By Michael Lanza
Boots are the most important piece of hiking or backpacking gear you will buy. You can live with a mediocre pack or a cheap tent (as many of us have), but poorly fitting boots are often a trip killer. Trouble is, boots are also the most difficult piece of gear to get right. (First tip: Don’t settle for a mediocre fit—if they don’t feel good, they aren’t good. That said, feeling good doesn’t necessarily mean they are good.) This article will go beyond the usual boots-buying tips you’ll find at countless sources to help you figure out how to find the right hiking footwear for you.
Thousands of miles of dayhiking, backpacking, trail running, and ultra-hiking, plus field-testing dozens of shoe and boot models of all kinds over a quarter-century of reviewing gear—formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog—have refined my sense of how hiking footwear differs subtly in critical characteristics like design, weight, materials, performance, and fit. (I can now usually tell the first time I put on new shoes or boots whether they fit me perfectly and are appropriate for my feet and the kind of hiking or backpacking I’m planning.)
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Hikers make every kind of bad choice on footwear, from buying too much boot (which can result in blisters and chronic foot or lower-leg injuries) to getting shoes that are not adequately supportive for them (which can also result in—you guessed it—blisters and chronic foot or lower-leg injuries).
Gaining a better understanding of those differences will help ensure you buy the right footwear for your needs—and spend your money smartly.
Please share your questions or thoughts on my advice—or your own boots-buying secrets—in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments. And like many stories at this blog, part of this one is free for anyone to read, but reading all of my tips in this story is an exclusive benefit for paid subscribers to The Big Outside.
Gear up right for your hikes.

Jeff Wilhelm backpacking over Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park. Click the photo for my e-book “The Best First Backpacking Trip in Yosemite.”
For the purposes of this article, I’ll divide hiking shoes and boots into three categories by approximate weight (per pair of men’s US size 9/Euro 42), noting that there’s overlap between these categories:
• Lightweight—Low-cut (below the ankle) shoes or mid-cut (ankle-high) boots weighing roughly two pounds or less per pair;
• Midweight—Mid-cut or higher boots weighing approximately two to 2.5 pounds per pair;
• Heavy-duty—Mid-cut or higher boots weighing 2.5 to three pounds or more per pair.
(Purely for simplicity, my reviews divide footwear into two categories: hiking shoes and boots ideal for dayhiking and lightweight backpacking—overlapping the first and second categories above—and backpacking boots—overlapping the second and third categories above.)

David Gordon backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park. Click the photo to read about this trip.
For many people, midweight boots are a good choice because they serve the needs of a broad cross-section of hikers and backpackers, offering a balance between being fairly light and yet moderately supportive; many are also relatively affordable.
There has also been an evolution in the category of hiking-approach shoes toward designs that make them more breathable and comfortable for hiking many miles—in other words, making them more of a hiking shoe with great traction and support, and thus more versatile for all kinds of hikers. They generally fall into the category of lightweight shoes and boots, and are often the type of low-cut shoe I prefer for dayhiking, especially models that are highly breathable.
Still, choosing the right boots for you comes down to understanding the type of hiker you are and considering the type of hiking you will do most often.
I’ve listed below criteria to help you figure out which type of footwear best suits your needs.

Todd Arndt and Mark Fenton in upper Titcomb Basin, Wind River Range, Wyoming. Click the photo to see the best ultralight backpacks.
Get lightweight shoes or boots if you fit any of these descriptions:
• You are a dayhiker typically carrying a light pack (15 to 20 pounds or less);
• You’re a fit, avid hiker, climber, ultralight or lightweight backpacker or trail runner and accustomed to hiking in light footwear, especially for hiking long distances daily at a strong pace;
• You don’t tend to roll or sprain your ankles;
• Or you’re hiking trails that are well maintained and not too rocky.
If you’re new to dayhiking or backpacking, I’d caution against getting very lightweight boots because your feet may not yet have the strength and resilience that slowly develops when you hike a lot, and inadequately supportive boots can be a fast way to a chronic overuse injury. Start out with a midweight, mid-cut boot with good support and protection for your feet. As you get more experience, you will know better how light a boot your feet can handle—right around the time you wear out your first pair and need new ones.

