Picking Out the Perfect Hiking Boots

We went down to Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) in Vancouver last week to film an interview with their shoe expert Paul Dywelska about how to pick out the perfect pair of hiking boots for your upcoming adventure.

Sadly, MEC is way too popular to film an interview during store hours; the camera was picking up sales conversations, the rumble of the stock cart, the background music and probably even the Green Peace volunteer outside. Powerful mic eh?

So, here's a transcript of part of our conversation instead for your reading pleasure and boot-buying needs:



Anny: Thanks so much for meeting us today Paul!

Paul: My pleasure.

Anny: So what makes you the shoe expert at MEC?

Paul: Well I’ve been working for Mountain Equipment Co-op for 15 years. I have a lot of experience hiking and trail running, and I’ve also taken a fit course down in the states.

Anny: What are the most important things someone should look for when they’re purchasing a boot?
Paul: The 3 most important things to look for are fit, comfort and price. If the shoe doesn’t fit you or if it’s not comfortable, it’s not going to work for you. It’s got to fit in your budget and be affordable too.

Anny: How much should people expect to pay for a decent pair of hiking boots?

Paul: You can get a decent pair for about $100.

Anny: And when it comes to fit, how much room should there by in your boot?

Paul: You don’t want much room at all. The closest the boot fits to your foot, the better you are. If there’s any movement in there, that’s what creates a heat-rub or a blister.

Anny: What about when you’re choosing the cut of the boot – what’s the difference and when do you choose a high cut, mid cut and low cut boot?

Paul: Mostly the coverage / protection it gives you to your ankle, but that doesn’t translate into support necessarily because support is always in the sole.

For scree slopes and wooden passes that are wet and mushy, a higher cut boot is going to provide more protection and warmth.

Lower cut boots are for high activity, offer more breathability, and the feel of more freedom.

Anny: Is there a compromise between breathability and waterproofing? How important is waterproofing?

Paul: There are fabrics out there that offer breathability and waterproofing but they tend not to work as quickly as your body works. So in my personal experience I’ve found there is always a compromise between breathability and waterproofing. As soon as you make a boot or shoe waterproof it tends to makes that boot a much warmer boot to be in; in the same way it’s keeping water out it can also keep moisture in. It all depends on what you’re using [the boots] for.

Anny: The MEC website has a page about different hiking boots and mentions things like single and double boots. What is the difference between single and double boots? When does someone need to consider this difference?

Paul: ‘Double boot’ as a term is really only used when it comes to mountaineering boots and involves a plastic outer and insulated inner. It’s used for high altitude hiking or very cold weather hiking.

Anny: What about boots made from a single piece of leader versus one with multiple seams? What’s the difference and how important is this when you’re a novice hiker?

Paul: You can tell the difference very easily just from looking at it. More seams means more holes which means there’s more opportunity for water to seep through. Single seams are not as necessary nowadays with Goretex treatments but it’s definitely something to look for since less holes means more durability.

[We then went onto picking out boots for specific trips like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking the Inca Trail, and shorter weekend trips]

A Summary of Paul’s Recommendations:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Just because it’s a big mountain, doesn’t mean you need big shoes. Climbs up mountains like Kilimanjaro are often slow and the slopes aren’t steep, so you could actually climb it in dayhiking boots. [Sidenote: We at BikeHike do recommend that you wear mid to high cut boots on a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro for the ankle support - particularly because there is no hospital on route if you sprain an ankle, and also for the large sections of scree.]

Inca Trail
For multi-day trips you want to be comfortable, so again dayhikers and maybe even trail runners might be preferable over higher cut backpacking boots. [Sidenote: While you can do the Inca Trail with low to mid cut boots, we would recommend a mid cut for the steeper sections of the trail.]

Weekend Trips
The shoe you choose depends on where you’re hiking. If it’s going to be raining and the ground is going to be wet, you might be better off with a higher cut boot, or at least a mid-cut boot with gaiters. If the weather is not an issue, you can probably do with a low-cut trail runner with high breathability and comfort. [Sidenotes: Trish prefers low-cut over high-cut boots on multi-day hikes unless it’s the Kilimanjaro climb; Meg recommends mid-cut boots for trips like the Inca Trail but does weekend hikes in low-cut trail runners; Anny has never owned a pair of hiking boots and used to snowshoe in sneakers before she bought snow boots - she's still looking for the right pair of hiking boots for her BikeHike Adventure in Peru this May :P]

A big thank you to Paul at MEC for taking the time to answer all our questions! :)

Anny Chih

Basics of Buying Hiking Boots

When it comes to buying your next pair of hiking boots, you should always have a few goals in mind: you want your boots to be as light and comfortable as possible while keeping your feet dry, warm, and well-protected. Below are some basic tips to help during your next shopping spree.

1. Fit before Style
The latest design or features might look cool on the shelf, but do they feel comfortable when on? You want to make sure you are buying a shoe that feels right, not just looks cool.

2. Bring your own hiking socks
Bring the socks you would wear hiking with you. It's better to try on shoes with the same socks you would wear hiking, so you can get a more realistic idea of how they will fit.

3. Don't be shy, walk around the store with them on
Walk around the store and see how the boots feel. Look for stairs, inclines, etc in the store and test the boots on that as well. Look for a snug comfortable fit without feeling any pressure points. Kick at the ground to see whether your toes jam against the front of the boot. If they do, don't buy them.

4. Water Resistant
Make sure the boots are waterproof, that is if you don't like soggy feet when hiking. The only downfall to Gore-tex boots is that they can be toasty on the feet and not as breathable. The upper part of the shoe should be made from as few pieces as possible. This translates to better water resistance.

5. Pay attention to the little details
Research the brand and make sure it has a good reputation (Merrell, Asolo, Saloman, etc). It is better to spend the money on boots that will be comfortable and last longer. Look at the little details...is there any excess glue visible? Does the stitching look solid? Are the laces think and solid?

6. Take a 15 minute walk before trying on the boots
There is a difference in the shape and size of your feet in the morning compared to your feet in the afternoon. We recommend taking a 15 minute stroll before trying on the shoes.

7. Think what type of hiking will you be doing
The lighter your boots, the easier your walking will be. A general rule however, is that the greater the load you carry, the heavier your hiking boots should be. If you are just doing short day hikes, a lightweight shoe should be suitable. For backpacking trips, a sturdier boot would be better.

8. Gusseted Tongues
Most hiking boots have gussets connecting the tongues to the upper part of the shoe. The gussets make sure that water, dirt, and debris are not able to enter your shoe.

9. Don't get caught up in your past shoe size
Shoe sizes differ greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from style to style within the same company's line. It is best to try on a wide range to see what feels the most comfortable.

10. Break your shoes in before going on a hiking trip
Don't buy the shoes the day before your trip. You want to make sure they are well broken in. You don't want to be hiking in Nepal and realize your shoes are causing you major blisters.

Cheers,
BikeHike