As soon as I settled in Tyrol, Austria, I created a long list of hut-to-hut backpacking trips I would like to tackle. Unsurprisingly, Stubai High Trail, one of the most famous and beautiful hikes in the Austrian Alps, hovered around the top of my list. I had already booked it for early autumn the previous year, but an early winter outbreak led to hut closures and forced me to reschedule my trip to the following summer. Come July, and once again, the weather forecast was not on my side. With an abnormally rainy July, I had to reconsider my plans. This time, however, I decided to go for it, with a resolution that if it’s not safe, we will be ready to exit early. I am happy to report that I finished the entire trail unscathed. In this article, I will share my experience and tips on how to tackle the Stubai High Trail safely on a self-guided trip.
Stubai High Trail: planning logistics
Important info about the trail
The Stubai High Trail is a route that requires extensive prior hiking experience and sure-footedness. You often hike along steep mountain slopes, on a black trail, with a few hundred meters drop to one side. It is not only physically but also mentally taxing.
Just two days before I began the hike, I read an online report about two serious accidents that took place that same week on the trail. One of them was unfortunately fatal. I am not writing this to scare you, because accidents can happen to anyone, even the most experienced hikers. You need to be ready to leave the trail at any point if the weather turns for the worse and it is unsafe, as was the case in both accidents.
The Stubai High Trail can be followed in both directions. After careful consideration, I decided to follow the trail counterclockwise. This meant tackling the most difficult passages on the uphill sections, which, in retrospect, turned out to be a good decision.
When to go: End of June – September
Days Required: 6-8
Total Distance: 80.7 km / 50.1 mi
Total Elevation Gain: 5450 m / 17880 ft
Highest Point: 2881 m (9452 ft)
Trail Difficulty: hard
Map Required: Kompass Stubaier Alpen
Nearest Towns: Fulpmes, Neustift in Stubaital
The map & elevation profile of the Stubai High Trail
Getting there
The Stubai High Trail starts in Neustift in the Stubai Valley. The valley is a popular winter destination with a few ski resorts, including the Stubai Glacier, which you cross on the trail (not the glacier itself, just the resort). Neustift is very easy to reach by public transport, leaving from Innsbruck, the nearest big city. Innsbruck is well connected by rail to other major cities nearby, such as Munich in Germany.
By public transport
From Innsbruck Central Station, buses 590a and 590b travel to Neustift at 30-minute intervals. The bus journey takes ca. 50 minutes. Download the VVT app to check connections and purchase tickets.
By car
If you travel by car, you can leave it at the parking lot for the Panoramabahn Elfer gondola in Neustift. Austria is a very safe country, so you don’t have to worry about your belongings in the car.
TIP: Because of the late start on day 1, we started at the Schlick 2000 ski resort, as I explain further in the article. To get there, we got off the bus in Fulpmes instead and walked to the gondola station. Fulpmes lies on the same bus route as Neustift, and the journey from Innsbruck takes approximately 35 minutes.
The average daily cost of hiking the Stubai High Trail
You should budget at least 100-120 Euros per person per day. Half-board prices, which include an overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast in the huts, are around 65-70 Euros with the Alpine Club discount and 70-80 Euros without.
Additionally, allocate some of your budget for lunches, drinks, and any snacks you may buy in the huts along the way, as well as shower tokens, which cost a few Euros per hut. My own budget usually hovers around 100 euros per night.
TIP: Read my post about what to expect when staying in mountain huts in the Dolomites. It’s just as relevant for Tyrol.
Where to stay before & after completing the trail
I didn’t need any accommodation on the day before, because I arrived in Fulpmes around 1 PM and only had 1.5 hours to hike on day one.
After I completed the Stubai High Trail, my boyfriend and I decided to treat ourselves to a Spa hotel and a much-needed massage.
Best Value
These self-contained apartments are just steps away from the Stubaierhof Hotel. They share the same owner. By staying here, we were able to use all the hotel’s spa facilities at a lower cost for the overnight stay.
Top Rated
If you prefer a full hotel experience, I cannot recommend the Stubaierhof enough. Particularly, the friendly atmosphere we were greeted with.
