I routinely hike 7-10 miles and always prefer sneakers. This is in California where there's not a true mud season and there are paths you can hike on. For condi

I routinely hike 7-10 miles and always prefer sneakers. This is in California where there's not a true mud season and there are paths you can hike on. For conditions like those and I would absolutely recommend something light like sneakers. I think people over estimate the ruggedness of the activity because it makes it seem more intense. I realize a 10 mile hike is shorter than what a through-hiker would do, but ultimately you are walking on a path doing a similar motion that you would do walking on a hilly dirt road.