Hiking boots, to the serious hiker, are essential gear. There is no pair of casual shoes which can compete with well-constructed hiking boots when it comes to the safety, speed, and comfort they offer on the trail. And the “best” hiking boots depend on multiple factors with, obviously, price being important.
Discount Hiking Boot: Three Categories Of Hiking Boots Means A Discount On Certain Styles
There are three categories of hiking boots:
* Lightweight (meaning both lightweight and light-duty)
* Midweight
* Heavyweight
Lightweight, or day hiking boots, are reasonably inexpensive and could be classified as tennis shoes on steroids. They are great short hikes as long as you are not carrying a heavy weight.
The most popular all-around hiking boots are the midweights. They will perform well on short hikes with hikers carrying up to twenty-five pounds, and in any situation where a lightweight boot will work. And they are great if you are doing a trial run to see if you are up to a longer hike under a heavier weight.
Experienced mountaineers require heavyweight hiking boots. Such boots are reinforced in the ankle, offering much more support so that their wearers can carry heavy weights over long distances. Often known as hunting boots, they are ideal in difficult terrain.
The type of hiking you do will determine the type of hiking boots which you need.
Timberland Hiking Boot
Yes, they’re expensive. A pair of Timberland hiking boots will set you back between $80 and $130. And for novice hikers, that kind of money may seem a bit extreme.
But if you’ve been on the trails for any length of time, you will have come to appreciate what a difference in hiking enjoyment a well-constructed pair of hiking boots can make. And youll realize that putting money into a solidly built pair of Timberland hiking boots is one of the expenditures which will pay you back many times over.
But even the high quality of Timberland boots will do you no good if the pair you buy does not fit properly. The cost and style of the boots are secondary to their fit, and if you want to have your Timberland boots perform at their best for you, there are a few secrets you should know when choosing a perfect pair.
First, make sure, when trying on your Timberland boots, that you wear the same socks you will be wearing on the trail. That way, what feels perfect in the store will feel just the same when it goes to work. And if your hiking takes you along waterways or into areas where rain is likely, be sure to waterproof your Timberland hiking boots ahead of time.
Next, consider the distances, types of terrain, and weather conditions most frequent in your hikes. You are buying Timberland boots to meet a set of specific needs, so that they offer your feet maximum protection under the conditions you will encounter during your outdoor adventures.
Well-tended, well-traveled trails, those most popular with infrequent hikers, demand only what are commonly called day-hiker boots. Timberland boots used for this kind of hiking are really just a little more durable than sturdy walking or running shoes.
But if you are someone who likes to spend long periods of time off trail, you need more rugged Timberlake hiking boots. The more difficult terrain and heavier pack you may carry on an extended hike calls for Timberland hiking boots of stiffer construction to compensate for the heavier going in the wilderness.
And if you are an experienced mountaineer, always looking for new hiking terrain to conquer, get Timberland hiking boots with the steel or molded plastic shanks. They will give you added protections from sharp surface materials, and help keep the boots stable while you are climbing or navigating rough ground. And theyll keep your ankles supported.
Is the Timberlake brand really worth the extra cost?
While you may find lesser-known boots which perform adequately, you may have to hunt for them, and trail-test several kinds before you get the ones you really like. Timberland boots are built to carry you comfortably over any terrain for any length of time, from morning walks in the countryside to week-long treks in the back country.
Timberland hiking boots are available with a variety of feature, so you are sure to find the pair which will be up to whatever demands you can place on them!
Vasque Hiking Boots
A poorly-fitting pair of Vasque hiking boots will doom your chances of having a good time on the trail. And the blisters and sore feet, or even worse, injury, which they might cause after you have gone a few miles couldand should–have been prevented before you ever got your Vasque hiking boots home. All you had to do was put them through the paces at the sporting goods store.
How to Find Vasque Hiking Boots That Fit
One of the secrets to making sure the Vasque hiking boots you buy will feel as good on the trail as they did in the store is to wear hiking socks when you try them on. Often people will test new boots while wearing street socks. Then, when they use thicker hiking socks to provide extra cushioning on their hikes, their Vasque hiking boots pinch their outside toes.
When choosing your hiking socks, youll do yourself a favor by selecting those made from polyester liner. Such socks do a great job of keeping your feet dry by wicking moisture away from your skin, so they remain comfortable in your Vasque hiking boots.
You can, for extra cushioning, double up on your socks by using wool or synthetic Ragg socks over the polyester liners, but just be sure to wear the same socks when trying on your Vasque hiking boots as you will on the trail.
Your Vasque hiking boots, when you put them on, should feel supportive, while allowing your toes wiggle room. They should be secure around your ankles and insteps, be without pressure points, and permit free blood flow to your feet.
Unlike tennis shoes, Vasque hiking boots will not feel perfectly comfortable the first time you put them on. If you can find an incline-say, a wheelchair ramp–in the store when you are trying them out, see if your feet slip forward or your toes bump up against the fronts of your Vasque hiking boots. Your feet coming forward means the boots are too wide. And if you feel your heel moving, you may not have laced the boots tightly enough.
