Boots are an indispensable piece of clothing if you’re an outdoor lover. To choose the best hiking boots for you, they need to fit the type of hiking you set out to do. A quality pair of boots are a commitment as they have a better chance of lasting for years to come. It’s best to know what you’re looking for in a pair of boots before tying the knot. Below are the top 5 tips on how to choose the best hiking boots for your next trip outdoors.
Understanding what goes into making a quality pair of boots is essential in choosing the best hiking boot for your style. In this post we’ll rank the top 5 tips on how to choose the best hiking boots, including:
- Fit
- Style
- Details
- Materials
- Sole construction
5. The Best Hiking Boots Fit
Don’t roll your eyes. Yes, when choosing any type of footwear they obviously need to actually fit right. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind when finding the best fit for a pair of boots as opposed to dress shoes or sneakers. In fact, it is a safe bet that you can generally size down by one half size for most boot brands from your typical shoe or sneaker size. For instance, I mostly wear a size 13 sneaker yet almost all of my boots are a 12.5. Some are even a full size down at 12.
Another important aspect to keep in mind is your socks. You will wear different socks on a hike than when wearing your sneakers. Most athletic socks don’t provide enough thickness or cushion for a boot. They are also more likely to rip. Socks are designed specifically by activity. That’s why socks are labeled as ‘dress socks’, ‘athletic socks’, and yes – Boot socks. These are almost always going to be a thicker, more substantial sock. You want to keep this in mind as you likely will wear thicker socks in your new pair of boots. Don’t overlook this tip when choosing a pair of boots or you risk the dreaded blister that will cut your hike short.
4. Style
Style is the tip on this list that is the most subjective. But before scrolling on by, there are some rules of thumb you need to abide by aside from personal preference. For one, the style of boot needs to match the terrain and type of hike you plan on doing. It also should relate to the distance or length of time you plan on hiking. A very large, clunky boot isn’t going to fair well on a 10 mile hike that ascends mountains. But they might fair well on a short hike through a park in a snow storm.
The best hiking boots might depend on the hike itself
It’s likely that if you’re serious about hiking that you might end up with multiple styles of boots. You may have a boot for rainy or wet conditions, another style that is more geared toward longer distances that are dry. You might even have a snow boot for short walks in a blizzard, or a pair of quality rain boots. All three of these boots should be different styles.
A boot made famous by LL Bean is the Main Hunting Shoe. These are used by hunters everywhere to hike into the woods, keep quiet, and stay dry. They are ideal in flat terrain that is wet, or even walking through creeks, swamps, or in the rain. They have minimal treads to keep them light and be able to wear on long hunts without adding extra weight. This also means that they don’t do well on steep terrain that might be slick. They do not provide a ton of grip or traction, but they are amazing and keeping your feet dry with their rubber lower portion and quality leather and construction.
Short boot, tall order
Below are the Clarks Desert Boots, a perfect option for someone who wants go from a mild hiking trail straight to the pavement. With minimal tread, these will not do well in slick, muddy, or steep trails. They also are a shorter boot making them lighter and perfect for long distances or every day use. I personally love these for walking the dog, heading to a park, or out running errands. They go perfect with a pair of jeans and can be dressed up or down depending on if you’re hiking or in the car.
A classic 6″ inch, leather boot is a good starting point if it’s your first pair. If made from quality materials, this boot can be your go-to in many different scenarios and hikes. If you already have this covered, then your choice will largely depend on if you need a high level of waterproofing, long distances covered, or will be heading out in snow and frigid temperatures that require insulation.
Pictured below are a pair from Thursday Boots. I’m a huge fan of their products as they are made from quality materials, well-constructed, and are at a very competitive price. Below is their Captain boot. I love these for the aforementioned reasons, but also because they are so versatile. They are not super rugged with a thick grippy sole so I don’t wear them on hikes. But I wear them for everything else. Going to the office in the rain or snow, walking the dog, going out to dinner. They can be worn with a more elevated outfit or kept casual.
