As hiking continually grows in popularity due to its approachability and fun way to get outdoors and exercise, many newcomers are finding the joy of hitting the trail. But not everyone has a pair of hiking boots at home! Many of you are asking us if the shoes you have in your closet will do. Vans are a very popular shoe brand, and we often get asked: are vans good for hiking?
Vans are not good for hiking because they lack the durability, support, and ruggedness that is needed in proper hiking footwear, and are best used on short, flat hikes on smooth trails.
That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck! We’ll cover a few things to consider before you hit the trail and some great options where you can use your Vans for hiking below.
Are Vans Good Hiking Shoes?
Vans are great and comfortable casual shoes that make great walking shoes.
Hiking involves walking – so why are Vans not good for hiking?
Although there are some features that Vans share in common with hiking boots, the most important factors like ruggedness, safety, and ankle support are items that Vans simply don’t offer.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of wearing Vans further below.
Hiking In Vans – Pros
Comfort
Vans were originally designed as skate shoes and are now extremely popular as casual shoes, so they have lots of padding in the tongue and uppers, keeping your feet happy.
This cushioning factor doesn’t apply to Vans slip-ons which feature extremely thin uppers and no laces.
Style
Vans shoes are highly popular thanks in large part to their styling. If you’re fashion-conscious or take lots of pictures to show off on social media, those Vans are going to look great in them.
Breathability
Most Vans are made with canvas which is a highly-breathable material.
Breathability is an important factor in hiking footwear as it helps keep your feet dry, preventing blisters.
Minimalist Feel
Vans slip-ons offer a flat sole with no heel, often referred to as a “zero-drop” shoe in the hiking community.
Zero-drop shoes can promote better walking habits and help train you to be more mindful of how much force you drop your foot down with on the trail, which is why some hikers choose minimalist hiking shoes or toe shoes for hiking, which Vans emulate slightly.
Hiking In Vans – Cons
Traction
Most hiking trails are going to cover slopes uphill and downhill, and feature tough terrain like rocks, roots, and even water crossings.
This treacherous terrain demands your footwear has soles that feature grip patterns (or lugs) to give you proper traction and keep you safe from falls, trips, or slips.
Unfortunately, the soles found on Vans are very simple in nature and do not provide adequate traction for unpaved hiking trails.
Arch Support
Most Vans are flat (or near flat) and offer very little arch support, which can make them painful to hike in for extended periods of time.
Shock Absorption
Because Vans feature simple and thin soles and midsoles, they lack the ability to protect the bottom of your feet from jagged objects or hard surfaces you’ll find on most hiking trails.
Ankle Support
Ankle support is a biggie, and although Vans makes some mid or high-top models, they still don’t offer an adequate level of support that your ankles need while hiking to keep you safe from overstressing or twisting your ankles.
Most hiking boots lace up to the top and have rigid materials surrounding the ankle to provide this crucial support while skate shoes – even high top skate shoes – do not.
Protection & Ruggedness
In addition to a grippy outsole, all sides of your foot (front, back, inner, and outer) need to be protected from cuts, scrapes, and bumps on the trail.
Hiking boots often feature extra protection in these areas such as extra layers of materials or rubber toe and heel caps to keep your feet safe.
Vans are modeled mainly after style and lack these safety and protection features.
Durability
Hiking trails are very demanding, and the footwear you choose to hike in needs to be up to the task.
Most hiking boots are made to last between 500-1000 miles and are engineered with materials specifically designed to rise to the occasion.
Although Vans are stylish and comfortable as everyday shoes, they’re not intended to be used in rough environments.
Lack Of Waterproofing
As we covered earlier, many trails will take you through mud or water crossings, so having a high-cut boot that is waterproof is key to keeping your feet dry, comfortable, and blister-free.
Most Vans shoes do not feature much in the way of water resistance or waterproofing.
Tips For Hiking In Vans
If you insist on sporting your Vans on your next hike, follow these simple tips to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Make Sure Your Vans Are Broken In
Take it from us: you never, ever want to go on a hike wearing brand new footwear of any kind. It takes a little time to break them in, and the discomfort you’ll experience won’t be worth the great style you’re sporting.
Test For Proper Fit – And Lace Up Tight
Make sure your feet can’t move too much side-to-side (wear two pairs of socks if you have to in order to minimize movement), and that there are no areas where you feel pinching in your Vans. Also pay attention to your toes inside the shoe- they should never touch the front, and if they do, you risk bumping them and getting black toenail (no fun!).
Once you know the fit is good, then experiment with lacing them up at different tightness levels to make sure you are minimizing friction.
Wear Proper Hiking Socks
If you’re set on wearing your Vans while hiking, do yourself a huge favor and wear a pair of well-fitting hiking socks. If you’ll be going on a longer hike, bring an extra pair along to change into for prolonged comfort.
Consider Getting Hiking Boots
At this point we’ve covered all the reasons why Vans aren’t the best choice for hiking.
Hiking boots are the best option for hiking for a reason, and fortunately there are many affordable options on the market today.
Check out our top picks for the best men’s hiking boots under $100 and best women’s hiking boots under $100 for some great and affordable options.
Before you snag a pair, check out our guide on how should hiking boots fit to make sure everything’s perfect.
FAQs About Hiking In Vans
Vans shoes are not recommended for hiking due to their lack of protection, ankle support, water-resistance, and ruggedness that is needed in proper hiking footwear.
We recommend using a pair of actual hiking boots instead.
While you can absolutely go hiking in Vans, we don’t recommend it.
If Vans are the only pair of shoes you have, just be sure to stick to flat, smooth trails and use caution if hiking rougher or hilly terrain.
Vans are good for short hikes on flat, smooth trails such as paved trails or packed dirt trails.
Vans MTE series offers a high-cut shoe designed to feature some of the same components as traditional hiking boots, and the models offer different levels of weather resistance like waterproofing, thermal insulation, and grippy outsoles.