casual hiking shoes for easy hikes & everyday

Casual hiking shoes fall into two camps. On one hand, you've got outdoor lifestyle shoes—hiking-styled shoes that are made for casual wear. You can pull off the occasional hike in them, but they're best for brewpubs, working on your feet, and office casual. On the other hand, there are hiking shoes designed for more casual kinds of hiking, such as short hikes to a waterfall or overlook, groomed trails, hikes with the kids, dog walks, and urban trails.

For the most part, the best hiking shoes are poor picks for casual hiking or everyday, casual wear. Many of them will feel too stiff, too heavy, or too hot for these uses. Plus, their specialized tread wears out much faster on streets and sidewalks than it does on the trail. Here are my recommendations for the best casual hiking shoes broken down by their recommended uses: casual wear, trail-to-town wear, and casual day hiking.  

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casual hiking shoes for everyday wear 

Yes, you can wear hiking shoes everyday—as casual shoes, work shoes, or trail-to-town shoes. In fact, many brands actually make hiking shoes for more casual use. In the outdoor industry, we call them "outdoor lifestyle" shoes. Outdoor lifestyle shoes are often the best casual hiking shoes for occasional hikers who will be wearing their shoes more in town than out on the trail. Here are the best outdoor lifestyle shoes for the coffee shop, happy hour, travel, and office casual:  

Oboz Sypes

The Oboz Sypes is one of the best casual hiking shoes for versatile, everyday wear. They're not as burly as traditional Oboz hiking shoes, but still provide plenty of cushioning and support for hiking, traveling, and working on your feet. Their mountain town styling reflects Oboz's Bozeman heritage and looks great against denim, khakis, travel pants, and hiking pants. 

Altra LP Alpine

The Lone Peak Alpine is the casual version of Altra's popular Lone Peak trail running shoe. Some runners—and hikers—love Altra's unconventional zero drop soles and wide, footshape toe boxes—a build that relies upon the body's natural cushioning and support mechanisms (instead of shoes) for support. The Lone Peak Alpine gives you this combination in an everyday leather shoe for casual wear. This may be a good casual shoe for Altra fans and for those who want to wear a flat shoe everyday to build up their body's natural stability, support, and cushioning mechanisms.

The KEEN Targhee (recommended below) is such a popular hiking shoe that KEEN also offers it as a casual shoe—the KEEN Targhee Oxford. Like the Targhee hiking shoe, the casual Targhee Oxford features thick soles, plenty of cushioning, and a protective toe cap that leaves extra room for your toes to wiggle.  At the same time, the Oxford features leather uppers that pair perfectly with denim and khakis for casual wear. It's a great, casual shoe for men and women who want some more support and cushioning for comfortable, everyday wear. 

casual hiking shoes for trail-to-town wear

For more of a mix of light hiking and casual wear, men and women might focus on lightweight hiking shoes or sneaker/hiking shoe hybrids made for trail-to-town wear. These casual hiking shoes are good for light hiking or trail-to-tavern versatility:  

Vasque Re:connnect-Here (casual/light hiking)

New for fall 2023, the Vasque Re:Connect is a lightweight trail shoe for light hiking and everyday comfort. Made for those who want to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with nature, this trail shoe is super-cushioned with lightweight ventilated mesh to keep our feet comfy and cool when we're out being active. You won't be scaling major mountains in it, but the Vasque Re:Connect is comfortable hiking sneaker made for well-groomed trails, urban hikes, dog parks, wine bars, after-work walks, and after-work drinks. 

Salomon Outpulse (light hiking)

Merrell Nova/Antora (light hiking)

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. 

Oboz Katabatic (light hiking)

Oboz usually leans into durability and support—not weight savings—but their new Katabatic has scored points with fast-and-light hikers and more casual hikers. The Katabatic is lightweight and agile while still featuring Oboz's expensive O-Fit insoles, which add cushioning and support where other brands go cheap and skimp. This is a good casual hiking shoe for shorter hikes and active people looking for trail-to-town versatility. 

casual hiking shoes for casual hikes

So far, this list has leaned into hybrid hiking shoes made for outdoor lifestyle or trail-to-town wear. For more premium features and better hiking performance, men and women should check out these hiking shoes for casual hikes and day hikes that don't demand heavy-duty support: 

Danner Trail 2650 (casual hiking)

Danner crosslists most of their hiking shoes as casual, outdoor lifestlye shoes. Of those crossover styles, the Trail 2650 is their best hiking shoe. 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. 

KEEN Targhee (casual hiking)

The KEEN Targhee is a comfortable hiking shoe for the average day hiker. The KEEN fit offers extra room, especially in the toes, with plenty of cushioning and support to make life easier on your hiking feet. This isn't the best hiking shoe for speed hikers or for treacherous terrain. However, it's a solid hiking shoe for easy to moderate trails, casual hikes, and long days on your feet. 

adidas Free Hiker 2 GTX (casual hiking)

The adidas TERREX Free Hiker 2 is a comfort-forward hiking shoe that scores points with heaps of casual hikers. This is a super-cushy hiking shoe—thanks to the same BOOST foam used in adidas running shoes—for all-day comfort, whether we're hiking, traveling, working, or wearing them casually. This is a more technical hiking shoe than you might think, but it's best for well-groomed trails, urban trails, and less technical terrain. 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. 

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 outdoor lifestyle shoes, trail-to-town shoes, and casual hiking shoes for the average day hiker.

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