How To Choose The Right Hiking Boots
Whether you’re at the top of a mountain or on a casual walk a few miles from home, you shouldn’t have to worry about your feet. Ask any experienced hiker and they’ll tell you that selecting the right hiking boot is a crucial step in your journey. This guide will help you select the footwear needed for the specific terrain you’ll encounter.
Three Questions to Ask First
- Terrain: What type of terrain will you be hiking most? Casual daily wear, moderate trails, or off-trail rough terrain?
- Duration: Is this a short jaunt on a nice day or a tough multi-day hike into the backcountry?
- Load: How much weight will you be carrying?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you can narrow the search. Meindl uses a Flex-Use Rating Scale developed by Alfons Meindl in 1945 as a guide to explain how and why boots are built for specific uses and terrain — still universally accepted today.
Casual Daily Wear and Walking — A to A/B Rated
Whether you’re running errands, exploring low-elevation trails, or wanting a great-fitting boot for daily use, A to A/B rated boots are the perfect match. Great flexibility, supportive insoles, and moderately aggressive outsoles. These styles range from low-cut shoes to boots that provide more ankle support.
Shop A Rated Boots Shop A/B Rated Boots
Day Hiking — A/B to B Rated
When your plan takes you further into nature and off the beaten path, A/B and B rated boots provide support and comfort in uneven terrain. Outsoles are slightly more aggressive for stability and traction, and they’re designed to absorb the extra weight of a loaded daypack.
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Backpacking and Multi-Day Hikes — B/C to C Rated
For hikers taking long trips in the backcountry where terrain becomes unpredictable, B/C and C rated boots handle everything Mother Nature can throw at them. Aggressive outsoles, heavy-duty polyurethane midsoles, full-length shanks, and world-class leather take the abuse in difficult terrain. These boots are also built to withstand the heavy loads of multi-day hikes.
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Getting the Right Fit
- Try them on with the right socks — use the exact sock you’ll wear on your adventure. Heavy socks can change the fit of a boot significantly.
- Try them on at the end of the day — feet swell during the day, ensuring you don’t buy boots that are too small.
- Check heel lock — make sure your heel is seated in the heel pocket with no slippage. Heel slippage is a guaranteed blister.
- Check toe space — lace up, find a decline (the edge of a stair works well), angle your foot downward and ensure toes don’t contact the front. Or sit, unlace, slide feet forward until toes touch, and check for a finger-width of space behind the heel.
