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Unless you're in snake country, in which case leather > canvas.

• Swizec 3y ago
  Or if you’re going for a real hike. We hear news of tourists needing rescue from the Alps all summer because they thought sneakers would be good enough. Ankles roll real fast in the loose rocky ground above the vegetation line. But yeah you don’t need special shoes to go for a walk on a wide well-maintained gravel path.
  • deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  • fallinghawks 3y ago
    This is a key difference. Even though the trail down the Grand Canyon has a lot of elevation change, it's well maintained and pretty smooth. I went about halfway down in sneakers no problem. Rocky stuff, even a little, are ankle twisters and having support is important. Back when I used to hunt, it was mostly flat but sometimes rough terrain and walking along/up/down rocky slopes. Sometimes there is no trail, you're crashing through brush. My favorites were LL Bean boots - about 6", laced a little loose so there was some freedom of movement but support if it was needed. Leather because snakes.