How to Buy the Proper Hiking Boots for a Comfortable Fit

So, you have a great frame pack that carries loads like a dream, your tent could withstand a month at the top of Everest, and your sleeping bag can be stuffed down to the size of a baseball and is right at home inside that technical marvel of a tent. Your boots...uh-oh, your boots are shot and you need to buy a new pair for that Rocky Mountain trek you planned this summer? Well you have some serious decisions to make, because absolutely no piece of equipment, barring anything that will keep you alive or more safe, excedes the importance of the right pair of hiking boots. Hiking one mile in a pair of poorly fitting, underperforming boots can be a miserable experience, never mind having to spend a week on the trail in them. Here is what to look for in fit, materials and functionality when shopping for those new hiking boots.

The most important factor in purchasing a new pair of hiking boots is proper fit. They could be a pair of $250 gore-tex and leather wonders, but if the fit is wrong, they might as well be a pair of rubber flip flops. A poorly fitted boot can lead to blisters, lost toe nails and strained muscles due to compensations in stride and form in hope of alleviating pain. Sitting at your pc reading this, it may be hard to visualize the severity of this, but these painful circumstances can end what would have been a great trip. It is crucial that your new hiking boots have plenty of room in the toe-box. This is the front portion of the boot, from the ball of your foot forward. There are two reasons for this. The first is stability on the trail. Your toes must be able to move freely of one another in order to do their job properly. By allowing your toes to spread out, your hiking boots will afford you better balance and agility on the trail. Remember, when hiking, you aren't simply ascending or descending smooth hills. You are traversing too, often on rocky, muddy or otherwise unstable ground.