Whether you are walking around town, in the park or you're headed for the hills, you have to properly protect your feet. If your footwear doesn't give you the proper support, comfort, safety and protection, even the simplest activity, such as a short stroll, may cause pain not only in the feet, but also in your knees, your back, your hips...
If you are someone who does a lot of walking, especially if you like changing terrains, the best footwear you can get, are proper walking boots. This is because for some terrains, it's best if you have tough shoes to keep you stable.
What to Look for in Walking Boots?
Shoes suitable for hillwalking and hiking, suitable for different terrains are versatile, and can be a great addition to your outfits, even if you are just walking around town. Investing in a pair of nice looking, quality leather walking boots is investing in your comfort, your feet health and in your overall wellbeing.
When you are buying any type of shoes, and especially ones you are going to spend a lot of time in, in cold weather, there are some characteristics you should always look for, including resilience, durability, water resistance, warmth and comfort.
The Materials
The overall quality of the shoes, depends greatly on the upper materials. The upper of the best and most durable boots for walking can be made of a variety of materials and fabric, such as leather, suede, mesh, polyurethane... With leather walking boots you can be sure that you are investing in water resistant, tough and durable boots. However, there are synthetic alternatives that can be quite well made and durable as well.
Make sure that the materials of the footwear you are going to invest in will also keep the cold out, providing you with warmth. Quality materials, like leather, are also breathable, which is very important in walking shoes, since you are going to sweat a lot.
The Sole
Furthermore, the part of the upper around the toes and the heel should be more reinforced in walking boots than in regular boots, in order to protect your feet during walking on rougher terrains.
The soles have to provide good support for the arch of your foot, and to provide you stability. This is why the quality of the materials used in the midsole and the outsole is even more important in shoes you are going to use for hillwalking than in other shoes.
The outsole is ultimately what guarantees the longevity of the walking shoes. Supporting the weight of your entire body and everything you are carrying, as well as the force of the surfaces you'll be walking on. Hiking and walking boots soles are usually made of some combination of rubber, silicone, carbon... to create a tough and dense support for your feet. They always feature different tread patterns on the bottom, to provide better grip and traction for stability.
The Fit
Even the best quality boots won't be any good for you, if you don't find the right fit. When shoes are too tight, too wide, too small or too big, not only does the comfort diminish, but they will also provide less protection and stability.
Make sure you take accurate measurements of your feet (length and width), while also keeping in mind which shoe shape you find most comfortable, before ordering walking boots online, or going to buy them somewhere.
How to Take Care of Your Walking Boots?
After every walk, and especially after hikes, clean your boots. This is not only to keep them good-looking and fresh, but also because it will protect the material. Leather, for instance, can be damaged from mud. For cleaning you can use tap water and a brush or a cloth.
If your boots are very dirty or there is some stubborn stain or debris that you can't get off with a brush – you could also wash them with a cleaner suitable for your boots' material.
One other way to ensure the longevity of your boots, is to water-proof them from time to time. However, make sure to never use water-proofer if your boots aren't completely clean. Furthermore, after cleaning them, if they were wet or damp, you should also apply water-proofer to keep them good for a long time.
Final Thoughts
Walking boots aren't the cheapest investment, but they are a smart one. This is why it's important to choose wisely. In order to make sure that you aren't making a mistake, rely on your past experiences with shoes: which materials felt right in the past, which were most comfortable, waterproof, durable...
Furthermore, walking boots will require breaking in, and even more so if you opt for leather boots. Since they are very robust, before going on a longer hike, you should definitely wear them for a while at home to break them in. If you want to be extra sure you won't end up with blisters, after walking in them at home for a while, you could also try wearing them for a short stroll.
