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By Diane Spicer
Far be it from me to tell you exactly which pair will be your best hiking boots.
So let me share with you a pair that I feel are the most comfortable hiking boots around.
But I know how to buy hiking boots, having purchased and worn out so many of them over the years.
Finding the best womens wide width hiking boots is my specialty, being blessed with wide feet plus a high arch.
Waterproof hiking boots are an absolute necessity in certain climates and seasons.
Narrow feet?
And if you're vegan, you'll need to investigate whether the manufacturer used vegan hiking boots components - an extra bit of detective work.
Look for the best lightweight hiking boots you can find, and dial up from there to make sure they're rugged enough for your hiking plans.
Instead of lecturing you on the "right" hiking boots, let me line up a few boot features for you to ponder as you consider purchasing a pair of your best hiking boots.
And by that, I mean the heavy duty kind:
(Hint: wearing hiking gaiters helps!).
A quick tour of your boots is in order. Feel free to skip it, but knowing the anatomy of a hiking boot makes you a well informed boot buyer.
If you are planning on using the boots for flat trail hiking you don't need to be concerned about "grippy" soles.
But if your hikes take you to uneven terrain (a very real possibility for any hiker), you want gripping ability.
Another consideration you might not think about at the time of purchase: are the soles replaceable?
I tend to wear out the tread long before the uppers are trashed, and want the option of replacing the soles. Rubber soles made out of Vibram have lasted a long time on my hiking boots.
On the other hand, replacing the soles might cost more than the original purchase price!
Two words:
There are so many materials used in boots these days, trade names like
The bottom line is this:
Will these boots stand up to what you are going to throw at them?
Here's where it pays to go to a store with trained sales people.
They can answer your questions, show you literature from the manufacturer, and hopefully share their own experiences with selecting best hiking boots for all sorts of feet.
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't buy a car from someone who doesn't drive.
Why buy hiking boots from someone who doesn't hike?
Some boots have removable inserts - a great plus when you need to dry them out after fording a river.
These inserts will conform to the contours of your feet, and need to be replaced every so often in order to maintain a good fit.
Another use of the word "insert" may refer to needing to buy an additional insert for a perfect fit.
The boot store will likely carry these inserts, and can guide you as to what you need.
Or you can try Dr. Scholl's or some other name brand, from the nearest drugstore or pharmacy (less expensive, can be cut to fit, wear out after one season, but may just do the trick).
Be sure you can easily replace your boot laces once you remove a broken/frayed lace.
One pair of my boots requires a pliers and lots of patience to re-lace after I apply waterproofing - yuck! It definitely demotes the boots down my "best hiking boots" list!
And always carry a spare set of laces in your pack (don't ask me how I learned that!).
Note: Some boots have "lacing systems", making it hard to repair or replace a broken lace.
For the fine grained details, read this Ultimate Guide to picking the best hiking boots for your feet.
And check out my Keen boot reviews if you want out of the box comfort, durability and support:
Are there best hiking boots "accessories"?
Oh yes, there's even more to think about...
...such as socks!
Many hikers make the rookie mistake of leaving on a quest for best hiking boots wearing just any old socks they happen to find on the top of the muddled sock drawer.
A reputable boot store will have various hiking socks for you to wear as you try on the boots. But why leave it to chance?
Bring your own trusted socks from home - 2 pairs, in fact:
Nowadays you can buy liners and hiking socks from many respected manufacturers. Find some hard earned sock wisdom here.
Even the best hiking boots might not be enough to keep your feet from getting sore. Consider a pair of insoles, using thisdetailed guide to make the best choice.
Trail tip:
Another idea: put duct tape on the hot spots BEFORE they get too hot.
Some general shopping tips for buying the best hiking boots:
Once you purchase and use your boots, you'll want these tips on how to weather proof and care for them: check this out.
...that trail shoes are the way to go.
Find out why here.
Now you know a few secrets for hiking boot shopping.
And you have some ideas for the best lightweight hiking boots, and how to buy a pair.
Have I convinced you that BOOTS are fundamentally important to a successful hike?
And that a high quality pair of the best hiking socks are part of the equation?
If not, send me your question and I'll yammer on awhile longer :)
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Best Hiking Boots
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