Hiking Boots

Hiking boots vs sport shoes(track shoes)?

2009-04-13T21:25:00.002-07:00

hi whats the difference between a hiking boots and sports shoes (say a pair of walking/running shoes)???

Hiking boots vs sport shoes(track shoes)?
The biggest difference is in the soles %26amp; their traction, but also in how well they support your ankles %26amp; feet. In choosing hiking footwear, consider what kind of walk/hike you will be going on. Mostly hard-packed/paved trails? Then good walking shoes are just fine. If you are tackling anything off-trail with rougher terrain, then seriously consider good quality hiking boots.

nanny job

Recommend cheap hiking boots?

2009-04-13T21:25:00.001-07:00

Hey I%26#039;m looking for some decent hiking boots with strong non slip soles and lots of foot support! I%26#039;ve seen that Rockport are currently half price thanks to back to school sales. Does anyone know if these are actually any good for hiking (i.e. their actual purpose) is not can anyone recommend another good brand of hiking boots?

Thanks

Recommend cheap hiking boots?
i would try one made by merrel with vibram soles they are comfortable and can be purchesd quite cheaply also they offer brilliant support they are worth every penny
Reply:When it comes to hiking boots you generally get what you pay for. The cheaper they are, usually, the less time they last and are more likely to give you blisters.

Personally I own a pair of Berghaus boots which I love, but I got them for £50 in a half price sale.

Best advice I guess is to try them on in store and see which feel comfortable. Last thing you want is to be half way up a mountain with your feet hurting.
Reply:Some sport shop (cant actually remember the name) is currently doing karrimore KB%26#039;s at really good price, and they are good (enough). They are like heavy trainers rather than boots but practically are a good alternative. Ive also seen bergaus at a good price in blacks/miletts.
Reply:Field and trek do their own %26#039;Stormlite%26#039; range of hiking equipment that are reasonably good.

Depending on what you are needing them for go for a canvas pair for summer use with a waterproof coating or a leather pair for winter or more rugged terrain.

If you can get a pair of %26#039;Scarpa%26#039; boots in a sale go for them- all my boots (plastic expedition, ice climbing, hill walking and approach) are by this comapny and I can testify that they are excellent in every area.
Reply:CAT approx USD 86/- ruff %26amp; tuff last you years to come
Reply:I do extensive hiking backpacking and camping in various wilderness areas.

And as one of the contributors mentioned. You get what you pay for.

If your just going to be hiking “around” town. Or own relatively short treks. On relatively flat terrain then even a good pair of tennis shoes will work fine. For more arduous hiking, then invest in a more expensive pair. And on rocky or solid terrain then vibram soles are a good idea.

If-however you will be in mud. Then not a good choice. Mud will definitely ball up on your boots. And your in for a less than pleasant trek.

familiar faces

What hiking boots should I buy?

2009-04-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

I am looking at lightweight hiking boots. I would like to spend less than $150. I buy mostly from REI, but I%26#039;m open to other sources. They need to be waterproof. I%26#039;m considering Murrell (sp?). Last year I bought a pair of cheap %26quot;waterproof%26quot; boots and spent a week with wet feet. Also they were too tight. It was pretty miserable. I normally wear a size 10 or 10.5 shoe and have high arches (which makes my heels hurt if not careful). Let me know what I should get from experience. I of course understand that I should try on lots of different pairs and get what feels best to me. That being said, help me out...

What hiking boots should I buy?
Silly question, but just why do they have to be so waterproof. If you have to cross a stream or river and you can wade accross without the boots on, then do so. If you spent a week with wet feet, it%26#039;s the wrong season for you to hike. First wear the same socks you are going to wear the day you try them on. That should be without question. Find a real good insole to help your arches, two pair or more. Extra socks and air out boots EVERNIGHT. Take care of your feet, it%26#039;s what%26#039;s going to get you back. Later
Reply:Ooooh...1st off...Gore-Tex boots will only keep you dry under the correct conditions. If it is humid, generally, where you hike, and you have sweaty feet (or wear cotton socks) and/or your shoes get wet a lot, you can BANK on having wet feet all of the time. Once water (in liquid form) gets into any shoe made from Gore-Tex or a similar material, it cannot escape. It only escapes if it is in a vapor form. Same thing with coats and rainpants...once it has a chance to condence inside the boot or garment...you will be WET!

