When you’re on the hunt for a new pair of hiking shoes, there’s some key things you should keep your eye out for. A list of some things you may want to think about include:
- Outsoles: When looking for outsoles meant for hiking, grip is the name of the game. Especially if you’ll find yourself on rocky, muddy, or wet terrain, you deserve the security of knowing your feet will stay firmly planted on the ground. Look for outsoles with lots of ridges, and bonus points if they’re made of a thick enough rubber to protect from rogue branches and any ground-borne hazards.
- Uppers: Thick, lightweight leather uppers will give you the protection from the elements you want, but there’s some other things you should be looking for. If you’re going to be in a place with tons of moisture, look for waterproof options. If you plan on hiking in the warmer, summer months, maybe try to find a shorter, more breathable option.
- Lining: This one is situational, depending on environment and time of year. If you’re worried about the heat, a thin, air mesh lining will do the trick nicely. Whereas if you’ll be out and about in the chill, thicker, wool lining is better suited to your needs.
Staying safe and comfortable while hiking are great first steps to making the exercise a habit, and they’ll help you maintain the scheduled aspect of it for much longer. To get started looking at options for hiking boots, take a look at some of our options here!
Happy Trails!