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Hiking boots are the most important piece of kit on any hike. Get it wrong and you could be in for a painful walk. When buying a new pair of hiking boots there are a few things to consider so that you get the right boots for the job. 1) Ankle Support - Ankle support is essential for most people. The whole point of a boot is so that your foot and ankle are properly supported and protected. Many manufacturers now have a line of hiking shoes, these are just like hiking boots but are more lightweight and don't have ankle support. In most cases these are perfectly good, I have a set of merrells and have been on many hikes with them and never once had problems with an ankle. Ankle support depends entirely on two things - Terrain, and luggage. If you plan to hike uneven terrain with steep inclines then you will need ankle support. If you will be carrying a backpack or something similar then you will also need support as your balance will already be compromised by the extra weight. 2) Cushioning - Cushioning is one of those things that people rarely think about when buying a shoe. It does need some thought especially in specific cases. The cushioning is there to protect your feet and reduce impact on your joints. If you are going to be walking over solid ground that is very steep then you will be putting a lot of pressure on your knees on the way down. If you do not have enough cushioning then the soles of your feet and knees could start to feel pain. If you are going somewhere like the jungle that is going to be hot and humid then you may consider soles that are designed to protect against fungii and bacteria. 3) Sole - The sole of the shoe is a very important factor when choosing a hiking boot. As a general rule of thumb, the more rockier the terrain, the harder the sole should be. If you are going hiking through the jungle the chances are you will want something that is soft under foot and is comfortable. If you are going mountaineering over shale and rough ground then you will need a sole that is very rigid so that your foot isn't working over time to compensate for what is under foot. 4) Weight - This is factor is not so important as the others and completely comes down to personal choice. The simple fact is that a heavier boot will tire your legs sooner than a lightweight boot. Heavier boots tend to be very rigid so are best for mountaineering. A lightweight boot is preferred when you are in a warmer climate as not only will you want to burn as little energy as possible. I went travelling quite recently and although I knew I was going to patagonia I did not take hiking boots, why? Because my trip started in mexico and I didn't want to carry a big set of boots half way down the america's. So keep this in mind if you are going travelling. 5) Breathability - This factor is similar to the one above however it is a very simple decision. You either get waterproof boots or breathable boots. Is your environment going to be wet and cold or hot and dry? Personally if the environment is going to be wet AND hot then i would go for boots that are breathable as you will be able to dry them out and if they are waterpoof you could sweat so much they become soaked anyway. 6) Size - This is something that a lot of people get wrong. When you go to buy some new boots make sure you wear the socks that you will be wearing for a typical hike! You don't want too much room in the shoe as your feet will have more movement and will rub. I hope this has been helpful to you and you will make a better purchase as a result of my information. If you have any questions contact me at:alex@mountainshoes.org If you want to see more articles like this visit my blog at: Mountain Shoes Article Source: Mountain Shoes About Author Alex is an avid hiker and outdoorsman. He travels when he can afford to and writes a blog that you can read here: Air Max Ultra 365 Mens Shoe in white dark blue Retro Training Shoes Shoes This article is free for republishing Published at Air Max Ultra 365 Mens Shoe in white blue silver logo Retro Training Shoes Air Max Ultra 365 Womens Running Shoes black and pink Retro Training Shoes