Questions tagged [boots]

Use this tag for questions about boots (not shoes) used for outdoor activities including hiking, trekking, climbing, fishing etc. It can be anything related to maintenance, correct use or their accessories. This tag is appropriate for questions which discuss brands, but asking for specific brand recommendations or prices are off-topic.

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LOWA renegade insole is sliding

I used my Lowa renegade for 10 years and I bought a new pair. On the first 7km the insoles are sliding back. I tried again, same problem... I just realised even with hands I can slide the insoles up ...
Attila's user avatar
  • 1
4 votes
1 answer
421 views

What do the 3 size numbers on tech chart sticker on my ski boots mean?

I'm confused by what the 3 size numbers on sticker attached to my child's ski boots mean (see image). When I purchased them (last year) the tag said '24' and now I'm trying to find out if my child ...
Gern Blanston's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
335 views

Approach shoes for Mt. Rainier

I've seen many suggestions/recommendations for so-called "approach shoes" needed for climbing presumably just to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier. I'm going to be joining an RMI-lead expedition for ...
nate's user avatar
  • 173
5 votes
1 answer
339 views

Use of high altitude (8000 M) boots at lower altitudes (6500 M)

On Himalayan climbs, good hiking boots (hard or flex soles) will suffice till base camp. Single boots like La Sportiva Nepal Extreme can suffice (in combination with gaiters) till maybe 6000 M peaks ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,797
9 votes
6 answers
4k views

How to you wade a river/creek without getting water in your boots

as by subject. Especially in a colder place, where one would be wearing some sort of closed shoe or boot (say, Lapland), how would someone wade a 30 or 40cm deep river/creek without flooding one's ...
user1256923's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
132 views

Can Yonex Accublade boots be used with normal bindings without any damage?

I've been snowboarding for a few years now and decided to get some secondhand gear as a first step to having my own stuff instead of using rentals. I managed to find a pair of Yonex boots in seemingly ...
muru's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
1 answer
364 views

Why do my Scarpa Phantom Techs boots feel cold even in mild weather?

I have Scarpa Phantom Tech, technical mountaineering / winter climbing boots. They are generally great but I'm experiencing a strange phenomenon: my feet get seriously cold when I stop moving, ...
Alexander's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
132 views

What preparation is necessary before switching between types of waterproofing on leather boots?

I've been using Nikwax aqueous (the liquid version) on some new full leather boots, and whilst it seems to do a decent job, it does seem to lose its surface water repellency quite quickly, and the ...
Dan_7378439012's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
61 views

Double stitched leather shoe care

I am hiking in Meindl's double stitched, Nubuk leather hiking shoes, called Badile (https://meindl.de/product/badile-en/?lang=en) I have them for quite some years now and was very happy with them all ...
ArOk's user avatar
  • 121
0 votes
1 answer
227 views

Debris in boots

When I went off the trail on my last hike, I noticed that grass got into my boots very easily because the toe is not gussetted like in other boots. And gaiters don't cover low enough on the boot to ...
Tobias Schwarz's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
260 views

How can I make a winter mountaineering boot into an extreme winter boot?

I am planning to make a winter ascent of a mountain with a height of 4850 meters (15,900 ft). Its summit's lowest and wind-chill temperatures are around -30 C (-22 F) and -40 C (-40 F), respectively. ...
Amid's user avatar
  • 181
1 vote
2 answers
78 views

Great easy-clean walking boots?

I haven't bought walking boots for years and recently wore out my old pair. I'm looking for a replacement and realised that the thing I hated most about all the old boots I've had was the cleaning. I ...
SteveH's user avatar
  • 11
3 votes
1 answer
305 views

Creasing in new Gore-Tex boots: reduced longevity?

I just got a pair of Scarpa Terra GTX's which I really like. However the only option the store had are ones that have clearly been worn a few times around the store leading to some creasing and fading....
zylatis's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
1 answer
310 views

Rusty Boot Hooks -- How to protect compromised metal?

I have snow boots that I just pulled out of my garage. I live in Los Angeles, so it's rare when I go to the snow. I'm not sure what caused it, but my boot hooks rusted and looked bad. I used a ...
Jen's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
106 views

Post-hike shoe care

How do I get rid of bad smell of mountaineering boots / skiing boots which comes from sweaty feet? I know the best way is preventing that smell by putting them in a ventilated area, but sometimes it ...
cerv21's user avatar
  • 959
5 votes
5 answers
5k views

How to repair worn hiking boot eyelets

I noticed one of the eyelets on one of my hiking boots is very worn. The lace was fraying at the point of the worn eyelet, so I have put new laces in. However it does not look like the eyelet will ...
vegemite4me's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
210 views

What to look for in wellington boots

So this actually stems from the fact my last two pairs of wellington boots have split - as have my husbands, and his were a different brand - my boots were both Joules (~£45 so low-mid range boots) ...
Aravona's user avatar
  • 15.4k
22 votes
11 answers
23k views

Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?

