Hiking Boots

Your hiking boots, more than any other piece of your hiking gear, can make or break a hiking trip. Think about it; if your stove breaks you can always start a fire and cook over the flames. If your tent leaks you can fix it or build a shelter, or if there's enough room you can just shift to a different part of your tent. If your jacket tears you can put on another layer to keep warm. However, if your hiking boots are uncomfortable every single mile on the trail will be agony, especially if you plan on hiking for a few days in a row.

If you're out to buy a new pair of hiking boots there are a lot of choices out there. Despite this, if you're shopping for a standard multi-day hiker you're in pretty good hands, as this is the level at which most of the hiking boot market is targeted. Sure, there are some low-topped day hiking boots and some enormous, overbuilt expedition boots, but what you're searching for is a high-topped boot that will give you lots of ankle support over a lot of miles. Pay attention to the construction and stitching, as a good pair of hiking boots should last you for years before wearing out, and even then most soles can be replaced, at least on good quality boots. Many hikers prefer waterproof boots lined with Gore-Tex or a similar material, but most of these boots still won't keep your feet bone-dry if you're wading through water during a stream or river crossing. Also, the lined boots may help keep your feet a little warmer, though if they do get soaked in a river crossing they'll take longer to dry out than unlined boots.

A boot's features are a minor detail compared to how your hiking boots fit your feet. Don't just try on a new pair of boots, stand up, walk around the room once, and declare them good to go. Leave them on for a half hour or so, and try walking around the store with a weighted pack on your back to test how the boots feel under weight. Pay attention to any hot spots that develop on your feet and how your arches feel when you step forward. Try this with a few different boots to see how they compare to each other and never, ever buy a pair of hiking boots without trying them out first.

Finally, before you take off on that big hike, be sure to break in your boots first. When new, hiking boots can be stiff and will be hard on your feet in the first few days; wear them around the house to avoid having sore feet once you hit the trail.