Neutral vs. Stability hiking Shoes: If you know the nature of your feet and your hiking behavior, buying a pair of shoes would be a cup of tea and a pleasure too. But if you have no idea about your feet and walking style, you’ll probably have trouble choosing comfortable shoes. Let me explain the difference between neutral hiking shoes and stable hiking shoes.
That’s why you need to research your feet first and find out what type of shoes would be best for you. This will be crucial. It will take time and a deliberate decision. But once you take some time for your feet, you need to assess their nature, whether they are neutral or not.
The things that will ensure your comfort and minimize the risk of injury while hiking for a long time are not the color, appearance, and design of your shoes that we see most of the time. But by analyzing the difference between a neutral and stable hiking shoe, you can hike both comfortably and safely.
To find the correct information on neutral and stable hiking shoes, keep reading this article to the end. We will also give you some methods to understand the structure of your foot, the arch of your foot, and the impact of landing during hiking.
Because every person has a different arch, and if you don’t know your arch type when you buy new shoes, you may hurt your arch and most often suffer from “plantar fasciitis”.
So let’s look at the first pros of arch support.
WHAT are THE PROS OF ARCH SUPPORT?
The main thing we can see is that shoes with arch support on the market are quite expensive and should be because they are more pros than shoes without arch support. Spending a little extra money on comfort is not a waste of money.
The shoe platform controls foot movement, supports body weight, and reduces hiking pronation. It absorbs shocks and compresses when hiking very fast.
NEUTRAL hiking SHOES VS. STABILITY, WHICH IS THE BEST :
Do I need neutral hiking shoes vs. stability? Those who do not know the physics of their feet ask this question often. The type of arch makes the difference between a neutral hiking shoe and a stable hiking shoe.
Each person has a different arch. When you look closely at a foot from the inside, you will notice an upward curve in the middle of the foot. This particular curve is known as the arch. Now, let’s talk about arch types and shoe recommendations for those arch types.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF ARCHES:
- The neutral arch
- Low Arch
- High Arch
NEUTRAL ARCH
This type of bow is an ideal bow to help you walk or hike without harm. It makes the foot roll in a healthy place.
If you are a woman and need the best hiking shoes to hike fast, then check out this article. I have reviewed the top 10 women’s hiking shoes for arch support.
People with a neutral or normal arch should wear stability shoes. The extra support, high-density foam, and soft arch in stability shoes give you additional flexibility and stability on the forefoot.
Stability shoes are best for hikers with a neutral arch to hike easily.
LOW ARCH
A low arch usually causes the foot to roll inward or downward excessively on landing or over-pronation. Hiking for miles with an arch and wearing shoes that aren’t perfect can hurt you.
For hiker’s arch stability, shoes are ideal and perfect. As I said earlier, they provide the support and flexibility your arching feet need in praise of stability.
Low arch midsole technology provides maximum support as you set the pace on the ground. Now, I hope the confusion you had in your mind, “I need stability hiking shoes,” is clear.
HIGH ARCH
This arch causes the foot to roll only on slight impact or under pronation. Hikers with high arches have difficulty hiking because the ball of their foot is uncomfortable and creates a painful walking experience.
A high arch can cause several problems, depending on the arch height: the most common problems are “metatarsalgia” which is a painful inflammation of the sole.
You can overcome arch pain by wearing neutral hiking shoes. They have a cushion or foam inside that you feel relief and comfort with.
They welcome and support the foot arch and make your hike comfortable.
When buying neutral shoes, you should remember that the cushion or foam in softer shoes will give your feet more shock when landing or touching the ground.
Can a neutral hiker wear a stability shoe? People often ask this stupid question.
The answer is that if nature made your feet based on neutral shoes, then why do you bother wearing stability shoes? Neutral shoes are designed for neutral hikers and vice versa.
If you go against the nature of your feet and buy uncomfortable shoes, you are in trouble. You’ll probably waste your money too because you buy a shoe that isn’t perfect for your feet.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT MODEL OF FOOT I HAVE OR WHAT TYPE OF ARCH I HAVE?
You can check and understand the height of your foot and its low or neutral position without needing assistance. Below are some methods of observing the type of arch of your foot.
Spread a large piece of paper over the plane’s surface and stand on it with your feet wet. Allow the moisture to sink into the paper from your feet properly. Then, carefully remove the paper and the impression from the paper;
- If the print left on the paper has only the front and heel of your foot with nothing in between, then you have high arching feet.
- If the print left on the paper has only the front part, the heel, and a small print of the middle part of your foot, then you have low arch feet.
- If only a small part of your foot is missing from the print, you have a neutral or perfect arch.
This is a simple and easy way to determine the structure of your foot.
There is another way to observe your foot;
You can place a video camera that focuses on your legs and watch in slow motion how your foot is turned inward while hiking:
- you have a low arch or neutral feet if your leg and foot remain in a straight line.
- And you probably have a high arch if your leg and foot are at a different angle.
You can also see a doctor for this experiment on your feet.
Instead of neutral and stable hiking shoes, there are also different exercises and massages to reshape the different types of arches.
Conclusion
After reading this article, I hope you will become familiar with a high, low, and neutral arch. And the difference between a neutral hiking shoe and a stable hiking shoe is pretty clear to you.
We also discussed how to determine your foot and arch pattern. Both methods allow you to examine your feet without any influence. Try to be aware of the nature of your feet and whole body. It will help you live a healthy and comfortable life.
First of all, know your type of arch and then buy a pair of shoes that are perfect for your feet, because when your shoes don’t give you the support you need when hiking or walking, your feet and whole body suffer the worst consequences.
Feet are one of God’s greatest blessings and help us move, walk, hike, and stand upright. Therefore, it is essential to take care of them to avoid injury and painful loss. I hope all your confusion about neutral and stable hiking shoes is clear.