| There are many types of hiking boots and hiking | | | | the sole and arch supports. The tongue is partially |
| shoes, and the choice can be bewildering. While there | | | | attached, sometimes fully attached, to provide |
| are some kinds of hiking footwear that will not fit | | | | waterproofing. |
| neatly into any category, I will discuss hiking | | | | Day-hiking boots nearly always have hooks for the |
| footwear in terms of four categories, based on the | | | | laces on the upper part of the boot. Some have |
| general kind of hiking for which they work best. | | | | eyelets all the way to the top, but these are hard to |
| 1. Hiking shoes and sandals. For short walks in the | | | | keep properly tightened. |
| outdoors, for knocking around in camp, and for easy | | | | Beware of imitations! The fashion industry has caught |
| interludes in an otherwise serious hike. | | | | on to the style of hiking boots, and you will find |
| 2. Day-hiking boots. For moderate hiking, such as day | | | | many shoes that look like hiking boots, but are better |
| hikes or short hikes in rough country. | | | | suited to hanging out at Starbucks than to hiking the |
| 3. Backpacking boots. For multi-day backpacking trips. | | | | backwoods. Look closely, and you can tell the real |
| 4. Mountaineering boots. For the most serious hiking, | | | | hiking boots from the wannabees: |
| mountain climbing, and ice climbing. | | | | * Scree collar |
| As you move up the scale of categories, you also | | | | * Stiff shank |
| move up in price. That means you have to give more | | | | * Attached or partially attached tongue |
| serious thought and do more careful shopping the | | | | * Genuinely aggressive tread |
| higher up the scale you look. But before you begin | | | | None of these features show when you're just |
| your serious shopping, get a handle on what types of | | | | looking cool, so the imitation hiking boots don't have |
| hiking boots are available so you will be sure you are | | | | them. |
| looking for the right kind. | | | | Backpacking Boots |
| Don't be scared off by the prices, and don't make | | | | Backpacking boots are designed for long wear under |
| the mistake of assuming that you don't need | | | | fairly harsh conditions. If you are planning to do a lot |
| special-purpose hiking boots. You probably don't need | | | | of hiking, especially multi-day backpacking trips or |
| $200 mountaineering boots, but that doesn't mean | | | | all-day hikes on rough trails, you will need backpacking |
| you should try a twelve-mile day hike in your tennis | | | | boots. And don't be put off by the prices: A |
| shoes, either. In this article, you will learn how to | | | | hundred-dollar pair of boots that lasts five years is |
| decide which general type of hiking boots are right | | | | cheaper than buying a forty-dollar pair every year. |
| for what you want to do. Then you'll be prepared to | | | | And more comfortable, too. |
| look deeper into exactly what you need. | | | | Backpacking boots usually rise well above the ankle. |
| Hiking Shoes and Sandals | | | | Very high-rise boots, like military-style "combat |
| Hiking shoes can be multi-purpose footwear. If you | | | | boots," may not have a padded "scree collar," but |
| are new to hiking, and planning only short hikes on | | | | lower-rise boots will have one. They have a rigid |
| well-maintained trails, you might already have suitable | | | | shank, which may be fiberglass or steel, to provide |
| footwear. Cross trainers or any reasonably sturdy | | | | stiffness and arch support. The tongue may be |
| sneaker may be suitable for light hiking. | | | | partially attached on high-rise boots, or fully attached |
| Shoes expressly designed for trail running and light | | | | on lower boots. Backpacking boots always have a |
| hiking typically rise a little higher than conventional | | | | very aggressive tread design. |
| sneakers, and they usually have a "scree collar" (a | | | | Many backpacking boots have eyelets for the laces |
| collar of padding around the ankle to keep pebbles | | | | all the way up. This makes the boots harder to put |
| out). They are usually not waterproof, though they | | | | on and take off. It also makes the laces more |
| may be somewhat "water resistant," and the tread is | | | | difficult to adjust than if they had hooks, but the |
| not very aggressive. | | | | eyelets are less prone to catching on brush or getting |
| Hiking shoes are suitable for short hikes on | | | | bent closed when you bash your leg against a |
| reasonably dry, reasonably smooth trails where you | | | | boulder. D-rings, used on the upper parts of some |
| will not be carrying much weight. If you will be | | | | hiking boots, are a good compromise. They are less |
| crossing streams, climbing steep slopes, walking on | | | | prone to damage than hooks, but more easily |
| snow and ice, or carrying more than about twenty | | | | adjustable than eyelets. |
| pounds of gear, you should probably look into | | | | There are heavy-duty boots out there that are not |
| day-hiking boots or backpacking boots. | | | | suitable for hiking. Work boots can be very similar to |
| Hiking sandals are a special class of hiking footwear. | | | | hiking boots in every detail except the tread. When |
| When you consider the four main purposes of hiking | | | | choosing backpacking boots, make sure the tread is |
| shoes - warmth, protection, traction, and keeping dry | | | | designed for the trail and not for the workshop. |
| - sandals might seem like a joke. But think again. | | | | Mountaineering Boots |
| Obviously, you're not hiking in winter in hiking sandals, | | | | Mountaineering boots are specially designed for |
| so keeping your feet warm is just not a | | | | serious expeditions in primitive and rugged conditions. |
| consideration that hiking sandals address. Sandals do | | | | The term "mountaineering boots" generally also |
| protect the soles of your feet from rough surfaces | | | | includes such specialized footwear as ice-climbing |
| and sharp objects, but they can't protect the sides | | | | boots. |
| of your feet from rocks and brush. They also | | | | I'll be perfectly honest here (habit of mine): I have no |
| provide good traction. | | | | personal experience with mountaineering boots, nor |
| But what about keeping your feet dry? Don't laugh! | | | | with the conditions that require them. So I don't have |
| No, sandals will not keep the water out as you wade | | | | much to tell you about them other than that they |
| across a stream, but neither will they keep the water | | | | exist and that, depending on your requirements, they |
| in when you step out of the stream. Many hikers | | | | may be what you need. When you are ready to |
| carry sandals in their backpacks and switch to them | | | | take a good look at mountaineering boots, I can only |
| whenever they cross a stream that they know is | | | | advise you to look for suitable advice. |
| going to overtop their hiking boots. | | | | Mountaineering boots are generally completely rigid, |
| If all you are going to do is short hikes on relatively | | | | made of thick, heavy leather or molded plastic. They |
| clear, level trails in warm weather, sandals are worth | | | | are quite heavy, and difficult to walk in under most |
| at least a little consideration. More importantly, if you | | | | normal conditions. |
| want a pair of hiking shoes to switch out in the | | | | Don't be oversold. If you are looking for backpacking |
| middle of a long, serious hike, hiking sandals may well | | | | boots, you don't need special-purpose mountaineering |
| be worth the space they take up in your backpack. | | | | boots. This is one case where buying more hiking |
| Day-Hiking Boots | | | | boot than you need can actually be a bad thing. |
| Day-hiking boots are purpose-designed for hiking. If | | | | Mountaineering boots are what you want for climbing |
| you are planning to do any moderate hiking, such as | | | | Mount Everest, but not for hiking in the typical |
| all-day hikes or short hikes on rugged trails, you will | | | | National Park. |
| need to give some serious thought to your | | | | Conclusion |
| footwear. | | | | Now you know now to recognize the four main |
| Day-hiking boots typically rise just above the ankle, | | | | types of hiking boots. That will help you in your |
| and they always have a padded "scree collar." They | | | | search. Choose the type of boot that is right for the |
| usually have a fairly stiff fiberglass shank to reinforce | | | | type of hiking you are planning to do, then go do it! |