The Urban Hiker’s Guide to Footwear; Tried, Tested, and True
Let’s face it, the shoe industry can be overwhelming to navigate — so here’s a list of my go-to soles for your next urban hiking adventure.
Preface
Ah, the art of urban hiking — spending the day meandering the city on foot while perusing local artisan shops, the newest coffee spot in town, or exploring the many nooks and crannies of your neighborhood that are often overlooked when driving. Urban hiking is more than just getting your steps in; it’s an intimate and intentional way to connect with where you spend your days.
My love for urban hiking started when I finished my first Camino de Santiago in 2017 and suddenly found myself yearning for those long distance days when I returned home. Though my hometown, San Diego, isn’t the most conducive city for long distance urban hikes, I found ways to get outside and trek about anyways (this included a lot of walking on the side of the road and sometimes, *accidentally* through golf courses and getting scolded by waving golf clubs — blame Apple maps, not me).
My move to Seattle in 2023 only heightened my love for urban hiking because let’s be real, Seattle is an urban hiker’s paradise between the 20-mile Burke-Gilman bike/pedestrian trail, the many trails at the UW Arboretum, the Cheshiahud Loop around Lake Union… The possibilities are endless here, albeit with proper rain attire, ha!
I’ll admit, even after my first 120-mile stretch of the Camino, I don’t think I quite understood what made a “good” shoe, so what I share below has taken years of thinking, refining, and testing. I’ve spent almost the entirety of this year urban hiking across Seattle and becoming familiar with many brands and types of footwear, so I’m excited to share some of my favorites with you! I’ll categorize them into Day-to-day Use, Distance Use, and Mentionable Favorites.
Happy Urban Hiking!
For Day-to-day Use
Brooks Ghost Max 2
The Ghost Max 2s have quickly become one of my favorite pairs of shoes for daily use. They feature a “rocker” technology, so it conforms well to a stepping pattern with just the right amount of spring. I really love the Ghost Max 2s because they have a similar amount of cushion as the HOKA Bondi 8s, but with significantly more support and structure. Imagine you’re walking on a cloud that has some “oomph” to it and can take you where you need to go all day without muscle or joint strain, and that’s the Ghost Max 2 in a nutshell.
I have the “190-Coconut Milk/Grey/Zephyr” colorway, which features a light white/cream body with light pink accents/base and I find that it goes well with the majority of my wardrobe, which makes it a win for me! I have a size 9 and I find that it does fit true to size and is best worn with regular-thickness socks (would not recommend ultra-thick like most Darn Tough socks — though I do love them for other adventures!).
Click here to check out the Brooks Ghost Max 2s!
Blundstones
In hindsight, I truly wish I would have purchased a pair of Blundstones earlier in life. I thought, “Oh, I live in a sunny climate, why would I ever need a pair of Blundies for daily use?” While it’s true that they’re incredible for climates with more weather and terrain than San Diego offers, they would have been excellent for those randomly rainy days or even just with fall outfits when I wanted a warmer, closed-toe shoe.
That being said, I wholeheartedly feel that Blundstones are essential for PNW living, cliche or not. They’re easy to slip on, fine to get wet or dirty (ideal for the 226 days of clouds and rain here in Seattle), and are overall a pretty comfortable wear! I’ve found that they are ideal for 5-8 miles per day. Would I recommend doing a long distance 15-mile stretch in them? Probably not. But are they great for daily use in the wet months? Absolutely, without a doubt.
I own the Blundstone 2116s (the faux leather ones) in a size AU/UK women’s 6 1/2 and I find that they fit perfectly to my feet, which are typically a size 9. I also would recommend a medium-thickness sock for the most comfortable wear, since I’ve found any thicker sock can cause hot spots.
Click here to check out Blundstones!
For Distance Use
Brooks Glycerin StealthFit GTS 21
Drumroll please for the shoe that makes 12 miles feel like 3 miles! I knew from the moment I tried this shoe that I had found a winner — and a massive thanks to the Brooks Trailhead team here in Seattle for uniting us.
The name of the shoe actually says a lot about it, so let’s break it down!
