7 Best Flat Feet Hiking Boots

How we test hiking boots

When it comes to footwear testing, we focus on objectivity and transparency. Our process entails: 

1. Buying all the hiking boots with our own money. We have no brand ambassadors on the team and we're at all times free to publish whatever we discover or experience. 
2. We go hiking and test the boots on the trails. Our hikes are done in "good" and "bad" weather if that exists, so the boots are subjected to both wet and dry conditions and surfaces. 
3. We test the hiking boots in the lab, where we use different instruments (durometer, calipers, smoke machine, gels, force gauge, tire tread gauge, dremel) to quantitatively describe each boot with 20+ data points. 
4. We publish everything we discover on our website, where you can compare the hiking boots by features you're particularly interested in, or you can look at the averages to better understand how the current boot performed on our lab tests. 
5. We cherry-pick the best hiking boots that we highlight in the buying guide and we do it based on our a) personal experience with the boots and b) lab results. 

This guide is written for hikers who have flat feet. If you’re not sure about your arches and how flat they are, we recommend reading our guide on arch support and visiting a specialist. 

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, we also recommend visiting a podiatrist or a PT. This guide has an educational purpose and is in no way here to offer medical diagnosis. 

Why do flat-footed hikers need different boots? 

Flat feet are also known as low or fallen arches. When the arches are low or fallen, it means they are not strong enough to have full control over foot mobility. This weakness is something to be worked on, which is why we recommend seeing a specialist who would create an exercise plan for your specific needs. Stronger foot muscles and arches usually reduce the pain that is associated with flat feet. 

Because of this condition, flat feet enjoy more support. 

Using very soft, very flexible, or barefoot/minimalist hiking boots can be very painful and even lead to injury for hikers with flat feet. However, minimalist footwear can be a part of a recovery plan, as using them VERY gradually can help with foot muscle strengthening. 

5 features to look for in hiking boots for flat feet 

Here, we recommend a stable platform. This stability is reflected in the softness of the midsoles, it can’t be too soft. It is also reflected in torsional rigidity because it prevents wobbling. And, given that it’s the heel that lands first and needs all the support it can get, we recommend stiff heel counters that lock the heel in place and prevent (to a certain degree) premature fatigue or excessive ankle rolling inwards.

1. Torsional rigidity: look for boots that scored 3/5, 4/5, or 5/5 on our assessment. 
2. Heel counter stiffness: look for a 4/5 or 5/5 heel counter stiffness. This is accomplished by using stiff materials, whether in the internal or external heel counters. 
3. Midsole softness: we recommend at least 20 HA based on our experience and lab tests. Sometimes the midsole is made of 2 different materials that each have different softness levels. In our lab, we measure both. 
4. Wide platform. Hiking boots with wider platforms are more stable! 
5. Good grip, as always! 

These boots should not be easy to twist! 

As mentioned above, it’s best to look for a stiff platform. In our lab, we assess torsional rigidity and measure longitudinal stiffness. 

Assessing torsional rigidity of hiking boots in RunRepeat lab: this boot scored 3/5

It’s best to look for torsionally rigid hiking boots if you have flat feet. That means finding those that scored 3, 4, or 5 out of 5 on our assessment. Or, if you’re buying the boots in a specialized store, try twisting them and look for those that push back. 

Hiking boot that scored 5/5 on our torsional rigidity assessment 

We prioritize torsional stiffness over longitudinal stiffness because hikers with flat feet overpronate, which happens “sideways”: the heel puts more pressure on the inner side of the boot. Hikers don’t land on the middle of the heel and distribute the pressure evenly but, instead, they add more pressure on the inner side of the boot. This is where torsional rigidity can help. 

Measuring the longitudinal stiffness of hiking boots using a digital force gauge 

If, however, you want a stiffer boot overall, take into account the longitudinal stiffness as well. The higher the number on our digital force gauge, the stiffer the boot. 

How to find stiff heel counters in hiking boots  

Stiff heel counters are all the craze for hikers with flat feet! They allow for a perfect heel lockdown and, together with a firmer platform, help with overpronation. This stability eliminates unnecessary wobbling and micromovements that could cause pain or discomfort for hikers with flat feet. 

This heel counter scored 1/5 on our stiffness assessment 

The easiest way to assess the stiffness of the heel counter is to squeeze it and push it. Look for those that resist your pressure the most. 

This heel counter scored 5/5 on our stiffness assessment 

What makes heel counters stiff? Internal and/or external heel counters. External ones are easy to notice because, well, they are placed on the outside. 

Internal ones can be noticed and assessed only after cutting the boot in half. 

For flat-footed hikers, we recommend boots with heel counters that scored a minimum of 3 out of 5 on our test.

Too soft? Too bad! 

Midsoles in hiking boots can be made of one or more materials with different softness levels and they can also have shanks embedded into them. The main purpose of the shanks is to make the platform stiffer and more protective. 

For flat feet, we recommend hiking in boots that scored at least 20 on the shore A durometer. Lower numbers indicate a softer midsole, while higher numbers describe a firmer midsole. 

It’s worth noting that we stick the durometer needle into the midsole when we’re measuring the softness. If you really need more softness, you can look for thicker insoles. 

Extra stability for flat feet: wide platforms 

Sure, there are hiking boots that are rigid and firm and placed on narrower platforms. That’s all still quite OK for flat feet, but in case you want that extra stability that comes from wider platforms, we’ve got you covered. 

Best grip in hiking boots for flat feet 

Regardless of the foot condition, finding a good grip that’s necessary for the terrain you’re covering, is a priority. 

A general rule is: the deeper the lugs, the better the grip. However, deeper lugs are usually needed for mud, snow, slush, soft loose ground, etc. Shallower lugs are great for hard-packed surfaces or large flat rocks. 

It’s not just the lug depth that plays a role in the grip, but the shape and number of the lugs and the distance between them. 

Rubber softness is another piece of the puzzle: softer rubber is stickier and more flexible, while harder rubber tends to be more durable and protective. Looking at the numbers on the durometer, the higher they are, the harder the rubber. 

Testing the durability of the outsole in hiking boots for flat feet

Once the damage is done, we measure the depth of the dent with a tire tread gauge. The deeper the dent, the less durable the outsole.