Choosing footwear

Types of footwear

There are several types of footwear available today each with its own main purpose, although many are now more multifunctional. Some are worth having, some not…

These include:

Ø  Walking boots;

Ø  Mountain boots;

Ø  Walking shoes;

Ø  Technical sandals;

Ø  Climbing shoes;

Ø  ‘street’ boots;

Ø  and military boots.

Street boots

Ok, lets start with the worst type…

Several companies now market trainers or ‘budget boots’ for use in hill walking which do not have neither sufficient grip nor ankle support. They are designed to look ‘cool’ in the high street and have absolutely no place in the outdoors.

Climbing shoes

These come in several types, depending on the type of climbing to be done, and are very lightweight.

They have little or no ankle support allow for certain stretches to be done to reach foot hold, and are not suitable for general walking, normally have slick soles.

Walking shoes

These are normally brogue type shoes with a good gripping sole for light walking on flat ground or gentle slopes. They are not very suitable for rough terrain though.

Technical sandals

These are a hybrid of a walking shoe and a beach sandal. They have the comfort of a sandal but with reasonable ankle support and the grip of a walking shoe.

They are ideal for light walking in warm weather.

Mountain boots

These boots are similar to walking boots but are generally a bit heavier and have better ankle support. They also tend to come further up the leg than a walking boot and have a full shank allowing the use of crampons for walking and climbing on ice.

Military boots

Military boots have progressed enormously in recent years and are a good alternative to walking boots in many situations.

Most are of the ‘high-leg’ variety giving good ankle protection along with lower leg protection, have soles with good grips, are tough and durable and are fairly light in weight – all the things a soldier requires from a decent pair of boots.

Walking boots

Finally we get on to walking boots. These are the main type of footwear worn by outdoors people, although the above mentioned military boots are becoming increasingly popular.

Walking boots combine excellent ankle support, with excellent grip and are fairly lightweight. They are tough and rugged and can be used on many types of terrain although as most only have a half-, or three-quarter length shank, cannot be used with crampons.

Materials

Many materials are used in the construction of walking boots from leather, suede and ‘nubuck’, through canvas and nylon, to Goretex and other fabrics.

Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages but many manufacturers combine material to make use of the advantages of the most suitable material to perform a purpose.

For example the main body of a boot may be made from Goretex with those areas that require more abrasion resistance and strength, such as the toes, being suede.

Soles

Again, the choice of sole a manufacturer chooses varies according to their criteria but most go for well known, tried and tested sole patterns that will maintain a good grip on a wide variety of surfaces and be self-cleaning.

It doesn’t matter how good a grip is built into the sole of a boot if it does not channel mud away from the grip.