Stubai High Trail: day-by-day breakdown
Stubai High Trail Day 1: Schlick to Starkenburger hut
Distance
4.3 kilometres / 2.7 miles
Elevation gain/loss
290 meters (950 feet) / 160 meters (525 feet)
Time required
1.5 – 2 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 1
Trail breakdown
To get to the start of the trail, take the Kreuzjochbahn I+II from Fulpmes to the Panorama bar. From here, follow the signs to Seejochhütte, then to Starkenburgerhütte. For the first half, the trail goes up steadily. You will have fantastic views of the Schlick 2000 ski resort, with its impressive peaks and sheer walls, including Schlicker Seespitze (2804 m / 9199 ft) and Hoher Burgstall (2611 m / 8566 ft). You should reach the Starkenburger hut within 1.5-2 hours from leaving the upper gondola terminal.
We decided to follow this route because day 1 was also our travel day. We arrived in Fulpmes around 1 PM and started the hike ca. 1 hour later. We reached the Starkenburger hut just in time for check-in.
Fun fact: Hoher Burgstall and the Stubai Valley were Sir Edmund Hillary’s training ground for his later first ascent of Mount Everest with his climbing partner, Tenzing Norgay.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
Starkenburger hut (2237 m / 7339 ft) is the first hut on the Stubai High Trail, and its location already sets the bar high. From the hut, you will have a panoramic view of the entire Stubai Valley. Franz Senn hut, the next hut on the itinerary, can also be seen in the far distance. Right in front of the hut is a platform with columns that point to the Stubai Valley’s most famous 7 summits.
Day 1: Alternative ascent to Starkenburger hut
There are a couple of trail options you can follow to reach the Starkenburger hut. If you are a purist and don’t want to use the gondola, you can hike to the hut along trail no. 115, starting in Neustift in Stubaital. You can view the stats for this option on the map below.
Stubai High Trail Day 2: Starkenburger hut to Franz Senn hut
Distance
16 kilometres / 10 miles
Elevation gain/loss
770 meters (2530 feet) / 860 meters (2820 feet)
Time required
6-8 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 2
Trail breakdown
From Starkenburger hut, follow trail no. 116 to Seejöchl saddle (3.2 km / 2 mi in). The highlight along this stretch is the view of the Schlicker Seespitze.
From the saddle, you will follow an undulating trail number 102A. You will traverse the steep slopes underneath Schwarzhorn, Wildkopf and Hohe Villespitze to your right. To your left, you will have views of the entire Oberberg Valley.
After completing day 2, I told my boyfriend that evening that, despite the moderate elevation gain over the 16-kilometre distance, the trail felt exhausting, mostly mentally. You really have to watch every step as you traverse across the steep slopes, particularly in wet conditions, which we had after leaving Seducker Alm. A slip can be fatal. The fact that two hikers died on this stretch just a couple of days prior really contributed to my anxiety.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
10 kilometres into the hike, you will arrive at the Seducker Alm, a small alpine hut, where you can take a longer break and order some food at very reasonable prices. We reached it after hiking for 4 hours, which made it a perfect lunch spot
Franz Senn Hut (2147 m / 7044 ft) is your destination for today. I was surprised to find Wi-Fi available in the hut and showers included in the price. Some of the kitchen staff were from Nepal, and we were served delicious Momos for dinner, which, to me, is always a welcome break from the rather bland Tyrolean cuisine.
Day 2: Alternative route to Franz Senn Hut
It is important to note that the original Stubai High Trail between Starkenburger Hut and Franz Senn Hut should be followed only in favourable, dry conditions. Should it rain or snow, follow the alternative route below. It is longer and has more elevation gain and loss, but a lot safer in adverse weather conditions.
Stubai High Trail Day 3: Franz Senn hut to Regensburger hut
Distance
9.8 kilometres / 6.1 miles
Elevation gain/loss
690 meters (2260 feet) / 560 meters (1840 feet)
Time required
4-5 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 3
Trail breakdown
Day 3 will certainly be a welcome break after the challenging previous day. It is the only day on the Stubai High Trail that has a red difficulty rating (as opposed to black). Throughout the day, you will follow trail number 133.
