Hiking Boots buying guide

Love to go on long hikes? Take a moment and invest in suitable hiking boots to keep your feet comfortable and safe.

While hiking, your feet have to face a lot of trouble. Owning a pair of comfortable boots will provide support, and you can enjoy your hike properly.

However, while selecting a specific pair, you have to look into several elements. You have to deem the size, weight, fit, and other features that define the pair's usability and performance.

Collecting details on these elements can take a lot of your valuable time. Moreover, you may not even get the correct facts.

Referring to a comprehensive buying guide allows you to analyze all the information in a jiffy. You can quickly pin down the best variant for your feet.

So, let us have a quick introduction without any further delay and then move further into this extensive guide.

What are hiking boots, and why should you buy them?

Hiking boots are specially designed shoes for outdoor activities like hiking. These boots are constructed for delivering extra comfort while walking for long distances in rough terrain. The purpose of boots is to protect the hiker's feet and heels.

They are considered to be the essential part of the hiking gear. If you have a flat arch, a high arch, or wide feet, you should consider buying a special insole for your hiking boots. Hiking boots can help in keeping your feet warmer if you are walking in the snow. These boots last longer than regular shoes.

Hiking boots keep your feet in shape even after hiking. The durability and quality of boots can add to the hiker's ability to travel longer distances without harm. You can also wear these boots every day to provide enough strong support for daily use.

Different Types of Hiking Boots

The type of hiking boots you need generally depends on the hiking you are going to do. If you are a person who is going on a more technical hike, then you require adding more rigid material to the boot. Follow all these if you want them to be more durable and assist you with a higher support level.

The amount of support that the boots will provide you highly depends on the product's weight. The more the weight of the product, the more support it will provide. Low rise hiking boots are suggested for you if you consider going on a simple hike. If you plan to go on an extreme adventure, you require boots with a higher ankle.

1. Hiking boots

These boots having adjustable midsoles are recommended for single day hiking adventures. Light backpackers also suggest running shoes for traveling at higher distances.

2. Day hiking boots

Such boots are made for short backpacking trips and are suitable for only one-day hikes with lighter loads. They can get flexed easily and may require a break in some time. They will not provide you with any durability or excellent support present in other types of boots.

3. Backpacking boots

They have been specially designed with an extra heavy load on longer trips to the backcountry. They have a high cut up to the ankle for optimum support. Moreover, they are quite supportive and durable with tough midsoles than the lighter boots, as they are ideal for both off and on-trail travel.

Things to deem about while selecting appropriate Hiking Boots

Fit

All the types of features available in the hiking boots add to the shoes' overall fit. While buying and investing money in these boots, you will get what you were looking for.

People have different types of fit, so you should consider buying the perfect pair while buying boots. You don't want to harm yourself or be uncomfortable at any point in time during your hike, as you will be taking thousands of steps in your boots.

Boots with a very little wriggle room near the heel or the boot's instep will provide the perfect fit. Don't purchase boots that are too heavy for you, as you will get tired quickly, which will add strain on your calf muscles.

It would help if you went for boots with a tight lacing system that does not become loose. It will help you keep your feet close inside the boot and in providing the ideal fit. The best part is that locking hooks on the boot helps keep your feet tighter inside the boot.

Material

1. Upper

The fabric on top of the hiking boots covering the rest of the shoes is called the upper. It is an essential aspect of the shoes as it connects all the key features which count for providing high quality.

The upper is highly crucial as it assists in providing durability, water-resistance, and breathability to the hiking boots. Sometimes, the upper material is mixed to deliver the durability of leather and breathability of other materials.

Some boots which do not cost much have nylon material used in the upper. Using nylon has its perks as it feels light and will not let the shoes get damp, which will avoid the blisters from occurring on the feet.

But nylon does not provide durability to the product, but it makes the boots light in weight. The nylon material is not suggested for people who consider going on a technical hike. Nubuck and suede leather delivers a high-performance level as they are used in the mid-ranging hiking boots.

2. Midsole

During hiking, there is a lot of pressure on your feet, and the weight of the backpack adds more to it. This is precisely why you need a midsole, which will act as a shock absorber in between the outsole and insole.

The midsole is made from two products, EVA foam or PU, and their size can vary in different products.

The boots that weigh lighter have EVA material used in them as it is a soft material that reduces the impact of the shock. The material is stiffer and stable as it is recommended for longer hikes.