Mark Solon backpacking the Tonto Trail on the Gems Route in the Grand Canyon. Click photo to read about the best backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon.
Get midweight boots if you fit any of these descriptions:
• You’re new to hiking and want a functional, all-around model for dayhiking and/or light backpacking;
• You’re carrying a light or moderately heavy pack (35 pounds max) on trail;
• You hike high-mileage days, generally on trails, with a light or moderately heavy pack, and want footwear that’s fairly lightweight and won’t make your feet overheat too badly (which can lead to blisters), yet with more protection and support than lightweight shoes;
• Or you’re an experienced and fit hiker and backpacker and want footwear that finds a balance between moderate support and weight.

Jeff Wilhelm backpacking in the rain on the Dusky Track in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. Click photo to read about “New Zealand’s hardest hut trek.”
Get heavy-duty boots if you fit any of these descriptions:
• You’re carrying a heavy pack (generally 40 pounds or more) on trails, or a pack weighing 30 to 40 pounds on rugged trails or off-trail, and find that midweight boots don’t offer the support you need;
• You typically go hiking or backpacking in an environment that’s rugged, very wet, and cool or cold, and may involve some challenging, off-trail hiking;
• Or if your feet simply need more support and protection than is provided by midweight boots.
See all of my reviews of hiking shoes and backpacking boots and my “8 Pro Tips For Avoiding Blisters.”
!
See also my stories:
“5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack”
“5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent”
“Pro Tips for Buying a Backpacking Sleeping Bag”
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”
NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of gear reviews and expert buying tips.
Boots are the most important piece of hiking or backpacking gear you will buy. You can live with a mediocre pack or a cheap tent (as many of us have), but poorly fitting boots are often a trip killer. Trouble is, boots are also the most difficult piece of gear to get right. (First tip: Don’t settle for a mediocre fit—if they don’t feel good, they aren’t good. That said, feeling good doesn’t necessarily mean they are good.) This article will go beyond the usual boots-buying tips you’ll find at countless sources to help you figure out how to find the right hiking footwear for you.
Thousands of miles of dayhiking, backpacking, trail running, and ultra-hiking, plus field-testing dozens of shoe and boot models of all kinds over a quarter-century of reviewing gear—formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog—have refined my sense of how hiking footwear differs subtly in critical characteristics like design, weight, materials, performance, and fit. (I can now usually tell the first time I put on new shoes or boots whether they fit me perfectly and are appropriate for my feet and the kind of hiking or backpacking I’m planning.)

Hikers make every kind of bad choice on footwear, from buying too much boot (which can result in blisters and chronic foot or lower-leg injuries) to getting shoes that are not adequately supportive for them (which can also result in—you guessed it—blisters and chronic foot or lower-leg injuries).
Gaining a better understanding of those differences will help ensure you buy the right footwear for your needs—and spend your money smartly.
Please share your questions or thoughts on my advice—or your own boots-buying secrets—in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments. And like many stories at this blog, part of this one is free for anyone to read, but reading all of my tips in this story is an exclusive benefit for paid subscribers to The Big Outside.
Gear up right for your hikes.
See my reviews of the best hiking shoes and boots and the 10 best hiking daypacks.

Jeff Wilhelm backpacking over Clouds Rest in Yosemite National Park. Click the photo for my e-book “The Best First Backpacking Trip in Yosemite.”
Types of Hiking Footwear
For the purposes of this article, I’ll divide hiking shoes and boots into three categories by approximate weight (per pair of men’s US size 9/Euro 42), noting that there’s overlap between these categories:
• Lightweight—Low-cut (below the ankle) shoes or mid-cut (ankle-high) boots weighing roughly two pounds or less per pair;
• Midweight—Mid-cut or higher boots weighing approximately two to 2.5 pounds per pair;
• Heavy-duty—Mid-cut or higher boots weighing 2.5 to three pounds or more per pair.
(Purely for simplicity, my reviews divide footwear into two categories: hiking shoes and boots ideal for dayhiking and lightweight backpacking—overlapping the first and second categories above—and backpacking boots—overlapping the second and third categories above.)
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David Gordon backpacking the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park. Click the photo to read about this trip.
For many people, midweight boots are a good choice because they serve the needs of a broad cross-section of hikers and backpackers, offering a balance between being fairly light and yet moderately supportive; many are also relatively affordable.
There has also been an evolution in the category of hiking-approach shoes toward designs that make them more breathable and comfortable for hiking many miles—in other words, making them more of a hiking shoe with great traction and support, and thus more versatile for all kinds of hikers. They generally fall into the category of lightweight shoes and boots, and are often the type of low-cut shoe I prefer for dayhiking, especially models that are highly breathable.
Still, choosing the right boots for you comes down to understanding the type of hiker you are and considering the type of hiking you will do most often.
I’ve listed below criteria to help you figure out which type of footwear best suits your needs.
Click here now to plan your next great backpacking adventure using my expert e-books.

