People often say you are one shoe away from changing your life. And, well, no one can agree less. Wearing the wrong shoes, especially for hiking, can put you at great risk. Worse, one’s life can take a bad turn from there. For most hiking journeys, tactical boots are essential gear.
If you must keep yourself safe, great hiking shoes are necessary. Yet, making a good choice is not as easy if you don’t know the tricks involved.
So, what tricks should you know to help you choose suitable hiking footwear? Which tips should you have in mind as you make your selection?
This article put together the best tips for picking excellent hiking footwear. Selecting hiking boots worth their price will be easier with the information here.
Remember These Tips to Select Good Hiking Boots
Here are 5 tips to keep in mind that can help you select the best hiking boots.
- Know the Kind of Journey You Are Embarking on
Before choosing tactical boots for your next hike, understand the course, such as the route and length of the hike.
When you know your journey, you know the kind of boots you need to gear up with. That is because some kicks are good for some hikes.
Some hiking boots are even custom-made for genders. There are many tactical boots for women and men who enjoy hiking long distances. Women’s feet are more fragile, so they need the best women’s tactical boots, especially when hiking long distances.
Also, while women’s lightweight tactical boots are ideal, the nature of the hike determines the boot material you will settle for. Manufacturers made some boots with materials that are great for specific journeys. Hence, tactical boots for women provide enough comfort for regular hikes.
- Understand the Boot Types
There are different types of hiking boots. Boots manufacturers classify these different types based on different criteria.
Based on weight, there are lightweight tactical boots, midweight boots, and heavy-weight boots. Of course, the weights of these boots differ for different hike patterns, route duration, and so on.
The most common types of hiking boots include:
- Day hiking boots: These are great and comfortable for short trips. They are convenient to use when you carry light backpacks. Day hiking boots are flexible to use and easy to walk in. They are low-cut boots, so they are great for level ground.
- Backpacking boots: These are high-cut shoes, and unlike day hiking boots, these shoes are less flexible. Backpacking boots are more sturdy, providing support for long-distance journeys.
The balance they provide makes it easy to carry heavier backpacks. They are more durable too. Backpacking boots also provide ankle support. Hence, they are the best suited for distant journeys.
- Mountaineering boots: As the name suggests, these are best suited for mountain-type locations. The design of these boots has less to do with how long you spend on the trail. Instead, it has more to do with keeping you safe as you climb high.
As the famous saying goes, it isn’t the mountain that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoes. These shoes prevent discomfort as you climb mountains.
- Know the Materials Used
Whether the boots are high-cut boots like women’s police boots or low-cut like regular kicks, the kind of materials used in making the shoes is essential. The kind of materials influences how durable and breathable the boots are.
Aside from these, it also affects the quality, price, and water resistance of the shoes. Most good quality boots are made of leather because they are breathable, durable, and water resistant.
There are different quality natural leather materials used for boots. And there’s the Nubuck leather that looks like suede. Synthetic leather boots are more common. And though they are cheaper, most are of lesser quality. Hence, you shouldn’t trust some to last you long enough.
It would be best if you go for boots made with waterproof materials. They will do you much good if you plan to hike through dewy or wet paths.
If you are hiking through snow and glaciers, getting insulated waterproof boots will help. These boots have more insulating pads to keep your feet warm and safe as you navigate through cold paths.
Take note of the midsoles and internal support materials too. The midsole is what determines how stiff the boots are. A stiff shoe is the best bet for rocky hikes, as it protects your feet from rock bruises. You wouldn’t want your feet to wear out before you reach your destination.
- Choose Your Size
The hiking boots may meet all the selection criteria but are of no use if they don’t fit. Hiking boots must be the perfect fit. By perfect, they should fit well and shouldn’t be too tight. You should also be able to wiggle your toes in them.
To help you select the right size, ensure you fit your feet in the shoes. It’s not enough that the boots are your size by length; the volume they can contain matters. If you are not available to see if it’s your size, ensure your foot measurements are accurate.
It would help better to test the shoes with socks rather than bare feet alone. If the shoes fit with your socks on, then congratulations. You have the perfect shoes.
- Test the Shoes
Buying shoes may be deceptive when you try them on at first. They may fit this minute, and the next time you try them, it becomes difficult to put your feet in.
Hence, you must test them again before your hike. That way, you can score them as fit or unfit for the hiking journey. But why do you need to retest your boots?
The reason is that you need to confirm that you’ve got the most comfortable women’s tactical boots on. That is because your feet may swell or reduce in volume depending on your activity that day, which can alter how the shoe fits.
Final Thoughts
Getting the proper hiking boots is as important as hiking. Regardless of how simple and fun the hiking route promises to be, it would help if you appear geared up. You wouldn’t want to put yourself at great risk because you hike with the wrong boots.