Snake Proof Boots

I hadn't really thought about this much until a hiking friend asked me about snake proof boots before she was going on a hiking trip to the southwest desert. I looked around and sure enough, there is a serious set of snake proof boots available from folks like outdoor outfitters and others.

The obvious advantages of snake proof boots is that they protect you from an unexpected snake bite. These boots tend to have tough outer layers to provide this protection but you can also find them with GORE-TEX shells for water resistance. Some of the snake proof boots are regular high hiking boot height and others a knee high for extra protection.

If you hike in a area where snakes are a concern, then snake proof boots sounds like a very viable option to add to your protection.

Hiking Shoes Versus Hiking Boots

I touched on some of the key features of hiking shoes in the last article. Now I want to cover some of the differences between hiking boots and hiking shoes.

Hiking Boots are/have:

• More ankle support to help prevent you from rolling your ankle when trekking on rugged terrain
• Stronger bottom and mid-soles for supporting your entire foot when you walk on the tips or points of rocks. This is also an advantage if you are carry a heavy load like a backpack.
• Often more weather and water proof due to the materials that the hiking boots are made with.

It is easy to see the differences between hiking shoes and hiking boots and this should help you choose the right model for you next pair of hikers.

Hiking Shoes for Kids

There are many options available for hiking boots and hiking shoes for kids. Whether or not you need them really depends on how much hiking your kids do. It comes down to the same kind of factors as the hiking shoe versus hiking boot decision. If you do a lot of longer hikes and on rugged terrain, then there are definite advantages to having hiking shoes of hiking boots for your kids.

I think the key is to make sure you child like them enough that they will wear them to school and other normal daily places. They will probably grow out of then after one hiking season so getting enough use of of them to justify the costs is an important factor.

Hiking Shoes And Walking Shoes

Hiking shoes and walking shoes are similar if they are both designed for easy urban terrain. The goal for these types of hiking shoes are to provide moderate support while emphasizing comfort. Comfort is designed in by having light weight materials for lighter shoes, padded mid-soles for a more shock absorbing cushion on every step and flexible materials to allow for more flex in the shoes. These shoes often use breathable materials to provide more air circulation to keep you feet cooler on long hikes.

All of those features sound great and for city and light trail hiking they are great hiking shoes. For rugged terrain or longer hikes there are better choices. Also, there are som great running shoes out there (like New Balance running shoes), but they are usually not the best choice for rugged terrain.

Hiking Shoes Intro

Hiking Shoes are your most important piece of equipment whether you are hiking or backpacking. With a poor fitting pair of hiking shoes your feet will hurt and you won't enjoy your trek. A quality pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots will be comfortable and durable to stand up to the type of terrain that you are hiking on. A super strong sole is appropriate for a rough and rocky terrain but it is overkill for urban hiking. I hope to talk more about the differences between the many hiking boots and hiking shoes options in future posts.

Also note that women shoes are different from those for men. Make sure you get ones that fit very well because you will pay a big price if you don't have good fitting hiking shoes.

Hiking and Backpacking

I am an avid hiker and have done backpacking a few times. I love to get out of town to go for hikes in the forest but there are many trails near my home that can get you "out of the city" pretty well. I hope to share some of my experience with hiking and backpacking through this blog. Please feel free to join in on the conversation or start a new one. As long ans it is about hiking and backpacking, it is fair game.

Thanks!

Photo by Troy McCullough