Balancing The Scales: Hiking Footwear—Comfort vs. Support.
At the shop where I work, questions customers often ask include:
- “I’ve been wearing the same boots for over twenty-five years, is there anything new?”
- “How comfortable should my hiking shoes/boots be?”
- “What’s the boot that gives me the most support?”
- “Which type of hiking footwear protects my ankles best?”
While hiking footwear is no longer restricted to the heavy leather boots we all wore in our younger days, the variety of hiking boots on the market today and the technology in them can help get you back out on the trails quickly and safely.
Credit: Steve Hines
I usually suggest either a lightweight and supportive boot or one of the new “mids”. A mid is a lower boot that instead of lacing above the ankle, laces at the ankle. For those who haven’t hiked in a while or are new to hiking and want to “gear up” a balance of features is best.
In a one sense, the choice between Comfort versus Support isn’t binary. Just because a boot is supportive (rigid across the sole from toe to heel) doesn’t necessarily mean the boot must be uncomfortable. Cushioned mid-soles, improved in-soles, softer grippy outsoles and proper break-in all help a boot balance the scale.
SUPPORT
A supportive boot usually needs more break-in time to become that boot you can wear all day. The best supportive boots are usually made of all leather.
Leather boots come in one of three types or “grades” of leather:
- Top grain – The lightest and most durable, but they must be cared for.
- Suede (split grain) – Resists scratches. However, thicker than top grain can make the boots heavier.
- Nubuck (split grain) –Ages nicely. Again, thicker than top grain can make the boots heavier.
COMFORT
Credit: Steve Hines
Common belief is that boots which combine fabric with leather pieces are more comfortable right away. It is true that combination boots break in quicker. It’s also true that a poor fitting fabric and leather boot can hurt your feet as easily as a non-broken in leather boot.
When people ask me how comfortable a boot should be I use this scenario: Imagine you are involved in some emergency situation in which you are required to have your boots on for 24 hours. Your boots should be comfortable enough that at the end of the 24 hour emergency you would not be dying to get those boots off your feet.
Seems like the hiking world is leaving heavy leather boots behind, instead opting for light weight, low boots and shoes. When I’m asked which is best I usually try to determine the kind of hiking being done and the level of hiking experience. For instance:
- Terrain – mountain trails, dense woods, higher altitudes
- Climate, season, weather
- Duration of the hike or trip
- Pack weight
In summary, find the right boot for you that will combine the right amount of support and is as comfortable as possible. Remember, a lighter weight boot can have good support and an all-leather boot can be comfortable.
