Footwear Criteria from Ivan Sellers

[Covey]

HIKING BOOTS: Criteria and Choice

12.08.2010

1. Norwegian Welt construction for sole (usually only found on heavy duty boots). These are the boots with stitching around the soles, rather than the glued on soles. Allows for soles to be replaced. You will rarely find on lighter trekking boots.

2. Light weight as possible. It is generally agreed that one pound (450 gr) extra footwear weight can be compared to five pounds (2.3 k) of added backpack weight. Aim for under 800gr per shoe for hiking long distances.

3. With a sole that is hard enough not to have you feel each stone or contour under your foot (leads to bruising and soreness) but flexible enough not to cause extra tiredness in walking or blisters. If you can grab a boot by the toe and heel and twist it like a rag, it is not a hiking boot. They should be stiff enough to give enough support while at the same time being flexible enough to facilitate the natural walking motion of your feet.

4. Breathable. Gortex boots are waterproof "and breathable".

5. Waterproof, but beware. Shoes with Gortex membranes, the best waterproofing agent, only work best when there are important differences in temperature and or very wet conditions. When temperatures are hot the added membrane makes respiration more difficult. Note also that all standard hiking and backpacking boots are not insulated. Only alpine boots are. Temperature is regulated through the use of the right measure of socks.

6. With good grip on wet rock. Your hiking boot should have a sole with lots of lugs to grab the ground beneath your feet and should be made with a rubber compound. Vibram soles are slippery when they have a thin coating of water, but improve when they are very wet. Not all Vibram soles are good for gripping. Look also for Skywalk soles that wear faster than Vibram but provide very good grip.

7. High top to give more stability with easy lacing system. The best is usually what is called combination lacing (which is with D-Rings). Some argue that a higher top will also cause less fatigue when walking but this is not universally agreed as the added stiffness can also tire. For the Camino best to take something with ankle support but not too high if possible (height will also add to weight).

8. SMARTWOOL socks are the best socks to use. You can assemble different socks of different thicknesses.

9. Laces. Nowadays, laces are almost always braided nylon cords. Flat laces as often found in fashion footwear are more likely to break so avoid them. Try to get ones that snap into the hooks at the top, as it can be very frustrating to lace up otherwise especially if you're wearing gloves or your hands are cold

10. Take boots one size larger than you would normally wear. Get customised insoles for much better fit and less soreness even if they are off the shelf inserts.

11. There is no way to really test shoes other than to walk in them for hours at a time. Do this before the Camino by wearing them for several days (at a minimum) and all day long if possible.