Community, we need to have a little chat about footwear. I work in the industry for a living and some misconceptions keep popping up like a game of whack-a-mole. So obviously a quick post on Reddit will clear everything up for everyone and I’ll never have to repeat myself again, right? I’m having a drink and unloading, so sorry if it gets mean or sloppy… or long. Some beginners may find something useful.
Hiking boots do not provide ankle support. There. I said it. Unless you’re referring to double-walled plastic mountaineering boots, you are not actually getting any mechanical ankle support. The amount of torque being placed on a rolling ankle FAR exceeds any potential reinforcing with padded leather can provide. Higher hiking boots provide ankle protection from abrasion, but not from rolling or twisting.
Buying boots online based on reviews is folly. It’s always best to go to a reputable outdoor outfitter and physically touch them and try them on. Many reviews are fake and even if they are not - your feet may not be the same as those people’s feet.
Laces. If you’re trying on boots and the best option isn’t absolutely perfect, that should not necessarily rule them out. Changing the lacing pattern on a boot can drastically change the fit and feel of that boot. Need a tiny bit more or less toe space? There are lacing tricks for that. Just a little heel rub? Laces. Need it looser around the toes yet much tighter higher up? Can do. Between changing the lace pattern and a couple of dozen miles of break-in, that best fit is very likely going to work well for you.
Aftermarket insoles can be very worth it. Yes, it seems excessive to spend an additional $40-60 on more customized insoles, and it might be for many people. But for people really getting out into the wilderness or doing a lot of miles, they will very likely be worth it. Support that arch properly and you’ll marry your foot to the midsole better at the same time. The insoles that come with most hiking boots are simple and flat EVA foam. They want their boots to fit as many many different feet as possible, which a more generic insole provides. But now that we know which feet are being combined with those boots we can ensure a more custom fit. Easier on your feet and helps the boots last a little longer as well. Plus, they tend to outlast your boots, so save them for your next 5-6 pairs of boots.
The quick procedure of best practices for trying on boots: Hopefully you find a competent salesperson. Tell them what kind of hiking you do and if certain brands have worked well for you in the past or if you have any special foot-related issues. They should be able to narrow the shoe wall to a large handful of options - pick three or four. Doing both in the pair, wonk your foot to the back of the boot before lacing them up fully and snugly. Stand up and go up on your toes several times, then push your foot forward in the boot by pushing against the ground. Lightly kick the ground with your toe and then wonk your heel back in place. Take a quick lap. Throughout all this, your heel should not rise up and rub your Achilles tendon on the heel cup. Nor should your foot slide forward and hit your toes against the front. The middle part of the boot over your arch should be the primary area holding your foot in. Try on all 3-4 pairs like this and your feet will tell you which ones they like.
Don’t bother feeling for how much room is in front of your toe or how many fingers you can fit behind your heel. These are useless tests that tell you nothing of value. Also, don’t take different models of boots and try to line up the outsoles in some misguided attempt to determine size. It just doesn’t work that way.
Courtesy point - It’s generally rude to just grab a sample boot or shoe off the wall and just stick it on your foot. Just ask to try on a pair. We really are there to help you find what’s best for you AND to maintain the store. Any outfitter that takes pride in their store should prefer customers who just ask for what they’d like. By all means, pick it up and check it out, just please don’t stick it on your foot without asking.
Socks = Wool > Synthetic > Cotton
Lemon eucalyptus bug repellant generally doesn’t work. Don’t waste your money. Just use Deet or Picaridin, they are both safe. I know that’s not footwear, but I’m in pretty far now so in for the penny in for the pound.
Trekking poles don’t need to be expensive. Unless you have special specific needs, save your money and get something just good enough. Cork handles are nice but you don’t need them. Fancy interlocking folding systems for luggage storage are cool, but generally not needed. A simple EVA grip, aluminum shafts, and a couple of flip locks will do just fine.
“Waterproof” hiking bags do exist but are generally not recommended. A fully waterproof bag doesn’t just keep moisture out, it also keeps it in. You’ll get mold and mildew unless you’re extremely careful to keep the bag fully dry whenever stored.
Wet wipes = essential gear.
Headlamps are great to have on you, even if you do not plan on being out after dark. Timelines change for many reasons, some of which are out of your control.
The pad under you is at least as important as the sleeping bag around you. Your body crushes most of the insulation under you where the ground is just sapping heat. Having a well-insulated pad under you is crucial. In some cases, it’s much more important than the sleeping bag.
