Surprisingly, the outsole of a shoe is one of their most crucial aspects, especially when it comes to outdoor exercise footwear. The outsole simply refers to the very outer part of the sole which comes into contact with the ground beneath. The underfoot sensation, the stride efficiency, and how the shock impact of each step is handled all comes down to the outsole. This is important for all pairs, including those for indoor sports, for street wear, and a Friday night out. In a good pair of all-terrain footwear, there are additional features to consider, including grip, and mudguards.

Grip: Having insufficient grip on smooth or slippery surfaces will result in slipping and falling. This doesn’t just cause embarrassment – if it’s a serious fall, it could result in broken bones and even more severe consequences. Yet preventing the problem before it happens can be very simple. To ensure that your footwear has a good grip, the pattern on the outsole is very important. Thicker, deeper grooves (or “lugs”) on the outsole result in an optimal grip. Good quality hiking and mountaineering boots will have very deep lug patterns. Also keeping the cleaning process in mind – smaller and more widely spaced lugs are desirable because it is much easier to clean mud off of them. However, if you know that you’ll be walking on wet terrain, there are slightly different requirements. Though certain patterns are suitable for smooth surfaces, they may not be of much use on wet ones. For example, basketball shoes have enclosed tread patterns that don’t allow the liquid to flow out from beneath the foot once trapped. As a result, the water is trapped in between, making you prone to slipping. What you’ll want is an interlocked trad pattern that channels the liquid away and allows for more contact with the ground.

Mudguard: More likely than not, you’ve heard of mudguards on bicycles and cars. However, miniature versions can also be found on athletic footwear designed for outdoor use. They are essentially a type of pattern that runs along the edge of the outsole in the forward part of the footwear, preventing mud from splashing onto the upper when running, walking, or hiking. They won’t keep you untouched from those mud spots, of course, but having one still makes a huge difference. Usually, this feature will be listed in the product descriptions, but could also be spotted on the shoe itself. If you don’t want the wet weather to come in the way of your plans, we highly recommend you look for mudguards in your shoes.

There’s nothing worse than having sweaty feet when you’re trying to concentrate on your workout, your walk, or your hike. Obviously, it’s uncomfortable, and you’ll be met with a strong whiff of bad odor later when you’re taking them off later. But what many don’t know is that it may lead to long-term, more severe consequences. Sweat creates the perfect amount of warmth and moisture for bacteria to start growing and proliferating, potentially resulting in foot and nail fungus. Nobody wants that!

If you’re someone who constantly has sweaty feet, even in cool weather, considering taking care of your feet every night, such as soaking and exfoliating them.

If you sweat an average amount, finding breathable shoes will be sufficient in preventing your socks from being soaked with sweat after getting home. The key to breathable footwear is a synthetic material, also known as man-made fabrics. Some examples include nylon, polyesters, and spandex. These materials have a lightweight feel and do not absorb much water, allowing the moisture to dissipate rather than holding on to it. Some synthetics processed with special technologies will allow air to pass through the material while keeping water out, resulting in the perfect condition – sweat is prevented from accumulating while body heat can also dissipate.

Our final criteria to look out for is something that is often overlooked, but which can affect your whole experience. A footwear could have all the desirable features – a shock absorbent midsole, a comfortable lining, a mudguard, and durable leather overlays. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, when too many features are stuffed into one shoe, the result might be a ridiculously heavy shoe. Overall, they will be bulky and clunky and will weigh you down when you’re trying to focus on your performance. You’ll tire more easily, feel less energized, and you won’t be able to feel the full benefit of the other desirable features of the footwear. Because of this, a lightweight is super important

The key to keeping them light is the use of synthetic materials since this type of material is lighter than leather, silk, suede, and many other natural fibers. When a pair of runners is made from all synthetic, it’s very unlikely that they will end up being clunky.

However, if you’re looking for hiking gear, synthetic isn’t the best option because it simply doesn’t offer the necessary protection. It cannot protect you from harsh weather conditions or be very long-lasting. In this case, you’ll have to decide on a compromise between a lightweight and other desirable features such as a thick sole and a leather lining. Both are important, but as they tend to counterbalance each other, you’ve got to find the combination that suits you. To judge their weight, turn to product descriptions, where it should be listed. Pay attention to whether the indicated weight refers to a single shoe or to a pair, and make the comparison between the pairs you are eyeing.

The designs are usually made for comfort and offer a relaxed fit for all-day comfort. The thing to watch out for is that you’re getting proper arch support because some of these boots might not properly protect the delicate underside of the foot. If the arch isn’t supported it can lead to collapse or can worsen the painful effects of plantar fasciitis, an inflammatory condition that affects the connective tissues of the foot. In order for adequate support to be provided a shoe should have a supple insole that’s still firm enough.

The pairs on this page have excellent insoles and offer beneficial features like memory foam padding which contours to the structure of the foot and provides a customized fit every time you wear it. It’s also important to take into consideration the height of a pairs heel because ones that are too high can make it difficult to walk. If you’re shopping for sandals consider the materials used for the toe post because the wrong ones can cause all sorts of discomfort, a soft material like suede or leather will be much less likely to rub and won’t result in blisters from the friction.

Airflow is another concern because a hot shoe will cause your feet to sweat and your shoes will start to stink. The best material to prevent overheating is leather because it allows for proper airflow inside of the shoe which is key for controlling odors. In colder weather, it’s important to consider waterproofing as well as non-slip materials that will keep you stable on your feet in the wet condition. Rubber is one of the best materials for this because it provides a solid grip on any surface including wet and slippery ones.

Another important criterion that we used when picking out products is the price tag. The truth is, we all know the price is important. When picking out footwear, we have a budget in mind and try to stay in-between a specific dollar amount. However, when it comes to this type of evaluation, we are looking at something a bit different. Here, we focused on a way to ensure that no matter what product you decide, you receive your money’s worth for the purchase.

So, to start off the buying guide, we actually first scanned the market and looked at what companies were charging. We paid very close attention to the highest priced items and the lowest price. In this, we were able to draw some conclusions as to what perhaps maybe an average price tag.

For us, we used this to our advantage when assessing each product. We carefully looked at each product and considered whether or not the price was fairly priced, in accordance to the average price tag. From there, we also were able to draw conclusions as to whether or not the value it offered was fairly priced.