How to choose hiking boots


Trekking, Guide Come scegeliere by Varuste.net / Toimisto-Jorma, 17.8.2020

How to choose hiking boots

Choose hiking boots based on the use and the fit. Are you going to do a week-long hike with a heavy backpack, or are you going to do little walks with your dog in nearby forests? Do you need to be able to attach crampons to the boots? As a guideline, you can use the classifications of Meindl and Hanwag from A to D. The A refers to the less stiff shoes, meant for roads and easy terrain, while the D represents ice climbing boots. The B and the B/C are the best categories for hiking in Finland, depending on the terrain, the backpack and the user. The more there is weight on the shoe, the stiffer the base should be. The classification refers to the shaft and the base. In more difficult terrain, it is important that the shoe supports well your ankle, and that is also why a stiffer shoe is better choice than a soft one.

Hiking boots are made of textile or leather, often nubuck leather. Boots need to be taken cared of, but well cared leather adopts to your feet and is durable. Take also into consideration whether you want a membrane or not. The Gore-Tex membrane is waterproof but requires more careful maintenance in order to maintain the membrane qualities.

Size

Choosing the right size is essential for a good fit. Different manufacturors have different size tables and lasts of different shapes, but you should always try the boots on. Some examples of lasts for wider feet: Meindl Wide and Comfort Fit, Lundhags Opti-last and Hanwag Wide. There should be space for one thicker sock, or for a liner sock and a normal sock. Leather boots stretch a little bit in use, but there should be enough space for toes not to touch the front end of the boot in downhill.

- Try on allways both shoes. There are normally differences between right and left feet.
- Try on shoes in the morning and in the evening. The foot size changes during the day.
- Walk in the boots for a moment to give your feet and boots some time to settle.

Men's and women's lasts differ from each other. The greatest difference is the size: Small sizes come with women's lasts, and big sizes come with men's lasts. Children's boots aren't normally suitable for adults because the structure of the base is lighter, not meant to carry the weight of the adults.

Usage

Before leaving for long hikes, it's good to walk several shorter distances to give the boots time to shape and fit well on your feet. Regular care is important for shoe durability. There are many shoe care instructions available from different manufacturers. Proper care is usually a condition of guarantee.

Choosing right size and model

Mid-cut boots are the most popular choice for hiking. Their shafts protect your feet, and the stiffnesses vary typically from A/B to C.

Especially for hikes in Finland:
-17%
Meindl Kansas Lady GTX
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da donna‪»
Meindl Kansas Lady GTX
Prezzo campagna 188,30 €
(126)
Disponibile in magazzino
-17%
Meindl Kansas GTX
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da uomo‪»
Meindl Kansas GTX
Prezzo campagna 188,30 €
(194)
Disponibile in magazzino
Da -33%
Hanwag Tatra Light GTX
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da uomo‪»
Hanwag Tatra Light GTX
Prezzo campagna 191,20 €
Prezzo outlet da 159,90 €
(4)
Disponibile in magazzino
Da -37%
Hanwag Tatra Light Lady GTX
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da donna‪»
Hanwag Tatra Light Lady GTX
Prezzo campagna 191,20 €
Prezzo outlet da 149,90 €
(16)
Disponibile in magazzino


With or without membrane?

Many hiking boots have waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, but there are also hiking boots without membrane. The membrane is waterproof, but a leather shoe without membrane adapts better to the foot. Lundhags also manufactures rubber edge boots without membrane.

Double-stitched boots are beautiful and durable, and the traditional double-stitched boots don't normally have membrane.
-20%
Hanwag Tashi
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Senza pellicola‪»
Hanwag Tashi
Prezzo campagna 287,92 €
(133)
Disponibile in magazzino
-20%
Hanwag Grünten
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Senza pellicola‪»
Hanwag Grünten
Prezzo campagna 247,92 €
(52)
Disponibile in magazzino
-20%
Courteney Safari
 
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe outdoor‪»Da uomo‪»
Courteney Safari
Prezzo campagna 239,20 €
(16)
Disponibile in magazzino
-6%
Lundhags Jaure II Mens Mid
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Senza pellicola‪»
Lundhags Jaure II Mens Mid
Prezzo campagna 342,91 €
(24)
Disponibile in magazzino


Too much or too little space?

Hiking boots need to fit tightly to avoid blisters and to support the feet even in tough terrain. However, there should be enough space for hiking socks and for toes not to touch the front end of the boot in downhill. Feet usually swell up in the evening, especially after longer walks (try on the boots in evening).

There are different lasts for feet of different shapes. For example, the Wide last of Hanwag, ComfortFit of Meindl, and Opti last of Lundhags are wider than usual. The shape of women's lasts also differ from those of men. You'll find the right size only by trying, but the last can give you an idea of the right size.

With wider last:

Meindl Guffert GTX
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da uomo‪»
Meindl Guffert GTX
a partire da 279,90 €
(106)
Disponibile in magazzino
-20%
Hanwag Tatra II Wide
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Senza pellicola‪»
Hanwag Tatra II Wide
Prezzo campagna 215,20 €
(22)
Disponibile in magazzino
-12%
Meindl Bernina Lady 2 GTX
 
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da donna‪»
Meindl Bernina Lady 2 GTX
Prezzo campagna 278,47 €
(32)
Disponibile in magazzino
-6%
Lundhags Jaure II Mens Mid
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Senza pellicola‪»
Lundhags Jaure II Mens Mid
Prezzo campagna 342,91 €
(24)
Disponibile in magazzino


Other special lasts:

-20%
Hanwag Tatra II Bunion Lady GTX
Sport‪»Attività all'aperto‪»Scarpe‪»Scarpe da trekking‪»Con la pellicola‪»Da donna‪»
Hanwag Tatra II Bunion Lady GTX
Prezzo campagna 215,20 €
(24)
Disponibile in magazzino


Materials

There are a lot of different materials for hiking boots, but the most popular one is leather. Top grain leather has given way to more breathable nubuck leather, and more and more often leather is combined with technical materials. Combining different materials is a way to improve shoe qualities, lightness or breathability for example. However, lightness is not the only criterion when choosing a hiking boot. Light, flexible shoes are good for easy terrain and light backpacks. Also the experience of the hiker makes a difference: an experienced hiker can also use lighter shoes, but it's better for a novice to choose stiffer and more supportable boots. There are differences in rollability of stiff shoes, too, so it's important to try on boots before you buy them.

Light, sneaker-like, flexible hiking shoes:



Responsibility

A well-cared boot is durable. It's possible to change an old base of many hiking boots for a new one, which extends the shoe life. Leather matters, too, since manufacturing of shoes, as well as other products, puts pressure on the environment. Many manufacturers use more environment-friendly Heinen Terracare leather.

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