Types of hiking boots and hiking shoes

There are many types of walking boots and shoes, and the choice can be wild. While there are some types of hiking shoes that won’t fit neatly into any one category, I’ll break down hiking shoes in terms of four categories, based on the general type of hiking they work best for.

1.Hiking shoes and sandals. For short hikes in the great outdoors, for laps around the campsite, and for easy interludes in a serious hike.

2. Hiking boots. For moderate hikes, such as day hikes or short walks on rough terrain.

3. Backpacking boots. For multi-day backpacking trips.

4. Hiking boots. For the most serious of hiking, mountaineering and ice climbing.

As you go up the category ladder, you also go up in price. That means you have to think more seriously and make more careful purchases the further up the scale you look. But before you start shopping in earnest, find out what types of hiking boots are available to make sure you’re looking for the right kind.

Don’t be scared off by prices and don’t make the mistake of assuming you don’t need special hiking boots. You probably don’t need $200 hiking boots, but that doesn’t mean you should attempt a twelve-mile hike in your tennis shoes, either. In this article, you’ll learn how to decide which general type of hiking boots are right for what you want to do. Then you’ll be ready to delve into exactly what you need.

Shoes and Sandals for Hiking

Hiking shoes can be versatile footwear. If you’re new to hiking and plan on only short hikes on well-maintained trails, you may already have suitable footwear. Elliptical cross trainers or any reasonably sturdy running shoe may be suitable for light walking.

Shoes designed expressly for trail running and light hiking are usually raised a little higher than conventional sneakers, and usually have a “scree collar” (a padded collar around the ankle to prevent stones from entering). They are not usually waterproof, although they can be somewhat “water resistant”, and the tread is not very aggressive.

Walking shoes are suitable for short hikes on reasonably dry, smooth trails where you won’t be carrying a lot of weight. If you’re going to be crossing streams, climbing steep inclines, walking on snow and ice, or lugging more than twenty pounds of gear, you should probably look at day-walking boots or backpacking boots.

Hiking sandals are a special class of hiking shoes. When you consider the four main purposes of walking shoes (warmth, protection, traction, and keeping dry), sandals can seem like a joke. But think again.

Obviously, you’re not going to be hiking in the winter in hiking sandals, so keeping your feet warm isn’t a consideration that hiking sandals address. Sandals protect the bottoms of your feet from rough surfaces and sharp objects, but they cannot protect the sides of your feet from rocks and brush. They also provide good traction.

But what about keeping your feet dry? Do not laugh! No, sandals won’t keep water out while crossing a stream, but they won’t keep water in either in when you step outside Many hikers carry sandals in their backpacks and change them every time they cross a stream that they know will overtake their hiking boots.

If all you’re going to be doing is short hikes on relatively clear, level trails in warm weather, it’s worth giving sandals at least a little consideration. More importantly, if you want to swap out a pair of walking shoes in the middle of a long, serious hike, hiking sandals may well be worth the space they take up in your backpack.

hiking boots

Day hike boots are designed specifically for hiking. If you plan on doing moderate hikes, such as all-day hikes or short hikes on rough trails, you’ll need to think seriously about your footwear.

Day hiking boots usually rise to just above the ankle and always have a padded “scree collar”. They usually have a fairly stiff fiberglass shank to reinforce the sole and arch supports. The tongue is partially attached, sometimes fully attached, to provide waterproofing.

Hiking boots almost always have lace hooks at the top of the boot. Some have eyelets all the way to the top, but they are difficult to keep tight.

Beware of imitations! The fashion industry has caught up with the style of hiking boots, and you’ll find plenty of shoes that look like hiking boots, but are more suited to hanging out at Starbucks than hiking through the woods. Look closely and you can tell the real hiking boots from the wannabes:

* necklace display

* Rigid stem

* Attached or partially attached tongue

* Genuine aggressive tread

None of these features show when you’re just looking cool, which is why imitation hiking boots don’t have them.

backpacking boots

Backpacking boots are designed for extended use in fairly harsh conditions. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking, especially multi-day backpacking trips or all-day hikes on rugged trails, you’ll need backpacking boots. And don’t be put off by the prices: a hundred-dollar pair of boots that last five years is cheaper than buying a forty-dollar pair every year. And more comfortable, too.

Backpacking boots typically rise well above the ankle. Very high-rise boots, such as military-style “combat boots,” may not have a padded “scree collar,” but low-rise boots will. They have a rigid stem, which can be made of fiberglass or steel, to provide rigidity and support for the arch. The tongue may be partially attached to the tall boots or fully attached to the lower boots. Backpacking boots always have a very aggressive tread design.

Many backpacking boots have eyelets for the laces at the top. This makes the boots more difficult to put on and take off. It also makes the laces more difficult to adjust than if they had hooks, but the eyelets are less likely to catch on brush or bend when you hit your leg against a rock. D-rings, worn on the top of some hiking boots, are a good compromise. They are less prone to damage than hooks, but are more easily adjusted than eyelets.

There are sturdy boots that are not suitable for walking. Work boots can be very similar to hiking boots in every detail except the sole. When choosing backpacking boots, make sure the sole is designed for the trail and not the shop.

Mountaineering Boots

Mountaineering boots are specially designed for serious expeditions in primitive and harsh conditions. The term “climbing boots” generally also includes specialized footwear such as ice climbing boots.

I’ll be perfectly honest here (my habit): I have no personal experience with hiking boots, nor with the conditions that require them. So I don’t have much to tell you about them other than that they exist and, depending on your requirements, they may be what you need. When you are ready to take a good look at hiking boots, I can only advise you to seek the right advice.

Mountaineering boots are generally completely rigid, made of thick, heavy leather or molded plastic. They are quite heavy and difficult to walk under most normal conditions.

Don’t oversell. If you’re looking for backpacking boots, you don’t need special mountaineering boots. This is a case where buying more hiking boots than you need can be a bad thing. Climbing boots are what you are looking for to climb Mount Everest, but not for hiking in the typical National Park.

conclusion

Now you know how to recognize the four main types of hiking boots. That will help you in your search. Pick the type of boot that’s right for the kind of hike you plan on doing, then go for it!