Walking Boots Advice, and Other Walking Equipment Advice

Walking Boots Advice by Walk and Ramble

About Walking Boots

Whatever your activity, whether it be walking, hiking, mountaineering, rambling or simply a stroll to the pub, having the correct walking boots is essential. The reason for this is to support and protect your feet and to help you feel as comfortable at the end of a long day as you did at the start. The wrong choice of footwear could lead to aching and bruised feet and possibly an early return home. To choose the correct category of walking boot, you must take into consideration: the level of support and protection needed; terrain and conditions; the size and build; foot size and shape of the walking boot / shoe; and the weight carried in your rucksack. Walking boots are generally split up into the following categories, these are (1) Low Level andApproach Hillwalking (2)Trekking and Four Season Mountaineering.

You should match the style of walking boot that you use to the type of walking that you will be doing. If you will only be doing low level and approach style walking you will not require mountaineering style boots. In fact, mountaineering style boots would be too stiff and inflexible for walking comfortably on low level trails. However it is essential that you use a walking boot which is tough enough to cope with the type of walking that you will be doing. Using inadequate footwear can result in sore feet and twisted ankles.

Low Level and Approach Boots

Low level and approach walking footwear are usually low cut walking boots or shoes. These boots are flexible and will only provide adequate support and grip for easier terrain where paths and trails would normally be encountered. Low level paths may be slightly uneven with some lose stones or gravel and would not be particularly steep. Walking boots designed for Low Level and Approach walking will not provide enough support if you intend to carry a full rucksack containing enough gear for overnight camping.

Hillwalking / Trekking Boots

Hillwalking and trekking boots are designed for year round hill walking except in snow or ice conditions. Generally made from leather or fabric with a waterproof liner. These walking boots will have an aggressive tread pattern, a medium level of support and will at least be waterproof for use in wet conditions. Hillwalking / Trekking boots will provide adequate ankle support for trails that are much rockier and steeper than Low Level and Approach walking boots, and will provide enough support for carrying full rucksacks.

Four Season Walking Boots

Four season walking boots are generally a high cut boot offering plenty of support for moderate scrambling and walking in winter conditions. A four season (B1) boot will accommodate a flexible walking crampon (C1). It also offers the support needed for longer backpacking trips where heavy rucksacks will be carried. These walking boots are usually made from full grain leather for waterproofness and support. Mountaineering Generally made from either plastic or leather, mountaineering boots (B3) have a fully stiffened sole ideal for alpine and winter climbing. These boots have high levels of all round support and are compatible with 'step in crampons' (C3).
Getting the correct size and fit

Quality walking boots are made on a 'last'. This is a foot shaped mould. Everyone's feet differ in size, shape, width, length and volume. And for some people, their left foot and right foot are considerably different. For this reason it is impossible for a single last to resemble everyone's feet. Because it is vitally important that your walking boots fit correctly you will probably need to try on quite a few pairs of walking boots before you find the pair that fit you the best. When trying on walking boots always wear the socks that you will be walking in. Since walking socks are thicker than your normal socks they will increase the size of your feet. It is also a good idea to try walking boots on in the afternoon, or after you have been walking around for a while, since your feet increase in size during the day and during exercise.

As a rough guide your walking boots should be a size larger than your normal footwear. However sizes can vary between different manufacturers and even between different types of walking boots by the same manufacturer. It is important not to buy a pair of walking boots that are too small. If your walking boots are a little bit too big you can always wear thicker socks or insert insoles. First of all check the initial fit, put the boots on, do up the laces and stand up. Make sure that they feel comfortable. Your toes should not touch the front of the walking boot, your foot should not be pinched across its width, especially at the toes, and the walking boot should provide support under the arch of your foot. Around and above the ankle the boot should feel snug but not tight - take a walk around your house to make sure the walking boot fits OK. If there is movement between your foot and the walking boot then this will cause blisters on a long hike. The walking boot should not feel loose and your heel should not lift up from the sole. Also check to make sure the boots do not pinch, especially around the top of your toes. If the walking boots are comfortable and fit properly according to the guidelines above then try out a few tests, as follows:

The Finger Test

When walking downhill, especially with a heavy pack on, your feet can slide forwards in your boot. If there is not enough clearance between your toes and the front of your boot, then your foot will bang into the front of your walking boot. This will be uncomfortable and can lead to bruising of your toes. Fully unlace the boot. Move your foot as far forward in the boot as possible, so that your toes just touch the front of the boot. You should be able to slide your finger down inside the walking boot at the heel with just a little friction. If you can do this then there will be enough clearance at the front of the walking boot but if your finger does not fit into the gap, then the boot is too short.