PU or polyurethane is suggested for challenging hiking as it can handle more massive impacts than the EVA can hold. It can last for a longer time and can handle a heavy load of pressure and maintain its shape as it is stiffer than EVA. The PU is an expensive material compared to EVA, so it is found on the higher-end products.

Internal support

It is another critical feature of these fantastic boots as these boots provide you with a high level of internal support. It delivers you a high level of comfort and protects you from any injuries during hiking.

There are shanks in the boots, which are 3-5 mm thick inserts between a boot's outsole and midsole. They play a significant role in adding stiffness to bear a large load. Shanks vary in length, and some can cover the full midsole length, whereas other shanks can only cover its half.

Plates also provide internal support as they are thin, semi-flexible inserts located between the outsole and midsole and slightly lower than its shank. They help in protecting our feet from being hurt by branches or rocks. Internal support is vital while considering buying boots as it will play a considerable role while you are hiking on rough, uneven terrains.

Crampon Compatibility

If you are considering going on a winter backpacking or mountaineering trip, it must have compatible hiking boots. The crampons included in the hiking boots are quite vital to ensure protection.

Crampons ensure your safety on snow and ice. With the help of crampons, one can cross glaciers, ascend the snow slopes, climb the frozen waterfalls, etc.

Super lightweight traction devices are produced to ease everyday walking in winter. Crampons are available in various frame materials like steel, stainless-steel, or aluminum crampons. Lightweight crampons save you from the extra load, but they do not provide durability and strength.

It is essential for the safety and performance that the boot and crampons are compatible. Light straps on crampons work well with ultralight hiking boots, but they are not suggested for ice climbing. Whenever you doubt the compatibility, you can go for a strap-on system.

Construction

The construction of the hiking boot contributes to the overall supreme quality of the boot. The way the materials are used in the product offers a sturdy construction. Some manufacturers use a better standard of construction as compared to the others.

There is often a choice between durability or weight. One of them is sacrificed to get the required perfect pair of boots. Low-cost boots, which are light in weight, do not last long as compared to the others.

The boots' quality while construction is considered more valuable than the type of hiking one wants to do. Durably constructed boots that are meant to last longer and offer more strength are required in more challenging hiking.

You can always look up the web for reviews about the hiking boots as you will know if there is any complaint regarding the construction of the material used in the shoes. If you want added strength and durability, it is highly recommended not to compromise on the boots' price.

Weight

The boot's weight is of significant importance, but that totally depends on the materials that have been used, which will provide durability to the shoes. It is very common to look for the lightest boots, to be comfortable, but there are other factors that one must think about.

Certain features make a good boot, but they add on to the boot's weight. You cannot buy boots that are too heavy for you as they will make you tired quickly and strain your calf muscles.

You require heavy boots for strenuous and challenging hiking or climbing on uneven ground. You need to have additional support from your shoes to have the perfect grip and additional support in case you slip or to cope with turns and twists.

The more materials used in the boots account for higher durability. But you should not buy a heavy boot unless it comes with the features required by you.

Some light hiking boots also deliver high-level performance.

Durability

Durability is an essential feature if you look at how the hiking boots protect you from the rough terrains and uneven grounds. These boots tend to take a lot of pressure on such grounds, and they need to be highly durable; otherwise, they will wear off soon.

There are products which are manufactured by companies that use high-quality materials and are constructed well. Such boots last longer and are highly durable. But sometimes, you need to compromise the weight for the durability they provide, as the materials used in the making of the boots adds to its weight.

The more material you add to the boots to make it durable, the more the boot will become bulky. Durability can be a bit hard to justify, so it is essential to go through the customer reviews.

If you are looking for the best hiking boots which are highly durable, it would be advised to go for a bulky shoe that will be made with more material.

Protection

It is quite likely to hit your toe while climbing or hiking. The toe box must keep your thumbs and toes safe. Otherwise, your hiking journey can turn into a painful experience. A thick piece of rubber is required at the end of the boot to protect your toes.

If you are walking on more challenging terrain, then it is likely that your toe will have to survive several impacts. Your boots should offer you internal strength to make sure you do not slip or trip over the rocks or branches that could hit you. Your shoes also need to protect you from the cold weather. Some boots provide an extra layer of insulation to keep your feet warmer in cold weather.

All this protection will be of enormous waste if the boots do not have waterproofing because the snow or water can get in your boot. If you are traveling for a longer distance in colder areas, you need to keep your feet dry to avoid blisters.

