Choosing the Best Hiking Boots to Suit You

Your hiking boots are the only things standing between you, the trail and a foot full of blisters. If you buy the right pair they'll keep your feet cool when it's too hot, keep your feet warm when it's too cold and keep your feet wet when it's too dry. They'll stop you from turning your ankle on a hundred different occasions and provide grip where before there was none. Your boots can be your best friends or your worst enemies, depending on how much consideration and time you put into finding the right pair.

Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to spend a fortune for a pair of ultra stylish, high-end boots in order to get the most out of your footwear. It's entirely possible to buy a top notch set of hiking boots for well under £100 if you know what to look out for before you go shopping. Ideally, you want to look for boots that are: a) lightweight, b) breathable, c) waterproof and d) sturdy enough to provide grip and protection for as long as your legs can carry you! Each of us will have our own favorite boot brand, but here are three of the best hiking boots available:

Berghaus Explorer Light

Used primarily as a warm-weather boot, the Berghause explorer light features an upper containing a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane. The boot also has a shock absorbing PU midsole and a toughened rubber outsole. The Explorer light is often noted for providing excellent comfort straight out of the box, and a distinct lack of “rub” (where new boots cause sore spots on the feet for a while immediately after purchase.

North Face Jannu GTX

The North Face Jannu GTX is more of a warm-weather boot that features a full leather and Gore-tex upper as a pose to more breathable suede. The one-piece leather upper is especially reassuring in wet weather conditions when you fancy keeping your socks bone dry. The Jannu, whilst expensive, does have some fancy features such as medial and lateral roll control stabilisers which can ease some of the stress when hiking on uneven ground.

Meindl Burma Pro 

The Meindl Burma Pro is an ideal boot for hiking on low level mountains. Again, these boots have a full leather upper combined with Gore-tex lining for an even trade off between waterproofing and breathability. The Burma Pro also features an air cushion in the midsole to relieve pressure on the arches of your feet during long treks, which has got to be a god send on rocky terrain. This is the most expensive (though not necessarily the best) of the three pairs we've listed.

It really is a personal preference thing, but if you're serious about hiking, you'll need to get serious about your footwear too. It's not only about comfort but your safety too! The right boot really can mean the difference between a great walk or an inconvenient injury! Have a good look around and find the best hiking boots for you.