Mid upper shoes

What are their advantages? When should you choose them over low or high top shoes? Let's find out the main things you need to know about mid-calf boots.

For some years now, mid-cut hiking boots have been available on the market, also known as medium or semi-mounted boots, i.e. between the low and high cut. They are more flexible than hiking boots and, above all, less heavy, making them ideal for medium-length hikes, especially in summer, for hikers with a small backpack.

High upper, low upper and now mid upper, it is even more difficult to find your way around! Let's try to decipher the advantages and disadvantages of mid shoes together, so that we can determine for which occasions they can be preferred to their low and high cousins. 

Brief description

A mid shoe is one that rises to the level of the malleolus and has one hook above the ankle (compared to two for high shoes). Versatile, lighter than high top shoes but with better ankle support than low top shoes, mid top shoes are an excellent compromise between the two. Obviously, they are not perfect in all areas and like all compromises they do not win on all counts. They are less resistant than high upper shoes and do not offer the same ankle support, they are less light than low shoes, but they defend themselves and represent an excellent alternative for medium duration routes in the countryside or in the mountains. 

When to choose them?

Mid upper shoes offer good ankle support and breathability. They are fairly light and flexible enough to allow the hiker to have a better foot roll than a high shoe. They are generally more waterproof than low shoes, have stone guards to protect the foot and are more resistant. For all these reasons, they are ideal for a variety of occasions, so let's see what they are.

On mountainous terrain that is not too steep: even though they are less supportive of the ankle than high boots, mid-upper shoes offer sufficient support for medium-sized mountain outings, provided the paths are not too rough. They offer more flexibility and lightness than high boots. 

For light walks and hikes: on easy terrain, especially if the weather is good, there is no reason to bother with heavy, rigid and warm high boots. Focus on lightness, breathability and comfort with medium shoes.

In the desert: once again, high-top shoes are often more cumbersome than anything else in the desert. They keep you warm, and don't allow you to roll your feet like medium or low shoes. For more versatility, (on a trip you may not only hike in the desert), choose mid-upper rather than low-upper shoes.  

For short hikes: the materials used in mid-calf shoes are almost always lighter than those used in high-calf shoes. Mid shoes are therefore often lighter and can be very interesting for a touring hike where every gram counts. However, make sure that your backpack is not too heavy, to avoid putting too much weight on your ankle, which is not supported as it is in a high shoe. 

For hiking in the mountains: semi-mounted shoes are also suitable for hiking in the mountains, provided the weather conditions are not too extreme, as they will never be as waterproof or warm as high-top shoes. When buying shoes, make sure that they are equipped with stone guards to protect your toes and your foot in general.