The sole of my trekking boots got separated from the boot body. Since the boots would be otherwise usable - they are more than ten years old but without too much use - repairing them would be an ...
Pere's user avatar
  • 321
10 votes
6 answers
2k views

Boots or trail runners with reference to blisters?

I know that I can significantly improve my hiking efficiency by reducing the weight of my footwear. However, I have historically had trouble with blisters while hiking. I also often do long distance ...
Richenda's user avatar
  • 101
2 votes
3 answers
710 views

How much time/distance on average does it take take to break in hiking boots?

If you are buying new hiking boots before a trip there is a break in period before the boots get comfortable and you don't want to go on a long backpacking trip with brand new boots. Time will depend ...
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
1k views

Boots: Does light damage affect waterproofing?

I am looking at a new pair of suede leather walking boots. Price is low due to one boot being in a shop window and so is faded and doesn't match the other boot. My question is: would the light damage ...
Bambi88's user avatar
  • 151
7 votes
8 answers
4k views

How stiff of a sole should I look for in hiking boots?

There is a spectrum of sole stiffness in boots, from full shank on mountaineering boots to the easily bendable ones on really cheap boots. The way to test is to push in on the shoe lengthwise and see ...
Charlie Brumbaugh's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
253 views

Damaged Gore-tex boots

I bought Aku Slope boots with Gore-tex at a good price and as it turned out they have punctures in one place, which are probably minimal when I check them inside the shoe. I do not want to use the ...
snowboi's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

Timberland classic 6 inch boots for mountain hiking/trekking

The original Timberland classic 6-inch boots were made 40 years ago for the cold, wet and mountainous terrain of New England. They were innovative footwear for their time, but now have become mostly a ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,797
8 votes
6 answers
3k views

Using hiking boots for amateur rock-climbing

What are the practical aspects of using good quality hiking boots (e.g. ones shown below) for climbing? Arguably, an outdoor enthusiast might be involved in various sorts of activities from hiking ...
ahron's user avatar
  • 1,797
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

What temperature is needed for heat molding ski boot liners? Isn't body temperature enough for that?

After a season of skiing in rental boots of all sorts, I want to buy my own pair. My options are: a local shop in a country where there's no snow and the prices are so high, online deals that are ...
Neeku's user avatar
  • 631
2 votes
1 answer
150 views

What do you call what amounts to a modern hybrid between a sneaker and a high top moccasin?

Thirty odd years ago there was a fad for shoes generically called snow joggers. It was a super lightweight boot in appearence -- usually 6-8" tall, but with a very light construction throughout. ...
Sherwood Botsford's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
146 views

Yellow Overboot Repair

I have a cut in the ankle of my boot (see pic). I'm concerned that any glueing/patching will not hold due to movement and flexing while walking. What is the proper method of gluing and patching that ...
B540Glenn's user avatar
  • 1,857
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

How many miles should one expect to get out of a good pair of hiking boots?

They say that on average 400-500 miles is a good bet for running shoes, but for myself it's only about 300-350 miles before the aches of worn out shoes start to occur. It seems that shoes are one of ...
wanderweeer's user avatar
  • 2,770
11 votes
3 answers
574 views

What makes shoelaces so special?

The laces on my hiking boots broke years ago, and instead of going out of my way to buy a replacement pair, I replaced them with some lengths of paracord I had kicking around, albeit with the intent ...
ShemSeger's user avatar
  • 53.5k
8 votes
2 answers
7k views

What type of glue is best to repair/resole cross country ski boots with plastic soles?

Does anybody know a good type of suitable glue to repair a delaminated sole on (modern) cross country ski boots with plastic soles (Rottefella NNN in particular). The delaminated part is in the front ...
Martin's user avatar
  • 181
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

How to identify good winter boots for walking on ice?

I just saw this BBC news clip Does Canada have the solution to slipping on ice? at about 1:20 into the clip (not counting the commercial) a scientist says "most footwear performs poorly" he also says ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
522 views

Hiking with boots untied?

I recently came across a hiking boot maker with a front page photo showing someone walking off trail in ankle high boots that are untied. Source This seems to be a current fashion trend, and if you ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
954 views

Are there any kid sized alpine touring ski boots and bindings?

