About
Why the Fuss About Hiking Boots?
If like me you’ve ever gone out on a long walk or hike in the wrong footwear, you will know how this can ruin your experience with constant distraction, frustration and pain. I’ve (often) found myself learning the hard way, by repeatedly using footwear that was actually damaging my feet and ankles, causing pain and risk of injury. With any kind of long trek, but particularly over rough, jagged and unpredictable terrain, the first thing that is at risk is your feet – getting them protected should be the first priority.
Don’t expect to venture up a mountain, along a river, wet trail or path wearing your running shoes…it won’t be long before you start noticing moistness or rough gradually building around your feet and you find yourself slipping (and cursing!). The contact that you make with the ground as you walk and the security that you feel around your feet, can decide whether a hike is invigorating and rewarding or just awkward and discomfiting – it makes a huge difference!
So What Exactly Is a Good Hiking Boot?
When comparing hiking boots and discerning the good from the bad, its important to understand their common features. Here’s a quick outline…
The Upper refers to the whole upper part of the boot. Good uppers will be waterproof but still be able to breathe and in so doing, prevent blister-causing moisture from entering the boot. It should also provide good overall sturdy protection to the foot, giving support and shock absorption.
Soles are obviously the bottom part of the boot. Good soles ensure a high level of friction across a wide range of surfaces. By getting boots that have deep-lugged soles you minimize the loss of friction in slippery conditions, as grip is more concentrated into the fewer points of the sole that are actually touching the ground. Deep-lugs will also mean that on softer surfaces the soles will penetrate deeper into the ground and again provide a better grip. Getting soles with the right flexibility is important, as they do need to retain enough flexibility to preserve something close to your natural walking motion, but at the same time not compromise support.
The best laces are braided nylon cords, avoid flat laces as they are more likely to break.
All boots will have lining and padding to provide more comfort and protection to your feet. You’ll often find that boots will use foam padding because it protects your feet from both pressure and cold, but bear in mind that you want to avoid boots with too much of such padding around your toes or heels. When you hear the term “liner” is referring to the innermost part of the boot, its mainly fabric now, which is good for dealing with excess moisture.
You might also have heard of a “scree collar”. This is just a lower cut made and foam padded at the back of the boot that protects your ankle and achilles tendon from chaffing.
How To Find The Right Hiking Boot For You
Hiking boots come in a lot of varieties…let’s be clear, if you hiking along a more or less smooth trail, you need different boots to someone on a multi-day trek along Mont Blanc. In any case, everyone wants a boot that’s well protected and dry but still warm and as comfortable as possible.
“Hiking shoes”, “trail boots” or “light boots” are basically entry level boots, designed more for smooth trails that are well maintained.
“Mid-weight boots” and “Cross-hikers” are for trails that are less smooth and light off-trail hikes.
“Heavy boots” and “off-trail boots” are for the rough terrains, they are pretty much the heaviest boots anyone will need…unless you’re climbing Kilimanjaro.
So the right boot for you will clearly depend on what you are going to use it for…that’s the first question to ask yourself, after that look at shoes in the category that best fits.