Superior Series

Altra trail runners. Or any trail runners really. You don’t need climbing specific approach shoes.

Go to REI and let them Guide you. I ended up with Altra trail runners. They’re great

Altra uses 3 different foot shapes, not all their models use the same shape. https://www.altrarunning.com/en-us/about-us/footshape.html. I started off w/ the Altra Lone Peaks then didn't understand why i didn't like their Superiors as much. Turns out i only like their shoes w/ original footshape (LPs, Timp).

I’m going to do my best to answer your question with the experience I have. The pros of military (also often seen as “tactical”) boots is they’re generally heavier duty and, like you said, a work/hiking hybrid. I don’t know when you were in but you may have noticed that a lot of brands for the Army and Air Force have moved towards a sneaker style boot. Some examples of brands doing this are danner, Nike, or under armour. Your Bellevilles and Bates are almost certainly more of a work style boot than a sneaker style boot. With that, the sneaker style boots are not nearly as durable as the heavier duty work style and can wear much faster. The main cons of military style boots are their bulk and weight. Some brands (see above) cut down on the weight by making them into a sneaker style, which is why so many in the force use those types. Another con is their height, 8-10in (for everyone other than SOF dudes) are just over the top for most hikers. MANY hikers and backpackers consider anything over 6in to be excessive as it doesn’t seem to provide actual ankle stability. However, Garmonts are massively popular for a reason so it really comes down to the individual. As someone that has hiked long distances is military boots, “tactical” boots, traditional (think leather based) boots, and trail runners; I prefer trail runners. You probably have seen that pattern already though. I like them for their lightweight, great grip, and relatively low price. I really have loved my Altras but also my Mount to Coast T1s. People kind of sleep on Mount to Coast in the hiking world but ultra runners love them so I figured they’d also be good for backpacking, and I’ve found that they are. Also, if you’re really hooked on something a bit more familiar and heavier duty I really recommend Crispi, those things are borderline indestructible and have a phenomenal fit. Hope this short essay helps!

Altra trail runners (they have several different styles). They are extra wide toe box and wide in general. Designed to be more natural foot shaped but they have more cushioning than most “barefoot” shoes which is why I like them

Altra superior is my go to because of low stack and ground feel. . Lone peak GTX my winter/early spring shoe.

Durability aside, try on both shoes. If you’re not thru-hiking then durability doesn’t matter much. Yeah, it’ll be annoying if they give out sooner than you expected, but the comfort can be worth the money. For me, Altras are the most comfortable by far. I wanted to switch to Topos due to the rave reviews and the vibram sole, but I had to immediately return them due to their pronounced arch support. My feet hated them and my altra trail runners and road shoes are the most comfortable shoes for my feet I’ve ever worn. I was late to the game so I’m sure I missed out on the glory days, but until another company comes out with a wide toe box and no arch support trail runner it’s altra all the way for me.