So we’re back to continue our series on adventurous travel trips, And now, let’s talk about an essential piece of equipment: a good pair of hiking and trekking boots . The goal of this post is not to tell you which boots to choose. What we want is for you to leave here knowing what criteria to evaluate to make sure you make a good choice for your adventures.
Boots are your best friends on the trails. They will protect your feet from all the dangers that lie ahead. They will give you the support you need to carry the rest of your body weight and gear. Check out some of the benefits of good boots:
- Protection against sharp objects;
- Protection against ankle sprains;
- Dry feet;
- Warm feet;
- Traction to overcome obstacles, and much more!
BOOTS
The boot you choose should be suitable for what you are going to do. No more, no less. It is common to buy a boot with features beyond those you need, unnecessarily rigid, resistant or heavy, for example. Thinking about buying the appropriate boot for the most difficult situation possible, but… What is the need for that, if all you intend to do with your boot is cross a medium-level trail of 20 km?
To help you understand better, there are three main scenarios you will face:
- Trails along regular or slightly uneven paths;
- Short trails through uneven paths;
- Multi-day expeditions on uneven trails;
In each of these situations, the weather, the type of terrain and the length of your adventure greatly influence the footwear you should wear. For example: if you plan to hike along a warm beach for just a few hours, and are certain that you won’t get your feet wet… It’s not worth wearing boots with rigid soles. Maybe even running shoes would solve your problem. So, when choosing a boot, pay attention to the following characteristics:
WATERPROOF AND BREATHABILITY
There are three types of boots, according to this aspect:
- No waterproofing;
- Completely waterproof;
- Waterproof, but breathable;
The third type has a technology that prevents water from entering, but allows the foot to perspire. This is good and ideal for most situations, as it keeps the foot dry. Wet feet are a big pitfall in cold weather and on long walks. The first type poses a risk of hypothermia – your body heats itself, but your extremities, once cold, drain the heat from your body, and this is very difficult to reverse. The second type increases the incidence of blisters.
To ensure that your feet are always dry, a good option is to wear appropriate trekking socks , which can be found in specialized stores, and gaiters. The boots and these items will prevent any rain, puddles or snow from getting your feet wet, as well as allowing your sweat to be properly eliminated.
However, no matter how waterproof your gear is, if you have to cross a river and submerge your feet completely in the water, they will get wet…
PROTECTION AND FLEXIBILITY
The steeper and rougher the terrain, and the more weight you’re carrying in your backpack, the stiffer the sole of your boot should be. This is because when you’re negotiating obstacles, if your sole is too flexible, your foot will have to constantly adjust to the terrain, which can be extremely painful and tiring.
To achieve this, there are models of boots with rigid or flexible soles, and with shaft heights that are below or above the ankle, and sometimes even a little higher. The flexibility of the boot allows you greater freedom of movement, and generally means that the boot is lighter, which is good on less uneven terrain. Like the situation at the beach that we described earlier.
But stiff soles and high shafts are ideal for protecting you from uneven terrain, steep climbs and descents, and the potential for ankle sprains caused by such terrain. Think of the third scenario described above: “multi-day expeditions on uneven trails.” The closer the terrain is to this description, the stiffer and higher the shaft of your boot should be.
An important detail is that the “Protection and Flexibility” attribute influences the weight of the boot. Therefore, it is not worth buying a boot that is stiffer or has a higher shaft than you really need to face the type of terrain you plan to face. Otherwise, you will get tired more quickly unnecessarily.
ADHERENCE
Another important aspect of the sole is its grip. You will need it when you are walking on wet or steep terrain. The sole of the boot must be thick enough and resistant to abrasion to ensure its efficiency and durability.
Pay attention to the grooves and studs on the sole. The more there are, the more grip. And the opposite is true: the smoother the sole, the less grip the boot will offer you.
SIZE
Finally, when choosing your boots, pay attention to the ideal size. The boot should not be too big, as it could cause your feet to sway, which causes a lot of friction and blisters, nor should it be too tight, which could hurt your feet after a short walk and prevent you from continuing. Another horrible problem caused by the wrong boot size is the compression of the tips of your toes in the toe when walking downhill, which could ruin your nails.
Different brands and models have different size ranges. In addition, the socks you will wear with your boots may be thicker than your regular socks. So, if possible, when you go to buy your hiking and trekking boots , take the socks you intend to wear with them and try on at least one size smaller and one size larger than you usually wear.
Another tip? The boot should fit comfortably on your feet, of course. And this type of footwear tends to be quite rigid. So, before wearing it on your adventure, break it in on a daily basis.