Wash your raincoats but NOT with regular detergent. It’s good gear hygiene to take all your waterproof and goretex layers and wash them in a tech wash once a year. Once clean, you may add an appropriate waterproofer if you wish but this may only be needed every two years.
Medical kits off the shelf are generally not great. Best to make your own. Get a box of good stretchy clothy adhesive strips and a tube of triple antibiotic ointment. The custom part comes with the medications. You know what works best for you at home. Also, many off-the-shelf medical kits don’t provide nearly enough anti-diuretics. When you need them, you REALLY need them,… see 12.
Well, if you made it to the end of this insanity you get a gold star. Disagree with something? That’s cool, we can hash it out below.
respectfully disagree on ankle support - multiple times i’ve almost rolled my ankles in hiking boots, where if I had regular shoes on it would’ve been over for sure, but the boots saved me.
totally agree on #4. I’ve used superfeet since the 90s and they are awesome
@Harley
I disagree as well. I have a connective tissue disorder that means ankle subluxations are routine for me, and my hiking boots drastically decrease their frequency.
Phoenix said: @Harley
I disagree as well. I have a connective tissue disorder that means ankle subluxations are routine for me, and my hiking boots drastically decrease their frequency.
You should wear an ankle brace then. Boots should not be trusted for this purpose.
@Joss
Yes, in a follow-up post I did clarify that there IS some evidence of potential small benefits to diminishing average ankle injuries. However, that would not equate to offering sufficient support for any specific special medical needs.
@Harley
I’d echo this statement, though I’d add that there’s probably a more nuanced truth to this phenomenon— beyond a “true/false”, “either/or” —stance.
It may also be a more individualized thing. Maybe I’m utterly mistaken; I’m definitely eager to learn more about it.
@Harley
The very real effect is a psychological one. Just as a weight belt can’t help you lift more weight, it can remind you of good posture - so too can a higher boot give cues to so-called ‘ankle posture’.
It can also encourage a confirmation bias. With a taller boot, you notice more often when your ankle bends beyond certain parameters. But because you notice more, more instances can be remembered.
The cold hard fact is, - if the mechanics dictate that you’re rolling an ankle, it’s mechanically no different in mids than lows. All the other effects people talk about boil down to psychology - which does matter. But I’m strictly talking bio-mechanics. I stand by it - you do not get mechanical ankle support from hiking boots.
@Micah
I’m sorry, I just don’t see anything in this study that indicates any mechanical benefit toward preventing an ankle sprain. They studied the stiffness of the boot and how that relates to a range of motion and how that affects other joints. Restricting the range of motion does not equate to fewer or less likely injuries. In fact, the end of the abstract reads, “The results of this study suggest that stiffness and blocking of joint motion at the ankle should not be equated with safety.”
I’m not trying to just be argumentative, I want the truth of the matter as well. It’s just that the Biomed experts and engineers I talk to acknowledge that higher boots do not provide the kind of security that lay people intuitively expect. I’ll keep searching too, but maybe someone can find a well-formed study that touches closer to this specific issue.
I’m open to it, but I just haven’t seen anything convincing enough.
@Ellis
This study concludes that increase boot shaft stiffness directly correlates with decreased ankle range of motion.
Fig. 2 shows a contour plot of shaft elongation in the transversal plane. Compared to the hard boot shaft, the soft boot shaft allowed about twice as much flexion in lateral direction for the same load applied to the prosthesis inserted into the boot.
It goes one step further and concludes that decreased range of motion may increase injury in other joints like the knees and hips due to overcompensation for that reduced ROM. But it’s false to say that high top boots won’t provide ankle support. It just may not be the best thing for a person to have that increased ankle support.
@Micah
“to the prosthesis”. Yes, if you have a fake or real foot and ankle and stiffen the shaft, you will get less flex. That is not what’s in dispute. The question is whether that actually translates to fewer ankle injuries. I’ve been looking for a good longitudinal study. I know it probably seems like less range of motion automatically means fewer injuries, but I’m still looking for that connection to actually be made. When the army threw money at designing new combat boots, they tested a number of prototypes against a handful of commercial hiking boots. The only injuries directly addressed were surface sores, but they only mention the ankle portion of the boot in reference to wanting HIGHER range of motion:
@Harley
You have undersold the aftermarket insoles. If you buy quality insoles you may never have to throw them out. I have some insoles going on 20 years, I check them regularly and they still provide excellent support and haven’t broken down.
Interesting claims. Can you please reference your statements. Studies, independent testing, etc. This ( boots and ankle support) contradicts what I have been told by Orthopedists, Orthopedic Surgeons and pediatrists. Thanks.