Best Boots for Climbing, Hiking & Backpacking

Series Summary

Man has been climbing trees, hills and mountains for centuries. However, as a sport, rock climbing began at the end of the 19th century in Germany and England. Since then, it has grown into a world-famous sport with thousands of participants. There are several different types of climbing, each having its own grade of difficulty and danger. It is considered one of the more extreme sports because of the high risk involved, regardless of the type of climbing. But when the proper rock climbing techniques are employed and safety procedures are followed, it can be a very enjoyable and safe sport. In this free video series on extreme sports, an experienced rock climber and stunt man discusses the basics of rock climbing and equipment. Find out how to tie in to a rock climbing wall, belay a partner and repel off a wall. Get safety tips on using the equipment correctly, and learn how to tie certain safety knots required for rock climbing. Consult this helpful guide to get a basic outline for rock climbing.

Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Scott, and I'm the owner of Climb On Indoor Rock Climbing, in Wilmington, N.C. Today, we're going to discuss hiking boots, backpacking boots, and rock climbing shoes. The best thing for hiking or backpacking, would be a boot that comes above your ankle, for support. I like Oslos. It's a great boot, lasts a long time, waterproof. Depending on the situation that you're in, or the place that you're hiking, you would want to do some research, to figure out what the best boot would be, for your situation, whether it's warmth, comfort, support, or waterproof. When it comes to a rock climbing shoe, there's a variety of different types. In our gym, we like to use Velcro slippers, because they're easy on, easy off. Outdoors, for more technical climbing, you might use a lace up, that tightens up the toe box. Anytime that I hike into the woods, I'm wearing an Approach shoe. My Approach shoe has climbing rubber, just like a rock climbing shoe, a solid toe box, but it's' more like a boot, or a shoe for hiking. This has been our segment on shoes for hiking, backpacking and climbing. Again, my name is Scott, in Wilmington, North Carolina."