5 Best Hiking Shoes for Diabetics You Must Check Out

Are you looking for the best hiking shoes for diabetics? Going hiking is an all-round workout for your entire body. It alleviates pain and swelling and also helps to stabilize blood pressure.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you have most probably been advised to take up exercise. 

Best Hiking Shoes for Diabetics

It is important to know how much exercise and the exercise you need to take up or sometimes drop.

Hiking can help manage blood glucose levels in the body, which makes this a good exercise for diabetics and pre-diabetics as well.

Hiking comes highly recommended for diabetics, this also means that you will need to be well prepared for your hike, including what you wear.

Diabetes can cause foot problems, which also means that you have to wear shoes that can help alleviate any sort of foot pain you may be more prone to because of diabetes. 

You will need comfortable shoes and that also provides you with stability and protection as you hike. Wearing shoes that are specially designed, can help you enjoy your hike even more and benefit from the activity.

In this article, we take a look at the best hiking boots for people with diabetes.

In a Hurry

Do you need a quick guide to buying the best hiking shoes for diabetics? There are a few things that you will need to consider if you are to get the most out of your hiking trip.

You may want to check on the comfort the shoe gives you and this is indicated by the construction of the shoe.

It may all seem quite technical, but don’t be afraid to go into the meat of it all and find out how the shoe is constructed and what it is made of. 

The materials will help you know how comfortable the shoes are and how well they can help alleviate pain. This knowledge also helps you understand how durable the shoes are.

Also, check on the shoes fit and make sure that they allow your feet to be free and yet still have the support they need.

Our Top Pick

We have done our research and found our top pick to be the Skechers Men’s Afterburn Memory-Foam Lace-up Sneaker. They are made of smooth leather with a synthetic mesh upper. It has a padded collar and tongue, fabric lining and memory foam insole to ensure a comfortable hike. It also has a flexible rubber sole, that has great traction to keep you safe on the slippery parts of the trail. Skechers has done well in its other lines and this is no exception.

Product Reviews of the Best Hiking Shoes for Diabetics

Dr. Comfort Ranger Therapeutic Diabetic Extra Depth Hiking Boot 

This is one of the few shoes that is actually sold as a therapeutic diabetic shoe. As part of the features that have been specifically designed for this these shoes have extra depth. Let us look at the other things that they have to offer.

As you can probably tell, the upper part of the shoes is made out of leather. The soles of the shoes are made out of rubber. The rubber is quite thick so as to reduce the pressure that your feet are put under as you like

As with all the shoes from this brand you are always assured of great workmanship as well as a stylish product that you can be proud to wear. It is loaded with protective and come 14 hunting features.

One of these features is the Dr comfort gel insert that is included. The shoes are lightweight and athletic looking. They are part of the athletic comfort collection.

The laces of the shoes are elastic they have hook and loop straps. The colours of the shoes are made with seamless uppers that also have padded lining.

The absence of seams means that your shoes will have more durability than they would have otherwise had.

You also be happy to find that these shoes come in a wide range of widths and sizes. You can get them in two main colours which are brown and black.

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Propét Cliff Walker Tall Strap Hiking Boot 

Do not be alarmed by the army or police like looked at these shoes have. It is not quite to everyone’s taste, which is understandable. However, where the function is concerned you cannot go wrong with these.

The first thing that you’ll be pleased to find is the fact that they are made out of leather. This will guarantee you a shoe that will not fall apart too quickly.

As a structural design will probably have given away these shoes are quite robust. This is why the army comparison often arises. They come with a thick layer of rubber soles.

These soles are designed to take on most of the impact that would have otherwise been dealt with by your feet. The shaft of the shoe measures after the midcalf from the arches.

These shoes have been A5500 Medicare approved as part of the Therapeutic Shoe Bill. This is to say that they have been proven to have some therapeutic advantages.

This is one of the reasons why they have made a list. They come with a removable footbed that allows you additional room to insert your own orthotics or insoles. 

Another great feature that most people with diabetes will appreciate is the width of the shoes. They come in various with that run all the way up to 5E.

The shoes are weather resistant. They are also lightweight. You also be happy to find out the soles are highly flexible.

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Xelero Hyperion II-High Comfort Therapeutic Extra Depth Hiking Shoe

Xelero is not a brand that we are too familiar with. From a structural perspective, one of the things that give you some assurance that the shoes will do well when used by a diabetic patient is the fact that they have a good amount of padding, especially on the heel.

The shoes are designed to provide you with greater stability and control. 

Where there is greater stability and control there is less likelihood of your feet getting scrapped or scratched as you get up and about.

According to the manufacturer, these shoes come with a cutting-edge system that provides you with a natural gait pattern. This is the XRS technology that is integrated with the midsole region of the shoes.

The shoes have a flat out so that is responsible for delivering stability. These shoes are made out of a combination of leather and mesh.

As we mentioned with all the shoes the leather is responsible for providing you with a stable shoe that is durable.

The mesh material is responsible for delivering the shoe that is breathable. These shoes come with Dri-lex lining. As the name suggests this is a lining of the shows that your feet are kept dry.

