Which trekking shoes to get for trekking in Costa Rica

I'm about to travel to Costa Rica, on a trip that will include a serious hike. My travel company recommends hiking shoes in category B/C for this trip.

However, when I search for this type of shoes I always end up with heavy leather GoreTex shoes from companies like Hanwag and Mammut. (Like the popular Hanwag Alaska GTX)

The weather conditions seem to require lighter, more breathable, non-leather shoes. Still I can see the purpose of a firmer sole for the hike.

What kind of shoes would you recommend for an active trip to Costa Rica, including a jungle hike?

Best Answer

In the end I chose to buy a pair of the lesser known Hanwag Togiak GTX shoes.

They seem much lighter and more breathable than the other shoes I've seen, while they are still in the B category.

Other shoes I considered are Jack Wolfskin Impulse Texapore O2+Id, Lowa Phoenix GTX Mid and the Hanwag Comox GTX, all of which are in the B category.

I found that the B/C category doesn't contain any shoes that seem suited for the trip I'm about to do, so I think the B category is the closest I can get.

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Which type of shoes is best for trekking?

Trekker's Choice: Top 5 Trekking Shoes Recommended By Trekkers

Forclaz Trek 100.
Forclaz Trek 500.
Forclaz Trek 100 Leather.
Adidas Terrex AX2.
Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX.

Are chacos good for hiking in Costa Rica?

They go from day to night really well. Havianas are easy to get in Costa Rica in most tourist areas. I almost always wear my Chacos in Costa Rica as the bottom is very sturdy and they wash up really well.

Do you need water shoes in Costa Rica?

Water ShoesIf you have water shoes, bring them. They're really nice to have if you plan on visiting any of Costa Rica's amazing waterfalls where the rocks are often slippery. They also come in handy if you plan to go whitewater rafting or kayaking.

Can I wear running shoes for trekking?

Remember that hiking is just walking on dirt, so, yes, you can wear running shoes to hike in. As the terrain gets looser, rougher, or steeper, the amount of traction on the bottom of the running shoes will have to increase, but the shoe will handle it.

We spent a month hiking Costa Rica! (6 Amazing trails from La Fortuna - Vlog)

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Lucas Pezeta, Marta Wave, Marta Wave, Alexander Grigorian