The Sensory Test

Sometimes when wearing your thick walking socks it is difficult to sense whether or not a pair of boots are too tight for your feet. Take off your socks and put on the boots. Check to see whether the boots feel tight or uncomfortable in anyway. In particular check the area where your small toes are located, check around the ball and the arch of your foot. This test quickly elimates boots that are not desinged to fit your feet. If the boot is still OK, put your socks back on and check the boots again. Your feet should feel snug, neither too tight or too loose. Women should pay particular attention to the width of the boot. Some women are used to wearing tight-fitting street shoes. Wearing tight-fitting walking boots can be uncomfortable. It can also cause the walking boot to stretch. If this happens the foot can extend over the edge of the walking boots sole, causing more discomfort.

The Walking Boot Ramp Test

Stand on a sloped board to see how the boots feel on inclines. Stand on the board and force your feet down to the front of the boot. Check that your feet do not slide down the walking boot and become jammed or pinched. Make sure that your toes do not touch the front of the walking boot, and if they do you will require a larger size.

Breaking your walking boots in

When you buy a new pair of walking boots it is likely that they will need to be broken in. The upper part and midsoles of new boots are usually quite stiff. Breaking in your walking boots will reduce this stiffness and the boots will mould themselves to your feet, making them much more comfortable to wear. The best way to break in your walking boots is to initially wear them around the house for a few hours a time at a time. Then wear them outside for a few short walks, increasing the distance with each walk. It is inadvisable to wear boots that have not been broken in on a long hike or expedition, since breaking in your boots this way will almost certainly hurt your feet and cause blisters. Generally Four Season and Mountaineering boots are made from thicker leathers and have stiffer midsoles than lower level walking boots, it is essential that these high performance boots are broken in gradually. If you do notice that your walking boots are rubbing you can prevent blisters by putting an adhesive plaster over the area of you skin that is becoming sore.

Walking Boots Care

After using your walking boots always rinse off any mud and dirt with plain water. Remove any stubborn dirt with a sponge, damp cloth or a soft brush. Dry your walking boots naturally over time in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. Never force dry your boots using heat from fires, heaters or direct sunlight. Overheating your walking boots can cause them to shrink and can damage the uppers. Regularly treat your boots with a suitable waterproofing treatment applicable to the type of boots that you have. Remember to apply waterproofing treatments to tongues, D-rings and hooks. Do not over treat your boots as this can soften the leather and damage the stitching.

Leather Walking Boots

The best waterproofing treatment to use for walking boots depends upon the type of leather than your boots are made from. You can usually us Aqueous Nikwax, Nikwax or G-Wax. Nubuck is a full grain leather where the outer surface of the leather has a finely sanded, texturised finish.

Nubuck leather is a full quality leather and should not be confused with suede. If your boots are made from Nubuck leather, then use Nikwax Nubuck treatment. Using this treatment will tend to flatten the texturised finish of the leather. This can be restored using a suede brush.
Fabric or Suede Walking Boots

These should be waterproofed with Nikwax Fabric and Leather or Graingers G-Sport.

Walking Poles

Walking poles (often called 'trekking poles') have long been popular with our continental cousins, offering improved security on awkward ground, and reducing the bashing and stresses our poor knees take on a typical day walking in the hills. British walkers on the other hand, no doubt due to our un-continental view of anything related to skiing, have taken much longer to adopt these remarkably effective devices. Thankfully, walking poles are now firmly established among serious outdoor users in the UK, either used singularly, or in pairs.

Walking poles can be divided into two categories: fixed length and two/three section telecopic poles.

Fixed length are often regarded by walkers as the standard ski poles, which although foolproof are awkward to carry when not needed.

Telescopic poles are ideal for walking; they are compact for storage or transport and can be adjusted to suit the height of individual users and their requirements. Three section poles are most common and are compact enough to fit conveniently on the side of a rucksack. Two section poles are less prone to failure, simply due to the fact that they only have one adjustment rather then two.

There are two common adjustment systems for the telescopic (or 'collapsible') poles.

