Most Comfortable Outdoor Shoes
Updated on May 31, 2024
Shop the best outdoor shoes
Your next outdoor adventure just got more comfortable. Keep your bunions happy, blisters at bay, and arches supported with a pair of comfortable outdoor shoes. KURU offers some of the best outdoor shoes for pain relief—from low-profile trail shoes to high-top hiking boots to water-friendly active sandals.
Each one of our high-quality shoes for outdoor adventures comes with our patented heel flexing technology, superior arch support, and shock-absorbing cushion for Pain Relief Beyond Belief.
What Are Outdoor Shoes?
Outdoor shoes typically feature traction-heavy outsoles and durable materials designed to keep you stable and secure on uneven surfaces.
There are a wide variety of outdoor footwear available on the market today, including active sandals with adjustable straps, lightweight trail shoes built for speed, rugged hiking boots with multi-directional lugs for traction, and water-resistant options to keep your feet dry in wet conditions.
KURU offers some of the best boots for outdoor wear and comfortable hiking shoes. Built with our superior arch support, dynamically flexing heel, and shock-absorbing foams, our outdoor shoes keep you stable and comfortable all adventure long.
Pair Your Outdoor Footwear for All Occasions
Explore how to style and wear the latest styles of outdoor shoes from KURU.
Your outdoor adventures know no bounds, so neither should your footwear. Here are a few activities where you can wear outdoor footwear.
Light stroll in the park: When heading out for a leisurely stroll at the park or walking the dog in your neighborhood, you can take your pick between a comfortable trainer like our QUANTUM 2.0 or a more traction-heavy outdoor shoe like our CHICANE.
Challenging hikes: When you’re hitting the trail for a long hike, you’ll want a shoe you can stay comfortable in all day. Choose a hiking shoe like our QUEST, which features a wide toe box and plenty of arch support and cushion for lasting comfort.
Spring or summer hikes: A water-friendly active sandal with adjustable straps like our TREAD for men and women with open straps can help you stay cool and comfortable on a warm hike.
Gardening or outdoor projects: When working long days on your feet through dirt, weeds, and rough edges, you’ll want a shoe with quality cushion and arch support, durable materials, and traction-heavy outsoles.
Wet conditions: Choose a shoe with water-friendly materials to help your feet stay dry through puddles, streams, and mud.
Shoe Fit Tips
Simplify the process of finding a pair of outdoor shoes that fit well with these helpful tips from our KURU GURUs.
When looking for your best shoes for outdoor adventures, your first step is ensuring they fit comfortably!
We recommend your outdoor shoes fit securely around the forefoot without any pinching or tightness in the toes, heels, or bunion area. Ultimately, your feet should feel comfortable in your shoe!
For a few more tips, take a peek at how to find the right fit at KURU.
A Brannock device is an industry standard tool to determine your true shoe size. We recommend getting fitted at your local shoe store for the most accurate sizing, and never hesitate to reach out to a KURU GURU for tips on finding the fit for you!
FAQs
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What is an outdoor shoe?
An outdoor shoe typically features traction-heavy outsoles and durable materials designed to keep you stable and secure on uneven surfaces.
There are many types of outdoor shoes, ranging from rugged, multi-directional lugs in hiking boots, active sandals with adjustable straps, or lightweight trail-running shoes for moving quickly up a mountain.
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How do you wear outdoor boots?
Outdoor boots can be worn with high socks scrunched to your preference, or high-quality ankle-length socks that won’t slip down while hiking. Outdoor boots can be worn with shorts, athletic pants, or jeans alike for a rugged, outdoorsy look.
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What shoes should I wear when it's cold outdoors?
Leather is a natural insulator, so choosing a pair of high-quality leather outdoor boots is a great place to start. Wearing a pair of moisture-wicking warm wool socks can also help keep your feet warm on cold days.
For more specialized footwear for technical terrain, or specific activities such as backpacking trips or day hiking, you might need mountaineering boots, trail-running shoes, or outdoor waterproof boots.
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Can I use custom orthotics with KURU shoes?
Due to the anatomical shape of the KURUSOLE, custom orthotics with a rounded heel fit best inside our shoes. If the underside of the custom orthotic (the part that sits on the footbed) is squared off, then it may not fit into our deep heel cup—which is rounded like your foot.
That said, many of our customers tell us the KURUSOLE technology offers better support and stability than they expected, and that they don't need to wear their custom orthotics with KURU shoes.
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I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?
Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs. That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology. Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.
To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours per day around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.
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Features of Outdoor Shoes & Finding the Best Fit
Need a new pair of outdoor shoes? Learn more about the features you should look out for in outdoor shoes and find the perfect fit for you next outdoor adventure.
Whether you’re headed for a stroll at the park or a challenging hike up a mountain, you’ll want a shoe that works as hard as you do.
Here are a few features to look for when choosing the right fit for you.
Traction-heavy outsoles: A rugged sole or multidirectional lugs can help you stay stable even on unstable terrain.
Arch support and cushion: To keep comfortable for long hours on your feet, look for an outdoor shoe or leather boots with superior arch support and shock-absorbing cushion.
Breathable uppers: To keep sweat at bay on active days, choose a shoe that features a breathable upper that allows air to flow in and out of the shoe.
Durable materials: You want outdoors shoes that can last through a wide variety of landscapes—from muddy dirt pathways to unstable, rocky scree. That’s why high-quality materials like Nubuck leather can keep you going adventure after adventure.
Ankle stability: For extra technical terrain, you might do best with high-top ankle support to help protect and stabilize your ankles to avoid scrapes and sprains.
Wide toe box: Make your hiking descent less painful with outdoor boots that feature a generous toe box to help avoid bruised toenails as you walk downhill.
Water-friendly materials: For days splashing through puddles or wading through streams, choose water-resistant or waterproof outdoor shoes to help keep your feet protected.
Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
...Show LessOur patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This superior support helps utilize our body’s natural cushioning system, the heel’s fat pad for all-day comfort.
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This superior support helps utilize our body’s natural cushioning system, the heel’s fat pad for all-day comfort.
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KURUCLOUD
...Show LessOur KURUCLOUD rubber midsole acts as a cushioned footbed to offer padding and shock absorption for the whole foot. This layer of dense EVA foam helps absorb impact to your joints, ligaments, and bones, especially when traversing through technical terrain.
Our KURUCLOUD rubber midsole acts as a cushioned footbed to offer padding and shock absorption for the whole foot. This layer of dense EVA foam helps absorb impact to your joints, ligaments, and bones, especially when traversing through technical terrain.
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
...Show LessThe final layer in this technology trio, our ULTIMATE INSOLES feature premium arch support and cushion for the entire sole of your foot. Made of durable polyurethane foam, these insoles form to your feet to provide lasting comfort, even when trying a new trail.
The final layer in this technology trio, our ULTIMATE INSOLES feature premium arch support and cushion for the entire sole of your foot. Made of durable polyurethane foam, these insoles form to your feet to provide lasting comfort, even when trying a new trail.
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This superior support helps utilize our body’s natural cushioning system, the heel’s fat pad for all-day comfort.
Our Secret
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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