How to choose trekking boots

Trekking boots are shoes designed for hiking trails. It protects the legs from injuries, such as dislocation or fracture. Such shoes have many varieties, depending on the duration of the trip and the severity of the load.

Load type

According to the permissible load, trekking shoes are divided into 4 types.

Trekking sneakers

Designed for short trips, for example, a weekend. They are light in weight and consist of dense materials. The upper part of the shoe is usually made of leather or from something denser to protect the feet from external influences. Trekking sneakers have a waterproof inner lining, a strong inner part and a sole made of high-quality rubber. They are perfect for off-road hiking.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW! When traversing a dissected terrain, tracking sneakers will not be able to protect your legs from a possible dislocation, because they are low.

Boots for light and medium trekking

These boots are designed for hiking with a backpack volume of 40-60 liters. They are quite high, so they can protect their legs when walking on rocky and slippery surfaces. They have a comfortable, well-bendable sole and fit snugly to the foot.

Heavy Trekking Boots

They are suitable for hiking, lasting several days with a large load. Heavyweights are high, strong, have a fairly solid inner sole. Such shoes perfectly fix the foot and ankle.

Mountain boots

These are the toughest trekking boots designed to conquer mountainous terrain. They have a dense rubberized edging, a sturdy sole, window welts, sewn-in leggings and, sometimes, built-in inner boots. Shoes can withstand low temperatures and sharp stones.

Boot height

By height, tracking shoes are divided into three types: low, medium, high.

Low boots protect the foot well, but do not protect the ankle. Therefore, they are suitable for easy walking. Unwanted dirt and dust can get into them.

Mediums are significantly higher than low. They fix the ankles and reliably protect your feet from dust and dirt. Such shoes are suitable for long trips with a backpack weight of 5 kg or more.

High tightly fix the ankle, protecting the legs from damage. Perfect for long trips with a backpack weight of 12 kg or more.

Surface

1-piece boots

They have good strength and breathability. Perfect for hiking medium to heavy. They have a leather upper, which is recommended to be carried before the planned trip. This will allow the material to sit perfectly on the foot.

Combination shoes

The surface consists of a combination of leather and nylon mesh. It allows the foot to breathe, but it gets wet easily. Designed for easy short routes.

Suede boots

The surface of the shoe is soft and comfortable. It is suitable for easy tracking.

Synthetic shoes

The upper part consists of polyester, nylon or synthetics. Light in weight, quickly wears out and is cheap. Service life is short.

Waterproof boots

The surface of such shoes consists of special membranes that trap the incoming moisture, and then push it back out. Breathability is weak.

Outsole construction and material

As a rule, the sole consists of three or more layers. The main ones: the outer surface, the middle layer of the sole and the inner layer of the sole.

The sole itself is made from special wear-resistant rubber. It has good adhesion to the surface of the earth and high hardness. The denser and firmer the sole, the greater the load it can withstand.

The middle layer of the sole is responsible for the comfort and safety of the foot. It consists of EVA or polyurethane. The second has great durability and can withstand high loads. Polyurethane is used in the manufacture of boots for heavy and mountain trekking.

The inner layer takes part of the shock load on itself. It is scaly and lamellar.

The scaly layer is represented by pieces of polyurethane or nylon, located on the inner surface of the sole. It is used for easy trekking.

Lamellar consists of hard plastic pieces. They make the sole stiff, which helps protect the feet from external impacts.

All these layers are bonded together with glue. This is a cheap and reliable way than stitching with threads.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER! Do not leave shoes in a hot room, because the glue in such conditions can dry out and lose its fastening properties.

Block

This is the most important criterion when choosing shoes for hiking. To accurately select a shoe, you should:

  • measure foot length. Your toes should not rest against the front wall. They require a small space. Otherwise, during descents, the toes will experience a heavy load;
  • measure the width of the foot. There should not be free space. If the leg will ride on the sides, then you can easily get a dislocation;
  • Choose shoes of the appropriate volume. The boot should cover the foot tightly, which is regulated by lacing.

Following these three points, you will not be mistaken when choosing shoes with a suitable shoe.

Now, knowing the types and structure of tracking boots, you can easily find the perfect option!