Now...boots. I would skip the waterproof thing all-together unless where you hike is normally COLD and wet. A good boot/shoe for someone with high arches is made by Asolo. Likewise, Garmont makes some excellent shoes and boots for people with arch issues. I am in the process myself of buying a new lightweight hiking shoe and will most likely go with another Garmont shoe. I wear Superfeet inserts in all of my other boots except my Garmont shoes because of my arch problems. I was even trying on some Keen boots last month. I have a pair of Keen casual shoes and love them because of the footbed...but somehow I just didn%26#039;t feel the same thing in the hiking shoes.

However...many a person I have fitted for boots did well with Merrell. The Merrell Mesa Ventilator to be exact. Not waterproof, but very breathable. It has a good tread and will dry fairly quickly. I don%26#039;t think Merrell has the best footbeds, so you might need Superfeet or a similar insert to address your arch needs.

I%26#039;d stay away from Scarpa and North Face shoes if you have a wider foot. However, I do like Scarpa%26#039;s arch. It is very solid in most of their shoes. Same goes for LaSportiva.

Montrail is also a very good all-around boot. But like Merrell, you may need some additional support to fix your arch.

Go visit an REI or EMS if you have one of those stores close by. If not, head to a specialty outdoor store that sells backpacking/hiking/camping equipment and talk to the bootfitters.

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Sneakers vs. hiking boots/shoes?

2009-04-13T21:24:00.003-07:00

How important is it to have boots (or hiking shoes) instead of just plain sneakers when backpacking? total load, oh say 20 pounds or so...

Anyone out there ever tried backpacking in just plain sneakers? Was it awful?

I%26#039;ve never found a decent pair of hiking boots in my life that were at all comfortable when compared to sneakers. Not to mention the fact that they weigh so freakin%26#039; much and really slow you down.

Are hiking shoes a lot better than just plain sneakers for backpacking? And which brands do you recommend?

Sneakers vs. hiking boots/shoes?
I like Merrell hiking shoes. You%26#039;re right, though, they are a little heavier. I%26#039;m guessing this is just because they%26#039;re a bit more rugged to withstand the terrain you might encounter, and this is a good thing. Having the hiking shoes as opposed to the boots (which are even heavier) works for me and I LOVE the comfort of the Merrells.

It really depends on you personally. I mean, some people need boots for the ankle support.

I%26#039;ve been in sneakers and no, it wasn%26#039;t horrible, but I will say that my feet felt better after wearing the shoes designed for hiking.
Reply:They%26#039;ll protect you from an ankle injury, or protect your injured ankle as you hoble back to civilization. Columbia is good enough. Merrel too and Nike too. You%26#039;ll be surprised how light they can be.
Reply:I%26#039;m a fan of hiking boots, Yeah they%26#039;re a little heavy But does the weight really matter when you consider the cushioning and torsional resistance that a good boot will provide you ?

I also think that pack weight is kind of an over -rated if not a useless number in the equation.

Think about it:

When I%26#039;m in good hiking shape I%26#039;m about 220 lbs

With a 50 lb pack on I%26#039;m 270 lbs and with a 25 lb pack on I%26#039;m 245 lbs

A 50 lb pack represents 22.727% of my body weight

A 25lb pack represents 11.363 % of my body weight

For a difference of 11.364 %

The point being that most of what I%26#039;m asking my boots to react to is my unladen bodyweight not the insignificant difference in pack weight

If you%26#039;re a smaller person the numbers will still be in the same ballpark and your unladen bodyweight will still be most of the load on your feet.
Reply:Depends on the terrain. If its an easy smooth walk with no water crossings or anything, you%26#039;ll be just fine.

But if your on a difficult hike, harsh terrain, etc. a good pair of hiking boots are hard to beat. Make sure they fit good (not loose). A really good pair of socks are really important.
Reply:Depends on what kind of hiking. Hiking boots provide ankle support on rough trails. If it is on some sort of managed smooth trails that isnt rough ( I dont consider that hiking...that is just walking in the woods) then sneakers would be fine.

With shoes you get what you pay for. You are right there are a bunch of crappy hiking boots out there that arent comfortable. Go out there and find a pair or really good hiking boots for 150-200 bucks. They will be comfortable.

Anything less than about 100 bucks isnt really a hiking boot. We call them %26quot;Hiking boot shaped objects%26quot;

Personally, I like and use the Mephisto brand of hiking boots. Very strong, Very comfortable and very light. However they will set you back over 300
Reply:With the advent of ultralight backpacking, people%26#039;s backpacks now weigh under 30, 20, and sometimes 10 lbs, it is entirely feasible and in fact beneficial to toss out your heavy hiking boots in favor of lightweight trail shoes, cross training shoes, running shoes, or even hiking sandals like Teva or Keen.