The first 3 kilometres (1.8 mi) are a nice warm-up with very little elevation gain. After that, it is a steep but straightforward way to Schrimmennieder Pass (2714 m / 8904 ft), which you will reach after hiking 6.6 kilometres (4.1 mi). From the pass, you will start your descent. The Regensburger hut will be within your sight after around 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi). The last 1.5 kilometres (ca. 1 mile) is an easy walk along gentle slopes.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
There is no hut between the Franz Senn hut and the Neue Regensburger hut, but since there are only 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) between the two huts, we reached the Neue Regensburger Hut just in time for lunch.
The Neue Regensburger Hut (2287 m / 7503 ft) was the most luxurious stay on the entire trail. The new funky-looking building, an addition to the hut, is very well equipped. We managed to score a private room and had the best night’s sleep before the hardest day on the trail.
The Neue Regensburger hut has an exclusively vegetarian and vegan menu, which was a nice surprise. We both opted for the aptly named Regens burger for our lunch.
There is a lovely stream right next to the hut, which we could hear from our room and whose sound was calming as we fell asleep. There is also a yoga-designated space on a couple of platforms next to the small lake near the hut.
Day 3: Early exit route
If you have to quit the Stubai High Trail on day 3 due to unforeseen circumstances, here is what you can do. From the Franz Senn hut, follow trails no. 133 then 131, which runs parallel to the road all the way to Neustift (Distance: 16.3 km / 10.1 mi, elevation gain: 90 meters / 295 ft, elevation loss: 1240 meters / 4070 ft)
Stubai High Trail Day 4: Neue Regensburger hut to Sulzenau hut via Dresdner Hut
Distance
19 kilometres / 11.8 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1420 meters (4660 feet) / 1500 meters (4920 feet)
Time required
8-10 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 4
Trail breakdown
We decided to connect the next two stages of the Stubai High Trail to avoid staying in the Dresdner hut, right in the middle of the ski resort and next to the gondola station. Because we knew we had a big day ahead, we ordered breakfast to go at the Neue Regensburger hut the night before, and started hiking on day 4 at 5:30 AM.
The first part of day 4 follows trail no. 138 to Grawagrubennieder pass. At 2881 meters (9452 ft), it is the highest point of the Stubai High Trail, which we definitely felt in our slightly shallowed breath. The last couple of hundred meters before reaching the pass are secured with steel ropes and can be tricky. You reach the pass after hiking for 4.4 kilometres / 2.7 mi (ca. 2 hours)
From the pass, you continue on trail 138 and start a long descent, then traverse the slopes underneath Ruderhofspitze & Schwarzenbergspitze.
A short extension to Mutterberg Lake is possible, and I would recommend it on a good-weather day when the surrounding glaciers reflect in its waters. It adds ca. 20 minutes. I’ve hiked to the lake a couple of years prior, so I decided to skip it this time, especially since we had a long day ahead of us.
11.3 kilometres (7 mi) into the trail, you will once again start going up, this time to the Egesennieder (2.506 m / 8222 ft) pass. I won’t lie: at this point, I was in dire need of a proper break, since we had been hiking for 5 hours straight. Once you cross the pass, it is 2 kilometres downhill to the Dresdner Hut (2308 m / 7572 ft).
From the Dresdner hut, you cross a suspension bridge and once again begin an uphill battle on trail no. 102 to the last saddle of the day: Peiljoch (2672 m / 8766 ft). We arrived at the saddle in pouring rain, but luckily the storm cleared quickly, and a beautiful view of the Sulzenau glacier reaching towards the Sulzenau lake appeared before our eyes.
From the saddle, follow the trail down to the lake. It’s a must-see stop. From the Sulzenau lake, there are another 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) across a colourful rocky field to the Sulzenau hut.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
There are 13.5 kilometres (8.4) with ca. 1000 meters (3280 ft) of elevation gain between Regensburger hut and Dresdner hut. Because we left at 5:30 AM and hiked non-stop, we reached the Dresdner hut after 5 hours and 50 minutes, but normally one should expect to reach it after 7 hours. I recommend stocking up on some snacks in the Regensburger hut or ordering lunch to go.
Once we reached the Dresdner hut, we were so hungry that we went a bit nuts, ordering a big bowl of pasta followed by huge ice cream desserts and half a litre of Coke each. Going up that last saddle with stomachs filled to the brim was not easy.
