Recommended Hiking Boots

An example of a good hiking boot for day hiking - not too too or heavy, but solid in ankle support

Well, if you've read through the whole Hiking Boot Guide, you should have a good idea of why you need a goot boot for hiking and what to look for when getting one. However, for simplicity, here's a quick summary of features you want on any boot you get for day hiking.

• Full Ankle Support - The boot must be cut high enough to prevent you from rolling over your ankle in any ways, even with a light pack on.
• Waterproof - Getting a hiking boot that isn't waterproof is kind of strange. Good Gore-Tex boots costs only a tad more than non-waterproof boots, and open up the boots versatility.
• Lightweight - Day hiking boots should be relatively light weight. Keep them under 4 pounds per pair, with 3 pounds being the idea.

Additionally, you may wish to read the "Boot Fitting Tips" section on the bottom of this page, too.

Good Hiking Boots

I will not recommend any particular hiking boot here. The reason for this is because I'm quite happy with my boots that are 5+ years old (made by Vasque), so I haven't bought any boots recently. So instead, I'll point you to the right place to find the boot you want. Just remember, keep in mind that any boot you buy MUST provide solid ankle support and ideally should be waterproof.

The boots shown below are all available through Zappos. I suggest buying boots through Zappos for several reasons, not the least of which is the free shipping AND free return shipping (always a handy thing when buying hiking boots that need to fit like a glove).

If you are unsure of what brand to get, I would recommend going with Vasque. I have two pairs of Vasque boots (one for backpacking, another for day hiking) and love them both.

Boot Fitting Tips

Also, here's some boot fitting tips that you will want to keep in mind.

• Try out the Boots when Wearing a Hiking Sock - You'll wear a hiking sock when hiking, so be sure to try out the boots size with hicking socks on. NEVER wear cotton sicks when using your hiking boots!!
• Test Walk - If you feel the boot substantially moving on the heel when you first walk around on a flat surface, send the boots back (a good reason to order boots from Zappos - free return shipping). A big boot is a recipe for blisters and the large size is not something easily fixed.
• Walk Uphill - This is crucial. Find a tiny but relatively steep hill in the backyard or something. Take a walk up it. If you feel the heel moving, bad news. You only want a tiny movement of the heel. Any more will lead to blisters.
• Walk Downhill - Find a small hill and walk down it at full speed. If your toes bump the end of the boot, it's too small. Send the boot back and get a different size. Bumping your foot into the end of the boot is a recipe for massively messed up toe nails on long hikes!

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