One of the first decisions when choosing a pair of hiking shoes is which material to choose. Mesh, full-grain leather, nubuck or suede: here’s how the options compare.
Choosing a Material for Hiking Shoes
A good hiking shoe meets the walker’s needs for ankle support, comfort and flexibility. Those needs vary with experience and the type of terrain they usually tackle. The choice of material affects nearly all these qualities — stiffness, comfort and durability — so it matters. It’s often one of the first decisions you’ll make when choosing hiking shoes. Here’s how the available materials compare.
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Full-grain leather
Full-grain leather is leather in its untreated state. It’s the most built-to-last material, the most durable, the most abrasion-resistant and the most water-repellent, but also the heaviest. Ideal for long treks and experienced hikers, smooth leather shoes are nevertheless less flexible and breathable than nubuck or suede shoes.
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Nubuck leather
Nubuck is made by sanding the outer surface of leather. This gives it a soft, velvety, peach-skin feel. Nubuck leather shoes are therefore more flexible and breathable than full-grain leather shoes, but also more delicate and less long-lasting.
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Suede leather
Like nubuck, suede is made by sanding leather, but on the inner side of the hide. Like nubuck and full-grain leather, suede is a natural material that feels comfortable and is fairly hard-wearing. Nubuck and suede shoes do not last as long as smooth leather shoes, but they offer more flexibility.
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Mesh
Shoes made from mesh, a synthetic fabric, are the lightest of all. But they are also the least resistant to abrasion and wear, which affects how long they last. Nor do they have leather’s water-repellent and water-resistant properties.