Comfort

If you invest a reasonable sum of money in your hiking boots and it is still uncomfortable to wear it, you should probably stay indoors. Poor hiking boots can limit you in numerous ways and can ruin the fun of hiking outdoors. You don't want to spoil your adventure.

If your hiking boots do not provide proper fit around the toe, then this might lead to painful blisters on your feet. If you have to hike for consecutive days and your boots are painful, it will be an uncomfortable experience for you.

Less cushioning on the footbed of the boot will also make your feet sore. It is of enormous importance to look for other features while buying comfortable boots. These features vary from person to person, as each person has different feet.

The tough leather in most hiking boots has been replaced for your feet to feel comfortable. Your sole of the boot should match the sole of your feet to avoid any discomfort.

Breathability

The breathability of the boot is dependent on the waterproofing around the boot. Thus, you should not consider compromising one feature for the other, as they provide protection.

Products like Gore-tex offer you breathability and also have the waterproofing capabilities to keep your feet dry. But there is one thing you will have to deal with: waterproofing can keep the water out, but it also means the moisture will stay trapped in the boot.

If your feet sweat a lot, then your boots' breathability will hold great importance for your comfort. Breathability also depends on the type of climate you are hiking in. Thus breathability should be an essential factor while buying boots.

If you are going for a technical hike like in water streams, you will need waterproof boots. Some experts rank breathability over waterproofing because they would rather be comfortable and have a boot with low waterproofing than being uncomfortable. The choice depends on the hiker.

Waterproof

Most of the boots that are available for hiking either provide a lot of water protection and extreme protection from other elements like toe protection, protection of the sole. You can be protected from the rainwater by purchasing the hiking boots with a layer of gore-tex inside the shoes, which play a role in waterproofing as it does not let the water soak inside the boot.

This gore-tex material's fascinating feature is that it provides breathability and protects your feet from getting damp with sweat or outside water. Other companies in the market offer some kind of protection but definitely not similar to the gore-tex standards.

The waterproofing coat helps in the beading of the water droplets, so the drops will run off the boots rather than soak in the boot. But often, breathability is given more weightage as it is in the best interest to have a more breathable boot so that it can provide comfort to last for a more extended period.

Traction

The boot's traction is of enormous importance as you will be hiking on a ground that certainly will not have the most significant level of grip. The traction of the sole of the boot is essential as it also affects the boot's stability.

If you have a firm grip on the boot's sole, it will prevent your boot from rolling or tripping over. This will prevent you from any injuries or harm to the feet so that you can complete your hike without being uncomfortable or in pain.

Vibram is the best manufacturer of rubber outsoles. Companies reach them to outsource their work for their hiking boots to deliver a high level of traction.

Companies do this as traction is of enormous importance regardless of the extreme quality of the boots. The lugs are separate pieces of rubber specially designed to offer sufficient grip in every direction so your feet can have a good grip all the time.

Stability

It is another critical feature of these fantastic boots as they provide you with a high level of stability. It delivers you with a high comfort level and protects you from any injuries that may occur during hiking.

The stability is provided by some factors like sole, support around the ankle, and the height of the hiking boot. Such features are useful for delivering stability, but they increase the weight of the shoes. So selecting boots depends on what qualities are required by you.

The stability also depends on the terrain that you are hiking on. The rougher the terrain you are climbing on, the more stability will be required by you to make the boot rigid.

A shank is often added between the midsole and the outsole, which provides rigidity to the boot. The shank can be hard as a plastic or steel piece, which offers sturdiness.

The importance of stability increases with an increase in the hike's technical difficulties, which is essential before purchasing the boots.

FAQs

1. When should I replace hiking boots?

Typically your boots start to wear out from the soles. However, it is considered fair to replace the shoes only after the entire boots get damaged.

2. Should I get an insole?

It is not essential to always have an insole ready as these are mainly made for people who have foot problems like flat feet, wide feet or high arch, etc.

3. How to take care of the boots?

You need to follow all the essential steps like:

1. Cleaning the Uppers
2. Cleaning the Outsoles
3. Keeping them in adequate temperature for drying
4. Storing them in a proper space.

Final Verdict

Hiking boots allow you to enjoy our hiking trip safely and comfortably. All you need is to find the best pair.

To ease your search, we have presented a buying guide that contains all the pointers necessary to find the best pair. Go through them and purchase an elite pair.