Tips for Hiking Boots
December 18th, 2011Hiking boot that looks great, feels great and won’t break the bank is worth looking into. It is a necessity for any individual who considers him or herself serious about hiking. Hiking boots with waterproof membranes can keep feet dry in rainy or snowy conditions and during shallow-stream crossings. Membranes add weight and decrease ventilation, so hot-weather hikers may feel more comfortable in non-waterproof light mesh hiking shoes that breathe well and dry quickly if they do get wet. When drying hiking boots, dry them at normal room temperature. Yo will be ill advised to dry your hiking boots by keeping them near a large heat source, or over the campfire as it would pre-maturely dry out the fabric or leather in the boot and possibly even shrink it. High heat drying of hiking boots might shorten the life of the boot.
The best hiking boots on the market are going to be ones that are both lightweight and comfortable. If you are having trouble on you hiking trip because your feet are wet and heavy than you have the wrong hiking boot. The boot needs to have good support for your feet to cushion the stress put on your ankles, legs and back so make sure that you pick the best hiking boot based on the type of hiking that you are going to do, because different types of hiking will have their own best hiking boot.
The weight of your hiking boots has a big impact on your comfort on the trail. Low-cut women’s hiking shoes can weigh as little as one and a half pounds per pair, while midweight leather hiking boots top out at around four pounds. Studies show that you burn as much energy carrying one extra pound of boot weight as you would lugging five extra pounds on your back.
Choose the lightest hiking boots that are ideal for your intended terrain. High ankle support, rigid construction, full-grain leather and waterproof linings all add weight, but don’t skip them if you’ll be facing tough off-trail scrambles. Check out various hiking boots that have the features you need, and compare their weights. A few ounces less could leave you in much better shape to enjoy the view from the summit.