Do any kid size (205 mm or 32 EU) ski touring boots and bindings exist? The smallest size I'm able to find is 220 mm, 35 EU.
user1209304's user avatar
  • 1,387
6 votes
1 answer
3k views

How to improve the grip on my boots?

I've got a pair of Keen hiking boots that, at their best when brand new, never had a particularly good grip, and now, a few years later, have simply lost any grip to speak of. They are so slippery on ...
Michael Martinez's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
770 views

Vibram FiveFingers or Non-Hiking Boots as a Beginner in Hiking?

I'm very new to/inexperienced at hiking, and I got invited to an impromptu, 7-mile hike tomorrow at Alamere Falls (places online say it's "intermediate difficulty"). I've only gone on what I think are ...
Anonymous's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the difference between hiking boots and “hunting boots”?

Many (online) shops classify boots between hiking and hunting; for example, see hunting boots. The hunting boots look more like the kind of boots I like, than the hiking boots do. What are the ...
gerrit's user avatar
  • 27.1k
5 votes
1 answer
788 views

What model of Hanwag boots are those?

I bought a pair of Hanwag boots late in 2013 at Naturkompaniet in Norrköping, Sweden, and I've never loved a pair of boots more. But now at least one of the shoes is in a bad state and a repair shop ...
gerrit's user avatar
  • 27.1k
10 votes
4 answers
15k views

How long is Gore-Tex lining in boots effective?

I was reading a recent answer and found this statement for the great majority of users, Gore-Tex boot liners fail anyway, and sooner rather than later if any real mileage is being covered. In fact, ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

Can hiking boots with Gore-tex lining be stretched?

I have a pair of leather Vasque St. Elias GTX which are a bit narrow across the toe box and I want to see if I can get some more room there. A local shoe repair place said they could do it (for $6 ...
compton's user avatar
  • 335
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Would Gorilla Glue Work on Goretex?

Is this waterproof glue effective on Goretex? It mentions 'etceteras' in its label but does it stick Goretex to fabric? The stitching on my boot is ripped. I'm not considering sewing it because the ...
Neeku's user avatar
  • 631
4 votes
1 answer
335 views

What are the pros and cons of greased feet in boots?

I was just reading this answer at Can you keep your feet warm in ski boots on a very cold day? Yes, add fat to your feet. I don't mean gain weight. Just slather it on before putting socks on. ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
993 views

Is it worth getting snow shoe chains/spikes for only a one week trip to a snowy area?

Tourist from Australia so bit clueless about these things, going to Canada and wondering if it's worth getting the snow shoe chains/springs/spikes that go over your shoe or boot ? Can't really afford ...
D-on's user avatar
  • 153
11 votes
3 answers
3k views

How to clean soaked-in winter salt off boots?

Hiking in winter near urban areas, it’s difficult to avoid getting salty snow/slush on one’s boots. Of course, the first rule is to rinse it off immediately, and not to let it soak in. But sometimes ...
Peter LeFanu Lumsdaine's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
294 views

Sources of Nubuk (Gore-Tex lined) Leather Conditioner

I have a pair of Lowa Tibet Pro GTX (Nubuk leather and Gore-Tex Lined) and am wondering what conditioning creme I should use besides the stuff that Lowa sells as I generally like to buy from dedicated ...
AnonDCX's user avatar
  • 293
7 votes
1 answer
4k views

How to prevent rubber on hiking boots from degrading?

I have Lowa leather hiking boots with a rubber toe cap and sidewalls which I bought around 5 years ago. I've gotten great use out of them and the leather is still in great shape, but the rubber is ...
Cecilia's user avatar
  • 413
56 votes
5 answers
18k views

Is ankle support a myth?

There seems to be an ongoing holy war with "boots people" vs "shoes people". A comment on this question caught my eye: ...Ankle support is a myth for most folks.... Now I've always worn boots and ...
user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
572 views

Should I give up on my new hiking boots?

I bought them a few days ago and took them for a long walk and then a short hike to try them out. They were fine with the walk, they felt great, but with the hike, problems problems problems. A seam ...
Martina's user avatar
  • 101
4 votes
2 answers
222 views

What should I look for in my first pair of snowboard boots?

I'm looking at buying my first pair of snowboard boots. I'm heading to Scotland and the Alps (Portes Du Soleil) this winter. I ride about "Red" level runs with my girlfriend (who'c onsideribly ...
user avatar
20 votes
4 answers
14k views

How to keep small rocks and stones out of hiking boots?

I keep encountering this issue during summer, when wearing short trousers or a skirt while hiking: my boots get filled up with small rocks and stones, and I must stop from time to time to empty them. ...
Akabelle's user avatar
  • 2,832