Purchasing the Best Hiking Boots
Glacier National Park, Montana, Yellowstone, Colorado & Rocky Mountains
Finding the best hiking boots to use on trails in Glacier National Park is a difficult process. But please, don’t discount the necessity of one: if you fail to invest your money in a good day-pack, hiking pants/shirts, or a hydration backpack, hopefully it’s because you bought yourself a solid hiking boot.
A true hiker can point out the tourists who will be limping home because of a twisted ankle or blisters. It’s easy: they’re the ones wearing sandals, flip-flops, crocs, Birkenstocks etc. And they’re the ones who will have an entire trip ruined because of ignorance, the desire to be stylish, or whatever other foolish reason they’ve contrived.
Hiking is not about being stylish on the trails: it’s about enjoying nature in a safe and secure manner.
Even on the most leisurely of trails such as Avalanche Lake, this is not a stroll through your suburban neighborhood. There are rocks to climb over, scree to slip on, snow to trudge through, and fallen trees to pass. Although these conditions don’t require one of the best hiking boots on the market
, you still need:
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- A boot with good traction,
- that provides ankle support,
- is water proof with gore-tex material
- and well broken in to prevent blisters.
Why Can’t I Just Hike in my Tennis Shoes?
They have good traction; my feet are comfortable and breathe easily. Why should I plop down a few hundred of my hard-earned dollars for a pair of heavy boots?
Traction
First off, tennis and running shoes are designed for running around a court or on concrete. The material on the base of their shoes provides traction on these materials—not dirt, rocks or bark.
As a result, you can easily slip while hiking on a trail and on some precarious trails such as the High Line Trail or Ptarmigan Tunnel, a slip’s life threatening.
Ankle Support
Also, how high do these shoes go? Your ankle, right? The best hiking boots go higher, so when you ‘roll’ your ankle going downhill or on a large rock you didn’t notice, your ankle’s supported and won’t fracture or twist.
It certainly is unpleasant to be a few miles into the wilderness and have to limp all the way to the trailhead (not to mention embarrassing!)
Pack Weight
Day hikes in Glacier National Park also require packs to carry food, water, and clothing to adapt to the changing weather. As such, you’re going to carry a pack weighing upwards of twenty pounds.
Think the ankle support from tennis shoes is going to help you out? Not one bit! The best hiking boots are designed to aid your ankles in dealing with extra weight from packs. Combine Glacier National Park hiking trails, a day-pack and tennis shoes, and you have a recipe for ankle rolls.
Gore-tex
The best hiking boots these days come waterproofed straight from the manufacturer. Advancements in technology have created a wonderful material called Gore-tex.
Gore-tex is a breathable material that’s also waterproof and windproof. As a result, your feet stay dry when crossing streams, sweat evaporates easier and blisters are infrequent.
While some backpacking boots are made of pure leather, adding unnecessary weight and forcing you to waterproof them yourself, Gore-tex boots are light and come water proofed. I’d never recommend a pair of hiking boots that aren’t at least partially Gore-tex.
In my opinion, Asolo Hiking Boots are the best hiking boots.
When I hiked 500 miles across Spain in one summer, I was the only one in my group of 15 that didn't get a single blister.
Some even had their boots fall apart on them!
Because of this, I will only recommend Asolo hiking boots.
They are quite simply the best backpacking and hiking boots for women
and men.
Determining the Best Hiking Boots For You
Purchasing hiking boots a daunting task. With so many options, how do you find the best hiking boots for you?
Some are heavy and clunky but provide better ankle support. Others are lightweight, breathable but there’s little ankle support.
Here are some things to keep in mind while shopping for a hiking boot:
The Hiking Shoe
The hiking shoe is a shoe with materials on its base meant to provide good traction on hiking trails. They also have very breathable material for your feet, allowing for adequate ventilation.
However, keep in mind that this is a shoe masquerading as a boot. They provide NO ankle support.
And ankle support is the most important factor when purchasing a hiking boot. Poor ankle support is how injuries such as twisted ankles and broken legs occur.
Also, notice that mesh material that allows your feet to breathe? It also allows your feet to become damp and soggy, as this is not Gore-tex.
Bottom-line: Hiking shoes provide no ankle support nor are they waterproof. Avoid them like the plague.
Socks
Hiking boots are designed for pairing with wool socks. So when shopping for your boot, bring or purchase a pair of wool socks to test your hiking boots out with. Cotton socks are thinner than wool are, so the boot might feel perfectly snug with cotton socks but tight and uncomfortable when wearing your wool, hiking socks.
Why can’t I wear cotton, you ask? First off, the slogan when hiking is that ‘cotton kills’. And although you won’t die from wearing a pair of cotton socks, the benefit of wool socks are priceless:
- Quick drying, thus helping to prevent blisters
- The material’s more breatheable
- Wool hiking socks are cushions for your feet. After ten miles on the trail, having every step slightly more cushioned adds up.
Test Walk Your Boots
There’s nothing wrong with taking five minutes to walk around the store or block with your boots. After all, you’ll be walking miles in them so don’t be shy or embarrassed to stretch, stomp, trudge and kick in these potential new boots.
And don’t try walking on level ground as Glacier National Park is in Montana, which is Spanish for Mountain. Walk up stairs, down an incline, up a hill. All the while, consider the following:
- Are your toes bashing the front of your boot?
- Is any part of your foot rubbing the boot?
- Do you notice a slight burning sensation anywhere on your foot?
- Is your foot tight, snug and secure? Your foot should not be moving in the slightest
Also, don’t let a store clerk rush you; investing in a pair of hiking boots is a major commitment as they’ll be with you for years.
Honestly, I bought my last pair of boots online and it’s for just that reason: I hated being rushed and hurried out of a store. I know my size and the brand I like, so I read some reviews and went online to buy my boot. And unlike stores like REI, pretty much all online stores will allow you to return your boot at any time, no questions asked, so long as the boot doesn’t look too beat up.
Waterproof
I like Gore-tex. It’s lighter than leather and requires no effort on your part to waterproof. However, if you don’t want to plop down the extra money for this material, make sure your boot is leather so you can waterproof it.
While hiking in Glacier National Park, you’ll be trudging through mud, splashing in puddles and might get caught in some rain. Wet boots lead to wet feet, which leads to blisters and a miserable vacation.
Comfort
Don’t forget this aspect! Most importantly, the best hiking boots are ones that are comfortable. If your feet aren’t happy, you won’t be happy.
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More Hiking Boot Information
Keep Your Feet Dry: Having waterproof hiking boots is vital in Glacier National Park. Learn how to waterproof your hiking boots and the best hiking boots that are already waterproofed.
Hiking Sandals: Although I wouldn't recommend purchasing a sports sandal for hiking trails with, they are great for lounging around the campsite in. Learn about purchasing the best hiking sandal.
Smartwool Socks: Learn why Smartwool Socks are the world's most comfortable sock and the best merino wool hiking sock
Men & Women Hiking Boots: Read my recommendations on the best men hiking boots and best women hiking boots.
Leather Hiking Boots: Educate yourself on technological advances and why you should never purchase leather hiking boots.
Hiking Shoes: Although I don't recommend them as they lack ankle support, hiking shoes are satisfactory for using in basic trails. Learn about the best hiking shoes on the market.
Hiking Boot Laces: It can be incredibly frustrating to keep retying your laces while hiking. Luckily, there are hiking boot laces that are incredibly durable and rarely come untied.
Discount Hiking Boots: Learn the secrets of finding discount hiking boots and shoes.
Ready to return
home from determining the best hiking boots for you?
