7 Hiking shoes and boots tips
1. Boots with membrane good for high humidity and wet conditions. At this case
Gore-tex membrane will perform as it was intended, only when there is much
temperature difference inside and outside the boot. So boots with membrane work
perfect in cold and especially wet conditions. In hot climate conditions boots
with membrane will works against you.
2. The main point of Gore-tex membrane in hiking boots are that boots (in case
complete, absolute membrane undamageability) would be waterproof at the same
time when boots leather wouldn't be waterproof. No "better" breathability
compared with leather hiking boots. "Stream" produced during feet sweating in
case of boots or shoes with membrane need to pass two barriers - first it's
memrane and the next - boots leather. Simple "non-membrane" hiking boots have
one (approximately) barrier only.
3. Smooth grain leather in hiking boots has good water repellency features, has better look and is resistant
against damages. Nubuck repels water worse. Nevertheless, it is very resistant
against damages, it keep good appearance for a long time, and does not have
requirements to special care. Relatively bad water resistance can be compensated
by impregnations. Actually, in cases of hiking tours I would advise nubuck ,
rather than smooth leather. It is not by chance that major manufacturing lines
of footwear for outdoors are presented by models out of nubuck . Nubuck is far
more resistant to unfavorable weather conditions: constant wetting, drying, and
temperature changes as compared to smooth leather, and it cracks considerably
less. This is one of the main reasons for its use when manufacturing outdoor
footwear.
5. Cordura. Inserts (mainly cordura) serve for the purpose of additional ventilation (to
make feet as dry as possible (sweat).The general rule can be as
follows: if you hiking in places where humidity are minimal, and also
temperatures are high, then you will feel better with inserts. In wet and rainy
conditions, "full leather" boots (without inserts) will be optimal.
6. The common rule for choosing trekking/backpacking boots: Take one extra size larger than your normal size. The reason is during a long trekking or backpacking, foot is increasing (swells up).
First day it will be roomy enough, but already the next and followings days it gets close to foot. Basically, before first trekking/backpacking the boots are to be worn in city if possible.
7. All trekking boots (but not mountaineering boots) are NOT heat-inslulated - not for serious winter conditions. Internal temperature ajusted wearing socks or multiple pairs of socks.
1. Boots with membrane good for high humidity and wet conditions. At this case
Gore-tex membrane will perform as it was intended, only when there is much
temperature difference inside and outside the boot. So boots with membrane work
perfect in cold and especially wet conditions. In hot climate conditions boots
with membrane will works against you.
2. The main point of Gore-tex membrane in hiking boots are that boots (in case
complete, absolute membrane undamageability) would be waterproof at the same
time when boots leather wouldn't be waterproof. No "better" breathability
compared with leather hiking boots. "Stream" produced during feet sweating in
case of boots or shoes with membrane need to pass two barriers - first it's
memrane and the next - boots leather. Simple "non-membrane" hiking boots have
one (approximately) barrier only.
3. Smooth grain leather in hiking boots has good water repellency features, has better look and is resistant
against damages. Nubuck repels water worse. Nevertheless, it is very resistant
against damages, it keep good appearance for a long time, and does not have
requirements to special care. Relatively bad water resistance can be compensated
by impregnations. Actually, in cases of hiking tours I would advise nubuck ,
rather than smooth leather. It is not by chance that major manufacturing lines
of footwear for outdoors are presented by models out of nubuck . Nubuck is far
more resistant to unfavorable weather conditions: constant wetting, drying, and
temperature changes as compared to smooth leather, and it cracks considerably
less. This is one of the main reasons for its use when manufacturing outdoor
footwear.
5. Cordura. Inserts (mainly cordura) serve for the purpose of additional ventilation (to
make feet as dry as possible (sweat).The general rule can be as
follows: if you hiking in places where humidity are minimal, and also
temperatures are high, then you will feel better with inserts. In wet and rainy
conditions, "full leather" boots (without inserts) will be optimal.
6. The common rule for choosing trekking/backpacking boots: Take one extra size larger than your normal size. The reason is during a long trekking or backpacking, foot is increasing (swells up).
First day it will be roomy enough, but already the next and followings days it gets close to foot. Basically, before first trekking/backpacking the boots are to be worn in city if possible.
7. All trekking boots (but not mountaineering boots) are NOT heat-inslulated - not for serious winter conditions. Internal temperature ajusted wearing socks or multiple pairs of socks.