TIP: Because the Dresdner hut is quite commercial and full of day hikers who arrive by the nearby gondola, we decided to skip a night here. Whilst I have nothing against gondolas and day tourists, when I hike multiday hikes, I prefer a bit more of an off-the-beaten-path experience. However, day 4 was very challenging, so if you think 19 kilometres with 1,400 metres of elevation in total are too much, then by all means break up the journey and add a night at the Dresdner hut, then the following night stay at the Nürnberger hut instead of the Sulzenau hut.
Our destination for today was the Sulzenau hut (2191 m / 7188 ft). Its current wardens were a lovely young couple from the Netherlands. If you still have some energy in your legs, I recommend a 20-minute walk to Blaue Lacke, a beautiful blue alpine lake near the hut. Since we were utterly spent that day, we opted to cool our leg muscles in a nearby stream to speed recovery.
Day 4: Early exit route
If you want to call it quits on day 4, I recommend two options:
- You can descend from the Neue Regensburger hut to Waldcafe on the Stubai valley bottom (distance: 5.1 km (3.1 mi), elevation loss: 1060 meters / 3477 ft). There is a bus stop near the cafe that serves routes to Neustift and Innsbruck.
- Hike to Dresdner hut, then take the Eisgratbahn Cable Car to the bottom, and from there catch the bus to Neustift or Innsbruck.
Stubai High Trail Day 5: Sulzenau hut to Bremer hut via Nürnberger Hut
Distance
11.6 kilometres / 7.2 miles
Elevation gain/loss
1120 meters (3680 feet) / 900 meters (2950 feet)
Time required
6-7 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 5
Trail breakdown
Today, once again, we connected two stages of the Stubai High Trail and hiked from the Sulzenau hut to the Bremer hut. This time, however, the distance was much more manageable, and splitting the day into two didn’t make sense because the sections would be very short. The entire day 5 is spent on trail no. 102.
Views-wise, day 5 was one of my favourite days, but it wouldn’t be the Stubai High Trail if you didn’t have some demanding passages along the way. Today you will cross two saddles: Niederl (2629 m / 8625 ft) between the Sulzenau hut and the Nürnberger hut, and Simmingjöchl (2754 m / 9026 ft) between the Nürnberger hut and the Bremer hut. On both sides of both saddles, cables have been installed to aid scrambling. I found the scramble up Simmingjöchl particularly demanding, because we were caught in the rain on that section.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
Nürnberger Hut (2297 m / 7536 ft) lies around halfway between Sulzenau Hut and Bremer Hut. We arrived at the hut before the kitchen opened for lunch, but we were still able to get a coffee and cake to give us some strength, and let me tell you, the cake selection was excellent.
As I mentioned previously, if you decide to stay in the Dresdner hut on your 3rd night, you can easily hike to the Nürnberger hut on day 4, with a lunch stop at the Sulzenau hut. Then, on day 5, you will only have to hike from the Nürnberger hut to the Bremer hut.
Bremer hut (2411 m / 7910 ft) is where we spent our 5th night on the Stubai High Trail. Once again, the hut didn’t disappoint, mainly thanks to the friendly hut warden and his staff. There is a beautiful view of the Gschnitz Valley from the hut.
If you feel grossed out by the clothes you’ve been wearing for the past few days, you can even have them washed in the Bremer hut’s washing machine for a small fee. WIFI is also available at the hut.
Day 5: Early exit route
After spending the night in the Sulzenau hut, you can exit the Stubai High Trail by following trail no. 136 known as the Wilder Wasser Weg (Wild Water Way). The trail follows the Sulzenau stream down to Grawa Alm in the Stubai Valley. Grawa Alm is a restaurant, set next to a road and a bus stop. The total distance is 4.8 kilometres (3 mi), with 660 metres (2,165 ft) of elevation loss. It will take circa 2 hours to descend.
Stubai High Trail Day 6: Bremer hut to Innsbrucker hut
Distance
11.5 kilometres / 7.2 miles
Elevation gain/loss
900 meters (2950 feet)/ 940 meters (3080 feet)
Time required
6-7 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 1
Trail breakdown
The sixth and penultimate day of the Stubai High Trail is considered the most difficult. Whilst this is true for a few sections of the trail that indeed traverse very steep slopes, I personally found it very manageable and less mentally strenuous than day 2. There are plenty of cables installed, providing extra protection. However, a 500-meter-long section halfway through day 6, which features 5 memorial plaques, will definitely keep you on your toes. There are three saddles to cross on day 6, amounting to a total of 900 meters (2950 ft) of elevation gain.
