Hello everyone, new to hiking and wanted to get some proper hiking footwear. The search for the appropriate ones left me kind of confused and wondering about the different parts of a hiking shoe and what their role is in the shoe. I’ve actually wanted to get leather hiking shoes and I noticed all of them have metal D rings instead of typical circular eyelets for shoelaces.
While searching the internet on the actual role of the D rings, which I found quite attractive on shoes, I got kinda stumped. Some say it’s for durability, but also some sites say that circular metal eyelets are the best in terms of durability. I’ve seen some sources claim it is much easier for lacing but aren’t hooks used for that…?
Sorry if this all seems kinda confusing, probably because I’m a bit confused. Why do all leather hiking shoes like the Danner Mountain Pass have D rings on the start of the laces and then hooks on the part of the ankle? What role does it serve if some say it’s not the most durable nor the most comfortable, nor the most friction free… I’ve read somewhere that it’s easier to adjust laces while hiking, but again aren’t hooks supposed to do that…And why does a shoe like the Danner explorer that’s also a hiking boot have circular eyelets instead of d rings.
Sorry if I delved a bit too deep into this, just got kinda confused and couldn’t find the right answer as I usually dont wear these types of shoes and never hike in hiking boots.
Thank you all in advance, wish you a wonderful day.
I personally prefer the D-rings due to their durability, and they keep the laces from popping out. I’m not a huge fan of hooks because I constantly have issues with the lace coming out of them.
Vern said:
I personally prefer the D-rings due to their durability, and they keep the laces from popping out. I’m not a huge fan of hooks because I constantly have issues with the lace coming out of them.
In your experience, would D-rings be more durable than classic circular eyelets?
@Olin
I’ve never had a D-ring or a circular eyelet fail, haha! Both work fine. I think D-rings are more of a style choice these days, to make something look more like a ‘hiking boot.’ Both types are functional, so go with what feels most comfortable for you.
Honestly, a lot of it is just style. Both eyelets and D-rings work fine. Speed hooks are nice on taller shafts because they let the boot open up more when you unlace them. Given the boots you mentioned, I’d say the metal hardware is more about heritage than practicality for someone who’s mostly just hiking in them. A lot of hikers never wear boots; trail runners are often preferred. But if you’re looking for ankle support, I do think a 6" boot can be a good option for winter or wet conditions.
@Scout
I agree, I love the look of them. I was looking at older gear, and most of the original boots had D-rings. I’ve heard some people say they’re easier to adjust while hiking, but I always thought hooks served that purpose.
I’m considering trail runners for the spring but wanted to get boots for extra ankle support.
@Olin
The ankle support doesn’t do much unless you’re looking at mountaineering boots. The boots you see in older photos were likely mountaineering boots, which are much stiffer. They were designed for rougher conditions, like using crampons. If you’re mostly hiking, a more flexible approach shoe might be a better choice.
