Guide To Buying Hiking Boots & Shoes: Type, Size, Lugs, Material and Fit

Guide To Buying Hiking Boots

Choosing boots for walking and hiking is among the most important gear choices you may make especially when you think about it, for absolutely nothing can destroy a trek faster than not having a solid pair of boots. A potential injury may bring about with a pair of bad or uncomfortable boots that don’t fit well, your feet will slide around and you’re going to risk blisters and other severe injuries like with your ankles. So it’s necessary to choose a good pair of hiking boots that work for you. You can see a great range of mens hiking boots and womens hiking boots which we have featured on this website, If you need a little more information first, then please continue reading.

The worst advice I have ever heard given to prospective hikers is to choose boots or shoes a half a size too big, saying that your feet will grow into them. This is horrible advice as a blanket statement! Whoever tells you to wear a pair of boots or shoes that are too big can be setting you up with a horrible blister factory guaranteed to torture you horribly!

Good Quality King Boots Should Last

When talking about the longevity of boots and shoes for trekking, we also have to pay special attention to the durability of their midsoles. If you often hike with a heavy backpack, you’ll want to wear quality boots – with time, the extra weight increases wear and tear, which is something a boot will be able to handle. The midsoles found on trail runners quickly lose cushioning (they’ll become flat over time), as they’re not engineered to withstand heavy loads.

Your Feet Need To Breath

Unless you really need a pair of waterproof shoes, you’re better off without them. Always keep in mind that the Gore-Tex membrane can drastically decrease the breathability of trail runners. Also, don’t forget that a trekking boot comes higher on one’s leg (going over the ankle – boots are never “low-cut” like shoes) and it, therefore, covers more skin.

The great thing about boots with a waterproof membrane is that they can be used in many weather conditions, even when it is dry. This is because of the breathability of the hiking footwera. This is when sweat vapour is able to escape and is the reason why you can walk for miles and when you take off your boot, your foot is not dripping wet and covered in blisters.

In cold weathers, rugged, rocky and broken terrain, boots provide good ankle support and thick soles for shock protection and to guard against pointy rocks. They often have good insulation which helps in cold weather. You can get lightweight breathable boots with Gore-Tex that can dry quickly when they get wet.

Think About Which Material The Boots Are Made Of

Synthetic/leather (aka. composite) boots have been one of the most popular choices in backpacking footwear for many years. The waterproof uppers consist of synthetic or a fusion of synthetic and leather materials such as suede or nubuck. The midsoles are generally made of shock-absorbing EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or polyurethane. And, finally, the hard-wearing rubber outsoles are characterized by aggressive directional lugs that are grippy in slippery and/or rugged terrain which you might be hiking along..