Hiking boots can provide your foot with protection and support as you navigate your way through the wilderness, but how do you know which type of hiking boot is right for you? Below, we share some tips for choosing the right hiking boots for your ambitions.
Picking your style
There are four common styles of hiking boots you can find at most sporting goods stores. They are:
- Light hiking boots – These types of boots are perfect for the average hiker who wants to spend a couple hours exploring a local trail. These lightweight, low-cut boots provide support and protection, and they offer more flexibility than other styles.
- Hiking boots – Regular hiking boots are designed for more intense day hikes or for a weekend backpacking trip. These boots are usually mid-cut or high-cut to offer you more protection and stability as you navigate up steeper hills or through thicker brush.
- Backpacking boots – Designed for the avid outdoorsman, backpacking boots are made to support your foot on multi-day trips into the wilderness. They are very durable, but they also provide added support in case you are carrying heavy gear with you on the trails. Backpacking boots are usually high-cut, and can protect you on and off the trail.
- Mountaineering boots – Unless you plan on doing your hiking during the depths of winter, you can probably bypass the mountaineering boots. These are designed for people who expect to be outdoors for weeks on end, or for professionals who need to traverse arctic terrain. Odds are you won’t need this type of boot.
Foot Support
After you’ve decided which style of boot you want, you’ll want to ensure that it fits properly. Since you’ll be wearing the boots for hours at a time, you’ll want to make sure your toes have room to wiggle, and the width of the boot is not too wide or too narrow.
As we mentioned above, boots can come in a variety of cuts. Your ankles will receive a different amount of support depending on whether you choose a low, mid, or high cut. Consider what type of hiking you plan to do to match the cut with your preferred style of boot.
- Low-cut boots – Low-cut boots do not provide a lot of roll-resistance for your ankles, so consider a different cut if you plan on straying from the trail. This style is ideal for well-maintained paths.
- Mid-cut boots – As you can guess, mid-cut boots provide more protection and support than low-cut boots, but they aren’t as flexible. If you’re going to be traveling through some brush and over some uneven terrain, mid-cut boots are the style for you.
- High-cut boots – These boots provide the most stability because they are designed to prevent your ankles from rolling when traversing uneven terrain while carrying a heavy load. These are perfect for people who like to explore off the beaten path.
Related source: REI.com