How to Buy Hiking Boots
Purchasing the right hiking boots for your feet and for your outdoor activity will make your trip much more enjoyable.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Decide why you need boots. Camping with a backpack, hiking with a light bag and traveling internationally all call for different kinds of shoes.
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2
Put on a pair of the socks in which you intend to hike.
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3
Go to a shoe store, the shoe department of a store that sells recreational equipment, or best of all, a specialized outdoor retailer.
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4
Find the lightest boots suitable for the kind of walking you plan to do. Leather is best for all purposes. Boots with inflexible soles are best for long walks with heavy bags. Lighter boots or heavy walking shoes are better for most other applications.
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5
Try on the boots, tie them as you are likely to on the trail, and knock at the floor with your toe. If your foot slips appreciably, you are likely to get blisters. Ask for a smaller size, or try a different model.
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6
When you find a pair that you like and which fit, wear them daily to break them in.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Buy new boots at least one month, but ideally two or three, before your trip, and wear them as often as possible. Don't go camping in new boots.
Stress functionality over looks. Boots are going to get scuffed and muddy. Your feet can get very hot in large, heavy boots.
Waterproof boots, even the best ones, don't work if the water is much deeper than your ankle.
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Comments
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slipperyelm
Apr 24, 2009
I liked the comment, "see if your toes hit the end of the boot", but if the toes hit the end of the boot, is that good or bad? If the toes hit the end of the boot will that cause a problem?
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Feb 07, 2006
It doesn't matter whether or not you buy the best boots on earth -- they will only work for you if they fit your feet. The better your boots fit your feet, the longer and more enjoyable your hikes will be. If you fall in love with a particular boot and buy it, but it doesn't fit you well, you'll wind up regretting your purchase. If you find a pair of homely looking (but sturdy and high quality) boots that feel like comfy leather clouds on your feet, then you've found a good boot for you. This is especially true if you have unusual feet (as many of us do). Don't be afraid to try on as many different makes/models of boots as you can. You will probably find that some feel very strange and some feel very good. If you're lucky, some will feel perfect. But only the very few with truly normal feet will be able to wear practically anything. For the rest of us, the key is finding the one boot with that elusive perfect fit. Try like crazy not to settle for anything less!
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Nov 22, 2005
When trying on hiking boots, try to find a steep downhill-facing surface to step on, to see if your toes hit the end of the boot. One of my local stores has a big rock you can step on to see how the boot will handle.
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Nov 22, 2005
Make sure your boots have soft leather upper, and have oil-resistant tread on the bottom. I've found the best hiking boots that I've ever owned (wore them this summer on a week-long 25 mile hiking trip) were 100%leather.
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Nov 22, 2005
Manufacturers don't use standard-sized lathes for making boots, so some brands tend to fit wider feet better while others fit narrower feet. Do your research and know what brands are likely to fit your foot.