There is simply no reason to spend $200+ on hiking boots, which weigh you down, take time to break in, must be treated with waterproofing and leather preservatives before use, take forever to dry, require two layers of thick socks, and will still give you blisters after hundreds of miles of use, especially if you don%26#039;t luckily buy the perfect size for your foot.

I%26#039;d much rather spend $50-$100 for New Balance trail runners, which are mostly mesh and thin material, dry quickly, require no break in time or effort, wear only thin nylon dress socks, which can be easily switched, washed and dried twice daily, and will rarely if ever give you a blister.

In action, I%26#039;ve hiked all over the Sierra in trail runners and Teva sandals including talus slopes, crossing all kinds of creeks, summiting multiple peaks, and hiking 20 mile days with a 10-20 lb pack weight, and I%26#039;ve never had any injuries nor foot problems nor more than a couple of small blisters.

This guy has had a similar experience: http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/hikin...
Reply:I have hiked long days in sneakers and hiking boots. Hiking boots protect my feet from impact far better than any sneaker. They also protect your ankle from being twisted on rocks in the trail. They have saved me many times from having a severely twisted ankle. I think they are built for load weight in mind, and in fact you can buy them based on the kind of hiking you%26#039;ll be doing. Columbia does a really good job of rating their boots by the type of hiking and amount of weight you%26#039;ll be carrying. I have a pair of Columbia hiking boots and they are surprisingly light, not much more than my cross trainers, and these boots were comfortable from the day I put them on. Also they are Goretex XCR so they are very waterproof and breathable which comes in really handy if you are climbing a mountain where snow is still present, or having to cross creeks (very common in my area). Bottom line, I wouldn%26#039;t hike without them.

credot

Hiking Boots Or Shoes?

2009-04-13T21:24:00.002-07:00

I%26#039;m going to hike a 100 mile trail in Alberque New Mexico at Philmont in the mountains and i dont know whether to get hiking shoes or boots. Shoes lighter but boots more ank;e support?

Hiking Boots Or Shoes?
Boots, blisters, shoes, no blisters.

Boots heavy, shoes light.

Boots clumsy, shoes nimble.

Boots stay wet, get heavier, shoes dry quickly, don%26#039;t absorb much water to begin with.

Boots for carrying loads over 40 lbs, shoes for anything less.

You can read more about boots vs. shoes here: http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/hikin...
Reply:You should get boots for the ankle support. I am going to Philmont this summer too, and i just bought a new pair of boots made by Merrel. Whatever you do, you need to do it soon so you can break them in good before your trek. Have fun on your trek!!

skin problems

Hiking boots question?

2009-04-13T21:24:00.001-07:00

I%26#039;m on my third pair of high quality hiking boots and they always feel great at first, but when I start going down hill, my toes slide foward and hit the end and by the time I%26#039;m done with the hike, my feet are killing me all in the toe area. I wear 1 pair of thin silk socks and then 1 pair of soft wool socks. I have plenty of toe room in them and it is only when I go down hill that I have a problem. What should I do? Am I wearing them too lose or what?

Hiking boots question?
Zippy girl doesn%26#039;t know what she%26#039;s talking about. She goes around answering random questions with fake facts trying to mess them up.
Reply:Hi there -- I%26#039;m no real expert, but I do believe this is just a fact of hiking -- Sore toes when hiking downhill. Make sure your boots are tied tight enough and maybe try to put more weight on your heels as you go down. It%26#039;ll be interesting to read other answers!

koffice

Are hiking boots the same as snow boots?

2009-04-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

I%26#039;m thinking about getting some hiking boots and go up to the mountains. Would %26quot;hiking boots%26quot; be recommended? If not, what kind of boots can I use?

Are hiking boots the same as snow boots?
If you%26#039;re hiking through snow you should have mountaineering boots. I work/ed at a ski resort and saw many people wearing these because after a month of working in ski/snowboard boots your feet are killing you...

Check out: http://www.koflach.com/main.html
Reply:not quite. snow boots are made to help keep your feet warm and its water resistent. Hiking boots are designed to give you traction and its more rugged. Techincally, you can use hiking boots (i wore my walking shoes to the resort last time but it was kind of slippery on the snow) but I think snow boots are better. I think snow boots give you more traction in the snow.
Reply:no because hiking boots are made for sand and breathablity and snow boots are built for water resistence
Reply:Hiking is a pretty blanket term so it%26#039;s all dependent on what kind of hiking boots you buy. They make them for all kinds of conditions of waterproof and breathability.

