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Boots are a hikers most important piece of equipment.
The wrong boots can take the joy out of a hike.
The best choice for all-around hiking is a boot with a full leather
or Nu-Buck™ upper. Look for boots with a minimum of stitching
(stitches allow water in).
Before you hike in your new boots, wear them around to help break
them in. New boots may cause "hot spots" or worse, blisters.
See Treating
Blisters |
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Mountaineering boots are heavier than hiking boots and cost a lot
more money to buy.
Avoid heavy mountaineering boots unless you plan to hike in the
winter, climb mountains or ice climb. They will contribute unnecessarily
to fatigue.
The boots pictured here are specially designed for climbing steep
ice. They are also excellent boots for general mountaineering.
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Tennis shoes are great to carry along to wear in camp and to use
when crossing streams and rivers.
The pair pictured here have especially "sticky" soles
and are designed for scrambling and moderate rock climbing.
Visit La Sportiva (boot
manufacturer) on the Web
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Sandals can be nice to have along on a backpacking trip but watch
out when wearing open toed shoes in the backcountry!
Sandals can be helpful when crossing small streams but laced shoes
are better. If you plan to cross big streams or rivers, better bring
shoes - you'll have better balance, surer footing and they won't
fall off midstream.
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Socks should be layered. Personal preference rules here but most
hikers like to wear a thin, synthetic sock next to the skin, followed
by a thicker, wool or synthetic sock. This helps prevent blisters.
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