Today, you will follow trail number 124 the entire way. Right when you leave the Bremer hut, you will be faced with two choices. You can either follow the standard trail or take a short detour to Lauter Lake, which rejoins the trail later. We went for the latter. Beware of a short via ferrata section that has to be downclimbed to reach the lake. It can be quite challenging without the gear, so extra caution is required.
It was an exciting day for us in terms of wildlife spotting. First, we ran into a herd of Ibex. Later in the day, we stumbled upon a big furball tumbling down a slope. It turned out to be two marmots fighting. Before I could set up my camera, the fight was over.
Overnight stay & lunch possibilities
There is no lunch available on day 6, so stock up on snacks or order lunch to go from Bremer Hut.
Innsbrucker hut (2369 m / 7772 ft) is the last hut on the Stubai High Trail. It is located on the Pinnisjoch saddle, at the foot of Habicht, one of the prominent summits of the Stubai Alps. As in all the previous huts, we had a lovely stay, mainly thanks to the very friendly staff. We also lucked out and had an entire dorm to ourselves.
The only downside was the showers, which accepted 1 Euro coins but shut off after 30 seconds, often before the water warmed.
TIP: You can stay a couple of nights in the Innsbrucker hut and go to the summit of Habicht (3277 m / 10751 ft) the next day.
Day 6: Early exit route
If you want to exit the Stubai High Trail after spending the night in Bremer Hut or if the weather doesn’t allow you to tackle the stage between Bremer Hut and Innsbrucker Hut safely, you can take the trail no. 102 and descend to the Feuerstein hut near Gschnitz (Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 mi), elevation loss: 1110 meters (3642 ft), time required: 3.5 hours). There is a bus stop near the hut, from where you can catch a bus to Innsbrück.
Stubai High Trail Day 7: Innsbrucker hut to Panoramabahn Elfer
Distance
8.5 kilometres / 5.3 miles
Elevation gain/loss
270 meters (890 feet) / 840 meters (2760 feet)
Time required
2.5 – 3.5 hours
The map & elevation profile of day 7
Trail breakdown
After battling the demanding ascents and descents on the Stubai High Trail for the past 6 days, all that is left is returning to civilisation. There are a few options you can choose from. They all involve descending to Pinisalm in the Pinis valley first (yes, the names are correct and still make me giggle). You will reach the hut after walking on path 123 for 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) and dropping approximately 800 metres (2625 ft) in elevation. From here, you have 3 options:
- Continue walking on the gravel road for another 5.6 km (3.5 mi) to Neder, the next village over from Neustift. You will drop an additional 560 (1837 ft) meters in elevation.
- Take the shuttle service from Pinnisalm to Neustift.
- From Pinnisalm, follow the uphill trail for 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) to the Panorama gondola, which will take you to Neustift. From Pinnisalm, you will gain ca. 250 meters (820 ft) in elevation.
We used our annual Tirol gondola pass and went with the third option. We also wanted to avoid the long downhill slog on the gravel road.
Onward travel
From Neustift, you can take the public bus no. 590a or 590b to Innsbruck; the trip takes approximately 50 minutes, and the bus runs at regular intervals. Innsbruck is a major city with direct train connections to many European cities, including Munich, Germany, and Venice, Italy.
FAQ about the Stubai High Trail
Frans Senn Hut (Night 2) has its own booking system accessible on its website. The rest of the huts along the Stubai High Trail can be booked using the Alpine Club reservation system. Prior registration on the website is required.
You can check bed availability in the huts with this new web tool from the Alpine Club, which provides an overview of the huts.
I recommend booking as soon as the reservations open for the season, which is generally January. The sooner you book, the higher the chances that you get spots in the exact huts where you plan on staying. Thanks to booking early I was able to secure private room for my partner and I for all but one night.
