A Deep Dive into Hiking Boots
Hiking boots are designed for outdoor activities. They have excellent grip and stability and are ideal for hiking enthusiasts.
Their features include waterproof and breathable, wear-resistant and tear-resistant, as well as good support and comfort, ensuring that you are safe and comfortable during the camping, hiking, travling, etc.
Classification of hiking boots
Hiking boots are classified into different series to adapt to different sports and terrains. The more common hiking boots can be roughly divided into four series:
Climbing Series
Climbing series can be divided into high mountain boots and low mountain boots.
Alpine boots can also be called heavy hiking boots. This type of boots is designed for climbing snowy mountains.
The soles of the boots are usually made of super wear-resistant Vibram rubber as the outsole, lined with carbon plates, with strong impact resistance, can be equipped with crampons, and the boots are designed to be very high, generally more than 8in.
The boot surface is made of hard plastic resin or thickened cowhide or sheepskin, lined with warm shoe covers, adapted to complex and harsh snow, ice, rock mixed terrain, can effectively protect your feet.
Low mountain boots can also be called heavy climbing shoes. This type of shoes is used for peaks below 6,000 meters above sea level. It is particularly suitable for climbing ice walls or rock walls mixed with ice and snow.
The outsole is made of wear-resistant Vibram rubber. There is a fiberglass fiberboard between the midsole and the outsole. The sole is very hard and has strong impact resistance, which provides sufficient support when climbing.
The upper is sewn with a thickened (3.0mm or more) whole piece of cowhide or sheepskin. In order to enhance the waterproof and breathable effect, Gore-Tex or Sympatex is often used as the lining, with an insulation layer in the middle.
The upper height is usually 7-8(in), which can effectively protect the feet and reduce injuries under complex terrain conditions. Some styles are equipped with crampon structures, and those without fixed structures can use binding crampons.
It is lighter than heavy mountaineering boots, and it is more comfortable to walk without crampons than heavy mountaineering boots.
Crossing Series
The crossing series can also be called the hiking series. It is designed for relatively complex terrains such as low mountains, canyons, deserts, and Gobi, and is suitable for medium and long-distance weight-bearing walking.
This type of shoe also has high-top structural characteristics. The upper height is usually more than 15cm, with strong support, which can effectively protect the ankle and reduce injuries.
The outsole uses Vibram wear-resistant rubber. Professional brands also design nylon plate support between the outsole and the midsole to enhance the hardness of the sole, which can effectively prevent the deformation of the sole and enhance impact resistance.
The upper is often made of medium-thickness top-layer cowhide, sheepskin or leather mixed uppers, and the leather surface is made of Dubang super wear-resistant Cordura fabric, which is much lighter and more flexible than the mountaineering series.
In order to solve the waterproof problem, some styles use Gore Tex material as lining, and some use oil leather for waterproofing. This type of shoe can be walked in the water or rain below the ankle.
Hiking Series
The hiking series can also be called light hiking shoes, which are more commonly used in outdoor sports. The design goal is to hike with light loads over medium and short distances, suitable for relatively gentle mountains, jungles and general outings or camping activities.
The design features of this type of shoes are that the upper is less than 13cm and has a structure to protect the ankle. The outsole is made of wear-resistant rubber, the midsole is made of microporous foam and double-layer encrypted rubber, and the sole design of high-end brands has a plastic plate sandwich, which has good impact resistance and shock absorption.
The upper is made of full leather, leather surface or leather mixed materials. Some styles have Gore Tex lining, and some styles are not waterproof. The advantages of mid-top shoes are light weight, softness, comfort and good breathability. When walking in an environment with simple terrain, mid-top shoes should be better than high-top shoes.
Sports Series
The sports series of Hiking boots is usually called low-top shoes, which are designed for daily wear and non-weight-bearing sports. The wear-resistant rubber outsole allows you to never worry about the wear of the sole affecting the use.
The elastic midsole can reduce the impact of the ground on the feet and relieve the pressure of the body weight on the feet. High-end low-top shoes usually have a keel design, which can not only effectively prevent the deformation of the sole, but also enhance the support of the shoe.
The tight upper design makes you feel like the shoes are growing on your feet. This type of shoes is often equipped with leather uppers or nylon mesh, so the texture is lighter, a pair of shoes is often less than 400g, and has good flexibility. This series is the most commonly used and best-selling variety in most European and American countries.
Function of hiking boots
Hiking boots can be divided into more detailed categories, such as: ski series, beach series. Generally, the above four series are more commonly used varieties. As functional sports shoes, hiking boots must have functionality.
If hiking boots do not have functions, they lose their meaning of existence. The functionality of boots can be summarized into six major functions, namely support, shock absorption, waterproof, anti-slip, impact resistance, comfort and durability.
Support
The support of Hiking boots does not refer to the function of the shoes themselves, but to the humanized design of the shoes to ensure that the feet have stronger support. In order to adapt to the complex terrain outdoors and meet the needs of mountaineering or hiking under load, the boots must have good support.
This is a problem that is not difficult to understand. A column has the strongest bearing capacity in a vertical state, but its bearing capacity will be greatly reduced when it is bent. A weightlifter can lift 200 kilograms with his arms straight out, but it is impossible with his arms bent.
Hiking boots have enhanced the support of the feet through humanized design, so that they can better support the weight of the human body. The support of Hiking boots is not only closely related to the upper, but also directly related to the structure of the sole.
A good pair of hiking boots usually adopts a compact design for the upper part, and each part of the upper can be reliably combined with the surface of the foot.
This can not only make the wearer feel very comfortable, but also better overcome the force of the foot to disperse around. Thereby supporting the vertical force of the foot to achieve the purpose of enhancing the support.
Shock absorption
When a person walks under load, each foot takes about 600-700 steps per kilometer. This means that for every kilometer of walking, one foot will bear 600-700 gravity shocks.
If the shoes do not have a good shock absorption system to alleviate this shock, the feet will definitely feel exhausted after a day of travel.
Good shock absorption can not only effectively absorb the vertical pressure of the human body, but also the hard sole can effectively resist the impact of the hard ground, so that you feel relaxed when walking.
The fatigue of people when walking is largely caused by the impact of the ground on the brain. Good shock absorption can also reduce the vibration of the ground on the brain, thereby greatly reducing fatigue.
Wear-resistant
When you walk on complex and steep terrain, there is a potential crisis with every step you take. In this case, the stability of your footsteps is extremely important. If you stand unsteadily, it may cause damage to your feet or body.
In order to avoid such damage, Hiking boots must have good anti-slip properties, and each step forward can firmly grasp the ground, allowing you to take a new step safely.
Waterproof
For a long-distance traveler, a long outdoor journey may make you experience various complex climates.
When traveling on rainy days, a pair of Hiking boots without waterproof function will not only be very heavy after being soaked in water, but also very easy to injure your feet due to increased friction. If it is in the cold season, it is also easy to get frostbite.
Therefore, a pair of high-quality Hiking boots should have good waterproof properties. At present, many varieties of Hiking boots use Gore Tex film lining, which can well meet the waterproof requirements.
It is necessary to highlight the waterproof problem of hiking boots. The waterproof index of hiking boots has always been a focus of endless debate.
In fact, this is not a difficult problem to understand.
Hiking boots and rain boots are two different types of products. Rain boots have permanent waterproof properties under the premise of good rubber surface, but they are not breathable.
While the waterproofness of Hiking boots is conditional, and it is based on good breathability. In order to solve this problem, two methods are commonly used in technology.
One is to treat the leather with a waterproof agent. The treated upper has a waterproof function, but this function will gradually lose with the extension of wearing time and the number of brushing times, and needs to be reprocessed.
The second is to use waterproof and breathable membrane to make the shoe cover. However, the waterproof function of this waterproof inner cover is not exactly the same as that of rain boots. It needs to meet certain conditions and needs regular maintenance.
The use environment is related to the height of the water surface. If the water surface is close to the top line of the waterproof cover, the water between the leather surface and the waterproof cover will produce a siphon phenomenon and penetrate into the shoe after the shoe is soaked for a period of time.
If the water surface is higher than the top line of the waterproof cover, the water will soon penetrate into the shoe.
The correct test method for the waterproofness of mountaineering boots is to fill the shoe with a certain height of water, shake it on a centrifuge for 20 minutes, and no water seepage is qualified.
Since consumers do not have this equipment, they often use immersion to test. This method is not only unscientific, but also cannot obtain accurate test results. Instead, it will damage the leather.
If a part of the foot touches a part of the waterproof cover for a long time, it will also cause damage to the film of that part, which will also affect waterproofing. Therefore, it is impossible to expect Hiking boots to be as waterproof as rain boots, and they need to be used correctly and well maintained to reduce damage and extend the waterproof life of the shoes.
Comfort and Durability
Facing the harsh and complex conditions outdoors, it is a test for all kinds of equipment. A pair of hiking boots with excellent performance can only adapt to various complex terrains and conditions outdoors if they are strong and durable. If Hiking boots cannot adapt to the harsh conditions outdoors, they will fall off, crack, and leak easily.
How can you complete your journey in a complex environment? Therefore, a high-quality outdoor shoe must not only be comfortable to wear, but also be strong and durable, and be able to withstand the test of various harsh conditions outdoors.
In addition, hiking boots must be comfortable. If a pair of Hiking boots is worn on the feet, if it does not have a comfortable function, it will be painful to walk, not to mention exercise.
Therefore, whether it is comfortable to wear is the primary criterion for testing the quality of Hiking boots. The standard of comfort is that it should be light, follow the foot, have good synchronization, good fit, and wear like it grows on the feet.
Impact Resistance
A pair of fully functional Hiking boots must also have good impact resistance. When walking in complex and harsh terrain, a pair of shoes without strong impact resistance will often hurt the soles of the feet.
The hard ground surface impacts the soles of the feet for a long time. Even if the feet do not blister, the soles of the feet will be very painful after walking for a day.
Therefore, high-end outdoor soles are usually designed to be hard and elastic, which can effectively resist ground impact and effectively relieve the pressure of body weight, and can provide very good protection for the feet.
How do hiking boots achieve good support
The support of hiking boots is a more complicated issue. Specifically, it is to ensure strong support of the feet to the human body through the compact and thick design of Hiking boots.
This compact design can overcome the force of the feet to disperse to the surroundings, thereby ensuring upward support. Taking GARMONT hiking boots as an example, the analysis is as follows:
Loose inner sole design
When a person stands in the same place for a long time, you will find that the center of gravity of your body is constantly changing, constantly shifting to the left, right, front, or back. How can you maintain the stability of your body?
If you experience it carefully, you will find that it is your toes, especially the big toe and the second toe, that coordinate the stability of your body. The loose inner sole design ensures that the toes under stress can bend and flex freely, thereby ensuring the stability of the body.
At the same time, the tightening design of the outer sole can overcome the external tension of the foot and achieve the purpose of effective force application during walking.
Asymmetric lacing method
When a person stands in the same place for a long time, you will find that the center of gravity of your body is constantly changing, constantly shifting to the left, right, front, or back. How can you maintain the stability of your body?
If you experience it carefully, you will find that it is your toes, especially the big toe and the second toe, that coordinate the stability of your body. The loose inner sole design ensures that the toes under stress can bend and flex freely, thereby ensuring the stability of the body.
At the same time, the tightening design of the outer sole can overcome the external tension of the foot and achieve the purpose of effective force application during walking.
Asymmetrical thickened tongue
Observe your ankle carefully. The inner side of the ankle is slightly protruding, while the outer side of the ankle is slightly concave compared to the inner side.
The asymmetrical design of widening and thickening the outer side makes the tongue closer to the ankle, making the shoe and the foot more reliably combined, so that the shoe is more heeled and more stable during walking, and the asymmetrical tongue is not easy to be dislocated.
Asymmetrical ankle pad
The two sides of the human ankle bone are not symmetrical. The inner side is upward and forward, while the outer side is backward and low.
In order to ensure the reliable combination of the upper and the ankle bone, the ankle pads on both sides are designed to be irregular.
When you tighten the shoelaces, not only does it make the ankle bone completely match the surrounding area, but it also ensures the comfort of wearing.
Asymmetric shoe opening design
When you see a pair of asymmetric high-top shoes, if you don't understand the design concept, you will definitely think that there is something wrong with the shoes, because there is a clear deviation between the inside and outside of its upper height. Its inner side is higher, but the outer side is obviously lower. In fact, this is the unique design concept of GARMONT.
Try to move your ankle, and you will know that the human ankle can only bend outward. During walking, the ankle movement is used to adapt to the ground and adjust the balance.
The lower outer upper design is to less restrict the wrist movement of the foot, and the higher inner upper design provides better support when climbing or climbing, and helps to avoid sprains when the outer ankle is suddenly subjected to gravity.
The five asymmetric design concepts are concentrated on one point, which is to achieve the most reliable and perfect combination of shoes and feet, so as to ensure that the foot has sufficient support for the weight of the human body, making the human foot more suitable for long-distance weight-bearing walking.
How to understand the sole system of hiking boots
The structure of human feet is very complex, and walking requires coordinated movement of various joints.
Therefore, the design of key parts of shoes needs to consider the overall performance, which is very important for effectively exerting the function of feet.
The pressure of the feet on the bottom of the shoes is much greater than the pressure on the sides, so Hiking boots have high functional requirements for the bottom.
The complete design of each part of the sole (outsole, midsole, insole) can make the advantages of each part of the shoe integrated, so as to achieve the effect of stability, shock absorption and comfort.
This comprehensive effect far exceeds the effect of each part alone.
The design and production process of a pair of high-quality Hiking boots is a complex system engineering, which consists of multiple humanized design factors.
The sole system occupies a very important position in the design of Hiking boots. To illustrate this point, we will make a specific analysis based on the design concept of the Garmont sole system.
Garmont Hiking boots are a famous Italian brand, and the design of Garmont soles is distinctively representative in Hiking boots. Its sole system is usually divided into four layers, namely the outsole, midsole, keel and insole.
Each layer has different functions. The functions of each part are integrated to make the overall function of the sole fully utilized. Its stability, shock absorption, comfort, anti-skid and impact resistance are beyond the function of each individual part.
Outsole
The outsole of Hiking boots refers to the outermost layer of Hiking boots. Vibram rubber is usually used to ensure the super wear resistance of the sole, which is a necessary condition for the durability of Hiking boots.
In the most easily worn part of the forefoot, the sole is designed with shallow grooves to enhance the service life of the sole.
In addition to the wear-resistant function, the main function of the outsole of Hiking boots must also be anti-skid. In order to achieve the anti-skid function of the outsole:
- The sole adopts a deep pattern design with sharp edges to enhance the adhesion to wet and slippery ground;
- The spikes are designed with wide intervals, and the middle spikes are beveled, so that the sole is not easy to carry mud and sand.
- Embossed the forefoot and rearfoot patterns to enhance friction against smooth and hard rock surfaces;
- The elevated heel is designed to be concave, so that it has stronger resistance when going downhill and stopping;
- In terrains that require both climbing and walking, the shoe's pattern is arranged in large triangular sparse patterns, which can more easily grip the rough rock surface, and high-viscosity rubber is used to make the sole more attractive to the rock;
Midsole
The main function of the midsole of Hiking boots is to solve the shock absorption during walking. However, to achieve the best shock absorption effect, it is not enough to rely solely on the application of shock absorption materials, and clever design is also required.
In order to achieve the perfect shock absorption effect, Garmont's midsoles of different series use microporous rubber or PU materials of different hardness, and the midsole is made into a shape consistent with the sole of the foot, so that the pressure of walking is radially diffused.
Insole
The insole of Hiking boots refers to the innermost layer of the sole, which can also be called the elastic inner pad, and is an indispensable part of the bottom structure of extreme sports shoes.
Usually made of carbon fiber and fiberglass (elastic insoles are mainly used in mountaineering series).
Its main function is to withstand the torque of the spikes and the pressure of the sole. When the force is strong, the insole will produce slight elasticity, thereby relieving the pressure in the upper and lower directions.
The lighter the Hiking boots, the better the toughness of the insole material, which can play an auxiliary shock absorption role.
Keel System
The keel system of Hiking boots is mainly suitable for lighter Hiking boots. For example, hiking series and hiking series. The keel sandwich placed between the outsole and midsole of Hiking boots has at least three functions.
- First, it enhances the integrity of the sole and can effectively prevent the deformation of the outsole and midsole;
- Second, it reduces the twisting when landing, thereby reducing the chance of sprains;
- Third, the fishbone design makes the shoe firm horizontally and flexible vertically, making it stable, light and flexible during walking.
Maintenance of hiking boots
Storage
After each wear, remove the insole, loosen the shoelaces, and let the shoes dry naturally. If the shoes are very wet, fill them with newspapers or shoe trees (don't forget: change the wet newspapers from time to time).
Also avoid leaving the shoes in a hot environment (including in the car). Do not store dry shoes in a humid space (leather is a natural product and is prone to mold)
Cleaning
Dirt particles will enter the leather fibers, causing fiber wear and breakage.
- For dirty hiking boots - first clean with a brush and water, for non-leather shoes (such as nylon), just use a sponge and warm water to clean.
- If it is grease, or dirty and strong stains, it is best to use leather cleaner and nylon brush to clean the surface. As for the lining of the shoe, wipe it with a damp cloth, because the salt from sweat will quickly enter the pores of the leather through the lining, destroying the leather tissue, causing it to dry and crack.
- Cleaning frosted leather-When the shoes are dry, brush off the loose soil and treat with a water repellent. Do not use shoe wax or shoe polish, which will weaken the breathability of the shoes.
- Cleaning non-leather surfaces-wash with cold water and dry naturally. After drying, treat with a water repellent. Do not use shoe wax or shoe polish, which will weaken the breathability of the shoes.
Drying
- All shoes must be dried at room temperature. Because leather is easy to burn, deform, bend, dry and crack, do not expose shoes to heat sources or sunlight.
- Let the thick mud dry and clean it. Do not use fire to dry hiking boots. Excessive heat will dry and wrinkle the leather, and the adhesive will also be damaged, causing the soles of the boots to melt.
- Do not use stoves or hair dryers to dry! If you use stoves or hair dryers to dry, not only will it be severely deformed, cracked or debonded, but it will also seriously affect the service life.
Maintenance
Properly maintained hiking boots can be used for several years. Use shoe care products regularly to maintain the leather and restore the surface water resistance.
If the hiking boots are not maintained and water-resistant, the waterproof and breathable properties of the GORE-TEX membrane will not be damaged, but it will affect the breathability, durability and comfort of the entire pair of shoes.
- You can use leather protective spray wax or special spray wax to spray the hiking shoes evenly 2-3 times, which is conducive to extending the service life.
- Water-resistant treatment: Treat non-leather shoes with water-repellent after they are dry. Water will penetrate through the seams. Waterproofing agents can improve the waterproofing of the upper and seams. Newly purchased hiking boots must be repeatedly coated with waterproofing agents for a period of time. At the same time, the hiking boots must be kept dry and clean. The waterproofing agent must be applied to the seams and pinholes. The waterproofing agent must be applied to the upper one to two days before the activity to allow the leather to fully absorb it.Nylon hiking boots are not easy to waterproof due to their many pores. Silicone derivatives (silicon-based) spray can be used. Regardless of any boots, they must be kept dry.
- Applying oil to the tongue can prevent the leather from making noises, and applying oil to metal parts can prevent them from oxidizing and rusting.
Replace the sole
The sole of the boot wears faster than the upper. Generally, high-priced hiking boots can replace the sole. The newer sole will be tighter because the upper has changed its original size.
Keep the insole clean
(Note: For more outdoor gears, please visit exploregears.com)
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