Internal twist fit is the most common, where a small plastic screw-fit collar expands to hold the pole in place when twisted. Take care not to over twist or tighten more than half a turn once the correct length is selected - otherwise the adjustment can prove difficult to release and damage may occur. Generally any failure is caused by this collar wearing out (though most are replaceable), or the collar becomes totally unscrewed and needs to be refitted.

External collars click into place, cinching the poles together. Unlike the internal system that can freeze together in cold weather, the external collar can be easily unclipped in any conditions.

Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, and both are very robust and effective. There is a wide selection of 'ski baskets' for the foot of the pole, but perhaps the best for best all-rounder is the small solid basket: small enough not to get jammed between rocks nor get in the way of your feet, yet still big enough to provide some resistance to sinking into snow or soft ground. If you plan to do a lot of snow work then fit a larger snow basket.

Take care of your walking pole

Poles aren't indestructible. Take care not to store them underneath heavy items, or use them as pry-bars! Make sure the inside is dry before you store it. You might even lightly wipe the shaft with a light oil or WD-40 before storage. Top brands like Leki walking poles provide an extensive line of spares and accessories, meaning you can repair components when they wear out. Like any great piece of equipment, once you've used walking poles you'll wonder how you ever managed without them

Walking Socks

Modern Performance Walking Socks

Just as a modern computer needs the right software to perform to its optimum, then so with modern outdoor footwear, the choice of the right socks (software) is important to get the most out of your boots (hardware). Gone are the days of having to settle for a pair of crudely made wool socks. Today, the manufacture of performance socks is a highly technical business involving a great deal of research and development work.

To make a high performance sock, it is important to study a range of factors including the activity being performed and the external environment in which the activity will take place. Getting a precise fix on the conditions is the start point. It's also important to look at the desired performance characteristics of the sock: maintaining an optimal foot temperature and environment, protection against rubbing and blisters, wicking away of moisture and providing outstanding comfort are all desired benefits of walkign socks.

Walking Sock technology

The American brand Thorlo is widely accredited with having 'invented' the whole arena of modern technical socks for outdoor, ski and sport use. Thorlo now has over 30 years of in-depth scientific and medical research relating to feet and the huge range of movements, pressures, temperatures and environments in the various activities you undertake. Protecting your feet in this multiplicity of environments requires careful product development. Several factors are now hallmarks of Thorlo socks. Amongst these are their use of new fibre developments and some exclusive knitting technology: secrets that they jealously guard.

Many, consumers (and even a number of sock manufacturers) assume that 'natural' fibres are the best materials to use. But years of research, together with developments in modern fabrics and materials, have exploded this myth. Cotton, for example, is one of the worst materials from which to make socks. It absorbs moisture and holds that moisture next to the skin. It increases rubbing against the skin when wet; loses its shape when used and offers little or no padding. Equally, wool absorbs and retains moisture, takes a long time to dry-out and lacks strength and resiliency. Although wool does have some advantages, man-made fibres like Coolmax, Thermolite, acrylic and nylon all offer other benefits that wool simply cannot match. Protecting your feet in a range of environments requires a carefully selected and intelligently blended mix of many fibres.

Then comes the construction. The best socks are knitted to ensure that they fit perfectly in every area of the foot. It is not uncommon to see four of five different knit areas in one sock, as they vary the construction to give the best possible protection and comfort in each area of the foot. Thorlo actually customise their knitting machinery to uniquely knit and construct each sock to give the exact performance required.

Walking Sock tips

So when you are seeking the best performance from your footwear, it is important to give careful consideration to the 'software'. Look for socks that have been specifically made for your chosen activity and follow these guiding principles:

Seek out socks that have carefully blended yarns to deliver the performance and protection for your feet.

Look for a high quality knit construction. Check carefully the construction and shape of the socks (never select tube socks!)

Pay careful attention to the elastication at the neck of the sock and the seaming at the toe.

Ensure that the socks you select clearly show that they are designed to maintain the right temperature, will protect your feet against sheer and impact pressures, will wick moisture away from your feet and provide the right level of comfort and stimulus for your feet.

If you follow these tips and take a little time to select the right socks, then you can ensure that you will get the best from your walking boots and also help to ensure that your feet are well protected and comfortable.

The walking boots discoussed above are available in men's walking boots and women's walking boots. Each have different shapes and sizes, and so always make sure you're trying on the right sex of walking boots!

This information is provided for general guidance only, and so if you are looking for specific and possibly more up-to-date advice on an item or range of walking or outdoor clothing, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be glad to help.