You also be happy to find that these shoes come with a high rebound EVA midsole. It is then supported by the presence of gel pads on both the forefoot and the heel area of the shoes.

Aesthetically, this is one of the better-looking shoes that you come across in this category.

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Skechers Afterburn Memory-Foam Lace-up Sneaker 

Skechers is a trusted brand across the world when it comes to footwear. This is why most people would go into the shoes with little or no doubt as to their capability.

They made out of a mix of synthetic and leather. As you can imagine the leather is used to create and maintain the structural integrity of the shoes. The synthetic material is responsible for allowing the shoes to be highly breathable.

These shoes come with some thick rubber soles. These are always great for reducing the amount of pressure that your feet is put under. They provide a good amount of padding for you on the foot.

On the lacing region of the shoes, you also find some mesh upper which comes with supportive overlays that also features some padding.

There is also padding in the colour of the shoes. This reduces the amount of pressure that your ankles are put under.

The tongue of the shoe is also cushioned. A great addition to the shoes is the presence of a memory foam insoles. This is always a perfect addition for enhancing the comfort that any shoe provides.

This is especially important when one is diabetic. The presence of a memory foam insoles reduces the risk of pressure sores developing on your feet. 

These shoes also have metal top eyelets which preserve the integrity of the lacing system of the shoe. Oftentimes this you would fall apart during normal use due to wearing tear.

From a stainless point of you will not be disappointed with these shoes either.

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Apex Women’s Sierra Trail Runner Hiking Shoe Sneaker 

A hiking boot that looks both comfortable and capable of going on a proper hike is a rare breed. That is what makes these shoes intriguing at first sight.

Unlike most hiking shoes you will find that these have a more pronounced heel. The hills of these shoes are designed to reduce the amount of pressure that you’re underfoot is put under.

These shoes are made out of a combination of leather and synthetic material. The leather is synonymous with durability.

The synthetic material is always a great indicator of shoes that will allow for the liberal movement of air. In practice, this means that your feet will stay dry and not too hot.

The shaft of his shoes measures low top from the arches. This guarantees you a good amount of support. This has come with the X last which is known for superior motion control.

The heels are 5/16 inches in depth. This provides you with a two-layer fitting that is flexible. There is a couple plus footbridge which is also responsible for the aforementioned motion control. It also brings additional stability.

Nothing worth mentioning about these rubber soles is the fact that they are slip-resistant. This ensures that you have increased traction as you get up and about.

These shoes were specifically designed for food health. They were designed in collaboration with medical professionals. Diabetic feet were one of the conditions that were in mind during the design and manufacturing process.

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Buyer’s Guide

Can shoes and socks help with diabetic neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy occurs when your nerves get damaged due to diabetes. It can cause pain and numbness in the legs depending on the nerves that are damaged.

Some people experience problems in the digestive system, the urinary tract, blood vessels as well as the heart.

It goes without saying that if you can do anything to alleviate this pain then that is top of the list. There are non-medicated ways to help get through bad days, believe it or not, the shoes and socks you wear can have a positive impact.

If you have diabetic neuropathy, it is important to keep your feet protected and stable. 

What should I look for in diabetic shoes?

The first thing to do is to seek your doctor’s advice. For any medical condition, make sure to have a professional medical opinion to guide you before you set out to buy shoes to help with symptoms.

For diabetics, you will need to avoid high heels, slip-on shoes or walking barefoot. 

What is better to go hiking in, low cut or high cut boots?

There are different boots made especially for hiking. The high cut boots are great for protecting your ankles and keeping them safe from scratches along trails.

They also help keep water and moisture out. These are recommended for longer hikes. However, if you will be going for a shorter day hike, then low cut boots will do just as fine.

Should hiking boots be a bigger size?

Buying the right size for hiking boots is important. If they are too big, it can leave room for friction which in turn can cause blisters.

It is often that people think their regular shoe size is the same as their hiking boot size.

However, you may find that your hiking boots should be half or a full size larger than your regular shoes.

This is so that you can wear thick socks and to also accommodate the thick padding that is in the shoe, that would not ordinarily be present in a regular shoe.

If the boots are too big, then your foot will have too much wiggle room and this can cause injuries. 

 Can you wear running shoes for hiking?

If you have just been told that you need to start exercising more, and you are considering hiking, you may be thinking of just grabbing your regular trainers and setting out.

This is not a bad idea but it is also not the best idea. You can hike in running shoes because they are both made for high impact sports.

The disadvantage is that running shoes do not have features such as the extra padding to cushion against through terrain.

Hiking shoes need to protect your feet against a whole lot more than you will face on the trail more than what you would face when running on a treadmill or a groomed trail.

Even though they may not work as well, road running shoes can still be used on the trail. 

Conclusion

Diabetes can be debilitating however it does not have to be. There are several modern ways to help you deal with it and even alleviate symptoms and related pain. Hiking is a great way to do this.

It is important to know what shoes to wear during hikes, which will make your hikes easier and more enjoyable. We hope the various shoes for diabetics we have reviewed help you find your perfect fit. Happy shopping!