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5 Things to Consider When Shopping For Men’s Hiking Boots

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Hiking is an exciting exercise that leaves you feeling renewed and gives you joy. Your feet do the most work, and for this, you have to ensure you take good care of them. Having the right type of footwear is one of the best ways to take care of your feet, as it ensures you are not left with blisters. Below are five things to consider when buying men’s hiking footwear:

      1. How Well the Shoes Fit

No matter how perfect the shoe is, it has to fit. Well-fitting shoes give you good steadiness and support, offer comfort, give you enough shock absorption, protect you from wounds and blisters, and make your shoes last longer.

When buying hiking shoes, ensure to check the insole and fit of the shoes with your socks on to avoid false-fitting. Keep in mind that our feet usually expand by five percent during the day. Men’s and ladies’ shoes fit differently since most women have narrow feet and a lower volume than men.

      2. Traction

Traction in shoes is the shoes’ capability to resist slippage. Hiking shoes have a different tread pattern and outsole than regular footwear. One of the leading causes of injuries when hiking is tumbling and falling.

Several outsoles are made from either blown or carbon rubber. The former is soft and not durable, whereas carbon rubber lasts longer. Make sure to avoid shoes made of blown rubber when shopping and go for shoes with durable and strong outsoles.

      3. The Breathability of the Shoes

Most trekking boots have poor ventilation. When you hike in such shoes, your feet become sweaty, hot, and smelly, especially in hot climates. Poor ventilation keeps moisture in the shoes, making your feet prone to rashes, sores, and infections.

You always have to bear in mind that the environment in the shoes differs from the hiking area. Buy shoes that absorb more moisture and have breathable material. Leather shoes are not too friendly for hiking. Instead, go for shoes made from synthetic materials or shoes that have knitted nylon mesh.

      4. Weight in Men’s Hiking Footwear Matter

When shopping for hiking boots, always go for lightweight footwear. Most hiking boots are heavy and last long. However, heavy shoes demand more energy and can obstruct performance when hiking.

There is an exception when you are carrying a weighty backpack. Heavy boots come in handy here since you will require more ankle support and excellent stability.

Prior planning before shopping is vital to ensure you buy the shoes with the right weight depending on your hiking needs. If you are not backpacking, go for lightweight shoes since they can withstand different environmental conditions.  

      5. Support and Stability of the Shoe

Hiking footwear needs excellent cushioning, great medial support, and a semi-curved end. Shoes with the right design and fitting inserts give additional stability.

When shopping for hiking boots, you can determine the support of the shoes by pressing the rear part. If the shoes compress, they do not have good support, but they are stable if they resist the compression. Regular footwear is flexible and twists easily, but hiking shoes should resist twisting.

Hiking is a fun activity and having the right hiking shoes adds more fun to it. Contact Nord Trail if you need quality and durable men’s hiking footwear. We also specialize in women’s and kids’ hiking footwear at family-friendly prices.