Hiking Boots Guide

The most important decsion you will ever make as a hiker is choosing the right boots. You must make sure that the boots you choose will be comfortable, protect your feet from the elements and last for years to come.

The two main factors in determining what boots to buy is length of trip and weather conditions.

How long is your average hiking trip?

Depending on your answer you will fall into one of the following 3 categories.

• Day Hiking Boots and Shoes (lightweight hiking) - For single day hikes with a light load to carry. These are usually made using Nylon mesh or split grain leather (suede) to be breathable> and lightweight. They are the most comfortable over a short period of time. However, since they are less supportive you will begin to experience discomfort over long distances.

• Backpacking Boots (midweight hiking) - For 2 to 3 day hikes on and off-trail with light to medium loads to carry. These are constructed using full grain or split grain leather. Full grain is more durable and supportive than split grain. These midweight boots are still not ideal for extended trips over rough terrain.

• Extended Backpacking Boots (mountaineering) - For 3 days or more hikes on and off trail with medium to heavy loads to carry. Made with full grain leather to offer the most protection, highest durability and support.

Consider the Climate You Hike Most.

Nothings can rune a hiking trip faster than feet that get wet, cold or start to feel like your walking on hot coals.

The three elements you want to protect your feet from is heat, cold and water.

• Cold Protection - Winter boots are specially made to keep your feet dry and warm in extremely cold weather. They come with special insulation material that keeps the cold out and also allow your feet to breathe to prevent sweaty feet.

  They provide water protection through either a waterproof liner such as Gore-Tex and/or are made with water resistant leather (preferably full-grain leather) that is seam-sealed to prevent leaks.

• Heat (sweat) Protection - To prevent your feet from sweating in warm conditions you need materials that are going to be breathable. A Nylon mesh/split grain leather combination commonly found in Day Hiking Shoes and Day Hiking Boots are the most breathable.

• Water Protection - There are three different methods of protecting a hiking boot from water leaks. Waterproof leather, watertight construction and waterproof liners.
  • Waterproof Leather - This is a leather that has been treated to be waterproof either by the manufacturer or by the purchaser with a treatment such as Nikwax. Full-grain leather is the most water-resistant material over split grain leather and nylon mesh.

  • Watertight Construction - This is the process of designing a boot to keep water from entering. Such as having the least amount of seams as possible, having special stitches and seam-sealing. Watertight construction is typically combined with a treated full grain leather.

  • Waterproof Liners - To further enhance a hiking boots water resistancy a waterproof barrier such as Gore-Tex is built into the boot. For nylon/splitgrain boots to be waterproof they need a waterproof liner.

Buying Hiking Boots

Of course you could go to your local department store or outdoor store and choose a boot. However, their selection is usualy limited to 10 or fewer styles. Plus these are mass produced and the attention to quality is just not there.

I recommend purchasing purchasing men's hiking boots and, women's hiking boots at Backcountrystore.com. They have a huge selection of high quality hiking boots from top brands such as Salomon and The North Face.

They have the best customer support. If you have a question you can get answers immediately with their Live Help. Their Gear Experts will help you select the right hiking boots and answer your technical questions, all without having to make a phone call.

Plus they offer free shipping within the continental United States on orders over $50.

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