How to Pick the Right Hiking Boots

By Court | in GUIDES | 1 comment | Tags: Footwear

Picking the right type of hiking boot

Choosing the right pair of hiking boots can mean the difference between bloody heels, blisters on your toes and bunions long term. Everyone’s feet are different, sure but there are a few concepts that apply in most every case and can really give you a head start in finding the right boots. My goal is to share what I’ve learned from years of experience hiking and working retail here and get your input and feedback in the comments below. Let’s get started!

First off, let’s match the type of hiking and environment you’ll be going to with boot structure and materials. If you aren’t familiar with the different parts of a hiking boot then check out my hiking boot guide and jump back here. Listed below are bullet points meant to help you match your hiking style with a particular boot. In general though, low top boots with more flexible toe boxes and midsoles are for shorter hikes less than 8 miles. As you work your way up to longer hikes a stiffer midsole and higher top will provide support and help your toe joints manage the load and increased stress of walking.

Light hiking < 8 miles round trip – low top boots are acceptable here, especially if you aren’t carrying more than 15 pounds in a pack. Softer midsoles and toe boxes mean your feet can “feel” the trail but may tire more easily.
Medium hiking > 8 to 25 miles round trip – high top boots are recommended, especially if you’re carrying a pack in the 50 pound range. Stiffer midsole and toe box help you manage long distances and heavy packs, shifting motion from the smaller muscles of your toes and ankle to your calves, theighs and knees.
Heavy hiking 25+ miles – high top boots strongly recommended, especially when carrying packs (this may not apply if you are running a trail and not bearing heavy load). Mountaineering boots are extremely stiff in the toe box, midsole and upper and may feel more like a ski boot. As with medium hiking boots this design shifts stress away from the smaller muscles in your foot and ankle up to your legs.

Now that we’ve broken down the types of boots and expanded on stiffness and ankle support, let’s talk about membranes. You’ve probably heard of GORE-TEX, it’s a fabric that gets woven into clothing, coats, shoes and other outerwear to keep water from leaking in. This is a great feature if you hike near water or in wet environments. Keep in mind that GORE-TEX also adds stiffness to a boot’s upper and in turn support for your foot. The downside to the stiffness of GORE-TEX and other waterproofing membranes is that they may dig into your feet more and take longer to break in. Waterproof membranes are also known for decreasing ventilation and many men complain that they make boots hot to wear.

When you hike, your foot warms up and expands, you also sweat and that factors into how your boot fits and rubs on your feet. Make sure you’ve got the right pair of socks for the distance and climate of the trail you’re on. Always bring a couple of band-aids if you don’t hike often and consider moleskin if you already have a sensitive spot. When you do buy a new pair of hiking boots, wear them at home several times before taking them out for a longer hike. This will help to break them in and toughen your feet up.

Hiking boots are built around “lasts” or foot models that determine how they will fit. Different brands fit differently and are known for being wide, narrow, stiff, supportive etc. etc. and I’ve tried to share some of that knowledge below so you know where to start when you get to the store.

Keen – this company started out making sandals and has slowly moved upstream to shoes and boots. They really only extend into the medium hiker range and are known for having a wide toebox. Try these out if you aren’t hiking over 10 miles regularly and prefer a relaxed fit for a wider foot.
Merrell – a favorite among hikers, this company makes medium to wide fitting hiking boots and delivers a range of stiffness. If you’re hiking short distances and don’t need waterproofing look at the Moab Ventilator, if you’re going further and need support and waterproofing try the Radius, Phaser Peak or Outbound Mid.
Vasque – known for producing narrow boots with extra support. This company’s line extends into the heavy duty but doesn’t fit well on wider feet most of the time
Asolo – one of the highest end hard core boot makers, look for these if you’re into mountaineering or need something with a lot of stiffness, width is average
Garmont – produces high quality mid to heavy hiking boots. Known for adding extra support and padding to their boots, offering great midsoles and uppers that will last years. One of my favorite boots is a Garmont.

The way a boot fits is also important but somewhat subjective. In general, a boot should not be flopping around on your foot. You can measure how snug it is by untying the boot completely and sliding your foot forward so your toes touch the tip, now dig your pointer finger into the back behind your heel. If you can just get it in that’s a good fit, if you can wiggle it around a lot (especially down near the base) you might want to try a half size down. The real challenge here becomes width. I know plenty of people who wear hiking boots that are a bit too big length wise but just right width wise. Buying hiking boots that are a bit too long in order to make them fit your toes and width is a strategy that can work well, especially for high tops where the ankle lacing will keep you from sliding forward.

That’s it! Please add your questions, comments and suggestions below so this guide can help fellow hikers choose the best boots for their level and environment.