Why hiking boots | Columbia Sportswear®

When preparing for a hike, you should ensure you have a good pair of hiking boots. But why hiking boots? What difference do they make? The short answer is everything! Trekking footwear helps take the strain so you can enjoy a comfortable and safe hike from start to finish. A durable hiking boot can be your best friend on shorter, easier trails or if you're going for miles on extended backpacking trips.

Why wear hiking boots?

A good quality pair of hiking boots protects your feet from the elements. But that's not all. They provide essential grip and stability as you scramble over rocky terrain or trek across wet and muddy trails. They allow you to walk longer and further without developing those common foot issues that can cause you problems mid and post-hike. A great pair of mid or high-cut walking shoes is the secret to happy feet, enabling you to enjoy a much better hiking experience. Plus, we designed our boots to be ultra durable yet lightweight, so your feet and legs will feel less tired.

Waterproofing

Soggy socks and wet feet are one of the quickest ways to spoil a hike. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it's not good for the health of your feet either. Blisters or a fungal infection should not be a souvenir of your hike. Our waterproof hiking shoes keep your feet dry even in rainy and muddy conditions. Thanks to their high-cut style, you can walk in deep mud, water or snow without worrying about anything getting into your boot. Our waterproofing technologies also ensure water doesn't penetrate through waterproof shoes for men.

We use Omni-Tech™ and Outdry™ technologies across our hiking clothes for women, men and kids, like our waterproof hiking jacket. It acts as a breathable barrier to stop water from getting into the material while allowing excess moisture to escape.

Support and protection

Clambering over unstable and uneven terrain in the wrong type of footwear can be a nightmare for your ankles. You could scrape your ankles on sharp rocks and branches and increase your risk of sprains or a broken ankle. Unlike a low hiking shoe, the support of high-cut mountain hiking shoes protects you from banging, spraining or scraping ankles. This support is also important when carrying a backpack, as the risk to your ankles intensifies with the extra weight. Trail footwear typically has stiffer soles that provide additional protection to the soles of your feet. You’ll appreciate this when the going gets particularly rocky and rough and you're carrying your heaviest camping gear.

Comfort and warmth

As experienced hikers (like us) will tell you, comfort is key, especially on a long hike. You're constantly on your feet, so they need to be comfortable so you can focus all your attention on the hike. The extra height of high-cut all-terrain shoes and padded collar provides essential support and cushioning for your ankles. But it’s the Techlite+™ foam cushioned midsole that steals the show. It provides incredible underfoot cushioning, stability and shock absorption, so every step boasts maximum comfort. And when the weather drops, hiking boots ensure you don’t have to worry about cold feet spoiling your outdoor adventures. With 200 grams of fleece-like thermal insulation, snow boots provide superb comfort, warmth and protection in the winter. An Omni-Heat™ Infinity reflective lining retains every bit of warmth. Meanwhile, the leather outer shell of leather hiking boots blocks the cold wind from penetrating the boots, even in the heaviest winter conditions.

Grip and traction

When navigating rocky terrain, icy surfaces or wet surfaces, hiking boots bite into the ground to prevent slips and falls. Our men’s and women’s hiking boots feature Omni-Grip™ all-terrain traction technology with a strategic lug pattern design and rubber compounds for exceptional grip. Even on loose dirt, gravel and rock, your boots will keep both feet firmly on the ground. Meanwhile, Adapt Trax™ outsoles have an advanced traction system to provide impressive grip in slippery and wet conditions, so you can keep going.

How should hiking boots fit?

Men’s and women’s hiking shoes and boots should fit snugly in all places and have plenty of wiggle room for your toes. Look for footwear based on your regular shoe size. Don’t be tempted to size up, as this could risk them being too loose, which can cause rubbing and blisters. If you don’t know your shoe size, ask someone to draw around your feet on a piece of paper and then measure from the back of your heel to the tip of your big toe. Try your new footwear on at the end of the day (as feet typically swell during the day) and while wearing your regular hiking socks. Spend some time walking around in your new boots so your feet and boots can get used to each other before your next hike.

At Columbia Sportswear®, we aim to help more people enjoy the great outdoors. We have everything from hiking sandals for men to mountain shoes and comfortable hiking shoes. So, whether you’re ready to buy today or still deciding what you need, we have you covered.

Why do I need hiking boots?