The Brooks “Glycerin” style of shoe refers to the airy softness of the cushioning that is infused with two types of nitrogen for ultimate responsiveness, whether you’re walking or running. “StealthFit” refers to the sock-like fit, as compared to a more structured fit. I really prefer the StealthFit style because it minimizes hot spots around the ankle, it dries faster, and is just a comfier wear overall. Lastly, GTS means “go-to support,” so think of this technology as bowling bumpers or guardrails, but for your shoe. They help with keeping your, “natural movement in a safe range,” to maintain comfort and minimize pain — which can lead to injury, especially when going distances. You can read more about their GTS technology here.
I have a size 9 and I find that it fits true to size. Like the Ghost Max 2, I suggest thinner to medium thickness socks for the comfiest fit. I have put in hundreds of miles on these shoes (including on my most recent Camino de Santiago) and can say with confidence that they’re my overall favorite distance shoe.
Click here to check out the Brooks Glycerin StealthFit GTS 21s!
Teva Universal Trail Sandals
The Universal Trails, AKA my ride-or-dies, have been my go-to daily use and distance sandals for years now. What makes them stand out, you may find yourself asking? Well, I started off my Teva journey with the standard Universal sandals and while I loved their design, they lacked the support needed to be a shoe that I could comfortably wear all day, specifically in the warmer months. The Universal Trails do have a bit more weight to them compared to their lighter Teva counterparts, but they’re a fantastic shoe to easily put in 7-10 miles on, if not more, per day. The straps are quite comfortable and I haven’t had any issues with friction or hot spots.
I will say that I prefer these shoes for urban hiking days around the city and maybe less intense hiking trails. I did take my Universal Trails with me on my most recent Camino de Santiago in September ‘24 as my secondary shoe, and they were absolutely perfect for helping me finish 23-miles days or just as my post-hike shoe to wander around the quaint towns and find dinner. I own these in a size 9 and can confirm that they run true to size for me.
Click here to check out the Teva Universal Trail Sandals!
Other Mentionable Favorites
Columbia Newton Ridge Waterproof Hiking Boots
I remember first purchasing these back when I lived in San Diego and it’s safe to say they’ve taken me on many adventures from the Trans Catalina Trail, hiking in the Cascades in Washington, and even urban hikes while in San Diego… Though, I’m not sure I’d recommend these shoes for asphalt/concrete surfaces. I just didn’t have rain shoes when I lived in San Diego, so these were all I had when I wanted to walk on the rare rainy day.
What I really love about this shoe is that A) it’s the classic hiking shoe with the nostalgic tan body and red laces; you know you’re going on an adventure as soon as lace them up B) its ability to deflect water for optimum enjoyment of the outdoors because having wet shoes and socks is the worst. A lot of hiking trails in the surrounding Seattle area involve crossing small streams and muddy patches, so these are my go-to for any unpaved trail — whether you’re in the mountains or in a city park.
I wear a size 9 and find that they fit true to size. I highly recommend wearing a wool sock with these shoes, such as Darn Tough. They’ve held up incredibly well over the years and I can’t wait for all the memories to be made in them on future hikes!
Click here to check out the Columbia NR Waterproof Hiking Boots!
Birkenstock Arizona Sandals
I’m going to say it — don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. The Arizonas are my second or third style of Birkenstocks I’ve owned and they’re probably my favorite because of how comfortable they are. I easily could get 6-8 miles in these shoes and have taken them on many trips abroad to test out their distance capabilities. They’re such an easy shoe to travel with and I really like how well they strap to my trusty 32L REI Traverse Backpack when I fly — if you’re like me and you refuse to check in your bags, then you get it.
As heinous as this sounds to many, one of the reasons I prefer this model of Birkenstock to the other more “strappy” models is because of the capability to wear it with socks. I know that sentence might scare some people off, but when it’s winter in Washington and you need to grab your mail or take your dog (or yourself) for a quick walk, it’s so convenient to slip out of your slippers and into the Arizonas.
Let’s be real though, these are probably my emotional support shoe that have been with me through thick and thin.
I typically wear a size 9 and fit well into size 40 in these shoes — it’s probably safe to mention that I also own the Boston model, and I really love those, too.
Click here to check out the Birkenstock Arizona Sandals!
Hopefully this article has been helpful and you’re already thinking about where you’re going to walk or urban hike to next. As always, comment and leave questions, if you have them, and know that I’m more than happy to share any footwear knowledge I’ve obtained over the years! I appreciate all the support on my page from the bottom of my heart and I will see you next week!
From my soles to yours,
Sara xx