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Colorado Hiking
Hiking Boots                                                   

There are many different types and styles of footwear that are sold under the hiking   category. Some are made of fabric, many are made of leather and a few are plastic.  Some are very light,  almost like running shoes, while others have a very solid construction and are heavy in weight. 

I don't like boots made of fabric because they get wet too easily - leather boots are more resistant to water. Plastic boots are generally for specialized mountaineering purposes, are usually expensive, and don't really offer anything to hikers.  Some hiking trails are quite rough and some hikes go through loose rock fields through which there is no trail. In situations like that, you want boots heavy enough to protect your feet and ankles from rock abrasions and provide "mechanical" support and protection to the joints in your feet and ankles.   

In my opinion a good pair of boots for day hikes is made of leather and is of a medium to heavy (not light) construction, depending on personal preference.  Price is only a very general guide to durability and quality. Often the better boots will have black cleated Vibram brand soles which are quite good in terms of their tread design and the durability of the material. Most hiking boots only come up to just over the ankle -- personally I like boots to come up several inches above that. 

Once you've picked out a general type of boot you want, the next step is to make sure you get a good fit.  If you don't, instead of breaking the boots in, you'll be breaking your feet in by developing blisters and calluses.  That's not much fun and sometimes it doesn't work at all, resulting in the boots being discarded and replaced by another pair. 

Here is the best way to go about getting the right fit.

·                    Your feet swell somewhat during use so go boot shopping after you have been on your feet walking for some time. 

·                    Wear the same socks as you will be using during hiking -- perhaps a pair of polyester athletic socks and a pair of thick wool ones. 

·                    Numerical sizes on boots are only a general guide and are sometimes not even consistent across a particular manufacturer's various boot models.  Use the length and width designations only as a loose guide.

·                    When you find a pair of boots that seem to be what you are looking for, reach inside each boot with your hand and search for any seams or bumps that are obvious abrasion points. If they pass this test then...

·                    Put the boots on without lacing them up. With the lacings loose stand up and tap the toe of each boot to the floor in order to slide your feet to the front so that your toes touch the boot front.  Next, check the space between the back of boot and the heel of your foot -- if your finger can snugly fit into that space then it is probably about the right length.  By doing this measurement you're trying to avoid the situation in which your toes run into the front of your boots. When you're descending a steep slope your feet will  constantly be trying to shift forward which can cause toe blisters, abrasions and broken toenails if your boots are too short.  If they pass this test then...

·                    Lace the boots up just as you would if you're going hiking. The boots should fit snugly but not be so tight that you can't wiggle your toes. Try to force your foot forward within the boot by kicking the ground or walking down an incline.  If your toes hit the front of the boot, put those boots away and try another pair.  If they pass this test then...

·                    Try to determine if the width of the boot across the widest part of your foot is not too tight and not too loose. Try a variety of movements and see if the boots are snug but not too tight. Do your heels stay in place as you move around in the boots? If the boots are too tight it will deter blood circulation and create abrasions and blisters.  If they're too loose, you wind up with lots of blisters and uncertain footing.  Of the two extremes, being too loose is easier to deal with because you can wear an extra thickness of socks, and because boots tend to shrink a bit after getting wet and used.

·                    Once you have bought a pair of boots the next step is to break them in. Start off by wearing them around the house and then for short walks.  Let the leather and other materials of the boots become flexible,  and let your feet find out if there are any abrasive spots to adjust to or worry about.  The best situation is to go on a couple short hikes before using new boots for something 10 or 15 miles in length.  Before using boots in the field they should be given a coating of boot waterproofing.  

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