If you’re planning on hiking, having the right boots is of critical importance. Hiking demands strong footwear that provides the support and comfort you need. Not everyone hikes often enough to have a dedicated pair of hiking boots, and you may be wondering if Doc Martens are good for hiking.
While you absolutely can hike in Doc Martens, they are not intended to be hiking boots, and are best for short and simple hikes.
Doc Martens have been around since 1947, and were originally used by factory workers and police officers- fast forward several decades, and they are now highly fashionable among many subcultures and prevalent across many styles. Their distinctive look and versatility is what has kept them so popular for so long.
How well Doc Martens will work for you while hiking depends on a few different factors, which we’ll break down for you below.
Features That Make Doc Martens Good For Hiking
Although Doc Martens aren’t dedicated hiking boots, they luckily do have many key characteristics that make them a fine choice for short and simple hikes. We’ll explore these below.
Great Fit
Once broken in, Doc Martens have a reputation for being a great-fitting boot. Luckily most models are made with leather, which can conform to the shape of your foot over time, resulting in a good fit that reduces friction when hiking.
Traction
Doc Martens feature soles that are slip-resistant and have a lot of grip, making them great for different kinds of terrain and weather conditions.
Weight
Docs aren’t terribly heavy, which is an important factor when thinking about the longevity of your hikes. They aren’t the lightest boots out there either, but the weight shouldn’t be a problem for most people.
Protection
Luckily Doc Martens were originally designed as a safety work boot, so protection is often built in, particularly when considering the thickness of the soles. Some models also include steel toes, which will help you from hitting your feet on jutting rocks, exposed roots, or bumps in the trail.
Comfort and Breathability
Doc Martens’ leather uppers allow for extreme comfort as they will shape to your feet as you wear them, but those leather uppers don’t offer much in the way of breathability. Keeping your feet dry and cool as you hike is very important, so bring along an extra pair of hiking socks if you’ll be going on a longer trek.
Tips For Hiking In Doc Martens
If you’re looking forward to sporting your Docs on your next hike, follow these simple tips to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Make Sure Your Docs Are Broken In
Take it from us: you never, ever want to go on a hike wearing brand new Docs. 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 Right
Make sure your feet can’t move too much side-to-side and there are no areas where you feel pinching in your boots. Also pay attention to your toes inside the boot – 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 and giving your ankles good support.
Wear Proper Hiking Socks
If you’re set on wearing your Doc Martens 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.
Waterproof Your Docs
If you’ll be hiking in rain, mud, or crossing small bodies of water like creeks or streams, you’ll definitely want to plan ahead by waterproofing your docs. Not only will this keep your feet dry, but you’ll also keep your boots looking great long-term. We recommend Dubbin beeswax for waterproofing Doc Martens boots.
Are Doc Martens Good For Hiking? Wrapping Things Up
Although we don’t recommend Doc Martens for serious hiking, you’ll be just fine to use them on short and simple hikes – just be sure to wear hiking socks and make sure those Docs are broken in before you go.
Have any stories from hiking in Doc Martens? Please share them below, and let us know if you have any questions.
If you’re looking to get further into hiking, take a look at our comparison on hiking boots vs work boots and our guide to how much toe room is needed in hiking boots. As always, have fun and enjoy your hike!