Play around with color
Lastly, pick a color that you think will go with most of your hiking outfits. Of course, keep in mind that if you strictly use these for hiking then they likely will get dirty, muddy, and scratched over time. This actually helps develop a nice character to the boot and looks great on a quality brown or even black boot. Remember, the best hiking boots are the boots that you love to wear.
3. It’s all in the Details
Overlooking details in any aspect of choosing a product or service should be avoided. Boots are no exception. Pay attention to laces, soles, eyelets, and toe or heel as these all have importance.
Above, the Thursday Boots Commander checks all of the boxes for the perfect hiking boots. Their quality leather, Goodyear welt (see below), maximum traction, kevlar laces, speed hooks, height, and weight make them ideal for all weather, terrain, and distances.
Kevlar makes for a great hiking boot lace as it provides plenty of substance, can be tied down very tight, and holds up to thorns, bushes, and moisture better than other materials. Have you ever seen those ‘hooks’ at the top of the lace eyelets? Those are typically called speed hooks or lace hooks. They provide quicker tying and untying but more importantly can help if you have a pair of gloves on – another common accessory for hiking in weather and cold temperatures. The last thing you want to do is to remove insulating clothing or spending time fiddling with a lace that keeps untying when walking through the brush.
A slightly easier detail to spot is the stitching. Poorly stitched boots are often produced by cheap manufacturers. Loose threading can often be seen. To give the appearance of higher quality, some of these brands will even put a fake lacing design in. Whatever you do, these boots should be avoided.
The sole, or the grip on the bottom of the boot, is an important feature to keep in mind. Many hiking boots are made with a ‘lugged sole’. A lugged sole provides better traction in wet conditions or steep terrain. Lugged soles have a thick rubber sole with deeper patterns and treads.
2. Quality Materials create the best hiking boots
Materials are the second most important aspect to choose the best pair of hiking boots for you. We’ve gone over laces, but what about the actual construction of the boot? Without question, a quality (real) leather makes for the best boot material. I say quality because there are many different types of leather, fake leather, leather imitations, and all sorts of gimmicks out there these days. Full grain leather, glove leather, Tier 1 USA leather are all examples of quality leather. Thursday Boots makes a fantastic pair of boots in the Captain that is made from Tier 1 USA leather.
1. The Goodyear Welt
One of the most overlooked aspects of a hiking boot is how the upper (shoe) is attached to the lower (sole or outsole). Simply put, it’s the way the shoemaker attaches the sole to the overall shoe or sneaker. There are many different styles of attachment that offer benefits for various footwear. One thing is for sure, if you want a quality boot – go with the Goodyear Welt.
How does the Goodyear Welt work? The welt is a thin strip of leather placed between the upper portion of the shoe or boot and the lower outsole. The welt is first attached to the upper via stitching, before being then stitched and attached to the sole. This does two things. It makes the shoe virtually waterproof. It also allows for a cobbler or shoemaker to easily replace the sole after years of wear – extending the life of your boot drastically.
Goodyear Welt construction is easily identified by the clean detailed stitching around the perimeter of the boot that is visibly seen.
Mass-market, fast fashion, and cheap manufacturing made the idea of Goodyear Welt a thing of the past for a while. Many people were wearing sneakers, cheap boots, and dress shoes made from subpar materials. Goodyear Welt does come with a higher price tag given its complexity in producing, but it all becomes worth it. The boots with this welt are far more affordable when you take into account they can be repaired for years, even decades, to come. Other boots are not able to be repaired. This means when the sole wears out after many hikes, you need to purchase an entirely new boot.
Hit the trails
Now that you know the top 5 tips for how to choose the best hiking boots you can be confident in what you are buying. Having the right boots for hiking, or any activity, is essential to staying longer and having more fun. It’s time to get out there!
