Irrespective of what skeptics might say, hiking is a sport. This means that hiking boots are sports equipment. Regardless of how old you are, how often you hike or how long your trails are, hiking boots need to possess specific qualities to meet requirements of hiking as a sport. As with any gear or piece of equipment, technicalities are many and can become quite boring. So, in order to avoid going into too many details, and turning fun into a nightmare, we give you 4 must-have qualities for this type of boots.
1. TO SERVE AND PROTECT - HIKING BOOTS ARE SHOES WITH A MISSION
Let’s make it clear. The first thing that makes a difference between all the shoes in the world is their purpose. Once we think of it, it is easy to conclude that the ultimate purpose of hiking boots is protection. Those who disapprove of hiking as a sport might argue that hiking is basically walking, meaning that there is no particular danger to it. However, hiking is not walking on an even surface. It implies conquering potentially rough terrains for a longer time period under any weather conditions. For this reason, you need boots to protect you from strains, sprains, and cuts. You need boots that have “to serve and protect” written all over their soles. In order to fulfill their mission, i.e. to protect our feet, hiking boots must provide:
- Traction i.e. resistance to slippage
- Stability
- Support, with a focus on ankles.
This basically means deep thread or lugs (grooves in rubber soles to prevent slippage and provide grip), cushioning to support foot movement and compression-resistant rear part of the shoe (sides of the heel).
2. COMFORT IS NOT ALWAYS AN ENEMY OF PROGRESS
Many wise people put comfort in a negative context. They say that comfort and progress cannot coexist. This is probably true if comfort means lying in your bed and waiting for something to happen to you. But if you are climbing up a rocky hill after three hours of hiking, the comfort of your hiking boot is absolutely paramount. What does this mean in particular? It means that hiking boots must be:
- Of adequate length and width (good fit)
- Made of breathable materials
- Sufficiently light.
Basically, good hiking boots are a fusion of various opposites. They need to be rough but soft, light but sturdy, and breathable but waterproof. There is also a paradox on top of it all. In the context of hiking boots, comfort is not provided to make you feel good but to prevent you from feeling bad. This means that long walks make your feet hurt anyway but you need comfortable hiking boots to keep your feet dry and to save them from blisters, fungus, and other nasty side effects of hiking. In the end, finding comfort in the discomfort is the point of it all right?
3. HIKING BOOTS ARE WAR VETERANS IN YOUR CLOSET
Above listed qualities depend mostly on materials. Design and production technology also play a minor role. Anyhow, when buying hiking clothes you must check clothing labels. It might seem strange, but you should look for synthetic materials. These prove to meet the requirements of the sport much better than natural fabrics. Most of all, they do a better job in moisture management, which is not the case with natural fabrics.
4. VALUE FOR THE MONEY
When Nancy Sinatra says: “These boots are made for walkin’, and that’s just what they’ll do”, I say: “But I do not want to be paying for them more than I need to”. This is to say that, as with any other product, hiking boots must give good value for money. When choosing your hiking boots, it is useful to keep in mind that expensive does not always mean better. On the other hand, you cannot expect to buy good hiking boots for 50 dollars. Once you start searching for your perfect pair, you will see that options are many and that price varies significantly. Our advice would be:
- Do thorough research online and
- Try the boots on – size does matter.
It might also be useful to read this blog again. Just as a reminder of what you are actually looking for. For more help, we give you a review of the Best Hiking Boots in 2023.
