This was one of the more popular mountain bike related questions asked on the internet in 2023, according to Google Trends. Hiking boots do actually make a pretty decent pair of mountain biking shoes. They have a stiff sole, tacky rubber, and decent protection. All good things to have in a mountain bike shoe! If you have a nice pair of hiking boots, though, we wouldn’t recommend using them for mountain biking more than a handful of times. Here is why!
Ruin Your Soles
The main reason we wouldn’t recommend using your hiking boots for mountain biking is that it’s going to ruin them. I’m assuming you’re reading this if you have a pair of flat pedals, and since most flat pedals have sharp pins that provide grip, it’s safe to say that this would apply to you. (Curious about our favorite flat pedals for 2023?)These pins are going to dig into the soles of your nice hiking boots and make them wear out way faster than normal. Maybe you have an old pair of hiking boots that you don’t care about? They will work fine!
Hot Sweaty Feet
If you have a lightweight pair of hiking boots, you can disregard this reason but if you have a pair of nice sturdy, hiking boots, keep reading. Hiking boots are typically built to be sturdy, reliable, waterproof, and able to take a beating. This is great for hiking, but not ideal for mountain biking. Well, hot feet are not ideal in most situations but mountain biking tends to involve a lot more cardio which means you’ll feel a lot hotter than you would hiking.
Uneven Lugs
Lastly, hiking boots might not make great contact with your pedals, because the lugs aren’t totally flat or evenly spread. This could make for an unstable feeling when standing on the pedals. Of course, this would depend on your hiking boots, so we’re just speaking generally here.
Our Take
So, what’s our take? Yes, you can wear hiking boots when you go mountain biking. They have many similar characteristics like a stiff grippy rubber sole and great protection. If you have an old pair you don’t care about, go for it! Long term, though, we recommend getting a dedicated mountain bike shoe because your hiking boots will get trashed eventually!
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