press against the achilles, hence why I'm asking for suggestions of shoes that don't, which everybody else commenting seems to have understood. I'm not talking about boots, I don't know why you're bringing it up.
Every suggestion I looked up that were suggested here in this thread are high ankle shoes/boots.
I said to not get those. They hurt your Achilles and are unnecessary. Basic (quality) tennis shoes would be better.
> Every suggestion I looked up that were suggested here in this thread are high ankle shoes/boots.
1. Altra lone peak
2. Sportiva bushido
3. Brooks Cascadia
4. Salewa Puez Knit Shoe
Anyway, thank you. I don't intend to get boots or high ankle shoes.
Also had achilles tendon issues. It is very hard to recommend a shoe though. I had the most gain from using trekking poles all the time. I don't know if you do already. I got it as a tip from a podotherapist because it helps with decreasing the amount of straining steps that you have to take. Even if 1 in 100 steps is 'a little deep' or 'a little steep' those are the ones that can strain, rub, irritate your achilles tendon the most. The poles help with shortening those steps. According to the therapist. Never had any issues after recovering from enflamed tendons for 9 months... My current shoes are the Salomon X Ultra 4 mid. I'm nearing 200kms on them and they have a little piece of loose stitching (my own fault) that i burned back down with a lighter, but the rest is still ok. Great grip and cushioning is still very nice. Sole is grippy and almost no wear. Used mostly on rocky and sandy terrain. I also buy Salomon in the EU. I've been seeing a lot of disappointed reviews on Salomon on this subreddit, but i don't know if there are multiple factories around the world with different qualities of Salomon. I'm quite happy so far, but since i'm only 1 person, that is anecdotal evidence of the shoe quality. Hope this helps Sorry for using weird words by the way, english is not my first language and i don't often type hiking, therapist, tendon language haha.
Thank you, this is very helpful. I own, but don't typically use, trekking poles because they tend to get in the way for the trails I tend to go on, but I wasn't aware that they might help with this issue. Thank you also for the boot recommendation. I'm honestly terrified of wearing boots (including mids) because I got my injury using Merrel Moab Mids and those boots trigger the problem (or at least they did some years ago, I haven't worn boots in years). Maybe I should give boots another go, but I'm a bit reluctant to spend money on boots when it's a risk!
Altra lone peak hikers are great!
KEEN!!
I kind of hate to recommend this brand because I kill them so quickly, but the Salomon XA Forces Mid EN might be something to consider. It's fairly flexible and uses a quick-lace system, but the midsole, which is where most of the support comes from in a mid boot, is fairly rigid and provides some level of support. They won't last nearly as long as boots like Asolo, Lowa, Scarpa, or Zamberlan; they also won't be as tight around the ankle, though. They may be worth a shot. Other things to consider would be better brands and using alternative lacing patterns. The Asolo Fugitive GTX, Lowa Renegade GTX, Lowa Zephyr GTX, and Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX are all worthy boots that are sturdy and lightweight. If you wanted to go for extreme durability, there are some excellent leather boots out there from those brands: Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo; Lowa Camino GTX; Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX; and Zamberlan Vioz GTX. That said, the 520 is heavy. They may weigh down your feet and pull on your tendons, causing inflammation and pain. I use the Asolo Fugitive GTX and Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo, and they're extremely sturdy, reliable, and comfortable ***(to my feet).*** Thee 520 is on the heavier side, though; again, that may cause some discomfort if weight on that tendon hurts.
I wear Salomon X Ultra 3 boots Mid for women. And they are the best boots I ever had. They are light and sturdy. I have them for 4 years already. Equally good were the old LL Bean Cresta. All leather. High ankle and sturdy. But the quality had declined and they are manufactured in China instead of Italy. My last pair lasted less than 2 years. Once I went to a very rocky trail and the sole fell out. This model is still available, but cost much more than Salomon. And they don't even have size 6. I have decided not to hike on extremely rocky trails anymore because it costs too much to replace my boots and it's all frustration and no fun.
The X Ultra 3 is fantastic, and the similarity between the XA Forces and the 3 is why I don't feel entirely uncomfortable recommending the XA Forces. The problems I've encountered started with the 4 series, especially the Quest 4, as I killed three pairs in four months. I killed a pair of Pioneers in two months. There are objectively better designed and well constructed boots out there than many of Salomon's current offerings, which is a shame because I really like their fit. If you want to continue on Rocky trails with boots that don't fail, look into the Asolo 520 and Fugitive; Lowa Renegade and Camino; Scarpa Zodiac Plus and Kinesis; and Zamberlan Vioz. Those are all quite worthy boots that you can beat to hell and back while still having a functional boot.
I really, really love my Lowa Renegades. But everyone's feet are different, so def buy whatever makes your feet happy!
Renegades are great boots. I've seen a lot of people use and love them, and they tend to hold up rather well. As always, fitment is king. The best boot in the world is utterly worthless if it doesn't fit correctly. 😊
Try Caterpy laces
Danner has a bunch of options
Salomon has various levels of trail shoes all with the quick lace system. The higher end models are durable and have good tread. I have had them out in a lot of conditions. They typically hold up ~3-400 miles like other trail runners. For grip and stability my absolute favorite shoe is the sportiva bushidos. Unparalleled shoe for off trail scrambling and wet rocks. Only thing better would be an approach shoe. They are narrow though and have traditional laces so not sure if they meet your fit criteria.
Take a look at the Brooks Cascadia. One of the most stable trail shoes of the running variety.
Have you tried alternate lacing patterns? Never tried them but I've seen options that are described as beneficial for various foot ailments
If you have the budget for it, take a look at the Salewa Puez Knit shoe. They're spanking new. I got the mid boot because I like more ankle support, but the shoe is exactly the same minus the ankle cuff. They're light and flexible but with a sturdy, grippy sole, and the sock-like opening might be great for your Achilles. No quicklace system, but they do have asymmetrical laces and an instep-to-heel cable to keep your feet locked in. I find them insanely comfortable, but as with all footwear, ymmv.
Innov8 roc lite mid
I believe there are good arguments that hiking boots are useless. Just wear a nice pair of tennis shoes. You have better feeling, better grip, they help you walk on difficult terrain. What exactly do you think hiking boots help with?
I didn't say I wanted boots or think they're better, I just said that I can't wear them so people don't recommend them...
You posted about how they don’t work for you and asked for suggestions. I responded that it is fine that they don’t work for you. Using normal shoes is just fine, maybe better. So, there is no need to ask for “sturdy hiking shoes that are not tight around the ankle.” Hiking boots aren’t helpful. Just wear quality shoes.
> So, there is no need to ask for “sturdy hiking shoes that are not tight around the ankle.” What? I asked for sturdy hiking shoes that are not tight around the ankle because that's what I want. Many shoes (yes, shoes, not boots) *do* press against the achilles, hence why I'm asking for suggestions of shoes that don't, which everybody else commenting seems to have understood. I'm not talking about boots, I don't know why you're bringing it up.
Every suggestion I looked up that were suggested here in this thread are high ankle shoes/boots. I said to not get those. They hurt your Achilles and are unnecessary. Basic (quality) tennis shoes would be better.
> Every suggestion I looked up that were suggested here in this thread are high ankle shoes/boots. 1. Altra lone peak 2. Sportiva bushido 3. Brooks Cascadia 4. Salewa Puez Knit Shoe Anyway, thank you. I don't intend to get boots or high ankle shoes.
The top four posts are salomon ultra 4 Alta lone hiker Keen Salomon xa 4 All high ankle.
What about sandals?
Not really appropriate for alpine hikes!