HOW TO BUY BOOTS

Boots are the single most important bit of kit a walker can buy. However, the choice out there can be bewildering and prices vary wildly. Pat Kinsella helps you choose the right boot to suit your needs

There is an enormous range of walking and hiking boots available, with prices starting in the low foothills – sub £30 – before climbing steeply to top out north of £300. Obviously not all boots are born equal, but what makes one 10 times better, or at least 10 times more expensive, than another?

The intended use of the footwear is one very significant factor. Four-season hill walkers, highland hikers and serious peak baggers will demand – and happily pay for – a whole different level of performance in a boot than fair-weather coast and countryside amblers might expect.

The features, fabrics and technologies employed in the manufacture of walking boots vary wildly, of course, as do the manufacturing processes, practices and locations, all of which have a significant bearing on the quality of the final product, how long it will last and the ecological and ethical footprint of the boot.

CONSTRUCTION

Fundamentally, there are two main elements to any hiking boot: the upper

(AKA the chassis) and the sole. Analogous to the frame and wheels of a bike, these will largely determine the look, feel and functionality of the final product.

Each is comprised of, and connected to, multiple subparts. And, as with a bike, the quality of the components contributes enormously to the performance level of the complete product, from its weight to its durability. Unlike a bike, though, you can’t change or upgrade much on footwear, aside from laces, so understanding the anatomy of a boot is important before you buy.

Like all footwear, good-quality boots are made using a last – the foot-shaped mechanical form the chassis is built around before the sole is attached. Most brands now use a digitised process to design boots in 3D on computer screens, but there are a few traditional bootmakers left, including Altberg in Yorkshire, where high-quality boots are constructed around handcrafted lasts and sewn together individually.

DESIGN

There’s a hiking boot out there for every type of trail and all kinds of conditions – you just need to find the one that best suits your walking habits. Important things to consider are the height and cut of the collar (high, mid or low), insulation and weatherproofing, the rigidity of the shank (stiff or flexible), toebox fit (wide or narrow), how grippy you need the outsole to be, midsole cushioning levels and weight versus level of foot protection.

MATERIALS

Traditionally, hiking boots were made of leather (including full-grain, nubuck and suede), which is excellent thanks to its mix of flexibility and breathability but requires a fair amount of aftercare. In more recent years, hardwearing synthetic materials, such as nylon, have become popular alternative upper fabrics. Most boots then feature a breathable and waterproof membrane, such as Gore-Tex (or a proprietary version of the same). Inside there will be a thermal lining to keep feet warm, an insole – usually constructed from polyurethane (PU) – and a midsole made with a foam such as EVA that contains thousands of trapped bubbles and offers cushioning. Outsoles are almost always made from tough, vulcanised rubber, very often designed by Vibram.

“THERE IS A HIKING BOOT OUT THERE FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAIL”