5 MISTAKES Beginners Make When Buying Hiking Boots

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Hey there! We’re Josh and Alisha, the creators of Terradrift, which is all about sustainable travel and adventure. That means travel tips, adventure guides, gear reviews, and a whole lot more. And all of it encourages you to explore responsibly. 'Cause we've just got the one planet, and since we like to get out there and enjoy it as often as possible both near and far, it's our responsibility to treat it with a little bit of respect. So lace up the ol' boots, grab your favorite pack, and wander on! #terradrift #wanderon

[familywithmelody]

Great video! As someone who's new to hiking, I really appreciate you sharing these tips on what to avoid when buying hiking boots. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the different options out there, so your advice is very helpful. I can't wait to get out on the trails with my new, properly fitting hiking boots! Thanks for sharing.

[ruththerriault]

Thank you for your videos! You have helped me make informed choices and gave me confidence when investing in higher end products. I love your energy, (so similar to mine😄)your presentation was easy to understand and answered all my questions. To top it off, you're fun to watch and have a beautiful smile. Be safe, be happy 😃

[BrettVano]

Thanks for the tips about the REI returns. I recently became a member (after a sales pitch) and the returns weren't explained in much detail. I definitely try to be really responsible with purchases so that I don't have frivolous returns, but like you said, it can be really hard to understand outdoor gear until you get it out into its context.

[brianmorrison]

Should you wax brand new leather boots .. before using them for the first time
Wouldn't that make sure they are waterproof

[ShotGunMiMi]

I had a pair of low boots ( Salomon ) and loved them as my first boots buuuut my ankles are trash. So now I am hiking with the “
Clunky “ waterproof boots by Salomon . Love them . My ankles don’t roll now and I o haven’t fallen yet lol yeeeet . First day I hiked 6 miles ( yes I’m day girl ) and no issues . Alllso socks matter ! Anyhow .. If you see a clunky boot wearing gal it may be cause her ankles are trashed ! Lol

[ellewhispersasmr]

I am someone who is newer to hiking but I’ve suffered from very weak ankles and have bad knees (lots of surgeries at my young age) I’d like to try the barefoot style but I’m worried they won’t give me support and maybe even cause me to roll and ankle or twist a knee worse than a bulkier high rise boot. Do you have any advice or tips for weakling hikers like myself? 😂

[pooiyian]

My pinky toe and toenail hurt and when I take off my boots it’s all red. I also got a pinch blister on the same foot under my fourth toe. Does this mean my boots are too narrow? I know there’s enough (maybe even too much space in front, length-wise)…

[peacepuffz]

Flip Flops any good? I gotta go Glastonbury & it's like walking a zillion miles in 4 days.

[vmlwuns]

I like your animation and enthusiasm, it made me want to keep watch.

[hewittjohanna]

What are the burgundy ones on the table?

[Halliden]

You're as animated as an italian😂 great info though thx

[sdemosi]

I try out boots by ordering a bunch of them and going with what feels best walking around the house and going up and down stairs. If a boot feels great you can practically run up the stairs on them even if they're a grade B/ C boot. A tight toe box rarely gets better. A very loose heel won't get better.

Modern boots require little break in so don't convince yourself an uncomfortable boot will break in. You will more likely hurt your feet.

Most of the quality boot manufacturers make consistently good boots. You will always read the occasional crap review but that's to be expected. PU soles degrade, rands peel off, goretex linings will develop holes. Your boot will get trashed eventually. Some people don't understand boot maintenance and they become personally insulted when they boot they have tested like shit starts to prematurely wear.

You will then need to buy another boot and that investment will be worth it because you will be having fun.

Don't put perceptions of durability or quality over comfort. You will just be buying boots that last for years because you don't wear them much & are put off hiking. Boots that fall apart because you did enjoyable mileage in them have lived a good life. You want comfort, grip and appropriate protection. The brand lor the look are irrelevant. The cost will be worth it.

[sgnotlewis]

Great video, thank you! It'd help if you were a little less animated and not constantly moving which is a little dizzying/distracting. But it could just be me, so you do you.

[Trip.C]

Barefoot and minimalist shoes are for flat/medium terrain only and NOT for rough/challenging terrain as your soles will get sore fast, no support and no ankle protection you can say goodbye to your ankles in 40 min, in all cases traction and grip is most important that barefoot shoes or minimalist shoes don't provide at a decent degree. Please buy shoes that are for your terrain type and do go up the mountains in the first two examples and get you a decent pair of Mid tops, there is a reason why you see CROSSES along the path.Anyways the main factors of any hiking shoe are:
-They should protect your feet. (meaning no scratches, bruises from the elements, in rare cases snakes!)
-They should be comfortable.(meaning no blisters, rashes)
-They should be lightweight.(meaning you can cover more distance with less energy, )
-Don't forget about your Sole (Ankle sprains mainly occur due to torsional pressure on the foot, not tension at the ankle itself, Ankle stability comes from a solid sole ) THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
-Don't misunderstand the difference between ankle support and ankle stability (rolling ankles you need more ankle stability, carrying more weight on your back you need ankle support)
- Small tip when buying your new shoes (ask in your favorite shoe store about a proper fitting if they don't know any of the above mentioned i don't recommend buying as they need more training).
I live in a mountainous area so for people that have the same terrain type i recommend mid tops.Why not high top mountain boots you ask? From my experiences and others i travel with when carrying weight and i mean a fair amount of it (40kg or 88 pounds) both the mid and the high tops fail to provide extra ankle support, does not matter what height size boot you wear as long it's above your ankle!
For any other terrain type i use my old Nike Jordans with scratches and dirty sole (bragging!)
Cheers mates and happy trailing!

[roryearl]

I've been wearing barefoot/0 drop shoes for most of my life (thanks mom) but for a job I need to have 6 inch tall hiking boots and nobody makes any good barefoot options!

[SudsMcDuff]

Thumbnail clickbait. Thanks for not addressing the laces you were pointing at...

[SuperAnwarr]

That’s good little over acting.. welcome to Bollywood 😊😊

[ckl]

Listen up… this lumberjack knows what he’s talking about.