Getting your Vasque Hiking Boots Broken In
Once youve brought your Vasque hiking boots home, its best to break them in stages. Start with short hikes, gradually in creasing the distance and the difficulty of the terrain. Vasque hiking boots are leather, so think about waterproofing them, and once you are satisfied that your short hikes have made them comfortably pliable, you’ll be ready to head out on your full-day hikes!
Merrell Hiking Shoes: Consider A Blister-Free Hike With Merrell Hiking Shoes
Water-proof, weather resistant, trail-tough Merrell hiking shoes are one of the experienced hiker’s essentials. Once your feet have completed a dry, blister-free hike in these tough shoes, they’ll never be happy in another brand of hiking footwear again.
Merrell hiking shoes were designed with only one purpose; to carry you further, more quickly, and more safely than you will ever go in a pair of casual shoes, and they’ll do it so well that your legs will remain fresh and ready to go at the end of the day.
How can you tell which ones are right for you?
You should buy the Merrell hiking shoes most suitable for the terrain and distance you typically hike, with the amount of weatherproofing you will need.
Merrell “day hikers” are the Merrell hiking shoes favored by those who do lots of light hikes on well-tended trails. A day hiker is the equivalent of a muscularized traditional walking or running shoe.
If you are accustomed to longer hikes over less cultivated trails, and carry a backpack, get a pair of hiking shoes made from materials up to the task. You’d probably be happy in some Merrell hiking boots with stiff uppers, high tops, and steel shanks. These boots will do a terrific job of stabilizing your feet and ankles, eliminating the possibility of your twisting them.
If you think the price of Merrell hiking shoes seem a bit steep, pause and think about a climb up an even steeper shale grade with a less reliable hiking shoe. In hiking shoes, as in nearly everything, you will get the quality you pay for. If the hiking shoe fits, buy it!
And how can you tell if it fits? Make sure the shoe you are testing has room between its toe and your toes, and that it is snug without pinching anywhere. Try your Merrell hiking shoes on while wearing your hiking socks. And don’t think slightly large Merrell hiking shoes will save you the trouble of having to break them in; all they will do is allow your feet to slide around and develop blisters.
Another trick to make sure your shoes will remain comfortable out on the trial is to try them on after you have been on your feet for a while. Your feet will usually swell after bearing your weight for an extended period, and will be in the same shape as they will after you have been on the trail for a few hours.
A GORE-TEX XCR Merrell hiking shoe will have breathable material to keep your feet cool, and a waterproof Merrell hiking shoe will keep your feet dry and blister-free.
Merrell shoes with padded shoes will act as shock absorbers for your feet, and shoes with ankle rings will allow you to feed your shoelaces through them before you tie your shoes, and provide extra ankle support.
In other words, if there’s a hiking shoe feature designed to keep your feet happy and safe, there’s a Merrell hiking shoe which offers it!
Women’s Hiking Boots: Not High Fashion – But Necessary – Hiking Boots For Women Adventurers
Hiking boots. They are no one’s idea of high-fashion footwear, but they will still set you back a pretty penny. Are they worth it?
If you are a hiker, they most emphatically are. Why? Because any time you are out on a trail for an extended period, you feet will suffer without adequate protection. The trail takes no prisoners, and is gender neutral in its demands on the human foot. So women need to put as much though into their hiking boots as men do. Finding the proper women’s hiking boot calls for some effort from you.
Choose One That Fits
Getting a women’s hiking boot that is the perfect fit for you is a painstaking task. The salesperson may have a favorite, you may be thinking that the more unyielding the boot looks, the better it will be, and the names like “Justin Ranch”, “Sawtooth”, “Reactor Ventilator”, “Tahoe,” and “Echo” appeal may to both the outdoor lover and independent spirit in you.
So how do you look past the marketing and find the women’s hiking boot that fits?
First, after your foot goes into the boot, let you finger do some walking. Completely unlace the boot, slide you foot in as far as it will possibly go. Then slip you index finger into the women’s hiking boot at the back of you ankle. If you finger will not fit easily into the boot, the boot’s too small.
An index finger’s thickness with of space may not seem like much, but believe me, when you are fighting to keep your balance under a heavy backpack while you are scrambling down a steep incline, your foot will bee sliding forward within the boot. You’ll be very glad it has somewhere to go.
Next, as fastidious as you may be, you need to remove your socks and test the women’s hiking boot while you feet are in their altogether. Your feet are absolutely chock full of nerve endings, and will report back immediately if there is any discomfort. Pay particular attention to your outside toes, because they often get overlooked when people try on new hiking boots, and will be complaining loudly about a poorly fitting women’s hiking boot once you are out on the trail.
Ask yourself:
*Is the boot too narrow along the ball of you foot, the area just in back of your toes?Do your outside toes feel cramped?
* Does the boot have enough room along the arch of your foot?
If the women’s hiking boot passes the barefoot test, put your socks back on and try again. The boot should feel neither too tight nor too loose. In women’s hiking boots width is usually the determining factor when choosing a good fit. Many women are used to tight dress shoes, but tight women’s hiking boots can cause real grief after an hour or two of walking.
Finally, give the women’s hiking boots a good stroll around the store. Are they comfortable, or do you notice a crease appearing in the boots when you push off on your toes? If your forward strides cause you toes to feel cramped, the women’s hiking boots are not the ones for you. Find another pair, and put them through their paces!
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