Generally hiking boots are rugged but not intended to be used in snow. If you buy good waterproof boots they could be used in snow with gaiters, but that%26#039;s not their intended purpose so they might not hold up so well.

If you go to a good outdoors store they%26#039;ll be able to point you at a pair that would possibly suit all your needs.
Reply:Having sold outdoor footwear for many years I can safely tell you there is a difference. However, even with hiking boots, you have to choose from a wide array of footwear designed to deal with specific weights, terrain, and seasons.

If you only plan to buy one pair of boots, You may want to go with a mid-weight, waterproof, hiking boot. Nearly every hiking boot company makes something like this. Some are all leather (ie. The Vasque %26quot;Sundowner%26quot;) and some are a leather/nylon mix (ie. The Asolo %26quot;Stynger%26quot;). These boots can be worn year-round and with the proper sock combination can be used in winter without much problem. Wearing gaiters over the boots will also help keep out snow and water. Some hiking boots are made for winter use only and are insulated. (The North Face and Salomon make some boots like this.)

Snow boots come in two varieties...fashion or function. Something like a Sorel boot is very functional. They are great for ice fishing, snowmobile riding, or just standing around in the snow. They have a lot of insulation to keep your foot warm even if you are standing still. A hiking boot doesn%26#039;t need as much insulation because your are moving and thus generating heat. Snow boots are also available for fashion. Uggs and Moon Boots top my list of guilty parties. They%26#039;re not even really good for the snow...just for the cold.

Decide what you will be doing and when you will be doing it and make your selection after you%26#039;ve tried on a few pair of boots.

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Hiking boots?

2009-04-13T21:23:00.002-07:00

I%26#039;m going to be field walking in Turkey and would like to know what kind of boots ya%26#039;ll recommend. I%26#039;ll be walking 6 hours a day for about a month across a field. Something with good ankle support would be best.

Thanks!

Hiking boots?
Sounds like a blast! Can I come with you?

Here are some hiking boot reviews.

http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/gea...

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2009-04-13T21:23:00.001-07:00

fashion accessories

Hiking boots?

2009-04-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

I%26#039;m going hiking next weekend for the first time in years. We%26#039;re doing a day-long hike, not too difficult, all on trails. I%26#039;m thinking I can just use my running/cross-training shoes, which are already broken in. A few people have told me to use hiking boots, though. I can buy some, but I think that maybe breaking in hiking boots on a day-long hike might be a bad idea.

What do people advise? Buy some boots, and break %26#039;em in, or wear the sneakers?

Hiking boots?
You definitely want to use your running/cross training shoes, unless you want needless blisters. Also, no matter what you wear, you need good wick-dry socks.

Most serious hikers have ditched their heavy boots for low cut hiking shoes. I hiked the Grand Canyon in low cut shoes.

Go on line and search light weight backpacking and look at the footwear they recommend.

No matter what you wear, make sure it has good traction on dirt, and rock. Otherwise you%26#039;ll slide.

If you are prone to sprained ankles, I suggest you bring hiking poles, to prevent falling.
Reply:You definitly want a pair of hiking boots. Preferably with 8 inch uppers. That way they will protect your heel and lower part of your shin. Plus they have better traction, IF you buy boots with lugs. Definitly break them in as much as you can. The more the better. The better they are broken in, the safer you will be from injury. Also think about buying Gortex boots. They are waterproof and they breathe very well. Just for an example, my friend wore sneakers on an 8 mile round trip hike. He was miserable. He kept on slipping and falling on rocks and exposed roots which I%26#039;m pretty sure you will encounter on your trail. PLEASE BUY BOOTS. Be sure you wear the socks you will be wearing on your hike when you try them on and break them in.
Reply:on trails, without much load, running shoes should be fine

if you plan on starting to do much hiking, buy some boots and start breaking them in

Have L.L. Bean leather boots that took awhile to break in

fabric / suede boots by L.L. Bean, Vasque, and HiTechs didn%26#039;t take nearly as long

the Vasque really didn%26#039;t need breaking in
Reply:get a pair of good hiking boots, or just a pair of (american-style) lace-up work boots. they are cheaper and have very good grip and they are comfortable and do not move around very easily. good luck and have fun. wish i had more time for things like that :-)

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