Todd Arndt and Mark Fenton in upper Titcomb Basin, Wind River Range, Wyoming. Click the photo to see the best ultralight backpacks.
Lightweight Shoes and Boots
Get lightweight shoes or boots if you fit any of these descriptions:
• You are a dayhiker typically carrying a light pack (15 to 20 pounds or less);
• You’re a fit, avid hiker, climber, ultralight or lightweight backpacker or trail runner and accustomed to hiking in light footwear, especially for hiking long distances daily at a strong pace;
• You don’t tend to roll or sprain your ankles;
• Or you’re hiking trails that are well maintained and not too rocky.
If you’re new to dayhiking or backpacking, I’d caution against getting very lightweight boots because your feet may not yet have the strength and resilience that slowly develops when you hike a lot, and inadequately supportive boots can be a fast way to a chronic overuse injury. Start out with a midweight, mid-cut boot with good support and protection for your feet. As you get more experience, you will know better how light a boot your feet can handle—right around the time you wear out your first pair and need new ones.
I’ve helped many readers plan unforgettable backpacking and hiking trips.
Want my help with yours? Click here now.
Want my help with yours? Click here now.

Mark Solon backpacking the Tonto Trail on the Gems Route in the Grand Canyon. Click photo to read about the best backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon.
Midweight Boots
Get midweight boots if you fit any of these descriptions:
• You’re new to hiking and want a functional, all-around model for dayhiking and/or light backpacking;
• You’re carrying a light or moderately heavy pack (35 pounds max) on trail;
• You hike high-mileage days, generally on trails, with a light or moderately heavy pack, and want footwear that’s fairly lightweight and won’t make your feet overheat too badly (which can lead to blisters), yet with more protection and support than lightweight shoes;
• Or you’re an experienced and fit hiker and backpacker and want footwear that finds a balance between moderate support and weight.
Read all of this story and ALL stories at The Big Outside,
plus get a FREE e-book! Join now!
plus get a FREE e-book! Join now!

Jeff Wilhelm backpacking in the rain on the Dusky Track in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. Click photo to read about “New Zealand’s hardest hut trek.”
Heavy-duty Boots
Get heavy-duty boots if you fit any of these descriptions:
• You’re carrying a heavy pack (generally 40 pounds or more) on trails, or a pack weighing 30 to 40 pounds on rugged trails or off-trail, and find that midweight boots don’t offer the support you need;
• You typically go hiking or backpacking in an environment that’s rugged, very wet, and cool or cold, and may involve some challenging, off-trail hiking;
• Or if your feet simply need more support and protection than is provided by midweight boots.
Keep your feet happy with my “8 Pro Tips For Avoiding Blisters.”
See all of my reviews of hiking shoes and backpacking boots and my “8 Pro Tips For Avoiding Blisters.”
You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there.
Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-book
! Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-book
See also my stories:
“5 Expert Tips For Buying the Right Backpacking Pack”
“5 Expert Tips For Buying a Backpacking Tent”
“Pro Tips for Buying a Backpacking Sleeping Bag”
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned backpacker, you’ll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” “A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking,” and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.” With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you don’t have a subscription, you can download the e-book versions of “How to Plan a Backpacking Trip—12 Expert Tips,” the lightweight and ultralight backpacking guide, and “How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.”
NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See The Big Outside’s Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of gear reviews and expert buying tips.