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Low Hiking Shoes Don’t Last More Than a Few Seasons

Low Hiking Shoes Don't Last More Than a Few Seasons

Low Hiking Shoes Don’t Last More Than a Few Seasons

They tested water resistance, slipperiness, durability of the lining, sole, and laces, as well as the strength of the connection between the upper and lower parts of the shoe.

One of the key conditions for safe hiking is proper footwear. However, a test by the Slovenian Consumers’ Association (ZPS) revealed that hikers shouldn’t expect long-lasting performance from the tested models, as the durability results were mainly disappointing.

At the beginning of 2025, ZPS purchased eight models of low-hiking shoes from stores of brands, including Adidas, Alpina, Columbia, Keen, Merrell, Quechua, Salomon, and The North Face. According to their website, the shoes were tested in a laboratory and also evaluated by participants in a practical test.

Key Findings:

Water resistance proved to be relative—especially in low hiking shoes. The membrane meant to prevent direct water penetration does not guarantee dry feet. Water soaking the outer material can still seep in over the shoe’s upper edge.

Slipperiness was also tested—most models performed well on a dry clay tile. On wet surfaces, differences between shoes became more apparent, but none received an unsatisfactory rating.

The soles, however, showed disappointing durability. Wear on most shoes exceeded the acceptable standard, resulting in many low ratings for this criterion. During the flex test, they did not observe any significant issues with gap formation caused by sharp surface edges, which slightly improved the score in this category.

Low Hiking Shoes Don’t Last More Than a Few Seasons

They also tested the strength of the bond between the upper and lower parts of the shoe. A dynamometer revealed that in over half of the models, the bond did not meet even the minimum requirement for an average score. Furthermore, none of the shoe insoles survived the abrasion test without visible damage, whether tested against dry or wet surfaces—the results were worse in moist conditions.

Lace durability was tested along with the eyelets or loops in the shoes, not with standard lab loops. According to ZPS, the results were worse than in previous years.

In summary, all durability tests confirmed that modern hiking shoes are not built “to last forever.” With few exceptions, the technical part of the test did not yield strong results.

Low Hiking Shoes Don’t Last More Than a Few Seasons

How Were the Shoes Tested?

As described on the ZPS website, the technical testing involved submerging the shoes in 60 mm of water for six hours. They weighed the shoes before and after to measure the amount of water the outer material absorbed. Sensors inside the shoes detected any water penetration. In three specific locations on each shoe, they cut out 4 cm samples, placed them in a special device, and measured after 23 hours how much moisture the silica gel on the opposite side had absorbed. The final result was the average of the three measurements.

They also measured the friction coefficient between the shoe and both dry and wet clay tiles, as well as damp and soapy ceramic tiles. These tests were performed on both the front and heel parts of the shoe. Using the Martindale machine, they conducted 51,200 dry and 25,600 wet rubbing cycles on the heel lining. A similar test on the insole involved half the number of rubbing cycles.

The sole sample was attached to a rotating drum to simulate 40 meters of wear on sandpaper. Abrasion resistance was calculated from the weight loss and material density. Flex resistance was tested using the standard Bennewart method at -5°C, with attention paid to the formation of spontaneous cracks.

A special machine was used to pull the laces through an eyelet or loop 20,000 times. They also measured the force required to separate the sole from the upper part of the shoe—evaluated using the lowest force recorded in three parts of the shoe.

Low Hiking Shoes Don’t Last More Than a Few Seasons

Practical Testing in Sweden

Sixteen experienced panellists (eight women and eight men aged 39 to 70) took part in the practical test in Sweden. Each shoe model was tested by six individuals (three women and three men), who were instructed to wear the shoes as frequently as possible. They had to complete at least one three-hour hike and at least two shorter walks of at least one hour each.

Many panellists used only the test shoes during the trial, exposing them to a variety of weather and terrain conditions. Ultimately, they completed a detailed evaluation form for each shoe, rating them on various criteria, and submitted comments and photographs.

Source: RTVSLO

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