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Trail runners or proper hiking boots for Lake District?

Posted by kantlitz (Pittsburgh, PA) on 03/08/26 11:34 AM

My wife and I are visiting the Lake District with our three children (11, 9, 7) and plan to spend most days out and about hiking. Our kiids are adventurous and physically capable, so we plan to do some more strenuous trails that are still wise for young children. My question is: do we need proper hiking boots or would trail running shoes with solid grip be sufficient? We're packing super light so can't bring both.

Also, I know the weather is variable and we need to plan for it changing on a dime. Would goretex shoes be good or bad? I tend to wear waterproof shoes when hiking on wet ground but avoid it with rain because when they get wet inside, you're stuck being wet.

I'd appreciate some insight into the best footwear for what we're planning to do.

Thanks!

Posted by Helen

Bristol, UK

03/08/26 01:11 PM

2068 posts

You will 100% need waterproof footwear. Grass doesn’t have to be very wet before water starts seeping through your footwear. Boots are better simply because they keep more water out and they also provide more ankle support. I’d say that the majority of British people who enjoy walking will own boots for themselves and their children. My kids always have walking boots and we aren’t crazy avid hikers but they’re just more practical for all weathers even on short walks of a couple of hours.

Posted by wasleys

Lincolnshire, UK

03/08/26 08:31 PM

2965 posts

I'm another one who always wears boots for serious walking. They cope with rough rocky terraine or wet muddy areas better too.

Posted by Jay MN

MPLS, MN

03/12/26 12:13 AM

462 posts

I did a lot of hiking in the Lake District in 2024 and did not have hiking boots. I wore water proof, light hiking shoes (Keen) and they were fine. I may have missed some of the tougher trails which may have been better with boots but the popular trails I hiked were fine with my light hikers. Things can be wet and muddy there so having waterproof shoes was more important to me.

Posted by Grier

Lake Oswego, Oregon

03/12/26 02:13 PM

1419 posts

I nearly walked out of my waterproof shoes last year while walking in very muddy areas as the mud grabbed my shoes, and last year was a comparatively dry year. This year I took boots and was fine in the mud.

Posted by Johnew52

Preston UK

03/12/26 05:36 PM

1851 posts

If you intend to walk on the high fells in the Lake District then you really need proper walking boots. The mountain heights don’t look much in world terms but the conditions can change rapidly and the walking can be tough. It is probably perfectly possible to have lesser footwear on for many of the lower level walks but I would always have proper boots for any higher level walking.

Posted by ianandjulie

Yorkshire

03/14/26 09:57 AM

1485 posts

Hi -

Sorry but it’s another vote for boots from me, especially if it’s been (or is) wet and/or you are venturing into the higher parts of the fells. More manicured paths lower down might make trail shoes a possibility, but as advised above, boots are the most suitable one size fits all solution.

A cautionary tale: a friend of mine once maintained that you could walk all English paths in trail runners. He covered a lot of miles, so he should know right? Then his foot spontaneously fractured in two places. Stress fractures due to lack of support. He’s back in boots these days!