Hiking boots are considered a hiker’s most valuable piece of equipment. This can be very true since your feet do most of the work as you trek through the woods and across mountains.

It is vitally important that you find a pair of boots that will adequately protect your feet from the elements while also providing sufficient comfort and support during long and even treacherous excursions.

When choosing your boots, consider their weight. Keep in mind that one added pound of footwear is comparable to an additional five pounds of backpack weight. Also, look for boots that are waterproof.

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Moisture can cause blisters, making your hike very painful. It is suggested that you look for boots that are watertight and breathable, allowing moisture to leave the shoe but preventing water from getting in. Consider the shoe’s lateral rigidity.

In other words, good hiking boots should keep your ankles from twisting as you hike over rough terrain. Opt for high boots with rigid ankle supports.

Finally, make sure that they have proper arch support. This is important in any shoe purchase, but especially for hiking boots, as you will spend several hours of hiking in them.

Think about the kind of terrain you will be hiking, the weather conditions, the weight of your backpack, and how long your hike will be. All of these factor into the kind of shoe you need to purchase.

Hiking boots protect your feet from mud, grime, and elements. In return, you need to protect your hiking boots against wear and tear by cleaning and caring for them regularly.

If the top of your boots is made of fabric, you may use regular soap and water. If it is made of leather, use only water on the leather to protect the natural oils that exist there. Air-dry your boots by allowing them to sit out away from any direct source of heat such as sunlight or fires.

Direct heat can damage leather and other parts of the boots. Most importantly, always allow them to dry completely before wearing them again. If moisture remains, fungi will begin to grow as well as the bacteria that cause smelly, itchy feet.

Complete the care process by waterproofing your boots. This will protect them from water damage and lengthen the use you will get from them. Be sure to use a silicone-based product as opposed to a wax one if your boots have a Gore-tex lining, and be conscious of using too much.

Besides the hiking boots that being introduced here, now more and more people are looking for shoes and boots for their kids as well. If you are also looking for a pair of the nice boot for your kid at the moment, you can take a look of this post that show you different polo boots for kids where you may get some ideas of which boot is the right one for you to buy for your kids.