Hiking boots are not just boots but tools that will help you in your journey. There is always a perfect attire for a particular place, and it does not matter if it is a wedding or just a hangout with friends, looking great is something we all want with comfort and flexibility. The highlight of any attire is shoes, probably because everyone’s eyes get focused there first. Shoes are foremost not just for the looks but for comfort and ease to move around, and every shoe designed is built for different use. As for hikers, there are boots designed in a lot of varieties to suit what is in your best interest.
Boots for hiking or camping are more important than people realize it since it can get pretty rough fast when you are in the mountains or the forest. Uneasiness caused in your feet due to the overcast conditions and surroundings can ruin the entire plan of hiking, and to stop that from happening, so we bring you a list of what you should be choosing when you are out in the wilds.
Choosing the right boots can be very challenging, but depending on where you are going to, you can choose what would be the best for the situation. A lot of things need to be taken into account when selecting boots starting from durability to how waterproof a boot is, so here is a list of what you should consider before buying a boot.
- Ankle support
- Waterproofing
- Grip and traction
- Breathability
- Weight and build
Ankle support
It is common for people to get strains while going hiking, and this is something you should keep in mind when you are buying since different hiking locations demand different kinds of ankle support. Not all shoes have ankle support, so when you are going for rough terrain for a hike, you should buy something with ankle support.
Waterproofing
Hiking boots with waterproof features is helpful when you are going for places that have mud, snow, or rain, but on a sunny day, the inner layer of protection will cause your feet to be sweaty with no flow of air. Leather boots are waterproof because of how compact they are built to be, and on the other hand, synthetic boots are not waterproof, and they need an extra membrane attached to them to be waterproof. Wet feet can lead to a lot of problems for, example it can cause trench foot, so you should always wear boots that help keep your feet dry.
Grip and traction
On Rocky Mountains, regular boots won’t make do, and that is why you will need something with a stronger grip on the ground to help improve your experience in a lot of ways. Not only on rocky terrains but on snowy and muddy conditions too. Grip and tractions can affect your journey in a lot of ways, and a perfect grip is always needed to help you travel better and faster.
Breathability
Keeping your feet in shape is decisive because when you are traveling, no flow air in the feet can cause it to be wet and sweaty, not to mention they will smell terrible too. You must buy boots that provide enough space for air to pass through your feet. Of course, breathability varies on the weather since when you are traveling in a muddy, snowy, or rainy condition choosing a waterproof boot over breathable boots is more important.
Weight and build
The most significant issue when buying boots can be the weight, which further digs the question using what material was it made. Hiking boots can be made from synthetic to full leather parts, each having its pros and cons. While the synthetic will offer light and comfort, the leather build gives more weight and extra traction and stability. Materials used to make boots can change the game of using them because different materials act differently under distinct situations. Leather boots can be really heavy but will help you last longer in rigid, snowy conditions, whereas synthetic boots in the same environment will fail. Again synthetic boots will shine in hot and humid conditions keeping your feet dry with enough breathable air.
List of some types of hiking boots-
- Hiking shoes
These are recommended for short trips on flat trails mostly. They are soft, durable, and have enough space to help your feet stay dry. They can be used to trips no more than 500 miles with 25-30 miles per day. Hiking shoes are most very comfortable, lightweight with wholes on top to help keep air flowing through your leg, they are the best for short trips, but they are not the best when it comes to big trips.
- Lightweight Hiking boots
These offer more protection, flexibility, and support with its design and built. The main motive of it is to help hiking in rough terrains providing grip, and all of this with a lightweight for your comfort. Some lightweight Hiking boots can also be seen to have waterproof features, with an extra layer of membrane that helps in keeping water out. These boots are great for people going on rugged terrains looking for some comfort and durability.
- Medium weight Hiking Boots
These are great because of how secure they can keep your feet on for the price of how heavy they can be, which can be a problem when you take on long journeys. They can provide excellent traction and grip and ankle support because of how well built they are. They can be expensive and unwieldy, but these boots pack a punch for long and rough hiking journeys.
- Heavy hiking boots
The big bad boys or called the heavy hiking boots are the ones built for hikers that live for thrill and excitement. These are designed to last long, even in the toughest of situations. If you are someone that does not care about boot weight and wants support and grip above all, this is the one for you. They are made using leather and can weight more than any other boots, but they are architected in a way to give your feet full support and grip on any type of surface. They can handle all kinds of weather and situation, let it be a muddy, snowy, or the Rocky Mountains with these boots you have nothing to worry about with these.
Summary- Each boot here discussed is made for distinct places and situations. In all deciding which boots you should go with can be very tough, but you should consider the location you are going to, the situation you are going to be in, and how this all will affect your feet.