Casual Hiking Shoes for Easy Hikes & Everyday

Yes, you can wear hiking shoes casually. Hiking shoes can provide much-needed support for your feet or help you pull off that mountain town vibe. However, many of the best hiking shoes feel too hot, stiff, and heavy in town—and wear out faster on streets and sidewalks. For casual hikes or everyday wear, you're usually better off in a more moderately priced hiking shoe, lightweight hiking shoe, or outdoor lifestyle shoe specifically made for casual wear. Over the past three years, I've personally tested most of the best-selling hiking shoes and outdoor lifestlye shoes on the market. Here are my first-hand recommendations for the best casual hiking shoes for trail to town wear.  

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Best Casual Hiking Shoes 

OBOZ SAWTOOTH

Best True Hiking Shoe for Everyday

When I used to work on my feet all day at Appalachian Outdoors, my podiatrost recommended the Oboz Sawtooth as my work shoe. Serious hiking shoes often suck in civilization, but the Sawtooth is an exception. It features Oboz's expensive O-Fit insoles, which add extra comfort and support for all day wear. Plus, it has sturdy soles and serious foot protection for hiking. For several years, I've hiked in the waterproof Sawtooth X and worn the non-waterproof Sawtooth II casually (since non-waterproof shoes run cooler, especially indoors). The Oboz Sawtooth is a true summit to sidewalk option. 

KEEN TARGHEE IV

Day Hiking Shoe with Wide Toe Box

The KEEN Targhee IV is another hiking shoe that's good for both day hiking and casual wear. With a roomy fit, moderate cushion, and a wide toe box, this is a comfortable hiking shoe—especially if you have wide feet. Like the Sawtooth above, it's also a capable hiking shoe on the trail for both casual hikers and more devoted day hikers. This is another hiking shoe that my podiatrist recommended to me for working on my feet. I sold a ton of these at Appalachian Outdoors to men and women looking for a hiking shoe that they could wear from trail to town. 

MERRELL MOAB 3 LOW

Budget Hiking Shoe for Trail to Town

The Merrell Moab may be the world's best-selling hiking shoe, but many people wear it casually as an everyday shoe. The shoe's thicker soles add cushioning and support, and the Vibram outsoles offer multi-surface traction for trail to town use. This isn't the best shoe for tough trails. But the Merrell Moab 3 is more than enough shoe for casual hikes and everyday wear. Merrell fans love this shoe's "out of the box comfort" and its affordable price.   

ADIDAS TERREX FREE HIKER 2

Most Comfortable Casual Hiking Shoe

The adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 leans into comfort with plenty of summit-to-sidewalk performance. This is a super-cushy hiking shoe—thanks to the same BOOST foam used in adidas running shoes—for comfort that doesn't quit. The Free Hiker is a more technical hiking shoe than you might think, but it's best for well-groomed trails, urban trails, and less technical terrain. I loved wearing my Free Hikers on an Irish vacation, where I sloshed through the wet streets of Dublin in the GORE-TEX (GTX) version and hiked around Killarney National Park. Available in a low-cut or mid-cut (reviewed here), it's also a nice alternative for those who want a hiking shoe that doesn't look like a traditional hiking shoe—and a nice splurge for comfort. 

MERRELL NOVA (Men) / ANTORA (Women)

Merrell's Casual Hiking Sneaker

A cross between a hiking shoe, trail running shoe, and casual sneaker, the Merrell Nova (men) and Antora (women) offer casual hikers a gender-specific fit. These casual hiking shoes are lighter than the best-selling Merrell Moab, making them a good choice for faster hikers and hikers who don't need the support of a traditional hiking shoe for the well-groomed trails they hike. The men's Nova (see full review) and women's Antora each have a roomy fit, "out of the box" comfort, and a budget-friendly price—that's Merrell's M.O. I've been wearing the Nova 2 casually for several years. Based on first-hand experience, I prefer the lighter Nova to the best-selling Merrell Moab within the casual hiking niche.

Danner Trail 2650

Best Lightweight Hiking Shoe for Everyday

Danner crosslists most of their shoes as both "hiking" and "outdoor lifestlye" (casual) shoes. Of those crossover styles, the Trail 2650 is their best hiking shoe for casual hikers. Named after the 2650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, each style in the Trail 2650 series is made for hiking fast on well-maintained trails. However, their thinner soles and lightweight build also works for more casual hikes and more casual wear. Available in regular and wide sizes, the Danner Trail 2650 (see my full review) provides premium traction and (optional) GORE-TEX waterproofing for true hiking and retro, 1980s styling that may turn heads at the coffeeshop, farmer's market, or brewpub. I've been wearing this as a casual, everyday hiking shoe for several years now. 

Why buy casual hiking shoes?

Hiking shoes generally have better cushioning, stability, and support than casual shoes and sneakers. That makes them a good everyday option for people with foot or ankle issues, men and women who work on their feet, and folks who just like the look of hiking shoes on their feet. This post has highlighted the best casual hiking shoes and outdoor lifestyle shoes for trail-to-town use.

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I hope to see the best casual hiking shoes on your feet, somewhere from the trail to the tavern.