We did have reception around most huts (apart from Regensburger hut). Along the trails, the reception was generally ok, but you shouldn’t expect to have it all the time. It’s best to inform your friends or loved ones about your plans and let them know you might be out of phone reach for a few days. For your own safety always write your name down in the daily journal in the huts. It’s a standard practice on multi-day trails in Europe.
No, you don’t. There are late entry / early exit possibilities each day, which I write about in the post. You can start or finish on any day.
No, apart from hut reservations you don’t need any permits to hike the Stubai High Trail.
Your backpack should have a max. 30 litre volume, unless like me you carry quite a bit of camera gear. Mine is 38 litres. Duvets or blankets, as well as food and water, are available in the huts, so no need to overpack. I have a comprehensive hut-to-hut packing list which should come handy when you are packing for the Stubai High Trail.
There are short passages secured with steel cables which you have to tackle almost every day. We did the route without via ferrata gear, but if you’re not comfortable on exposed sections and prefer to stay clipped in, bring the via ferrata set. The via ferrata sections are of beginner difficulty with A/B rating. To know what it means check out my beginner’s via ferrata guide. What we did pack was a pair of heavy-duty gloves to prevent any abrasions to the hands on the cable-protected sections.
Most huts prefer cash payments over cards, but we were able to pay with cards in a couple of huts. My advice is to bring cash in the 80/20 ratio, meaning the 20 percent of your payments can be done with card.
There are a lot of grazing animals everywhere along the trail, so I would not recommend risking it. There are more than enough huts along the way where you can fill up your water.
Generally speaking it is always safer to hike with at least one other person. With that said it is quite easy to meet other people in the huts, and team up with them on sections of the trail. We met a 15 year old young men in the Bremer hut, who hiked the entire trail by himself. He teamed up with Daniel and I for the Bremer – Innsbrucker hut section, after the hut warden told him, he won’t let him leave the hut until he assures him, he has companions with him.
Hey Marta! First of all, thank you! We followed your Tre-Cime traverse itinerary last year and we absolutely loved it. I’m a fellow photography lover so your guides are the best around. This year we’re following your Iceland ring road itinerary too! Now to the question: I’ll be in Vienna for work in early September and we’re thinking about tackling one your Austrian Alps itineraries. Which one would you recommend for (a) visual wow factor for photography and (b) 7-8 days? Thank you so much!
Hi Emilio. I am glad to hear you keep returning to my guides. As for Austria’s trail I think the Lechtal High Trail was the most impressive to me photography-wise, but you can’t go wrong with Stubai High Trail either.
Hi Marta! Thanks for the rec. We decided we’ll tackle the various via ferratas in and around Innsbruck instead, since that’s what we really enjoyed about the Dolomites. Keep up the amazing work!
Excellent. I already have quite a few routes under my belt and am slowly adding guides for them here. you should check it out. They are all around Innsbruck.
Hi Marta! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and wisdom. It is so helpful to hear about some of the more challenging parts, as well as all the details that don’t appear in guidebooks, like where to get lunch and do laundry! I have a question about shoes. Like most backpackers in the States, I have moved to trail runners. I use the La Sportiva Bushido. I was hiking in Iceland last summer, and I noticed that most Europeans were wearing boots, even though the hiking was not technical. I’ve never been to the Alps. Are there good reason why stiff waterproof boots are necessary? Thanks!
Hi Joel. Thanks for reaching out. I believe that shoes are a very personal thing. The people who wear boots tend to hike only occassionaly, those who hike a lot generally develop disdain for the clunky boots, me included. The last time I used my boots was on the Stubai High Trail because a couple of day before we started it snowed above 2000 meters and I just didn’t want to get my feet wet wearing speed hiking shoes. Honestly, already on day one I regretted my decision. These days I prefer speed hiking shoes. I have a pair of dynafit ones and they have an amazing grip and are so lightweight. I also did the Lechtal High Trail, which is of similar difficulty to Stubai, in ON speed hiking shoes and I was the only one in my group who didn’t complain about footwear. I don’t like anymore how I can’t really feel the ground in my clunky boots and honestly started feeling safer in the lightweight footwear. My partner on the other hand had ankle problems and he swears by his boots. So again just a personal preference. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your shoes have a really good grip.
Thanks Marta! Speed hiking shoes sound like a good middle ground between boots and trail runners. Will give it a try.
Have a great time hiking!