These boots are made for walking
Check out this issues tech guide.
Owning a comfortable pair of hiking boots or shoes is an essential part of making sure your outdoor adventure is the best it can be. But with so many options available, it can be a challenge to know what to look for. This guide will outline some of the choices you have, and hopefully help you to narrow down your selection. Note – to some, there is a major difference between hiking, trekking, and tramping. To others, all three words can be used interchangeably. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to refer to all forms of non-urban walking as ‘hiking’. TYPES: Hiking shoes are best suited for short hikes with a light pack load. Compared to typical running shoes, they have a stiffer sole, more stability, and better traction. They are very lightweight, but generally too unstable for anything other than smooth trails. Hiking boots, with a higher cut around the ankle, offer more support and protection then hiking shoes. A higher-cut also helps with keeping any water or detritus from getting inside of the boot. Hiking boots are good for day and multi-day hikes with light loads on rougher trails or terrain. Backpacking boots are designed for multi-day trips in the backcountry, carrying a heavier load. Most are high-cut around the ankle, providing exce l len t support, and have a much stiffer sole than hiking boots. They are durable and suitable for rough terrain and offtrail treks. Mountaineering boots are very heavy and have very stiff soles. They are designed for heavy loads and are extremely durable, tough, and supportive. They rise well above the ankle and most suitable for an alpine environment, and while mountaineering. MATERIALS: Boots and shoes made with nylon and split-grain leather or suede are lightweight and have excellent
breathability, especially if there are additional mesh panels. They are generally lighter, less expensive, and take less time to break in than full-grain leather shoes. However, they have less durability and resistance to water and abrasion. Boots made from full-grain leather offer excellent durability, as well as water and abrasion resistance. But they are also heavier, less breathable and require more time to properly break in. WATER PROTECTION: If you are going to be hiking in clear, mild conditions, standard footwear is perfect. However, if you plan on being in the rain or snow, consider footwear that offers waterproof protection, made with: a waterproof/breathable lining to prevent water permeating to your feet, an external waterproof coating such as wax, oil or a durable water repellent (DWR), SOLES: Boots and shoes constructed with a soft sole are best on longer hikes that aren’t going to be very strenuous. Soft-soled shoes are light and flexible, generally made with thinner shanks and soft plates, and unsuitable for supporting heavier loads or traversing rugged terrain. Hard sole shoes are used in backpacking and mountaineering boots. They are designed for load bearing situations and hilly hikes, rather than extended flat ground. They are less flexible because of their stiffer plates and stronger shanks, and are best suited for steep terrain where support is more important than flexibility.