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Comfort is a significant factor while setting out on aching activities like hiking. While camping or trekking across the backcountry and rough terrains, your feet will most likely take on the entire excursion work. Hence, it's essential that they are adequately padded and protected against bruising and abrasions with hiking boots in NZ.

The main purpose of wearing hiking boots is to ensure comfort and safety for the wearers as they hike in the wilderness on uneven terrains. Unlike the urban areas, the roads in the woods or mountains are steep, slippery, and muddy, making it difficult for the trekkers to walk and move around comfortably. Therefore, wearing appropriate footwear is essential to cushion the soles and offer traction on the rough surface.

However, choosing the ideal hiking shoes is not that easy for all. On your visit to camping stores, you must have come across a wide range of hiking and trekking footwear options. From styles to sizes, the options are endless when it comes to the hiking shoe category. Moreover, the prices of each also vary significantly depending on the unique make and features of each shoe.

Buying the perfect hiking boots is not just about style. Other factors like durability and stability are vital that one shouldn’t compromise on. A good hiking boot should be lightweight, flexible, and supportive which can assure good protection against harsh terrain conditions. 

So, if you are planning to buy hiking boots in NZ anytime soon, there are certain factors that you must consider before making the final purchase decision. But before that, let’s find out what distinguishes hiking boots from other regular trekking footwear.

Hiking Boots: What are they?

Also known as trekking shoes, hiking boots are durable footwear that provides a firm grip and lateral support to the ankles. Primarily, these boots are meant for comfort, protection, and safety of the feet while walking through uneven terrains. While there are different types of hiking boots available in the market, one must choose the perfect one for themselves by considering terrain conditions and the weather in which they plan their trip.

Broadly speaking, hiking boots are divided into three broad categories that are:

Hiking shoes - These are low-cut shoes with flexible midsoles that are extremely lightweight and ideal for day hiking trips.

Day hiking boots - Intended for short backpacking and day hiking trips, these are low and mid-cut models that are lightweight and flex easily. However, these day hiking boots lack the support and durability of hiking boots.

Backpacking Boots - Hikers who travel deep into the wilderness for multiday trips can rely on conventional backpacking boots as they offer excellent support. Generally, these are high-cut boots that wrap around the ankle and offer stable support.

Factors to consider before buying hiking boots

One rule of thumb that applies while shopping for hiking boots in NZ is that they should be as sturdy as needed while being as lightweight as possible. Especially for hikers who are prone to ankle twists and injuries must prioritize the sturdiness of the shoes over anything else.

Similarly, different hiking situations demand specific footwear. Hence, it’s important that one picks the boots that are ideally suited for their requirements. So, if you are still wondering which is the best hiking boot, the following discussed are some factors that will help you make an informed purchase.

Fit: Not just hiking boots but for any footwear, fit plays a critical role. Despite the quality and sturdiness of the boots, ill-fitted boots are useless for avid hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Hence, it’s important that one finds the perfect fit for their boots as it also influences the comfort factor directly.

Traction: Good traction here implies resistance to slippage. The two most common reasons behind injuries on a trial are slipping and falling. To avoid this, one must wear hiking boots that have good traction properties and offer enough support to the wearer against muddy and slippery surfaces.

Breathability: Hiking boots that lack breathability often result in skin problems like blisters and infections. Unlike traditional hiking boots that fail to provide proper ventilation, modern hiking boots allow air to pass through and keep the feet comfortable.

Final Note

The rougher the terrain conditions, the stiffer boots you’ll need. However, while prioritizing sturdiness and durability, one should also focus on the weight of the boots as heavy boots can slow the trekker’s speed and make them tired. Furthermore, hiking footwear should be highly functional and responsive to changing environments at the same time.